When Tiffany reached out to ask about an extended family session, I was immediately in. Her sister was coming in from New York for a visit, and their parents were arriving shortly after for a family reunion—it felt like one of those rare windows where everyone would actually be in the same place at the same time. We knew we had to work fast to make it happen, and somehow—despite summer storms and cross-country travel—we did.
Finding a date and time that worked for everyone (and for the weather) felt like a little miracle. And when it came down to outfits, Tiffany pulled everything together with the most beautiful palette. Packages arrived just in time, and when the evening came, the styling was absolutely gorgeous—soft tones, coordinated creams and greens, it was all perfection!
The day before the session, I packed up my kids and drove around scouting a location close to where their family was staying. I ended up rediscovering a quiet little park in Howell, Michigan—tucked just far enough back in the woods to feel like we’d stepped out of downtown but conveniently located only minutes from their house. It was bustling with holiday crowds when we arrived, but we found a peaceful corner that felt like our own little haven. The evening light filtered through the trees like something out of a dream, and we even had the playground to ourselves.
Extended family sessions have such a beautiful rhythm—there’s the joy of gathering everyone together for a full group shot, and then the magic of stepping back and catching the little stories unfolding between the lines: cousins playing, grandparents holding hands, toddlers eating snacks and cuddling with their parents. This year, I’ve restructured these sessions to include a mini session for each individual family, and it’s been the best change. Not only does it give each family their own time for photos, but it also allows for those sweet, in-between moments that you don’t always get when you’re racing against the light and wrangling everyone at once.
By the end of the night, the kids were ready for ice cream, the grown-ups were happy, relieved, and ready for bedtime, and I had a camera full of golden light, laughter, and connection. I’m so grateful to Tiffany and her family for trusting me to capture it all—and so glad the weather held off long enough to make it happen.
