There’s something extra special about getting the whole family together—and when that gathering happens in the mountains of Vail, Colorado, it deserves to be documented.
Whether your family is traveling to Vail for a vacation, celebrating a milestone, gathering grandparents and grandchildren, or simply taking advantage of a rare weekend when everyone is in the same place, an extended family photography session in Vail is the perfect way to preserve those memories.
As a Vail family photographer, I love photographing extended families because these sessions are about more than getting everyone to look at the camera. They’re about documenting the relationships between generations—the grandparents laughing with their grandchildren, cousins running around together, siblings reconnecting, and all of those little moments that happen when your entire family is together.
And Vail provides one pretty incredible backdrop.
Why Choose Vail for Extended Family Photos?
Vail is one of those places where you hardly have to try to create a beautiful photograph.
From towering Rocky Mountain peaks and evergreen forests to golden aspen groves, Gore Creek, wildflower-filled meadows, and the charming architecture of Vail Village, there are endless options for beautiful family photography in Vail, Colorado.
The best part? Your session doesn't have to feel stiff or overly posed.
I want your family photos to feel like your family.
That means we'll mix traditional portraits with candid moments, movement, laughter, individual family groupings, and plenty of opportunities for the kids to simply be kids.
Vail's mountain scenery gives us the beautiful backdrop, but the connection between your family is what makes the photographs meaningful.
Extended Family Photography Is About More Than One Family Portrait
When you're photographing a large family, there are so many relationships worth documenting.
A typical extended family photography session might include:
- The entire family together
- Grandparents with all of their grandchildren
- Each individual family unit
- Grandparents with their children
- Grandparents with their grandchildren
- Siblings together
- Cousins together
- Couples
- Individual children
- Candid moments and smaller groupings
This is one of the biggest reasons I recommend an extended family photo session in Vail rather than trying to squeeze everyone into a handful of traditional poses.
There are so many stories within one family.
Your children may not remember the exact details of the vacation years from now, but they'll have photographs showing them running through the mountains with their cousins, sitting next to Grandma, laughing with Grandpa, and being surrounded by the people who love them most.
Those are the photographs that become family history.
The Best Locations for Extended Family Photos in Vail
One of my favorite parts of being a Vail, Colorado family photographer is helping families choose a location that fits their group.
Vail offers a huge variety of scenery, and the best location depends on your family, the season, the ages of your children, and the overall look you're hoping for.
Vail Village
If you love the classic Vail aesthetic, Vail Village offers charming pedestrian paths, bridges, architecture, and mountain scenery.
It's especially fun for families who want a combination of beautiful portraits and a little bit of the Vail vacation experience incorporated into their photographs.
Gore Creek
For a more natural Colorado feel, areas around Gore Creek offer trees, water, trails, and beautiful mountain scenery.
The creek also gives kids something to interact with, which can help keep a large family session relaxed and playful.
Aspen Groves
If you're visiting Vail in the fall, the golden aspens are hard to beat.
Late September and early October can bring some of the most spectacular scenery of the year, with glowing yellow aspen trees creating a quintessential Colorado backdrop.
Peak fall color varies each year, so flexibility with your session date can be helpful if fall foliage is your priority.
Mountain Meadows & Scenic Overlooks
For families who want those big, sweeping Colorado mountain views, we can also choose a location with open meadows and panoramic scenery.
These locations are particularly beautiful during golden hour when the light becomes soft and warm.
The key with a large group is choosing a location that is not only beautiful but also practical. We want grandparents to be comfortable, little legs to have room to move, and everyone to have an enjoyable experience.
When Is the Best Time for Extended Family Photos in Vail?
Vail is beautiful year-round, and every season brings something different to your family photographs.
Summer offers green meadows, wildflowers, warm temperatures, and classic mountain scenery.
Fall brings the famous golden aspens and warm autumn colors.
Winter creates a completely different look with snow-covered mountains and cozy Colorado vibes.
Spring can be a quieter time in the mountains and offers its own unique combination of snow, evergreens, and emerging greenery.
For outdoor family photography, I typically love the softer light around sunrise or sunset. Golden hour can create gorgeous, warm light across the mountains and is especially beautiful for large family portraits.
For extended families, however, the "perfect" time isn't always the most important consideration. If Grandma and Grandpa are happiest in the morning or your toddlers absolutely need an earlier schedule, we'll build the session around your family.
What Should You Wear for Extended Family Photos in Vail?
One of the questions I hear most often is:
"What should our family wear for photos?"
My biggest recommendation is to coordinate rather than match.
Think about a color palette that works naturally with the Colorado landscape—creams, tans, soft blues, muted greens, warm browns, rust, denim, and other earthy tones can photograph beautifully against the mountains.
Layers and textures are also your friend, especially in Vail where temperatures can change quickly.
For a large family, I recommend choosing a few complementary colors and spreading them throughout the group rather than putting everyone in identical outfits.
And don't forget comfortable shoes!
Even the most beautiful mountain location isn't worth miserable feet—especially when you're photographing toddlers, grandparents, and everyone in between.
How to Make a Large Family Photo Session Feel Natural
Let's be honest: getting a large group of people organized for a photo can sound a little chaotic.
That's where having an experienced extended family photographer in Vail makes a difference.
I don't expect everyone to stand perfectly still and smile at the camera for an hour.
Instead, we'll work through a combination of organized group photographs and natural interactions.
We'll get the important "everyone looking at the camera" photograph—but then we'll loosen things up.
We'll walk.
We'll laugh.
We'll play with the kids.
We'll photograph grandparents with their grandchildren.
We'll capture the little moments happening between the big ones.
The goal is for your session to feel less like a photo shoot and more like an hour spent together as a family—with beautiful photographs happening along the way.
Planning an Extended Family Session During Your Vail Vacation
If your family is traveling to Colorado, an extended family photo session can be one of the most meaningful things you schedule during your Vail vacation.
Rather than trying to get everyone together for another dinner or activity, set aside an hour to document the people who traveled all this way to be together.
And don't worry about everyone being "photogenic."
You don't need to know how to pose.
You don't need perfectly behaved children.
You don't need everyone to be comfortable in front of a camera.
That's my job.
I'll guide you through the session, help with posing and group combinations, and keep things moving so we can capture a wide variety of photographs without spending the entire session standing in one spot.
Your Vail Family Vacation, Preserved
Years from now, you'll probably remember the big things about your family trip to Vail.
The house you stayed in.
The hikes.
The dinners.
The skiing.
The kids playing together.
But photographs have a way of bringing you back to all of the little things you might otherwise forget.
The way Grandpa held your daughter's hand.
The cousins laughing together.
The way everyone looked when you finally got the entire family in one place.
Those are the moments I want to preserve.
As a Vail family photographer serving families visiting Colorado, I love creating photographs that feel timeless, natural, and full of connection—not just another collection of everyone smiling at the camera.
If you're planning an extended family vacation in Vail, Colorado, I'd love to help you plan a family photography session that documents the people, relationships, and memories that make your time in the mountains so special.
Planning Family Photos in Vail?
I'm an extended family photographer in Vail, Colorado, serving families visiting Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, Edwards, and the surrounding Colorado mountain communities.
Whether you're planning a multigenerational family vacation, a milestone celebration, or simply want updated photographs while everyone is together, let's create something you'll love having on your walls for years to come.
Ready to plan your Vail family photos? Get in touch with Alicia Rose Media to start planning your session.