Five sessions, five grandbabies, and we finally made it to Notre Dame!! 💙☘️

I’ve been photographing the Dance family since 2022, and this session was one we had talked about since the very beginning. Getting everyone together on campus, with their Notre Dame outfits and a few more babies than we started with, was so much fun!

If you’re looking for a Notre Dame family photographer and wondering what a session could look like with your own crew, this is such a sweet example. A little exploring, some photos with everyone together, lots of snuggles, and plenty of time for the kids’ personalities to come out.

From one grandbaby to FIVE

The first time I met the Dance family, we were at the sunflower field. I was still pretty new to running my photography business full time and Lily was the only grandbaby.

Now there are FIVE!! 🥹

Needless to say, we’re all sweating a lil more by the end of photos these days LOL. There are more little ones to chase and more babies to hold, but getting to document all of that is the best part.

There’s something so special about photographing the same family over the years. The baby from one session becomes one of the big kids in the next. New siblings and cousins join in. And suddenly, the grandparents need a few more arms to hold everyone!

Getting to watch their family grow while mine and my business have grown right alongside them will always mean so much to me.

A Notre Dame family session years in the making

We had talked about taking photos at Notre Dame since that very first session, so I was so excited we made it happen this year!

The Golden Dome made such a beautiful backdrop for their family photos, and we also stopped outside the stadium at the Knute Rockne Gate. Between those bigger group portraits, there were little moments happening everywhere: kids checking out the stadium gates, babies snuggled into their parents, and grandpa running through the grass with the boys.

And the Notre Dame outfits?! So perfect for this session. The navy, green, denim, and cozy layers all worked together while still letting everyone look like themselves.

I love when a family brings something personal into their photos. Your favorite team, a meaningful location, a blanket, or even a little football can help make the session feel more like you.

One of the sweetest details from this gallery is everyone’s hands gathered around that football. Such a simple photo, but one that brings all those generations together.

Yes, you can bring the grandparents!

If you’ve been thinking about including grandparents in your next family session, let this be your sign. 🫶

An extended family session gives us the chance to photograph everyone together, but I also love making room for the smaller connections within the family. Grandparents with their grandbabies. Parents holding their newest little one. Siblings and cousins together.

For the Dance family, that meant everything from a whole-family photo in front of the Golden Dome to all five grandbabies lying together on a Notre Dame blanket.

Then there are the photos that happen in between: a little one tucked into grandma’s shoulder, a big laugh while playing with grandpa, or a baby sleeping through all the excitement.

Those moments deserve a spot in your gallery, too.

Worried your kids won’t sit still for photos?

As a mom of three, I get it. Getting everyone dressed and out the door can feel like an accomplishment all by itself. Then you start wondering whether your toddler will cooperate or whether the baby will want to be held the entire time.

Please know that your kids don’t have to show up knowing how to “do” a photo session.

My approach to family photography is relaxed, playful, and led by the little people in front of me. I’ll help guide you and bring everyone together for portraits, but there’s also room to move, cuddle, explore, and take a breather.

The photos of these boys running through the grass with grandpa are such a good example. Their smiles and excitement are part of what makes this gallery feel like their family.

If your little one needs to stay in your arms for a while, we can capture that. If the kids need a little movement, we can work with that, too. You can keep loving on your babies while I look for the moments you’ll want to remember.

Planning your own family photos at Notre Dame

For families in the South Bend area, or those coming back to visit, Notre Dame offers such a beautiful setting for family photos. I love the mix of recognizable campus views, greenery, and little places to stop along the way.

When we plan your session, tell me who will be joining us, the kids’ ages, and whether there are any meaningful spots you’re hoping to include. We can talk through a plan that fits your family, including how much walking makes sense for everyone.

A few things I’d recommend bringing:

• Comfortable shoes for moving between photo spots.
• A stroller or wagon if little legs may need a break.
• Snacks, water, and whatever helps your babies feel comfortable.
• An extra layer for cooler weather.
• Any small, meaningful item you’d love to include.

You don’t need to visit every corner of campus to have a beautiful gallery. We can choose a few spots and leave room for the moments that happen along the way.

For more planning ideas, take a peek at my guide to planning Notre Dame family photos.

Looking for a South Bend family photographer?

I’m Chaeney, the photographer behind Chaeney Layne Photography and a mama of three. I photograph families in South Bend and the surrounding area, with a love for the snuggles, movement, and little bits of chaos that come with this season of life.

Whether you’re planning photos with your own little family or bringing grandparents and cousins along, I’d love to hear what you have in mind!

You can explore my family photography sessions or reach out here to ask about a Notre Dame family session. Let me know who’s coming, when you’re hoping to schedule, and what you’d love to remember about your family right now.

And to the Dance family: thank you for coming back to me again and again. Five sessions and four more grandbabies later, it just keeps getting better!! 💙☘️