So your WHOLE family is going on vacation and of course it’s the ultimate perfect moment to have portraits taken.

But how does it work?!

Let me tell you that after 15 years as a pro photographer, multi-family sessions are still my favorite! Mostly because it’s so fun to see big families enjoying the sun and surf and also make time for a quick session.

Here are some tips to help it all go smoothly on the day of our session!

TIP 1

Dress in similar colors but not too matchy-matchy. Each smaller family can coordinate further but it’s good to have a color scheme that everyone can wear so that it looks cohesive and coordinated while still giving each family the opportunity to shine.

TIP 2

We’ll get the big group first and from there break up into smaller families. It’s also fantastic if one person can help with coordinating which family is next as well as any variations you’d like. I don’t know your family the way you do so if there’s an aunt you want a photo with or a variation of grandparents with grandchildren, etc, please let me know!

I do not mind taking more photos and getting all of your loved ones photographed in all of the variations possible, I’m here to serve you and these are YOUR photos, so let’s do it all!

TIP 3

Choose one location first and then after we get all the main photos out of the way we can try another. So for example, this family was at a Villa and so we chose this beautiful lush green wall for all of the portraits.

We did have the option of heading down to the beach but they opted not to. Some families like to have a combo and some families are fine with one location.

So just keep in mind if you’d like to change the background, we’ll probably end up doing the second location after we get everyone at the first location.

Uff, I hope that wasn’t confusing!

There you have it! Those are my main tips! For large families, we often won’t get too many candid photos given that we gotta work quickly before we start losing people, 😅.

There are big families, and then there are BIG families! I love all families and big ones seem to be the norm around here!

I’ll never get tired of photographing these families because I feel like for a couple of hours, I’m a part of the whole clan. Seeing, playing, photographing moments that happen right then and there. Never being able to be re-created.

It’s a magical feeling when I can capture a family truly the way they are. Smiling, having fun, and enjoying each other. Families full of love.

And every family is unique which makes each session feel new and fresh! I’ve photographed several families here on this beach in Nuevo Vallarta, at the Grand Mayan resort and it never ceases to surprise me how each session can be so different from the next.

Thank you to all of my wonderful clients, like this family, who trust me with their memories and offer up vacation time to get photos taken! Makes it so special.

If you’d like to have your photos taken while on vacation here in Nuevo Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita, Bucerias, and surrounding areas, please email me at hello@jackielamas.com so we can set it up! Sessions last a couple of hours and then you can enjoy a fresh margarita after!