"It’s the first time we’ve been together in years": why you need to photograph your extended family this Christmas (from a Nelson family photographer)

When was the last time your whole family was together?

How often do all the generations in your family gather in one place?

Grandparents, grandkids, and maybe even great-grandparents. These moments do not happen as often as we would like, and when they do, they are gone in a heartbeat.

For me, the last time my mum, grandmother and I were together was for my birthday in 2018. And that was the last time I saw my grandmother (I called her Bunny Fred). She passed away only a few days later.

We often think there will be another summer, another Christmas, another birthday when everyone is there. But time moves faster than we realise. Kids grow, grandparents age, and families shift and change. So many people later wish they had taken more photos when everyone was still around, when life was full and noisy and together.

The holiday season is one of those rare times when the whole family gathers. Partners, cousins, Uncle Bob (surely every family has an Uncle Bob?!). It is the perfect opportunity to capture the laughter, connection, and love that make your family yours.

Real memories, not awkward poses

Traditional family photos usually mean lining up, smiling on cue, and hoping everyone is looking the right way. That is not what real family life looks like.

Documentary photography is different. There is no pressure, no posing, and no need to make the kids behave perfectly. Instead, it is about letting life unfold naturally and capturing the real moments as they happen. The hugs that last a bit longer, the cousins playing in the backyard, the laughter around the dinner table, the quiet chats between generations.

These are the moments that tell the true story of your family. The ones you will look back on and remember exactly how it felt to be there.

A gift that means something

Photographing your extended family is not just about getting everyone in the frame. It is about creating something that matters.

For grandparents, it is seeing the legacy they have built. For parents, it is preserving a chapter of time that will never come again. For children, it is knowing where they come from and seeing the love that surrounds them.

These photos become treasured heirlooms, passed down and shared long after the gathering is over. They are a reminder of how it felt to belong.

Don’t wait for someday

Families often wait for the perfect time to book photos. When everyone is free, when the weather is right, when the house is tidy, when we have lost a few kilos.

But the truth is, life is not waiting.

Real life is happening right now: amongst the full tummies of Boxing Day, the sandy towels at the batch and the lazy backyard BBQ's. These are the moments worth remembering.

You will never regret having photos of the people you love, just as they are today.

Preserve your real family story with a Nelson family photographer

If your family is gathering in Nelson or Tasman this holiday season, it is the perfect time to capture those connections before everyone heads back to their own corners of the world.

Real Family Photography is a Nelson family photographer with a difference. I'm Sarah and I provide documentary photography to families who hate awkward poses. See more on my website.

Lots of love, Sarah XX