hen people think about extended family photos, they often picture everyone standing perfectly posed, smiling at the camera, and hoping the kids cooperate long enough to get “the shot.”
And while we absolutely captured those classic portraits during this session, this evening at Cougar Cliffs turned into so much more than that.
As a St. George family photographer, one of my favorite things is helping families create sessions that actually feel fun and meaningful, especially when multiple generations are together.
This particular family traveled to St. George from all over to celebrate the grandparents’ 40th wedding anniversary. They wanted updated St. George extended family photos, but they also wanted the session to reflect this season of life and the reason everyone had gathered together in the first place.
And honestly, that’s what made this session so special.
Celebrating 40 Years Together at Cougar Cliffs
The grandparents brought along two incredibly meaningful items: their wedding Bible and the champagne glasses from their wedding day.
Instead of simply taking photos with those items, we turned them into part of the experience.
Partway through the session, everyone gathered together for a celebratory toast while the grandparents shared champagne and the kids clinked sparkling cider cups and enjoyed suckers. The little cousins laughed, grandparents soaked in the moment, and suddenly the session felt less like “taking pictures” and more like documenting a real family memory.
Those are the moments that matter most.
Why I Love Incorporating Activities Into Extended Family Sessions
One thing I always tell families is this: your session does not have to feel stiff or overly posed to still get beautiful portraits.
In fact, some of the best moments happen in between the posed photos.
During this session, we still captured all the important combinations:
- Grandparents with all the grandkids
- Individual families
- Sibling groups
- Full extended family portraits
- Grandparents together
But weaving in a few simple activities made the entire experience feel relaxed and connected.
For families with young kids especially, adding movement or interaction can completely change the energy of the session. Instead of asking children ages 1–8 to stand still for an hour, which rarely ends well, we gave them something to do.
And honestly, adults loosen up too.
Extended Family Photos Can Be Both Beautiful and Fun
I think sometimes families assume extended family photos have to be stressful because coordinating multiple families, young children, grandparents, and schedules can feel overwhelming.
But sessions like this remind me that they can also be joyful.
The goal isn’t perfection.
The goal is preserving connection.
The champagne toast. The cousins running around with sticky sucker hands. Grandparents standing together 40 years later with the same wedding glasses they once used decades ago.
Those are the details that turn photos into memories.
If you’re looking for a St. George family photographer who can help create St. George extended family photos that feel both meaningful and fun, Cougar Cliffs might just be the perfect place for your family session.
