Extended Family Beach Photos in St. Augustine with Grandparents and Cousins

Family Session

Jul 19

*originally published and updated on Jun 19, 2022 and updated July 2025.

family dressed in white and blue with grandparents on a dune at the beach on a hazy cloudy evening embraced

Planning an Extended Family Beach Session in St. Augustine

Extended family sessions require a bit more intention than a typical family session, especially with multiple households and young children. Before your session, I send a short questionnaire so I can understand your family dynamic, desired groupings, and what matters most to you.

This allows me to gently guide the session so we capture a mix of full group portraits, smaller combinations, and the in-between moments that often become favorites.

extended family holding hands while walking down a dune with grey cloudy skies behind them

daughters dressed in blue and white embracing mom and dad and laughing while standing on a dune near Lido towers

What to Wear for Extended Family Beach Photos

Once we get all of the technical stuff out of the way, I can help you to plan your entire family’s wardrobe. This can be the most challenging part of a family photo session, but I am here to help guide you. I can help you choose a color palette and I can even send over suggestions for outfits. You also have exclusive access to Style & Select, which will help you to curate a wardrobe. My goal is to make the process as easy and stress free as possible for you. This family utilized all of the above options and looked absolutely fantastic on the day of their beach family photo session.

family embraced and laughing while ocean aves crash on them and the sun is beaming on them at sunset

Best Time for Beach Family Photos in Northeast Florida

The best light for beach sessions is always at sunrise or just before sunset. These times offer softer light, fewer crowds, and a more relaxed experience for families.

Weather can shift quickly along the coast, but even cloudy skies or passing rain can create some of the most beautiful, atmospheric images.

The weather was completely whacky on the evening of this session ranging from dense cloudy skies, to hazy skies, to a drizzle of rain, a sudden burst of golden sunlight and a rainbow replete with a pink sky. I can work in all of these lighting conditions and as you can see from the photos, you can still get gorgeous images in all of the above situations. In fact, cloudy skies are becoming my favorite type of weather to photograph families in. I just love the moody look of the images and the dense clouds add such visual interest. I was pleasantly surprised when the sun made its appearance because I love sunsets and photographing families in them.

You can learn more about cloudy day beach photos here.

grandparents embraced while standing on a dune at sunset and family hugging in the dunes

Sibling boys seated on a jetty with dark moody clouds behind then and climbing on the jetty with ocean waves behind them

Why Include Grandparents in Family Photos

Some of the most meaningful images from extended family sessions are the quiet moments between grandparents and grandchildren.

These relationships change quickly over time, and having photographs that preserve that connection becomes something families treasure for years to come.

This extended family session was a blast and I made sure to capture both posed images and more organic and natural images as well. Although most grandmas want those traditional posed images, I find they are often grateful to have the more natural and interactive images as well.

grandparents embracing grandsons on the beach while seated on a jetty

What Types of Images are Captured During a Large Group photo session?

With a group this size, I move through the session in a way that feels natural rather than overly structured. We start with everyone together, then gradually shift into smaller groupings so each family and relationship has space to be seen.

In between those moments, I’m always watching for the quieter interactions — a grandparent holding a hand, cousins laughing together, parents stepping back and taking it all in. Those are often the images that end up meaning the most.

adult sisters dressed in blue and white holding hands while seated on a jetty on the beach and laughing

sibling boys twilring while the rest of the family watched in the background on the beach

Time For Playful Images with the Kids

The beach is especially helpful for sessions with younger children. There’s room to move, explore, and let their personalities come through without feeling confined or overly directed.

Rather than expecting everyone to stand still, I build in space for movement and interaction so the session feels relaxed for both kids and adults. That’s usually when the most genuine expressions start to unfold.

Learn more about photo sessions with kids here.

Learn More about Extended Family Photos

mother dressed in white holding son who is kissing her on the beach with sunset in background

aunts playing with their nephews on the beach

Plenty of Time Built in for In Between and Playful Moments

With larger groups, there’s often a concern that things will feel chaotic or rushed. I approach these sessions with a calm, steady pace so everyone has time to settle in.

I’ll guide you when needed, but I’m also allowing space for natural interaction so the images feel like you — not overly posed or forced.

family dressed in white and blue with young boys embraced on a jetty with stormy clouds behind them

grandparents embraced and kissing with rainbow behind them and pink sky on the beach

Looking for Extended Family Photos in Northeast Florida?

I photograph extended families throughout:

• St. Augustine

• Ponte Vedra Beach

• Jacksonville

• Nocatee

Sessions are designed for larger groups and include a full gallery of edited images.

You can learn more about extended family sessions or begin planning by clicking the button below.

Contact Me

extended family sessions

Teresa Geraghty

I’m a family and newborn photographer based in Ponte Vedra, Florida, serving St. Augustine, Nocatee, Jacksonville, and the surrounding coastal areas. My work is centered on connection, emotion, and the beauty of real life. Whether you live here locally or are visiting, my goal is to create a relaxed, meaningful experience that allows you to simply be together while I quietly document the moments you’ll want to remember.

https://www.teresageraghtyphotography.com