Large family group photo outdoors on green lawn with trees, adults and children holding hands in summer attire.

One of the best things about an extended family session? The kids arrive with built-in playmates—and with five little ones between these two families, this evening was never going to be too serious. Exactly as it should be!


Josie and Jake met me at Cantigny Park with Jake’s brother, Max, and his family for an evening of extended family portraits in Wheaton. We made time for the photographs of everyone together, but we also let the kids play, run, cuddle, and make one another laugh. They gave us sweet smiles, big personalities, and plenty of moments that could never have been planned.


The last time I photographed Josie and Jake’s family, Camila was still on the way. This time, she was right in the middle of everything with her brothers and cousins! It was so much fun seeing how their family has grown since our last session.


Cantigny also happened to have live music and a beer garden that evening. At one point, Max returned with a couple of beers for the dads—and naturally, that deserved a photograph too. Extended family portraits for the kids, a cold drink for the dads…everybody wins!


That is what I love about photographing families in this season. We get the classic portrait where everyone is together, but we also make room for the fun. The photographs don’t only show what everyone looked like; they feel like an evening spent with the people who already know how to make each other laugh.


Josie and Jake, it was so much fun seeing your family again and finally meeting Camila! Max and Amy, I loved getting to meet your family and having everyone together this time. Thank you all for spending such a fun evening with me at Cantigny! Now grab a blanket, snuggle in, and enjoy this sneak peek!

A joyful family of eight poses outdoors on green grass with manicured hedges and trees in the background.
Extended family of adults and children posing together on green lawn with large trees in background.
Large family group portrait outdoors in a lush green park, parents with children smiling together on a sunny day.
Family gathering outdoors on green lawn, two young boys playing in foreground, parents with children standing behind them.
Family with young children playing outdoors in a lush green park, laughing and running together on a sunny day.
A large family group poses together on a lush green lawn surrounded by manicured hedges and trees on a sunny day.
Happy family of four poses on green lawn with lush garden backdrop during golden hour outdoor portrait session.
A joyful family of four poses outdoors, with two young children hugging while parents stand behind them on green grass.
Family of four in a lush green park, parents embracing as two young children run toward them.
A couple shares a kiss while two young children play around them in a lush green park during a family photo session.
A happy family of four poses on green grass outdoors, with lush trees in the background on a sunny day.
Family of four sitting on green grass in a sunny park, laughing and playing together outdoors.
Happy family of four sitting on grass in a sunny park, parents smiling with two young children.
Smiling blonde mother in white off-shoulder dress sitting on blanket in park with young daughter in floral outfit.
A smiling blonde mother in white off-shoulder dress sits on grass with her young daughter in a blue floral dress.
A mother in a white dress dances with her young daughter in a floral outfit on a brick path surrounded by lush greenery.
A smiling blonde woman in a white off-shoulder dress holds hands with a little girl in a floral dress on a brick path.
A young girl in a floral dress twirls joyfully on a brick path surrounded by lush garden hedges.
Smiling young girl with blonde hair wearing a blue floral dress sits on a white blanket outdoors.
Two young children sit together on a white blanket in a lush green park, sharing a sweet moment.
A young boy in a white shirt and a little girl in a blue floral dress hold hands while walking on green grass.
Father and toddler daughter share sweet moment on brick path surrounded by manicured hedges in park.
A smiling man crouches on a brick path holding a young blonde girl in a floral dress, surrounded by lush green hedges.
A father carries his young child on his shoulders in a lush green park on a sunny day.
Smiling blonde boy in white textured button-up shirt standing outdoors in a garden setting.
Smiling couple poses together on brick path in white dress and navy polo for outdoor portrait session.
A man in a navy shirt kisses a smiling blonde woman in a white dress in a lush garden setting.
Couple holding hands and smiling at each other in sunny park, woman in white tiered dress, man in navy polo.
A happy family of five poses on green grass with large trees in a sunny park background.
Family of five posing outdoors on green lawn with lush trees and golden sunlight in background.
Happy family with parents and three young children holding hands and walking together on green lawn in garden.
Happy family with three young children holding hands on green grass in a sunny park with lush trees.
Parents embrace on green grass while two young children play around them in a sunlit park.
A happy couple embraces on green grass while their three young children play around them in golden light.
Family of five holding hands on green lawn at golden hour with sunlit trees in background.
Black and white photo of family holding hands walking through lush park in warm sunlight.
Family of five walking hand-in-hand through a lush green park at golden hour, with sunlight filtering through tall trees.
Family joyfully reuniting outdoors, parents hugging children on lush green lawn with manicured garden hedges in warm sunlight.
Two men toasting with orange drinks on a green lawn in a sunny park, smiling at each other in casual summer outfits.
Happy family of five sitting on blanket in sunny park, parents with three young children smiling.
Happy family of five sitting on grass in a park, laughing together on a sunny day.
Smiling family of five relaxing on white blanket in green park on a bright sunny day.
Black and white photo of mother sitting on grass kissing young daughter in tender outdoor moment.
Mother sitting on white blanket in park receiving kiss from young boy in golden sunset light.
Smiling mother in white dress sitting on blanket in garden with young son in white shirt on sunny day.
Father posing with three young children on a brick walkway in a sunny green park setting.
Father lifts laughing toddler daughter high in air against bright sky in lush green park setting.
Father and young son smiling together on a brick path surrounded by green hedges and trees.
Laughing toddler girl in blue floral dress cuddles with older brother on white blanket.
Three young children sitting on a white blanket on green grass in a sunny park, smiling for a family photo.
Young boy in white linen shirt and khaki shorts smiling outdoors in a garden setting.
Five children walk hand-in-hand through a lush garden with metal arched trellises and blooming roses.
Family with two children laughing and playing together in a rose garden at sunset.
Family of four poses in a rose garden, parents smiling with two young toddlers on a brick path.
Black and white photo of a mother lovingly kissing her young child in a garden setting.
Family of four sitting together on a garden bench under a metal arbor at sunset.
Happy family of five sits together on garden bench under metal arch surrounded by roses.
Family of four playing and spinning in a beautiful rose garden with arched trellises at dusk.
A family of four holds hands and walks together along a brick garden path surrounded by lush greenery.
Joyful family walks along garden path at sunset as young boy runs toward camera with excitement.
A family of five in neutral tones poses together in a beautiful garden at golden hour.
Black and white photo of romantic couple smiling at each other in outdoor garden setting.
Couple in coordinating white outfits holds hands while posing in blooming rose garden at golden hour.
Couple in white outfits walk hand in hand through rose garden at golden hour sunset.
A couple dances joyfully in a garden at sunset, the woman in a white dress being twirled by a man in casual attire.
Two smiling women in floral and white dresses pose together in a beautiful garden setting at golden hour.
Smiling couple walking together in a rose garden at golden hour, woman in floral dress.
A man lifts a smiling blonde woman under a metal garden arch surrounded by lush green hedges.
Couple shares romantic embrace in lush garden at sunset, woman smiling over shoulder at camera.

Thank you again for trusting me to photograph both of your families! I hope you love this first look at everything we created together. There are so many more sweet and playful moments still to come, and I cannot wait to share the full gallery with you!

Thanks for reading,

Handwritten xoxo, Cassie signature in elegant cursive script on white background.

Are you hoping to get your own extended family together for updated photographs? I would love to help make it happen! Learn more about my family portrait experience or reach out to start planning your session.