Some sessions aren’t about a season.

They’re about a lifetime.

This extended family gathered in one home to create a Christmas gift for their grandfather — but what they were really building was an archive. A record of the people who carry his name, his history, his stories forward.

Rooms filled with cousins.
Parents leaning into each other on the couch.
Grandparents watching the chaos with the quiet pride of people who know exactly how fast this all goes.

This is what family looks like when it stretches across generations.

And it deserves to be photographed that way.

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Why Extended Family Sessions Matter

Extended family sessions aren’t about perfect posing.

They’re about proximity.

Who sits next to who.
Who leans into whose shoulder.
Which child gravitates toward which adult.
The invisible threads that tell you who belongs to whom.

When families gather under one roof, something rare happens: the timeline folds in on itself. You see echoes. A grandparent’s smile in a child’s face. A gesture repeated across decades. A laugh that clearly came from somewhere long before this moment.

Photography becomes less about appearance and more about inheritance.

This is history in motion.

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Photographing Families at Home

In-home extended family sessions allow people to settle into familiarity instead of performing for a camera.

The couch where holidays happen.
The kitchen that feeds everyone.
The room that has already witnessed years of birthdays, arguments, celebrations, and ordinary Tuesdays.

That context matters.

When I photograph families in their own space, I’m documenting not just people, but the environment that shaped them. Years from now, the house itself becomes part of the memory.

And memory is what we’re protecting.

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A Legacy Built Since 2011

I’ve been photographing families since 2011. Long enough to watch children grow into teenagers. Teenagers into adults. Parents into grandparents. I’ve witnessed the expansion of family trees in real time.

Extended family sessions are some of the most meaningful work I do because they acknowledge a truth we don’t say out loud often enough:

Time is moving.

And the people in these photographs will never again exist in this exact configuration. This exact age. This exact arrangement of arms around shoulders.

That’s why we photograph now.

Not when it’s convenient.
Not when it’s perfect.
Now.

Because now is already disappearing.

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Extended Family Photography in Loudoun County

Families across Loudoun County, Leesburg, Purcellville, Ashburn, and Northern Virginia often gather for holidays or milestone moments and realize how rare it is to have everyone together in one place.

Extended family sessions allow you to preserve that gathering — not just for a Christmas gift, but for future generations.

These photographs become anchors. They live on walls. In albums. In the hands of grandchildren who will study them one day and say:

“This is where we came from.”

And that matters more than almost anything.

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Planning an In-Home Extended Family Session

If you’re considering an extended family photography session in Loudoun County or Northern Virginia, the best time is when everyone is already together. Holidays, anniversaries, milestone birthdays — these are natural gathering points that carry emotional weight.

In-home sessions allow families to stay relaxed, connected, and fully present with one another while I document the love that’s already happening.

👉 Inquire here to schedule your extended family session

Because years from now, these photographs won’t just show faces.

They’ll show belonging.

This is what love looks like up close.

How many people can be included in an extended family session?
Extended family sessions are designed for large groups — grandparents, adult children, grandchildren, and everyone in between. I photograph both full-group portraits and smaller family combinations so every relationship is documented.

Where do extended family sessions take place?
Most extended family sessions happen in homes or meaningful gathering spaces. Photographing families where they naturally come together allows everyone to relax and stay connected instead of feeling staged.

How long does an extended family session last?
Sessions typically last 1–2 hours depending on group size. We move efficiently but calmly, allowing time for hugs, transitions, and natural interaction — not just formal posing.

What should we wear for an extended family session?
Coordinated, not matching. Neutral tones and soft textures photograph beautifully in group settings. I guide families through wardrobe so the overall look feels cohesive without feeling forced.

Can we include candid moments, not just portraits?
Absolutely. While we capture traditional group photos, the heart of an extended family session is the in-between moments — laughter, leaning in, kids climbing laps, grandparents watching quietly. Those images are often the most meaningful.

When is the best time to schedule an extended family session?
Holidays, milestone birthdays, anniversaries, and reunions are ideal. The best time is when everyone is already together — that’s when the emotional weight is strongest.