Family Photography for Big Groups — Extended Families and Reunions
Updated 27 October 2026
Yes — I photograph big family groups, and I love it. Extended family shoots are some of the most meaningful sessions I do: grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins, even close friends who feel like family. With 12+ years of experience, I have photographed extended families of every size.
Big groups are a different craft from a family of four, though. Here is how I make them work, so everyone is in the photo and nobody spends an hour standing in the sun.
Planning a shoot with the extended family? Tell me the number of people and ages, and I will recommend a location and timing. View packages and pricing.
Get in touch: +27 82 556 7427 · info@riekertcloete.com
How Big a Group Can You Photograph?
Large groups are common over the December holidays, when whole families finally gather in one place — three generations and often several households. For bigger groups I allow extra time and plan the session around the group, not the other way around.
Choose a Location That Works for Everyone
Location matters more with big groups than with any other session. Grandparents and small children cannot walk far, so I choose spots with easy access and a short distance from the parking area. I have several such locations across Cape Town and the Winelands:
- Beaches with easy access — flat, firm sand close to the car park. See Bloubergstrand and Camps Bay.
- Winelands estates — lawns, oak trees and benches, with shade for older relatives. See Stellenbosch and the Winelands.
- Your holiday house or garden — no travelling at all, and often the best option for very young and very old.
For more options, see my guide to family photography locations in Cape Town.
How I Run a Big-Group Session
- Start with the full group. Everyone is fresh, the children have not yet run off, and the grandparents are at their best. This is the photograph that goes on the wall.
- Then work through the combinations. Each household, grandparents with grandchildren, siblings, cousins, the adults only. I keep a list and tick them off, so nothing is forgotten.
- Release people early. Once a group is done, they can go and relax. Nobody should stand around waiting while I photograph the other branch of the family.
- Add something silly. A jumping shot, a funny-faces version. The relaxed and silly photographs are often the favourites — and they break the tension for stiff teenagers.
How to Prepare
- Nominate a family wrangler. One person who knows everyone and can gather them quickly saves 15 minutes.
- Write down the combinations you want. Do this before the day; it is easy to forget the great-aunt who has travelled the furthest.
- Coordinate colours, not outfits. Two or three soft shades across households works better than everyone in identical clothes. For more advice, see my complete family photography guide.
- Tell everyone the time — and add 15 minutes. Someone is always late; build it into the plan.
- Bring water and sun protection. Especially for older relatives and small children in summer.
Photographing Little Ones in a Big Group
With many children in the group, perfect behaviour is not realistic, and I do not expect it. I take the main group photo quickly and then let the children play while I work through the adult combinations. Children are photographed best when they are not being told to stand still — see my notes on why laughter matters in family photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a big-group session take?
A big-group session needs more time than a family of four, and I plan the session around the group, not the other way around. Tell me the numbers when you enquire and I will advise on the right length. The time goes on the full-group photograph first, when everyone is fresh and the children have not yet run off, and then on working through the combinations: each household, grandparents with grandchildren, siblings, cousins and the adults only. I keep a list and tick them off, and I release people early once their group is done, so nobody stands around waiting. Details are on my pricing page, and Riekert Cloete Photography will confirm the length of your session before you book.
Does a larger group change the price?
Group size can affect how much time the session needs, so please tell me the numbers when you enquire. I will confirm everything before you book, so there are no surprises. The more I know about the group, the better I can plan. That means the number of people and their ages, whether grandparents or small children need a location with easy access and a short distance from the parking area, and whether anyone will arrive late or leave early. A family wrangler, one person who knows everyone and can gather them quickly, saves about 15 minutes. Riekert Cloete Photography will recommend a location and timing once I know the details, and the pricing page shows how family sessions are priced.
What if some of the family are only available for part of the time?
That is common. I schedule the full group first, while everyone is fresh and available, and then the combinations that need the people who must leave early come next. Starting with the full group means the photograph that goes on the wall is done early, with the grandparents at their best and the children not yet run off. Then I work through the smaller combinations from a list, so nothing is forgotten. Tell Riekert Cloete Photography in advance who has to leave early and when, and write down the combinations you want before the day, because it is easy to forget the great-aunt who has travelled the furthest. It also helps to tell everyone the start time and add 15 minutes, since someone is always late.
Can we include friends and neighbours?
Absolutely. If they are part of your family’s story, they belong in the photograph. Extended family shoots often include close friends who feel like family, alongside grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews and cousins. Riekert Cloete Photography has photographed extended families of every size, and the approach is the same: start with the full group, then work through the combinations you want, such as each household, siblings, cousins or the adults only. Tell me when you enquire who will be joining, so I can plan the location and the timing, and add them to your list of combinations so nobody is missed. The relaxed and silly photographs, a jumping shot or a funny-faces version, are often the favourites and bring everyone together.
Can you photograph a family reunion or a big birthday?
Yes. For reunions and celebrations I can photograph the group portraits as well as candid moments of the day. Large groups are common over the December holidays, when whole families finally gather in one place, often three generations and several households. For bigger groups I allow extra time and plan the session around the group. A holiday house or garden is often the best location for very young and very old relatives, because there is no travelling at all. Let me know what you have in mind, including the occasion, the number of people and their ages, and Riekert Cloete Photography will advise on timing and the best way to combine the group portraits with the candid moments.
Ready to get the whole family together? Tell me roughly how many people are coming and when.
Riekert Cloete · Cape Town Family Photographer
+27 82 556 7427 · info@riekertcloete.com · WhatsApp
100+ Google reviews · 12+ years in Cape Town
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