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

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