Every Thanksgiving, I try to get at least one good group photo of our crew. This year’s gathering was extra special — we had four generations all together. My dad, Dorie, and I, my sisters and their spouses, their children… and now their children. Seeing that many branches of the family tree in one frame is something I don’t take for granted.
You’d think that with my background in photography, the biggest challenge would be exposure or composition. Not this time. The real challenge? Keeping everyone in the picture long enough to look their best.
The Big Group Shot
We set the camera on a timer, got everyone in place, and parents held on tight to the little ones so they wouldn’t dart off. There’s always that moment of quiet right before the shutter fires — the one where you hope no one blinks, looks away, or suddenly decides they’re done with photos for the rest of their life.
Somehow, we pulled it off.
The Great-Grandchildren Photo…
Then we moved on to the groupings.
That’s when things got lively.
Trying to get all the great-grandchildren lined up with my dad turned into its own event. Some of the kids were old enough to stand tall and smile on cue. Others… well, let’s say they had priorities of their own. Keeping J.D. from sprinting out of the frame was a full-time job all by itself.
And watching my sister work her magic, trying to wrangle the little ones in Hannah’s family? Honestly, it was pure entertainment — the behind-the-scenes that every parent recognizes immediately.
Dorie Captured It All
While I was focused on the still photos, my wife, Dorie, pulled out her phone and captured videos of the entire adventure. Watching them afterward reminded me that half the beauty of a family photo isn’t the final image — it’s the shared chaos, the laughter, and the love that goes into making it.
Here are two clips so you can enjoy the moment with us:
If you’ve ever tried to pull off a multigenerational photo with little ones, you know it’s never “perfect.” But what we did capture was genuine — the joy, the energy, and the blessing of having so many of us together in one place.
And honestly, that’s what makes the photo beautiful.