Planning a Multi-Generation Family Photoshoot: Grandparents, Parents and Kids Together

Some of my favourite sessions aren’t the ones with just mom, dad and the kids — they’re the ones where grandma and grandpa are in the frame too, arms around grandchildren they don’t get to see nearly enough. If you’ve been searching for an extended family photographer in Johannesburg because you want three generations in one set of photos, here’s everything I wish every family knew before we start planning.

Why a multi-generation family photoshoot is worth it

We book maternity and newborn sessions because we know how fast babies change. But grandparents change too, and so does the whole shape of a family. A multi-generation family photoshoot is one of the only times everyone — grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins — stands still together on purpose. It’s not just another family photo. It’s a record of who was there, at this age, in this season of your life.

I photograph a lot of “ordinary, everyday families” around Gauteng, and the extended family sessions are almost always the ones that end up printed and framed rather than left on a phone.

Planning around everyone's schedule

Pick a date months, not weeks, ahead if you have family flying in from out of town for a reunion or milestone birthday. I shoot these sessions on weekends, which tends to suit multi-generation groups anyway since it’s easier for everyone to get the day off work. I prefer to shoot in the late afternoon, heading into golden hour — the light is soft and flattering, everyone’s had a proper lunch and a nap if they need one, and there’s no early-morning rush to get a big group out the door on time.

Choosing a location for a big family group

For extended family portraits, I usually recommend somewhere with a mix of open space and natural shade — a garden, a park, or your own home if it’s a smaller group. Gauteng gives us some lovely options for this, and I’m always happy to suggest a spot around Johannesburg that suits the size of your group and the season. On-location sessions work well for bigger families because there’s room to spread out for a full group shot and then break into smaller combinations — grandparents with each set of grandkids, siblings together, the next generation on their own.

What to wear for an extended family photoshoot

You don’t need matching outfits — in fact, please don’t. What actually photographs beautifully across three generations is a shared colour palette: soft neutrals, muted tones, or one or two accent colours that everyone pulls from. It means grandma doesn’t have to buy a new outfit to “match,” and the focus stays on your faces and your connection, not on coordinating like a catalogue.

A few practical tips from me before your session

A few small things make a big difference on the day, and they come from doing enough of these sessions to know what actually helps:

  • Arrive around 30 minutes early. It sounds like a lot, but it means nobody’s rushing in at the last minute — we all have that one sister who’s perpetually running a little late — and it gives the whole family a chance to settle in and catch up before we start shooting.
  • Let me know your family tree beforehand — who’s who, how everyone’s related, and everyone’s names. When I can greet Aunty Precious or call little Kai by name, the whole group relaxes faster, and I’m not fumbling my way through a big group wondering who belongs to who.
  • Save the sweets and chocolate for after the shoot. If aunties and grandparents like to spoil the little ones — and they usually do — a sugar rush right before a photoshoot with young kids rarely ends well. Keep the treats tucked away as the reward for afterwards, once we’re done.
  • Bring along a few essentials:
    • Water to drink, especially for a longer session with a bigger group
    • Snacks for afterwards, once the shoot wraps up
    • A warm top for everyone, in case it cools down before we’re finished

Posing a large family group without the stress

This is the part families worry about most, and it’s the part I take off your plate. My approach with any family reunion or multi-generation photoshoot in Johannesburg is to start with the full group while everyone’s fresh, then work down to smaller combinations — this is naturally when the real, unposed moments happen, when grandpa’s cracking a joke or a cousin is being tickled just out of the “official” shot. Those in-between frames are usually everyone’s favourites.

Choosing the right package for a bigger group

With more people in the frame, it’s worth going for one of the longer sessions rather than the shortest package — Golden Delight or Royal Jelly give you the extra time and extra images you’ll want when you’re photographing everyone together and then breaking into smaller combinations. It means nobody feels rushed, and you come away with enough variety to cover the whole family, not just one big group shot.

Booking an extended family photographer in Johannesburg

If you’re planning a family reunion, a milestone birthday, or simply want three generations photographed together while you can, I’d love to help. As a family photographer based in Johannesburg, I keep these sessions relaxed and unposed on purpose — natural light, real connection, and a portrait your whole family will actually want on the wall.

 

Find out more about family photoshoots or get in touch to check availability and pricing for your extended family group.