The Mueller Family | Extended Family Session in Elizabeth, Illinois

Getting an entire family together isn't always easy, which is part of what made this session such a long time coming.

The Mueller family spent some time together at an Airbnb in Elizabeth, Illinois, and family photos were part of the plan—and a gift for Mom. With everyone already together in one place, we were able to keep things pretty relaxed and photograph the whole family along with all the different smaller groupings.

And I absolutely loved this crew.

One of the first things I noticed was how much they genuinely seemed to enjoy each other. They hyped each other up, laughed together, and nobody seemed particularly concerned with being anything other than themselves. That kind of family dynamic makes my job really fun because there's always something happening between the more traditional photos.

And there was DEFINITELY always something happening with the grandkids. 😂

There are three little boys in this family: two brothers and their baby cousin. The older two brought all the silliness and energy you'd expect, and at one point their mom told me she was so glad I have boys of my own because she knew I'd understand.

Oh, I understand. LOL

My own boys are only 14 months apart, they're now pre-teens, and I can confirm that the goofy, chaotic energy does not magically disappear with age.

It's also why I'm never bothered when kids don't behave like tiny professional models during a family session. I currently have two pre-teen boys and a three-year-old at home. I've seen some things. I don't expect kids to stand perfectly still, smile on command for an hour, or suddenly become completely different children because there's a camera pointed at them.

We get the everyone-looking photos when we can, and then we work with everything else they give us. Sometimes the silliness, movement, and interactions end up telling you a whole lot more about who they were at that age anyway.

More than anything, I'm glad this long-awaited family time finally happened. What started as a gift for Mom turned into a chance to document everyone together in this particular stage of their family, three busy little grandsons and all.

Thanks for having me, Mueller family! I absolutely loved spending the evening with your crew. 🤍