Our Big Family 2022 | Anderson California Photographer

photo collage of large family in fall time in anderson california

You guys…WE DID IT! We got our entire family together for portraits! It was no easy feat, let me tell you. Haha! But with the use of a sturdy tripod and a good checklist of all the shots we needed to capture, it was a success. We also buffered in some extra time to play with my dad’s 1957 Ford Car and my Brother-in-law’s Bobcat excavator! 

The Location

Of course, one of the hardest parts was figuring out a location that worked for everybody. We’re all pretty centralized around Anderson, California so we knew we needed to keep it close to home. And we needed a spot that was a big enough space to fit a large group!

So thanks to Raul and Sarah’s good friend, Clay, we were allowed to use his property and the corner lot on his street! It worked beautifully! There were several oak trees and brush that offered great layers. The light filtering through created an amazing sunset glow. 

About Our Family

“The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.” We are truly blessed and so thankful for our big family. And the fact that we all live close by is awesome! Both brother-in-laws own their own businesses; Raul owns Davis Excavating here in town and is doing amazing! Jonathan owns an IT type business where he contracts with Charter to handle installs across the state. Dad works for Sierra Pacific in Red Bluff and has for over 20 years! Mom works with Matt and I at Ceramic Designs and my mother-in-law is a stay at home nanny for all her grandkids! She’s been an amazing help to all of us! 

Taking your own Family Portraits

I’ve done our own family photos several times and while I don’t completely recommend doing them all the time by yourself…it can be done especially if you’re in a pinch and waited too long to book a photographer. All you need is a sturdy tripod and a timer set on your camera. Set up the entire group and leave a space for yourself! Dial in your settings and take a test shot or two to make sure you like what you see. Then set the timer and RUN to your spot in the group photo! I would recommend setting the timer to at least 10 seconds so you have time to run. Then also set the camera to take 3 consecutive photos in a row in case someone blinks. And that’s it! 

Merry Christmas to you all!!!
Jen

daddy with his two kiddos in black white and tan outfits fall season
black and white of single dad with two young children
single dad holding up his two young kids to the sky one in each arm
grandma and her grandkids
older married couple in western clothing
grandparents with all their grandkids
young family in maroon paisley western outfits
young girl holding square wicker basket wearing cowgirl boots
family of six wearing orange and navy blue outfits
couple creating a heart shape with their hands and arms

Cousin Crew!!! I love these kiddos so much!!

large family group standing in field with oak trees and brush around during fall
older couple laughing together in 1957 ford

I was so happy for my dad when he got this car! He’s wanted a classic for a long time and he’s finally got it! :)

man swept his wife off her feet with excavator

He literally swept her off her feet! Haha!!

So proud of Raul and the business he’s created! He’s living his dream! And my daughter and her best friend which feels like another daughter to me too. Love these girls!

teenager sitting in classic 1957 Ford car green and white

If you liked this post, you may also like:

Our Family Session | 2021

When you’re a photographer, sometimes it’s really hard to get your own family session on the books! Haha! Then there’s the problem of, how am I going to take the pictures when I need to be in them…? There’s a couple options…bring a tripod and run back and forth like a crazy person…hire another photographer to take them for you and do all the editing…OR call your good friend who used to do photography to come take the pics with your own camera! AND the last options is what we ended up doing!

5 BUSINESS TOOLS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

As a creative entrepreneur and business owner, I have found photography business software throughout the years that help us grow our businesses and be successful. Those tools look different for each niche, but today I wanted to share my top 5 favorite photography business software tools that I use on a daily basis that’s helped me tremendously!

A NEVADA CITY, CALIFORNIA DESTINATION ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

We started in front of another big barn that had huge doors that opened wide and hay bales stacked inside. I told Rebekah that it would’ve been perfect for a dance floor! But it was a little too far away from the ceremony site. We then went to another part of the ranch that had these huge redwood trees and the sunlight was glowing through the trees!

Jen Peterson

Hello There! I’m Jen, a wedding and portrait photographer based in Northern California. I love capturing the personal connections between my clients in a bright, fun, and creative way. 

http://jenpetersonphotography.com
Previous
Previous

Winter Family Mini Sessions at the Camden House

Next
Next

Lema Ranch Fall Family Sessions | Redding Photographer