Key Takeaways

  • Plan for a studio or indoor location if you have only one fixed holiday date to work with. An indoor studio gives you a place for photos when it’s cold, rainy, or snowy.
  • Rent a studio that fits the group. Send your headcount and any seating or access needs. Rental fees and availability depend on the studio and date.
  • Prioritize your groupings. Plan for the full family and smaller portraits. Setup and cleanup count toward the rental time.

Northern Utah · Holiday planning

Planning indoor extended family photos

Getting everyone together is usually the hardest part. If you’ve found a day that works for grandparents, grown kids, and all the cousins, I’d rather have a plan for cold, rain, or snow than spend that week watching the forecast.

Multigenerational extended family posed together in a Salt Lake City studio
An indoor extended family session in Salt Lake City.

Choosing a studio that fits your group

For larger indoor groups, I plan for a separate studio rental with room for everyone to sit or stand and enough space for me to step back for the whole-group photo.

There are studio options across the Salt Lake City area and Northern Utah. I look for a space that fits your group and is convenient for everyone coming. For this session, I rented Studio Elevn in Salt Lake City. It was a good meeting point for me and my clients, and I liked having options beyond a plain white wall. We ended up using the black paneled wall and the couches. They gave us a good spot for all 15 people and worked just as well for the smaller groups. Thanks, Studio Elevn, for giving us a space that fit this family so well.

How studio rental time works

Studio fees and availability depend on the space and date. Our rental time includes setup and cleanup, so let me know ahead of time if anyone needs easy access or a seat. For more day-of details, see my extended family session prep guide.

Family of four sitting together on a studio sofa
A seated portrait gives one household a photo of their own.

Planning the full group and smaller portraits

If there are combinations you especially want, send them to me ahead of time. For this session, my client made a list and we worked right down it. We photographed all 15 together, then did couples, individuals, grandparents with grandkids, and even aunts and uncles with the kids. Having that list made it easy to keep track of who was up next.

Six family members standing together against a dark studio wall
One of the smaller groupings from the same session.
Two adults standing with two children in the studio
A smaller portrait across generations.

Give young kids room to warm up

If a little one needs a minute, we can take another grouping and come back to them. I’ll play a quick game or pull out some peekaboo to get them laughing. A little silliness goes a long way.

When to book holiday family photos

Reach out as soon as you know when everyone will be in town. If there’s only one day that works, we can look for an indoor space up front so the plan doesn’t depend on the forecast.

Two adults and two children standing together beside the studio sofa
Another family grouping from the same session.

Let’s plan your extended family photos

Send me the date, your headcount, and the photos you’re most excited to have. I’ll help you figure out how much space we need.

Ask about your date → See extended family session details