multi-generational Archives - Pittsburgh Maternity, Newborn & Family Photographer

After posting about a December engagement session at McConnell’s Mill, I didn’t think I’d get back out to this lovely state park until closer to spring. But a family wanted to get together for a very special portrait with the parents who started it all, their children and grandchildren. I suggested McConnell’s Mill because it is lovely all year round.
However for a family portrait of 13 in January, we hopefully watched the weather. We were hoping for temperatures above freezing and I was personally hoping for there to be snow because it is so beautiful to photograph portraits in the snow. These two desires were met thanks to a week of snowy skies and a quick rise in temperature before the snow had a chance to melt. What a blessing!

multi-generational family portrait

Here are the three sons. Just because they’re all grown and have families of their own doesn’t mean they are too grown up for a portrait together.

three brothers

And here are the smitten grandparents and their grandchildren.

grandparents and grandchildren

We also did individual family portraits. And I have to say, these kiddos were troopers!

family portait by the mill

family portrait on the lookout

family portrait in front of the covered bridge

And last, but not least, the ladies who organized this family portrait. Well done, ladies!

the ladies who organized this portrait

I am a big fan of backyard family portraits. I think I mentioned that a time or two. So when I got an email for a multi-generational family portrait here in Cranberry, I was thrilled! It was coordinated by a daughter as a gift for her parents during the family’s get-together at the grandparent’s home. Sweet! And she also mentioned that their family has exploded in the last few years with four kids ages 2 and under. Can I just be honest and share that’s a bit intimidating? It is, but I like a challenge.

First I’ll share the whole family as that’s where I like to begin when everyone is fresh and ready to go. I find that the best shot of the whole group is one of the first few images I shoot, so it’s important to have everything ready to go on my end, so that the first few shots are not a loss.

multi-generational family portrait

Then we break off into smaller groupings like this one of the grandparents and their grandchildren. For this one, I ask one or two parents to get behind me and do a little pep rally to get their kiddos looking in my direction. I’d say, they did great!

grandparents and grandkids

And then we go through and do a bunch of different combinations based on the family’s requests.

family portrait

three generations

And when the kids start getting restless and we’ve covered the list of must-have groupings, it’s time to photograph kids being kids, my favorite part!

learning to walk