The Smith Extended Family
Gaines Mill Battlefield - Mechanicsville, Virginia
What’s better than a regular family session? A multi-generation family reunion shoot! Okay, so maybe this wasn’t really a “reunion” because this family all lives near each other and can see each other fairly often, but it was still so fun to see such a large family come together for a good time. It reminded me of spending time with my family during our summers in Michigan. We would get together with as many people at our tiny cottage on the lake, and the laughter seemed never-ending. At 25 people total, with the youngest member being just one month old, this was my biggest session yet!
As I pulled into the parking lot, I was overwhelmed with the number of people standing around -- my introverted self was regretting taking on such a huge session. But once I started talking to Stacey, who organized the whole shoot, I immediately felt at ease and a sense of relief washed away my nerves. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly and seamlessly the session flowed considering the number of people who were participating. Luckily, big family photo sessions are an established event for this group, so everyone was cooperative, on time, and knew what to expect. After the big group picture, we divided the family units up for some individual family shots. It’s usually up to me to hold the attention of the little ones. However, this time, I didn’t have to be the only one making silly faces and noises -- it was so helpful having so much help behind me!
Stacey and family, I am honored that you trusted me to take your extended family photos. I’m so happy that we were able to make this fun session happen! It was a pleasure to work with you all!