Gathering the entire extended family for a photoshoot is a wonderful way to celebrate a milestone, a special anniversary, or simply the joy of finally having everyone in the same room! However, orchestrating multiple generations—from energetic toddlers to grandparents—can feel like a logistical puzzle. If you are tasked with organising a large family photoshoot in Nottingham, a little bit of proactive planning will make the actual session smooth, stress-free, and incredibly enjoyable for everyone involved.
Build Your Group List Before the Day
When you have a large number of people, the possible combinations of family members are nearly endless. Trying to figure out who should be in which photo on the fly will eat into your valuable shooting time and cause unnecessary confusion.
Instead, we strongly suggest building a priority group list ahead of time. Start with the most important shot: the entire extended family together. After that, list the smaller combinations that matter the most to you. This usually includes grandparents with all the grandchildren, individual households (each sibling with their own spouse and kids), all the adult siblings together, and perhaps the original parents (the grandparents) on their own. Keep the list realistic so we can finish it comfortably without rushing.
Photograph the Hardest Group First
With large groups, patience is a limited resource—especially if you have very young children, babies, or older relatives who find standing for long periods uncomfortable. Because of this, we always recommend photographing the most complex group first.
Getting the full extended family shot done right at the beginning means everyone is still fresh, clothes are clean, and the little ones haven’t lost interest yet. Once the big group shot is safely captured, the pressure is off! We can then seamlessly break the family down into smaller, easier groupings while the others relax, chat, and watch.
Book Enough Time for Setup
The golden rule of large family photography is this: more people always equals more setup time. Arranging fifteen people so that everyone is visible, flattering, and naturally posed takes considerably longer than posing a family of four.
We need time to handle children, move people between different combinations, and ensure everyone looks their best. If you are unsure which session length will accommodate your family size and your “must-have” shot list, please contact us at AOU Studio before booking. We can guide you toward the perfect session length to ensure you never feel rushed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should a large family coordinate their outfits?
Coordinating 15+ people can be tricky! The best approach is to pick a unifying colour palette (e.g., navy, cream, and soft grey) and ask each individual family unit to dress within those guidelines. Avoid matching identically, but ensure there are no wildly clashing colours or dominant logos.
Is a studio or an outdoor location better for a large group?
It depends entirely on the size of your group. For very large extended families, outdoor locations often provide the most space and flexibility, allowing children to run around while they wait for their turn in front of the camera. However, our studio can comfortably accommodate moderate-sized extended family groups if you prefer an indoor, weather-proof setting.
What if someone is late on the day?
With large groups, someone is almost always running a few minutes late! We advise telling everyone to arrive 15 minutes before the actual start time. If someone is genuinely delayed, we will start by photographing the smaller household groups that are already present so we don’t waste any time.
