extended family session

Crystal Cove Multi-Generational Session | Extended Family Photos in Newport Beach, CA | Cori Kleckner Photography | OC Family Photographer

The Pontius Family | Crystal Cove Multi-Generational Session | Extended Family Photos in Newport Beach, CA | Cori Kleckner Photography | OC Family Photographer| Newport Beach Family Vacation Photographer

Extended Family Photos at Crystal Cove State Beach

When families book extended family photos at Crystal Cove, my goal is always the same: to create a full gallery that feels complete, not rushed.

We capture the classic full-group portraits, but we also take the time to document all the smaller groupings that matter just as much. Because years from now, you won’t just want the photo where everyone is standing in a line.

You’ll want Grandma hugging the grandkids. Cousins running together on the sand. Adult siblings laughing like they’re kids again. And each individual family unit having their own portraits, without needing to book a separate session.

One of the biggest concerns families have when booking an extended family session is whether they’ll still get enough photos of their own family. And that concern makes total sense. When you’re coordinating schedules, travel, outfits, and the effort of getting everyone there, you want it to feel worth it.

That’s why I always break the session down intentionally, so nothing gets missed. We photograph the full group, each individual family unit, each set of grandparents with the grandkids, the grandparents together, adult siblings together both with and without their kids, couples together, cousin photos of just the kids, sibling photos, parent and child portraits, individual portraits of each child, and a mix of candid moments throughout.

And while I always do my best to get everyone looking for the more “classic” portraits, my favorite images almost always end up being the candid ones. The in-between moments are the ones that bring the most joy later. I love when clients get their photos back and realize those are the images they cannot stop looking at, because they feel the most like them.

You’re not just getting one big group shot. You’re getting a full story.

Because the truth is, these are the photos your kids and grandkids will keep forever. And I want you to have them beautifully, fully, and in a way that feels like you.

CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Extended Family Photo Session | The Tom Family | Generational Family Photos | Crystal Cove State Beach | Cori Kleckner Photography

Extended Family Photo Session | The Tom Family | Generational Family Photos | Crystal Cove State Beach | Cori Kleckner Photography

If you’re planning an extended family photo session at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach, you might be wondering how it all works. How do we get the big group shot? What combinations will we photograph? Will each family get their own portraits too?

The answer is yes, and I’m very intentional about it. When families book an extended family session with me like this one at Crystal Cove State Park, my goal is always to create a full gallery that feels complete. That means we absolutely capture the full extended family portrait, but we also take the time to photograph all the smaller groupings that matter just as much.

During your session, I’ll guide you through a variety of combinations so nothing important gets missed. We’ll capture grandparents with the grandkids, each individual family unit, cousins together, adult sibling photos, couples if desired, and smaller groupings like aunts and uncles with the kids. I also make sure each family walks away with their own portraits, including parent and child photos and individual images of the kids, so you don’t feel like you only received the big group shot.

Extended family sessions can sound overwhelming, but my approach is organized while still relaxed. Crystal Cove is one of my favorite Newport Beach locations for large family sessions because it gives us beautiful light, open space, and a timeless coastal backdrop, while still allowing kids to move naturally and families to feel comfortable. When you’re coordinating schedules, travel, and outfits, you want it to be worth it, and my goal is for your Crystal Cove extended family session to feel meaningful, easy, and beautifully documented for generations.

CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY

The DeYoung Family | Huntington Beach Family Photography with Grandparents | Beach Family Session | Huntington Beach Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

The DeYoung Family | Beach Family Session

Huntington Beach Family Photographer

Cori Kleckner Photography


The DeYoung Family | Huntington Beach Family Photography with Grandparents | Beach Family Session | Huntington Beach Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography

There’s something truly special about capturing generations together—the laughter, the love, and the unspoken bonds that span decades. The DeYoung family’s session on the sands of Huntington Beach, California, was a beautiful testament to the importance of family legacy.

With soft golden light reflecting off the open coastline, we documented their growing family in a setting that felt both timeless and personal. Including grandparents in family sessions brings a warmth that can’t be replicated. It’s a reminder that these moments—tiny hands grasping larger ones, knowing smiles exchanged between generations—are fleeting but profoundly meaningful.

