Extended Family Photos in Harsh Sunlight | Utah Family Photographer

Capturing bright, natural, true-to-color extended family portraits across Salt Lake City, Utah County, and surrounding areas

When most people picture family photos, they imagine soft golden hour light and glowing sunsets. While I absolutely love photographing during those ideal conditions, some of my favorite sessions happen when things don’t go exactly as planned.

This extended family session is a perfect example.

We photographed during bright morning sunlight with very little shade, which created a more challenging lighting situation than I would typically recommend. But with thoughtful planning, intentional positioning, and an understanding of how to work with different lighting conditions, we were able to create images that still feel bright, natural, and full of connection.

As a Utah family photographer, my goal is not only to create beautiful photographs - it’s also to help my clients feel informed, prepared, and confident throughout their entire experience.

Helping Families Make Confident Lighting Decisions

One of the most important parts of my job happens before we ever take a photo.

For this extended family session, we needed to begin a little later in the morning than I would typically recommend. Before finalizing the start time, I explained how the timing would affect the lighting and, ultimately, the look and feel of their images.

While I’m comfortable photographing in a variety of lighting conditions, I always want my clients to understand how different choices can impact their photos so they can make the decision that is best for their family.

After discussing the options, we decided to move forward with the later start time while knowing what to expect and I absolutely love how these images turned out.

One of the biggest parts of creating a great photography experience is trust. My clients are trusting me to guide them through decisions, explain what will work best, and create meaningful images no matter the circumstances.

Photographing Extended Families

Extended family sessions are some of my favorite to photograph because they preserve relationships between multiple generations.

From grandparents with grandchildren to siblings, there are so many connections that deserve to be documented. My goal is always to create a gallery that includes both the classic portraits families want to frame and the genuine moments that show their personalities.

For this session, we focused on a variety of images including:

• Full extended family portraits
• Individual family groupings
• Grandparents and grandchildren
• Natural interactions and movement
• The small details that make each family unique

With larger groups, I always work to create variety so the gallery feels like a complete story rather than a collection of everyone standing in the same pose.

What to Wear for Extended Family Photos

This family did such a beautiful job choosing outfits that coordinated without feeling overly matching.

For extended family sessions, I recommend choosing a color palette rather than having everyone wear identical outfits. The goal is for everyone to feel like themselves while still creating a cohesive look throughout the images.

Some tips for choosing outfits for Utah family photos:

• Choose colors that complement each other instead of matching exactly
• Mix textures like linen, knits, dresses, and layers for added dimension
• Avoid large logos or distracting patterns
• Consider the location and surrounding landscape when choosing colors
• Prioritize comfort, especially for young children

Neutral tones, earthy colors, soft blues, creams, and warm shades tend to photograph beautifully against Utah’s natural scenery.

Creating Beautiful Images in Harsh Light

One of the biggest misconceptions about photography is that harsh sunlight automatically means bad photos.

While direct sunlight can definitely be challenging, it doesn’t mean a session is ruined. Experienced photographers understand how to work with different conditions and make intentional choices to create flattering images.

During this session, I focused on:

• Finding the best angles and positioning for the light
• Choosing backgrounds that kept the images clean and timeless
• Adjusting poses and movement to minimize harsh shadows
• Watching exposure and skin tones throughout the session

My editing style is built around creating images that feel bright, natural, and true-to-color — but the final look starts with the decisions made behind the camera.

A preset or editing style can enhance an image, but understanding light, composition, and exposure is what creates a strong photograph from the beginning.

If you're a photographer who has ever struggled with consistency, it’s worth understanding what’s happening before Lightroom—I break that down here: Why I Focus on Getting the Image Right in Camera (Instead of Relying Only on Presets)

A Beautiful Utah Extended Family Session

This session was such a great reminder that beautiful photographs don’t require perfect conditions.

The most meaningful images come from the people in them — the relationships, laughter, and moments shared together. While lighting plays an important role, the experience and connection will always be what makes an image stand out.

I’m so grateful I get to document families during these seasons of life and create photographs they can look back on for years to come.

I'd love to work with you! Contact me to book your session or follow me on Instagram to see more of my work.

Looking for More Utah Family Photo Inspiration?

If you love bright, natural family portraits, you may also enjoy:

• Albion Basin Wildflower Family Pictures
•  Jordan Pines Winter Family Session
• The Ultimate Guide to Tibble Fork Family Pictures

If you’re a photographer looking to streamline your editing, you can check out my presets for photographers to get the same bright, natural look I use in my sessions.

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