As a Union Pier family photographer, some of my favorite sessions happen when families gather together for a vacation along the Lake Michigan shoreline. This extended family session took place at a beautiful beach house near Union Pier, Michigan, where multiple generations spent the week making memories together. Rather than meeting at a crowded beach, we documented their family in a place that already held so much meaning—a home filled with laughter, traditions, and time spent together.

Why I LOVE Extended Family Sessions

Extended family sessions are about so much more than getting everyone to smile at the camera.

Of course, we always make time for the classic family portraits that grandparents love to frame and display in their homes. But some of my favorite images from this session were the candid moments that happened naturally throughout our time together.

The grandparents laughing together on the couch. A curious toddler exploring the house. Siblings teasing each other. Cousins playing together. These are the moments that tell the story of a family exactly as they are right now.

Years from now, those little interactions often become the most treasured photographs.

The Perfect Location: A Family Beach House Near Union Pier

When families visit Southwest Michigan, many automatically think of beach photos. While beach sessions are beautiful, I always encourage families to consider locations that hold personal meaning.

This family’s beach house provided the perfect setting for their extended family session. The bright windows, cozy gathering spaces, and familiar surroundings helped everyone feel comfortable from the moment we started.

For young children especially, being photographed in a familiar environment often leads to more relaxed and natural expressions.

The house itself also became part of the story. It’s a place where birthdays are celebrated, holidays are shared, and generations gather together year after year.

Capturing Multiple Generations Together

One of the most important parts of any extended family session is making sure we document every combination possible.

During this session, we captured:

• The entire extended family together
• Grandparents with grandchildren
• Individual family units
• Adult siblings together
• Couples portraits
• Grandparents alone
• Candid interactions throughout the home

These groupings create a well-rounded gallery and ensure every family member walks away with meaningful images they’ll treasure.

The Value of Candid Family Photography

Some of my favorite photographs from this session happened between poses.

A grandmother playing with her grandchild.

Family members bursting into laughter.

Children exploring and interacting with relatives.

These unscripted moments often become the images that families connect with most because they reflect real life. As a lifestyle family photographer, I want families to remember not only what they looked like, but also what it felt like to be together.

Planning an Extended Family Session in Union Pier, Michigan

If you’re planning a family vacation in Union Pier, New Buffalo, Lakeside, Grand Beach, or anywhere along Southwest Michigan’s shoreline, an extended family session is a wonderful way to preserve the memories.

Many of my clients choose to schedule photos during annual family vacations when everyone is already gathered together. Whether your family is staying at a beach house, lake house, Airbnb, or rental property, those locations often make beautiful and meaningful backdrops for photos.

Not every session has to take place on the beach. Some of the most memorable galleries come from documenting families in the places where they spend their time together.

Looking for a Union Pier Michigan Extended Family Photographer?

If you’re planning a family vacation in Union Pier, Michigan or the surrounding Southwest Michigan area, I’d love to help document your family’s story.

I photograph extended families throughout Union Pier, New Buffalo, Lakeside, Grand Beach, Harbert, and St. Joseph, creating relaxed and natural images that celebrate the people you love most.

Whether you’re gathering at a family beach house, spending the week at a vacation rental, or hoping for sunset photos along Lake Michigan, I’d love to help you preserve these memories for years to come.

Chaeney Layne Photography specializes in family, extended family, newborn, maternity, and couples photography throughout Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana.