Make sure you include the grandparents in the photos.
It’s an image you’ll cherish forever – that sweet shot of your parents with your children. A multi-generational photo shoot highlights unique connections between family members and is a memory worth making.
Lexi Fenton, of Lexi Rae Photography, shared six tips for getting those photos that capture the magic of generational relationships.
1. Be aware
Be aware of what’s happening around you. If your photographer doesn’t notice something cute naturally happening, point it out. Grandkids and grandparents are naturally expressive with each other, so it’s a great time to capture natural smiles, emotions, and moments.
2. Get close
Have parents stand right by the camera if they are helping to get kids to smile during the grandparents/grandkid photo. If they are scattered around the photographer, you’ll end up with eye balls looking everywhere. Lexi always tells people to stand uncomfortably close to her.
3. Make sure the baby can see the camera
Hold the baby so they can easily see the camera. It’s often the opposite of what people naturally do in front of the camera.
4. Communicate shot list for extended family sessions
There is a limited amount of time to get all the shots you want, so communicate to your photographer ahead of time so they can plan the time accordingly. If you wait until the end of the session to suggest several things, there may not be enough light or time to get it all done. Your photographer will know to move on from something if they have the shot list ahead of time.
5. Get generation photos
During smaller extended families where there aren’t a ton of grandkids yet (less than 15 people… so there’s less chaos), there are great opportunities for 3-4 generation photos. People often overlook this one, so ask your photographer for it ahead of time. If you want that shot but your extended family is too big, invite your parents to your own family photo shoot of just your family to get the shot.
6. Invite grandparents to your family photos
Invite grandparents to your own family session if you want to get those grandparent shots. You will still have plenty of your own little family, your kids alone, then some with your family with each set of grandparents, then each set of grandparents with the grandkids. These types of sessions can become family heirlooms faster than we want them to be.
Find more of Lexi’s work on Instagram, @lexiraephotography.
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