I love photographing extended family sessions because they allow space for genuine connection. It’s not about stiff posing; it’s about celebrating the little moments—grandparents doting on their grandchildren, parents soaking in this chapter of life, and toddlers exploring the sand between their toes.

If you’re looking for a Huntington Beach family photographer or thinking about capturing your family’s story, I’d love to document it in a way that feels real, effortless, and uniquely yours. Whether it’s the open expanse of Huntington Beach’s sandy shores or another meaningful location, let’s create something that lasts for generations.

CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY

 

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The Artz Extended Family Session | Large Group Family Photos| Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography | Newport Beach Family Photographer

The Artz Extended Family Session | Large Group Family Photos| Orange County Family Photographer | Cori Kleckner Photography | Newport Beach Family Photographer

There’s something incredibly special about capturing the love and connection across multiple generations. The Artz family came together for this beautiful extended family session, and it was a true honor to photograph their timeless bonds. From grandparents to cousins, we captured each unique relationship while documenting the love and laughter they all share.

As an Orange County family photographer, I specialize in creating images that tell the story of your family, no matter how large or small. Extended family sessions are a wonderful opportunity to gather the whole family—grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and everyone in between—to create memories that will last a lifetime.

During extended family sessions, I ensure to capture a variety of groupings, from the entire family together to intimate moments like grandparents with grandchildren, siblings together, and of course, each smaller family unit. The beauty of these sessions is in documenting the bonds that span generations, creating a keepsake that each family member will cherish for years to come.

If you’re looking for an Orange County family photographer to capture your extended family, from multi-generational portraits to candid moments, I’d love to help you create lasting memories.

 

B&W & some BLOOPERS I love ;)

Extended Family Session | The Multi-Generation Family Portrait | The Lee Family | Orange County Family Photographer | Laguna Beach Extended Family Session | Cori Kleckner Photography

Extended Family Session | The Multi-Generation Family Portrait | The Lee Family | Orange County Family Photographer | Laguna Beach Montage Resort Extended Family Session | Cori Kleckner Photography

 

CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY

Large Family Session | Extended Family Session | The Johnston Family | Orange County Vacation Photographer | Capturing the Generations | Cori Kleckner Photography | Newport Beach Family Session |

Large Family Session | Extended Family Session | The Johnston Family | Orange County Vacation Photographer | Capturing the Generations | Cori Kleckner Photography | Newport Beach Family Session | 

 

This sweet family came all the way from Austin, Texas. What a great way to beat the summer heat! We Californians dont realize how spoiled we are! The day of their session we lucked out with a cloudy day, this type of beach weather always offers that soft diffused light which I love! Don’t ever opt out of  your session due to lack of sunshine, cloudy days can make for some great photos too! Plus, Crystal Cove State Beach is such a beautiful gem to shoot at!

CORI KLECKNER PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ORANGE COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MATERNITY, NEWBORN, BABY, FAMILY, CHILDREN’S AND LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY

 
 
 

Orange County Family Photographer

Newport Beach Extended Family Session | Photographing the Generations | Orange County Family Photographer |

Newport Beach Extended Family Session | Photographing the Generations | Orange County Family Photographer |

I LOVE photographing multigenerational and extended families! Vacations, reunions, holidays, and anniversary celebrations are special times and provide the perfect opportunity to be remembered with photos! 

Large Family Session Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach | The Dowden’s Family | Orange County Family Photographer

Large Family Session Shaw’s Cove, Laguna Beach

| The Dowdens Family |

Orange County Family Photographer

So I’m incredibly behind on blogging guys! I have quite a few fresh new sessions hitting the blog soon though! 

This Shaw’s Cove Laguna Beach Session had that soft dreamy sunset light that I just love! The Dowden’s Family came all the way from Indiana to visit our California beaches and I swear they look like Californians, don’t they? Little miss Emily (age 2yr) is about to be a BIG sister! She was full of many expressions and excitement which made it such a joy to capture her! Not to forget to mention her adorable little boho dress her mamma managed to find for our session, I mean how cute are those sleeves?! This sweet girl is so incredibly deeply loved and it shows! Grandma Karen reached out to me to capture the generations of her family and I am so honored to have been able to document their growing family for them while on vacation. I mean, what better way then on vacay right? 

If you have been putting off family photos or trying to get a large session done, now is the time to do it! you wont regret having these tangible memories for years to come with those you love!