Three Generations, One Portrait: Why the Holidays Are the Perfect Time to Include Grandparents
Four generations. One photograph. One priceless family legacy.
Holiday gatherings often bring together grandparents, parents, children, and even great-grandparents—making it the perfect opportunity to preserve your family's story in a single portrait. These multi-generational photographs become more meaningful with every passing year, capturing the love, history, and connections that simply can't be recreated later. For many families, this becomes the portrait they treasure most.
Every holiday season, families gather around the dinner table, exchange gifts, and create memories that quickly become part of family history.
It's also one of the few times each year when several generations are together in the same place.
That's why I encourage families to think beyond the traditional Christmas card and consider creating a portrait that includes grandparents.
Years from now, it may become one of the most treasured photographs your family owns.
Time Moves Faster Than We Realize
As parents, we notice how quickly our children grow.
One year they're taking their first steps.
The next they're heading off to school.
But children aren't the only ones changing.
Parents become grandparents.
Grandparents become great-grandparents.
The holidays quietly remind us that every generation is moving through a different season of life.
A portrait that includes everyone becomes more valuable with each passing year.
Holiday Gatherings Create the Perfect Opportunity
One of the biggest challenges in creating a three-generation portrait is simply getting everyone together.
The holidays solve that problem.
Families travel home.
Children are out of school.
Grandparents are visiting.
Instead of waiting for "someday," holiday portraits allow you to preserve this chapter while everyone is together.
Sometimes convincing everyone to be in one picture can feel like the hardest part. If someone in your family isn't excited about holiday portraits, you're definitely not alone.
Create More Than One Family Portrait
When grandparents join your session, you don't have to take only one large group picture.
Some of my favorite images happen when we create smaller combinations as well.
For example:
Grandparents with all the grandchildren
Grandma reading a story to the children
Grandpa holding the newest baby
Siblings together
Cousins together
Three generations of women
Three generations of men
These portraits often become meaningful gifts for every member of the family.
Young children don't have to behave perfectly to create meaningful portraits. A little preparation before your session can help everyone relax.
Don't Forget the Mother-Daughter Generations
One of the most requested portraits during extended family sessions is a photograph of three generations of women.
Grandmother.
Mother.
Daughter.
There's something incredibly moving about seeing three generations standing together.
Many families later tell me this became their favorite portrait of the entire session.
While I certainly enjoy creating father-son and grandfather-grandson portraits as well, I find that mothers often place special meaning on documenting the women in their family.
These portraits beautifully complement the Mommy & Me portraits I create throughout the year, celebrating the love, strength, and legacy that pass from one generation to the next.
These Portraits Tell a Bigger Story
Years from now, your children won't simply see a Christmas picture.
They'll see where they came from.
They'll remember Grandma's smile.
Grandpa's laugh.
The traditions your family shared.
Photographs become part of your family's history.
Each generation adds another chapter.
Grandparents Don't Care About Perfect
Sometimes grandparents hesitate.
"I'm older now."
"I don't photograph well."
"I'll just watch."
Please don't.
Your grandchildren won't remember whether your hair was perfect or whether you wished you had lost a few pounds.
They'll remember seeing themselves standing beside you.
That's what matters.
One Day These Portraits Become Priceless
None of us likes to think about it, but photographs become more meaningful over time.
The portraits we treasure most are often the ones we almost didn't take.
I've had families tell me,
"I'm so grateful we included Grandma that year."
or
"That photograph is now one of our most cherished possessions."
Those words are exactly why I believe generational portraits matter.
Holiday Portraits Become Family Heirlooms
Holiday decorations are packed away every January.
Family portraits remain.
Whether displayed in your home or passed down to future generations, these images become part of your family's legacy.
The holidays simply give us one more reason to gather everyone together and preserve this moment while we can.
Why Families Choose My Glendale Studio
Holiday sessions aren't only about creating Christmas cards—they're about preserving relationships that become more meaningful every year. I love helping families create portraits that celebrate not only parents and children but also the grandparents who helped shape the family you are today. Whether we're photographing three generations of women, grandparents with grandchildren, or the entire extended family together, my goal is to create timeless portraits that will be treasured for decades.
Families visit my studio from Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, La Cañada Flintridge, Montrose, and throughout Los Angeles to create meaningful family holiday portraits in a relaxed, professionally lit studio environment.
