Earlier this summer, we set a new record at MDB Photography, our largest extended family session yet! The Schaerr Family gathered on Hilton Head Island with 33 family members, including 18 grandchildren, and wanted to document everyone together while they were all in one place.


For their Hilton Head extended family photos, we met at Six Oaks Cemetery in Sea Pines, one of those beautiful Lowcountry locations filled with sprawling oak trees, Spanish moss, and plenty of open space for a group this large. It gave us the perfect setting to photograph the entire family together while still having room to create smaller groupings throughout the session.


Extended family sessions are one of my favorite things to photograph on Hilton Head because family vacations often bring together people who live in different cities and states. When everyone is finally in the same place, it's the perfect opportunity to document not just the entire family, but each of the relationships within it.

Large extended family portrait under live oak trees at Six Oaks in Sea Pines, Hilton Head Island.

Photographing 33 Family Members in Sea Pines



Photographing a family of 33 may sound a little chaotic, but having a plan makes all the difference! We started with the entire Schaerr Family together before breaking everyone into smaller groups.


Throughout the session, we photographed the grandparents with all 18 grandchildren, individual families, siblings, couples, generations and plenty of combinations in between. Starting with the largest group allowed us to make sure we captured that must-have photograph while everyone was together, then gradually work our way into the smaller groups. Once we started with individual families, we started with the one with the youngest children, that way, they could head out if they needed to.


Prior to the session, I asked them to send over a list of everyone's names, so I could organize a list, so we don't forget anything. With an extended family this large, organization is key, but I never want the session to feel like we're simply checking photographs off a list. Some of my favorite images happen between the traditional groupings when everyone can relax, interact, and just enjoy being together.

Smiling baby during an extended family photography session on Hilton Head Island.
Family of four smiling on a sandy path under sprawling oak trees draped with Spanish moss.
Grandparents portrait during a Hilton Head Island extended family photography session.
Siblings together beneath the live oaks at Six Oaks in Sea Pines.
Young siblings sitting together during a Hilton Head Island family photography session.
Large family group portrait outdoors under Spanish moss oak trees on a scenic Southern landscape path.
Family of five posing outdoors under a large oak tree with Spanish moss in a lush green park setting.
Multi-generational portrait of the women during a Hilton Head extended family session.

Family Photos at Six Oaks in Sea Pines



Six Oaks was such a beautiful setting for this session. The towering oak trees and Spanish moss gave us that classic Hilton Head and Lowcountry feel, while the open areas gave us plenty of room to arrange a group of 33 without everyone feeling crowded.


One of the things I love about photographing families on Hilton Head is how much variety the island offers beyond the beach. While beach sessions are always beautiful, locations like Six Oaks offer a completely different look and can be a great option for families who love the greenery, oak trees, and Southern scenery of the Lowcountry.


If you're trying to decide where to have your session, I've put together a complete guide to my favorite Hilton Head family photo locations with several options to consider.

Couple embracing under a large moss-draped oak tree in a lush green park, man in white shirt and woman in blue dress.
Large family group of women and girls posing outdoors under oak trees on a scenic dirt path.
Family of seven posing outdoors on sandy path surrounded by lush green trees in warm golden sunlight.
Two young brothers hugging barefoot on a sandy path lined with moss-draped oak trees in a park.
Grandparents surrounded by their grandchildren during an extended family session in Sea Pines.
Family of five posing on a sandy path under sprawling moss-draped oak trees in a lush green Southern landscape.
A laughing baby being held by a woman in a striped dress surrounded by children at an outdoor family gathering.
Family of five posing outdoors under a large oak tree with Spanish moss in a lush green park setting.
Smiling couple posing on a sandy path under large moss-draped oak trees in a scenic outdoor setting.
Three generations of women smiling outdoors under oak trees, mother holding toddler girl in a lush green park setting.

What to Expect During a Large Extended Family Session



When you're coordinating photos for a large extended family, one of the biggest concerns is usually how we're going to photograph everyone without spending the entire session posing for one group photo after another.


Depending on how many are part of the session, we may need to schedule a longer session than our standard 45 minutes to an hour. For example, The Schaeer Family booked an hour and a half.


Before the session, we make a plan for the important family combinations so we can move through them efficiently. We typically begin with the entire extended family and then work our way into smaller groups, making sure grandparents, grandchildren, individual families, couples, siblings, and other meaningful combinations are documented.


Once we have those must-have photographs, there's room for the candid moments too. Those interactions often become some of my favorites from the entire gallery.

Three young blonde boys posing outdoors in casual button-up shirts and khaki shorts, smiling in a lush green park setting.
Five young blonde siblings sit together on a blanket outdoors, hugging a baby in a sunny green park.
Family portrait on a tree-lined path in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island.
Toddler girl in white dress walking on dirt path surrounded by green trees and grass.
Three young children sitting on a white blanket in a sunny park, smiling for a family photo outdoors.
A smiling father holds his happy baby outdoors in a sunlit green park setting.
Couple smiling together under a large oak tree with Spanish moss in a lush green park setting.
A smiling couple stands barefoot on green grass outdoors, woman in denim dress, man in sage shirt and khaki shorts.
A father poses with his two young children on a scenic tree-lined path outdoors.
Two young children, a boy and girl, pose on a sandy path lined with moss-covered oak trees in a park.
Couple smiling on a sandy path surrounded by large oak trees draped with Spanish moss in a lush park.
Smiling couple posing on a sandy path surrounded by moss-draped oak trees in a lush green park.
Family of four posing on a sandy path beneath sprawling moss-draped oak trees in a lush green park.
Smiling couple posing on a scenic tree-lined path with Spanish moss-draped oak trees in a park.
Three generations of women pose on a tree-lined path, wearing white and teal dresses in a lush outdoor setting.
Three smiling men standing together outdoors on a dirt path surrounded by lush green trees.
Group of seven men smiling together on a sandy path under sprawling moss-covered oak trees outdoors.

Planning Hilton Head Extended Family Photos?



If your family is planning a trip to Hilton Head Island, a family session is such a special way to document a time when everyone is finally together. Whether you're traveling with 10 family members or bringing together a group of 30+, we'll help with everything from choosing the right location to organizing your family groupings so the session feels easy and enjoyable.


And if you're staying in Sea Pines, there are beautiful options both on and off the beach depending on the look you envision for your photos.


Planning a Hilton Head family vacation? We'd love to photograph your crew!

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