When this blended family reached out about updating their family photos, I was all in. We planned to meet at the beautiful Anthem Golf & Country Club for a golden hour session, right at the tail end of the day, when the light is soft and golden and the Arizona heat finally starts to give us a break.
They hadn’t had professional family photos taken in over a decade, and this session was a long-overdue celebration of connection. This wasn’t just a simple shoot. It was a large family photo session, with grown children, couples, and even one recently engaged pair (yes, we made sure to capture a ring shot!). Sessions like this are such a gift, especially when everyone is together in one place, which doesn’t happen all that often.
We focused on full group photos and a few special breakdowns: sisters together, siblings side by side, and each couple in their own little moment. These groupings felt so natural and joyful, and the entire session flowed beautifully.
As a Phoenix family photographer, I’ve learned a few tricks when it comes to photographing in Arizona’s warmer seasons. The best one? Timing. You don’t have to sweat it out midday. You just schedule the session for the very last hour before sunset, the golden hour, and magic happens. It was 100 degrees on this day, and honestly, not one person looked overheated. The light was soft, the breeze kicked up just enough, and the energy was all love and fun.
If you’ve been holding off on photos because of the heat or the idea of coordinating a big group…don’t stress. Large family sessions are not only doable, they’re full of life, laughter, and connection. And they are so worth it.
This is your reminder to gather your people and get in front of the camera.
Whether it’s been ten years or just one, there’s something really special about preserving this chapter.