An Extended Family Reunion in a Manson Field: The Tarvin Family Session
When the Whole Family Travels For This.
There is a particular energy when a family doesn't get to be in the same place very often. You can feel it. Most of the Tarvin crew made the trip from Ohio, which meant this wasn't a quick stop on a Tuesday, it was the reason everyone was together. Four siblings, all grown, spread across the country, standing shoulder to shoulder in the grass like no time had passed at all.
Some sessions feel less like a photoshoot and more like crashing the best family reunion you have ever been invited to. That was the Tarvin family in a wide open field in Manson, where four adult siblings (most of them flown in from Ohio) brought their partners and the newest addtion together for an afternoon of portraits that turned into something a lot more fun.
We started with the big group, because when you have this many people who traveled this far, you get everyone together first while the energy is high. The open field gave us those sweeping mountain backdrops, and honestly this part of Manson in the early summer does most of the work for me.
Yes, It Was Full Sun (and It Still Worked)
I will be honest with you: it was full sun. If you have ever booked a photographer, you have probably heard us pray for clouds or push for golden hour. But this field has these gorgeous mature trees scattered through it, and they gave us exactly the pockets of shade we needed. We tucked the family under the branches for the softer, glowy portraits and used the open light when we wanted those big bright field shots. Proof that the right location can save a sunny afternoon.
Breaking Into the Little Families
Once we had the big group, we split off into each little family. This is where baby Oaklynn steals the whole show. There were sweet quiet moments, a few sunglasses, and some cute daddy-daughter snuggles. We did the couples too, and the sibling pairs, and the little clusters that naturally form when a family this close gets together. Everybody got their moment.
The Moment They Recreated From 15 Years Ago
Here is the part that made my whole day. The four siblings laid down in the grass, heads together, faces up to the camera, recreating a pose they did 10 to 15 years ago. They remembered it, they wanted to do it again, and watching them get into position while laughing about the original was the kind of thing you cannot plan or pose your way into. It just happens when a family genuinely loves being together.
They also came prepared to have fun. The kids had these hats from an Etsy seller (I am tracking down the link), sunglasses all around, and a looseness to the whole afternoon that you just cannot fake. There was a lot of laughing. The brothers even did their own thing.
By the end, we had everything: the formal big group with the mountains, the soft family moments in the shade, the babies, the couples, and the goofy stuff that will probably be everyone's favorite. That is exactly how an extended family session should go.
Planning Your Own Extended Family Session
If your family is scattered across the country and you are finally getting everyone in the same place, a session like this is one of the best things you can do with that time. A few things I always tell families: pick a location with shade options (it saves us on sunny days), bring the fun stuff (hats, sunglasses, anything that loosens everyone up), and think about any meaningful poses or moments you want to recreate. Those are always the keepers.
You can see more of my work on the portrait photography page, get to know me a little on the about page, or browse more recent sessions over on the blog.
When you are ready to get your own family in front of the camera, I would love to hear from you. Reach out here and let's find a date.