There is something so incredible about photographing an extended family session and visually mapping out where a family’s story began versus where it is today. I had the absolute joy of doing just that with this wonderful crew during their Colorado getaway!

We met up at Prospector Campground in Dillon, Colorado, which features some of the best panoramic mountain views and water backdrops in Summit County. It’s the perfect spot for a large group because it gives you that epic, rugged Colorado feel without requiring a massive trek to get to it—a total win when you’re coordinating multiple schedules and young kids!

This session was all about celebrating three beautiful generations. At the heart of it all were the grandparents—the beautiful beginning of this family story. Surrounding them were their three sons, along with each of their own growing families. Seeing the three brothers all grown up with their own wives and children, standing alongside their parents, was just incredible to witness.

Photographing a big extended family can sometimes feel like a game of musical chairs, but this group was a blast. We broke the session down into a perfect mix of groupings: the grand, full-family legacy portrait, a sweet shot of just the original parents with their three adult sons, individual family breakdowns, and of course, a portrait of all the cousins together!

The absolute win of the afternoon was catching that perfect golden hour glow right as the sun began to dip behind the peaks. The light hitting the mountains created the most stunning backdrop while the grandkids laughed and the adults caught up. My favorite moments to capture were the candid ones in between the posing—the grandparents looking out at the massive, loving legacy they built, and the brothers just being brothers again in the mountains.

We ended the day with a gorgeous gallery that perfectly captures this chapter of their family history. Thank you all for trusting me to document your beautiful family!

Enjoy a look into this golden afternoon in Dillon!