Lake Days, Generations and Giggles - What Extended Family Sessions Are Really About

You know that lake house.
The one that smells like sunscreen and grilled hot dogs.
The one where the screen door always slams shut behind a barefoot kid running for popsicles.
The lake house.

This isn’t just any house—it’s the house. The one that has your childhood echoing in the walls and your kids making new echoes of their own. It’s the pier where you first learned how to bait a hook, the shoreline where you and your cousins spent hours covered in sand and secrets, and the porch where your parents (now grandparents) rocked babies and drank iced tea until the stars came out.

And that… that is exactly where the magic of an extended family photo session comes in.

Not Your Grandma’s Family Photo (Okay… Actually, Yes, It Is—and She’s in It!)

When you book an extended family session with me, Erin Stefanik Photography, you’re not just lining people up and saying “cheese.” You’re capturing the whole dang legacy—the inside jokes, the giggles in the water, the gentle way Grandma holds the littlest one’s hand as they wobble down the pier.

Let’s Talk Outfits (aka: Coordinated, Not Cloned)

Look, I get it—dressing a group of 18 people with opinions, personalities, and snack demands is no joke. But I help take the stress out of it. We want coordinated, not cloned. Think soft blues, warm neutrals, and pops of color that feel natural next to the water—not an Old Navy or Target ad gone wild.

Need help picking color palettes or getting Grandma and the teens on board? That’s where I come in—part photographer, part stylist, part family cheerleader.

What It Really Looks Like

Picture this: the older cousins are skipping rocks like it’s 1999, the youngest is belly laughing while Dad tosses him in the air (and Grandma gasps from the porch), and someone’s golden retriever is photobombing like it’s their big break.

This isn’t a stiff, smile-and-freeze kind of shoot. We splash. We chase. We play. And we let real moments unfold naturally because that’s what you’ll want to remember 20 years from now—not who forgot to tuck in their shirt.

Why It Matters

Because time moves fast.
Because next summer might look a little different.
Because this is the only time in life where everyone is under the same roof, on the same dock, in the same sunset glow.

These photos aren’t just for your next holiday card (though they’ll be perfect for that too). They’re for your grandkids to look back and say, “That’s where it all started.”

Ready to Make Some Lake Magic?

Let’s freeze the giggles, the hugs, the sunshine, and the splashes.
Extended family sessions are limited during peak summer weekends—so if the lake house is calling, now’s the time!

📩 Message me to reserve your date
📆 Let’s plan your family’s favorite new tradition
📍Anywhere there’s water, laughter, and love—I’ll be there

Because the memories are already being made—let’s capture them together.
– Erin 💙