Extended Family Session

Summer Village | Westford, MA | April

AN EXTENDED FAMILY SESSION TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE

Multigenerational family portrait by the lake at Summer Village in Westford Massachusetts.

There’s something extra special about a place that holds decades of summer memories. Even more so when it becomes the backdrop for celebrating 50 years of marriage with three generations of family who’ve grown up making memories there.

Grandparents laughing and holding each other during a lakeside anniversary portrait in Westford MA.

Nonna + Pepere

This session was an anniversary gift from a very thoughtful family to their anchors: Nonna and Pepere. We met at Summer Village in Westford just as the community reopened for the season. Getting 14 people’s schedules to align wasn’t easy, so we worked with the one time that everyone could be there... even if the light made me work a little harder behind the scenes.

Collage of individual family group portraits on the beach in Westford, MA.

The Flow of an Extended Family Session

Extended family sessions aren’t the kind where you just run around and hope for the best. They take a little more strategy, a little more patience, and a whole lot of planning. I work closely with my client ahead of time to create a custom list of family groupings, based on what matters most to their family. In this case, we started with Nonna and Pepere’s priorities and built from there.

We pace the session intentionally. With a crew this size, it’s less about moving to five different locations and more about working through meaningful combinations efficiently while maintaining a relaxed, authentic, happy atmosphere. There’s a natural flow we work toward - a balance between “get it done already” and a calm “it takes however it takes”. I always recommend having a shaded area nearby where people can relax between photos, grab a drink, and quickly reset before their back in front of the camera. This helps keep things feeling comfortable and light, especially for little ones, teens, and anyone who’s not usually a fan of being in front of the camera.

We aren’t chasing golden hour here - we’re managing real people, real energy, and real memories.

Extended family portrait in front of brown cottage at Summer Village, Westford MA.

Shooting in Harsh Sunlight? No Problem.

Most photographers avoid shooting in midday light, and with good reason. The sun is directly overhead, which creates deep shadows, washed out colors, and squinting subjects. Not ideal when you’ve got 14 people depending on you to take a perfect portrait.

But sometimes, midday is the only time the whole family is available. That’s where off-camera flash changes the game.

Mom and daughters hugging at Westford Beach

WHY I USE FLASH WHEN IT’S SUNNY:

Midday sun (10am - 2pm) acts like a spotlight from above. It’s intense and unforgiving.
Off-camera flash gives me full control over the light. It helps me soften shadows, brighten faces, and preserve color and detail.
It balances out a bright background, like the lake or sky, so your family looks clear and beautifully lit—not just dark silhouettes surrounded by white sky.

IN SHORT: NO MATTER THE TIME, LOCATION, OR CONDITIONS, I HAVE THE TOOLS TO MAKE YOUR PORTRAITS BEAUTIFUL.

Why These Portraits Matter

This wasn’t just a photo session. It was a chance to preserve a milestone and document a legacy. They’d never had a real portrait - just a blurry cell phone pic that didn’t come close to doing their story justice. So when I brought Nonna the framed family portrait, she cried. In that moment, I realized what I had created wasn’t just a picture. It was a heartfelt heirloom. The kind of gift every grandparent dreams of: everyone they loves, together in one frame, hanging proudly in the heart of their home.

Six cousins smiling on the beach during a Massachusetts extended family photo session.

CONSIDERING AN EXTENDED FAMILY SESSION?
If you’re considering an extended family session, I’m happy to take the reins and create a plan that works for everyone. You don’t need to stress over organizing groupings or logistics. I’ve got it covered.

It all starts with a quick introduction call.

LET’s CHAT

Kat Rokita extended family session selfie

I'm Kat and I specialize in crafting authentic, real-life extended family portraits that celebrate your unique family, connection, and story with integrity, creativity and a touch of whimsy.

Farmhouse is a full service commercial photography studio based in North Chelmsford, MA renowned for crafting award winning personality-driven family + senior portraits. Serving the communities of Middlesex County, Merrimack Valley, and Greater Boston, we offer a variety of session options to ensure our portraiture is accessible for all.