Holiday Extended Family Photos in San Francisco
The holiday season is one of the most meaningful times to gather your loved ones, and nothing captures that spirit quite like a photography session with your extended family. I typically open up a day around Thanksgiving break, as well as the Christmas holiday and New Year for families to come together for portraits, but truthfully, anytime family is in town is the perfect opportunity. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, a family vacation, or a milestone gathering, these are the moments worth preserving.
Recently, I had the joy of photographing a family who traveled from all over the country to celebrate together in San Francisco. With grandparents, adult siblings, and cousins all in one place, these sessions become most than just photos, they became a legacy keepsake. These are the kinds of memories that deserve more than a quick snapshot on someone’s phone. They deserve to be documented thoughtfully, with space to capture both the formal group portraits and the candid moments that show the heart of your family.
Why Extended Family Sessions Matter
When you have multiple generations gathered, the photos become more than portraits, they preserve the memories of your family together in this moment in time. Thanksgiving extended family photos in San Francisco allow you to celebrate the unique connections between cousins, grandparents, and adult siblings while enjoying one of the most iconic cities in the world.
These sessions are intentionally longer than my typical family sessions. I call them “legacy sessions” because they are designed to leave a record of who your family is at this exact moment in time. Legacy sessions give us the time we need to create all of the important groupings: grandparents with their grandchildren, siblings together again as adults, the entire family unit, smaller family groups, and even fun, candid images that show personality and laughter.
By building in this extra time, I can capture more than just the posed portraits. I can document the energy of your family from the way cousins run toward each other, to the subtle smiles shared between siblings, to the tender hand-holding between grandparents who have seen decades together. Those in-between images often become the most treasured.
The Perfect Timing
While I often hold a dedicated day during Thanksgiving break for these extended family sessions, the truth is, any time is the right time. Families often come together during the summer, for spring vacations, or around other holidays. If you have everyone in town, don’t wait for the next perfect opportunity. These gatherings are rare and fleeting, and having professional photos from them will mean everything years down the line.
For families traveling in, San Francisco offers a stunning backdrop. Whether we’re capturing moments with the Golden Gate peeking in the distance, taking advantage of the city’s timeless architecture, or exploring one of its many beautiful parks, like this Presidio forest, the location helps tell your family’s story in a setting that is uniquely yours. Thanksgiving extended family photos in San Francisco are especially special because the crisp air and festive season add to the magic of being together.
Creating Your Legacy
Extended family sessions are custom experiences because every family has its own dynamic, traditions, and needs. That’s why I encourage families to reach out to me directly to plan their legacy session. From scheduling and timing to location choices, I’ll help you create a session that feels relaxed and fun, while ensuring you walk away with a collection of images that reflect the love and connection between every member of your family.
Whether you’re gathering for the holidays, reuniting during a vacation, or simply bringing grandparents, adult siblings, and cousins together for a day, your family deserves to have these memories preserved. These photographs will serve as a legacy for generations to come.
Reach out today to get a custom quote for your own legacy extended family session in San Francisco.
