If you’re thinking about booking a family photoshoot in Santa Barbara, you may be wondering whether to choose a family session or an extended family session. While both are designed to capture beautiful memories, they serve different purposes and offer unique experiences.


So, what’s the difference? And why does it matter? Let’s break it down so you can choose the best session for your family.

What is a Family Session?


A family session is designed for immediate family members—typically parents and children. These sessions take place outdoors in Santa Barbara’s stunning natural backdrops, such as the beach at golden hour or beneath the shade of an ancient oak tree.


The goal isn’t to capture stiff, posed shots but rather to document the love, connection, and real moments that make your family special. I’ll guide you into natural, candid interactions, but don’t worry—I always capture a classic group shot at the beginning of the session before we move into more relaxed, lifestyle photography.


What’s Included:


✔ A one-hour session in a beautiful Santa Barbara location

✔ Candid, natural interactions—less posing, more play

✔ A mix of group shots and individual moments

✔ All high-resolution digital files (color & black & white)

✔ A complimentary luxury photo album

✔ A private online gallery for easy viewing & sharing


📌 Who is it for? Families who want a personal, intimate session capturing their love and connection in a relaxed, artistic way.

What is an Extended Family Session?


An extended family session is perfect for large family gatherings, whether it’s a milestone birthday, a family reunion, or just the rare occasion when everyone is in town together. These sessions include multiple family households—grandparents, siblings, cousins, and all the in-betweens!


Because of the larger group, these sessions require more time and planning to ensure we capture all the different family dynamics. We’ll start with a big group shot, then break into smaller family units, grandparents with grandkids, sibling groups, cousin shots, and plenty of candid moments in between.


What’s Included:


✔ A 1.5-hour session to allow for more groupings

✔ Large group shots plus mini family sessions within the shoot

✔ Grandparents with grandkids, adult siblings together, cousin shots & more

✔ A mix of posed & candid photos to capture the full family dynamic

✔ All high-resolution digital files (color & black & white)

✔ A luxury photo album for each participating household

✔ A private online gallery for easy viewing & sharing


📌 Who is it for? Families who want to document their entire family together, capturing generations, relationships, and special connections in one session.

Why Does It Matter?


The biggest difference between these two types of sessions is the number of people included and the type of experience you want.


✅ Book a Family Session if…

• You want a session focused on your immediate family’s love and connection

• You prefer a relaxed shoot that captures everyday moments

• You love intimate, storytelling images featuring just your family


✅ Book an Extended Family Session if…

• You want to capture generations together and create a legacy of images

• You want multiple groupings of family members documented

• You love the idea of each family household receiving their own custom photo album

Choosing the Right Session for Your Family


If you’re unsure which session is right for you, think about the memories you want to preserve.


Do you want a quiet, intimate session that captures your family’s love in a natural way? A family session is perfect.


Do you want to document your extended family all together, creating heirloom-worthy images of generations? An extended family session is the way to go.


No matter which you choose, my goal is to create a relaxed, joyful experience that results in timeless images you’ll cherish forever.


📸 Let’s plan your Santa Barbara family session! Click the button below to get started.

Group wearing coordinated outfits poses together at sunset in a rustic outdoor setting with warm autumn lighting.
A joyful gathering of people laughing together in a field during golden hour.
Two groups of casually dressed people gather outdoors in a desert-like setting on a sunny day.
Group gathered together outdoors sharing laughter and smiles during a sunset photoshoot.
A pair in a desert setting - one wearing a green dress as another in white and brown boots smiles warmly outdoors.
Two couples standing together outdoors at sunset wearing casual fall attire in warm earth tones.
Two people share an emotional embrace while laughing outdoors at sunset.
A playful candid moment captured of a child laying back and laughing during sunset.
Three people laugh together outdoors at sunset wearing coordinating red, gray and white outfits in a natural setting.
Three friends share laughter and smiles while posing together in a desert landscape at sunset.
A group of friends laughing together outdoors during golden hour sunset light wearing casual clothing.
A couple embraces and laughs together during a warm sunset photoshoot in a natural outdoor setting.
A playful couple laughs together outdoors during a sunset photo session in a desert landscape.
A parent and child in floral patterned dresses share a tender moment at sunset in an outdoor setting.
Joyful family moment captured outdoors at golden hour on dusty terrain in warm sunlit setting.