Grandparents, Grandbabies, and Summer in Chelan

There’s something really special about extended family sessions in Chelan, especially when they bring together multiple generations in one place for a few slow summer days together.

This session with the Buckmier family felt exactly like that.

Between grandparents, siblings, cousins, babies being passed around, and lots of joking around between the brothers, the whole evening felt relaxed from the start. It was their first time having professional family photos done outside of weddings, which honestly made documenting these moments feel even more meaningful.

One of my favorite parts of photographing extended families is watching the little dynamics unfold naturally, grandparents soaking up time with their grandbabies, cousins meeting in the middle of the chaos, and all the in-between moments that end up becoming the memories people treasure most years later.

For this session, we chose a location overlooking the Columbia River with wide open views and easy access for family members of all ages. When families visit Chelan for reunions or vacations, I always try to help choose locations that are both beautiful and practical, especially when little kids and grandparents are involved. The best locations aren’t always the hardest ones to reach.

The evening light, soft colors, and relaxed energy made this one feel especially timeless. I loved seeing the cousins together and getting to document such a sweet season for the whole family.

Extended family sessions have become some of my absolute favorite sessions to photograph in Lake Chelan because they preserve something that rarely happens often enough, everyone together in the same place at the same time.

If you’re planning a family reunion, summer trip, or vacation in Lake Chelan and want updated extended family photos while everyone is together, I’d love to help create something natural, connected, and easy for the whole family to enjoy.

Planning a family trip or reunion in Lake Chelan?
I’d love to help you document this season in a way that feels relaxed, connected, and true to your family.