There is something incredibly special about photographing a family whose roots run deep.
Last weekend, I had the honor of hanging out with Juliana and her family at the Illinois State University Horticulture Center for an extended family session during golden hour. With four adult siblings and their spouses, nine grandchildren, and generations of memories woven together, this session was a beautiful celebration of family and connection.
What made this session even more meaningful was how it came to be. Juliana’s children gifted her this family photography experience for Christmas after realizing I would be back home this summer. There couldn’t have been a more thoughtful gift: a chance to gather everyone together and preserve this season of life through photographs.
The Horticulture Center provided the perfect backdrop for the evening. As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the gardens glowed with warm light, creating a beautiful setting for both the large family portraits and the smaller groupings. We captured the entire family together, each sibling’s family, the grandchildren, and of course plenty of candid moments in between.
One of my favorite parts of extended family sessions is watching the interactions unfold naturally. The laughter between siblings, the way grandchildren gravitate toward their cousins, and the pride that shines from a matriarch surrounded by the family she helped build…those are the moments that tell the real story.
Extended family sessions are about more than updating family photos. They are about documenting legacy, preserving relationships, and creating images that will become even more meaningful with time. Seeing Juliana surrounded by her children and grandchildren was a beautiful reminder of why these gatherings matter.
To Juliana, Adrienne, and the entire family: thank you for trusting me to capture these memories. It was such a joy spending the evening with all of you, and I hope these images are treasured for generations to come.
xoxox- Brenda
