Choosing the perfect location for your Extended family photoshoot | West Linn, Oregon Family Photographer

As someone who not only takes photos professionally, but has hired professional photographers to take photos for me, I know that one of the earliest and sometimes most challenging decisions surrounding your photoshoot is….where should our location be? Once this critical factor is decided, I always tend to relax and get excited envisioning what my photos might look like, and what we should wear that will vibe with the location. Sometimes when it is an extended family photoshoot, things get a little tricky as you are taking into consideration more people, usually a variety of ages and personalities! Not to worry, because I have a list of four things to consider when finding the perfect location for your next extended family photoshoot!

But first, can I just say how perfectly color coordinated and put together this sweet family was for their photos?! We were dealing with Pacific Northwest late fall weather that week, but the morning ended up being beautiful and mystical and foggy and I am absolutely in love with the moody vibes! This took place at Luscher Farms in West Linn, such an amazing location with a variety of spots to photograph. We decided on this location for a variety of reasons including accessibility for the family, look the mom was going for (casual, candid, grassy field), and the fact that we had a lot of people we needed to fit in the photos (an indoor location would not have worked well for this size group).

Extended Family photos location search Tip #1: Consider how many people are in the group

As I mentioned above, we decided on an open grassy field partly because the mom wanted enough space for her large group to walk around while I got candid photos. It’s much easier for a lot of people to move around in an open space, and this location hit the mark. I would like to point out that doing a photoshoot around the outside of your house is also a great option if you want to showcase the sentiment of your home and have space for a large group to move around but don’t want to be inside. The porch or around the yard are great options and make for amazing, meaningful photos that will be treasured for years to come.

Extended Family photos location search Tip #2: Consider the weather and time of year

Are you looking to get your photos taken in the spring, summer or fall? I’d say you should definitely consider having them outside as it is so beautiful here in Oregon those times of year. What about the winter? This one is tricky because I have taken so many amazing family photos in the winter here, but you have to be flexible as our scheduled day has a very high chance of getting rained out. That said, if your group is small enough and you have an area in your house that gets lots of natural light (and you aren’t wanting photos walking through a field), and it’s the dead of winter, indoor photos might be just what you are looking for. Another thing to consider in the winter is do you have very young or elderly people in your group? If so the cold might not be suitable for them.

Extended Family photos location search Tip #3: How many kids are in your group?

It’s no secret that kids love to run around and play outside. They also tend to feel more at ease in nature than in, say, a house where they can’t touch anything or run around. I’m not saying that if you have kids you shouldn’t do an indoor photoshoot (especially if it’s at their house where they feel comfortable and have toys and things they love - like their dog?!), but it is important to consider where the child(ren) will feel most comfortable. As mentioned above, staying at your home but keeping the photoshoot outside is a great option! On the other hand - if it’s winter (as I mentioned above) you might want to consider staying indoors for very little ones! These decisions are all based on each individual family and their needs/wants.

Extended Family photos location search Tip #4: What kids of vibes are you going for?

If you are wanting an outdoor photoshoot, are you looking for urban, or on a farm, or an open field? Do you want fall leaves in the background or wildflowers? Maybe you live on a farm and want the animals to make an appearance in your photos (by the way I have done a farm photoshoot before and it was so fun!). Or are you on the other end and want to showcase a special area in your house or around your home with your loved ones, in which case an indoor/at-home photoshoot might be perfect.

Good news! Your photographer can help you with this decsion.

All of these considerations might seem overwhelming at first, but your photographer will be more than happy to walk you through your options and give you pros and cons for each. I love helping my families choose the perfect location for their needs and am always available for a phone call!

If you have thought about BOOKING YOUR OWN extended family photoshoot, please reach out to me!

Contact me for package pricing and more details - I would love to hear from you!

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