I did this extended family photography session earlier this year in May for the Moore family at Pump House Park in Richmond, VA. We ended up with 13 people and four generations of the Moore family together. The Pump House is near Byrd Park, Maymont, and the Carillon, with the James River and historic Kanawha Canal nearby. Its Gothic-style stone architecture has that old-castle look that makes it such a recognizable Richmond photoshoot location. It’s perfect for extended family photos!
Planning your own family photos? All the info is here to book a family photography session in Richmond with me!
I originally met Nina in 2025 when she responded to a newborn model call. She came to my studio with her husband Corey, their son Levi, and their newborn daughter Ruby for a lifestyle newborn session. That was also when I met Corey’s mom, Jacquie. Jacquie and I connected pretty quickly because we’re not too far apart in age. She’s an Air Force veteran and I’m an Army veteran.
Fast-forward to December 2025, when Nina asked if we could book an extended family session for the spring as a Christmas gift for Corey’s mom and grandmother.
Family Session at Byrd Park Pump House
We chose Pump House Park because Corey’s grandmother, affectionately called Memaw, had been in and out of the hospital quite a bit and had just gotten out of the hospital the Sunday before our session.
We needed a location she could use her scooter without having to go very far. Pump House is near Byrd Park, Maymont, and the Carillon, so it’s also in a very recognizable part of Richmond. It also has a large stone wheelchair ramp. This made it possible for us to start with the large family photos there. Then we moved to different areas for the smaller family groupings.
There were 13 people altogether: Nina, Corey, Levi and Ruby; Corey’s parents, Bobby and Jacquie; Jacquie’s parents, Memaw and Manly; Corey’s sister Kaitlyn, her husband Matt and their teenage son Brayden; and Corey’s brother Jared and his newly engaged fiancée Grace. Jared and Grace even came all the way from West Virginia for the session. Everyone else lives in and around Richmond and Midlothian for the most part.
Large Extended Family Portraits
We started at the bottom of the ramp where you could see the full view of the Pump House. While everyone was getting Memaw out of the car and getting organized, I started with Kaitlyn, Matt and Brayden.
As I always do, I photographed dad and kid, mom and kid, all three of them together, and then mom and dad. With a teenage boy, I had to be my dorky self and give him some yo mama jokes to see if I could get him and his dad to laugh and relax. It worked.
Then we did the entire group. I brought a bench so Memaw and Manly could sit as much as they needed, and I moved everyone else around them in different combinations.
I used prompts like, “Look at the person in the family who has the stinkiest morning breath”! Or, “Who is your favorite person in the family?”. That way I can get natural expressions, laughs and smiles instead of everyone just standing there looking at the camera.
Photographing Four Generations Together in Richmond
After the multi generational family photos, I photographed Jacquie and her mom alone. Jacquie had been wanting to book a session for just the two of them and had never gotten around to it.
I also photographed Memaw and Manly together, standing and holding onto one another. We made sure they had support because neither one is very steady. Memaw uses a Rollator walker or power wheelchair, and Manly uses a cane. I always photograph grandparents together in my extended family photos!
During extended family sessions, I make sure to photograph the grandparents with their grandchildren. Plus, the great-grandparents with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I want to get all of those different combinations while everyone is together.
Once Memaw and Manly were finished with their portion of the session, we walked across the bridge over the water. I used the huge dark brown doors and the small bridge in front of the waterfall for some of the smaller family groupings. Honestly, there are several different backgrounds perfect for extended family photos around the Pump House without having to go very far.
We finished behind the Pump House with Corey, Nina, Ruby and Levi, along with a few photos of Corey and Nina and Bobby and Jacquie.
The last photos were down the path underneath the low-hanging trees with the three siblings, Jared, Kaitlyn and Corey. One of my favorite photos came after I asked who the biggest troublemaker was out of the three of them. They immediately started telling stories on one another, which gave me exactly the kind of laughing photo I wanted.
Ready to Book Your Own Extended Family Photos at Pump House Park in Richmond, VA?
If you’re thinking about family photos at Pump House Park, or anywhere in the Richmond area, I’d love to help you plan a session that works for your family. Whether it’s your immediate family or a large extended family like the Moores, we can choose a location that works well for everyone. We will also make sure we capture all of the different family groupings while you’re together.
Hi! I’m Sarah, founder of Sarah Creal Photography. I’ve been photographing families in the Richmond area for over 6 years and I’d love to do the same for you. I’m a member of PPA, Professional Photographers of America and have over 90 five star reviews on Google.
Sarah Creal is a family, maternity, newborn, and birth photographer serving Richmond, Virginia and Lawton, Oklahoma. With 10+ years in business and 95 five-star reviews, she is known for relaxed, connected photography and her ability to work with children and families of different needs. Sarah was also an occupational therapist for 25 years and is a member of Professional Photographers of America and the American Occupational Therapy Association.
