Generational Family Photos at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver
Generational family portrait in front of the fountains at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver.
Sometimes the best reason to get everyone together for photos is simply that everyone is here.
This recent generational family session at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver brought three generations together for an important family milestone. There was a beautiful dress, three generations of women, the whole family together, and even the family's cats joined us for a few photographs.
But what I loved most about this session wasn't the occasion.
It was the relationships.
The little interactions between generations. The individual connections within one family. The chance to photograph everyone together while also making space for the relationships that make this family theirs.
That's what I love about generational family photography.
You're not just documenting what your family looks like today.
You're documenting who belongs to this chapter of your story.
More Than One Big Family Photo
Three generations of women sharing a quiet moment during a family photography session at Queen Elizabeth Park.
When multiple generations come together, I don't just photograph one large group and call it done.
We create variety.
I'll photograph everyone together, but we'll also break into smaller groups throughout the session. That might include grandparents with grandchildren, three generations together, siblings, parents with their children, couples, individual portraits, and each immediate family unit.
And between those photographs, I'm always watching for the unscripted moments.
The laughs. The conversations. Someone fixing someone's hair. The looks between family members when they've forgotten about the camera.
Those are often the photographs that become more meaningful with time.
Why Queen Elizabeth Park Works for Family Photos
Queen Elizabeth Park has a completely different feel from many of the Richmond locations where I regularly photograph families.
Instead of the waterfront, beaches, and natural grasses you'll find around Steveston, Queen Elizabeth Park gives us landscaped greenery, pathways, mature trees, and beautiful architectural elements around Bloedel Conservatory.
That variety makes it a beautiful location for generational family photography in Vancouver.
We can create classic family portraits, more relaxed photographs, and individual portraits without every image having the same background.
For this family, the combination of greenery and architecture worked especially well with their more dressed-up look.
Family Photos Around Bloedel Conservatory
Individual portrait in a blue dress in front of the fountains at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver.
One of my favourite parts of photographing at Queen Elizabeth Park is the architecture surrounding Bloedel Conservatory.
When I'm choosing where to photograph a family, I'm not just looking for a pretty background.
I'm looking at the light, architecture, texture, space for movement, and how many different looks we can create without spending half of your session walking from one place to another.
The plaza and exterior architecture around Bloedel Conservatory gave us a more polished look. Just a short distance away, we could incorporate the greenery of Queen Elizabeth Park for something softer and more natural.
It's a combination I particularly love for families who want their photographs to feel elevated without feeling overly formal.
Yes, Your Pets Can Be Part of Your Family Photos
For this session, that meant cats.
Pets are part of your family, and when it's practical and safe to include them, I'm always happy to find a way.
With cats especially, they don't need to be involved for the entire session. We can plan their photographs for a specific portion of the session and make sure there's a safe plan for them before and afterwards.
The cats in this family did amazingly.
Including pets gives us one more piece of your family's story to preserve, especially when those pets are such an important part of everyday family life.
Why Generational Family Photos Matter
There is something different about a photograph that holds multiple generations.
Today, it's simply a picture of your family.
Years from now, it becomes part of your family history.
That's one of the reasons I encourage families to include grandparents when they have the opportunity. It doesn't have to be a major anniversary, birthday, or celebration.
You don't need to wait until everyone has the perfect schedule, the perfect outfit, or the perfect reason.
Families don't stay exactly as they are today.
Children grow. People move. Relationships change. Getting everyone together can become harder than we expect.
Sometimes everyone being here is reason enough.
What to Wear for Generational Family Photos
Grandmother with three younger family members during a generational family session at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver.
With a larger family group, coordinating outfits doesn't mean everyone needs to match.
Instead, think about creating a look that feels connected.
Choose a colour palette that works together, then allow each person to dress in a way that still feels like them. Mixing textures, slightly different shades, and varying levels of formality can photograph beautifully.
For this Queen Elizabeth Park session, the family's more polished wardrobe worked particularly well with the architecture around Bloedel Conservatory.
And if there is a special dress, outfit, or piece of clothing that matters to you, bring it.
Your family photos should still feel like your family.
Planning Generational Family Photography in Vancouver
If you're considering a generational family session in Vancouver, we'll plan it around your family rather than trying to fit everyone into a formula.
We'll talk about who's coming, the relationships you want documented, any mobility considerations, whether pets will be joining us, and the combinations that are most important to you.
We'll also choose a location that fits the look you want.
Queen Elizabeth Park is now one of the Vancouver locations I can recommend for families who want greenery, architecture, and plenty of variety within one session.
Because ultimately, generational family photography isn't about getting one perfect photograph of everyone looking at the camera.
It's about creating a record of your family as it exists right now.
The people.
The relationships.
The personalities.
The connections you'll want to remember.
Your family doesn't have to wait for a milestone to be worth documenting.
If you've been thinking about getting multiple generations together for family photos in Vancouver or Richmond, I'd love to help you plan your session.
