Pure Loving Chaos

The Wiley Family's Extended Family Session on Pensacola Beach



I have had so much fun writing about all of my July sessions this month! I know I'm running behind, and the longer I wait, the harder it becomes to remember every little detail that made each session so special. Even so, I'm working as hard as I can to get caught up.


Next year is going to look a little different. I promise! One of my favorite parts of being a photographer is sharing my clients' stories while the excitement is still fresh. My goal has always been to have every blog post published within 24 hours of our session, when everyone is anxiously waiting to see a few sneak peeks and relive the experience.


Unfortunately, life had other plans this summer. My computer software crashed, setting me back nearly two weeks. I had to rebuild my Lightroom catalog and re-edit countless images. It was completely unexpected and something I had never experienced before. It was certainly frustrating, but sometimes you just have to learn as you go.


Now, let's talk about my wonderful extended family session on the morning of July 15th!

Blue Angels jets flying in diamond formation over sandy beach dunes with sea oats against a cloudy sky.

met Sara and her family, Bobby and his family, and Blayne and his family for a sunrise session on beautiful Pensacola Beach. Fourteen family members, three households, and one unforgettable morning together.


Large family sessions have become incredibly popular, and I truly enjoy photographing them. There is something so meaningful about capturing multiple generations together while everyone is on vacation. These photographs become treasured family heirlooms.


Beginning last year, I adjusted my pricing for extended family sessions. With larger groups comes significantly more planning, posing, photographing, and editing. We create hundreds of images during these sessions, and every one of them deserves the same attention and care as a smaller family gallery. While it's certainly more work, I genuinely love the energy that comes with big family gatherings.


The entire family was vacationing together in a beach house, making memories during their stay in Pensacola. When Sara filled out my questionnaire, she described her family as "pure loving chaos."


I absolutely loved that description because it perfectly captured the morning.

Family of five posing on white sand beach with sea oats, mom in navy floral dress holding baby girl with blue bow.
Family of four poses on white sand beach dunes with sea oats, mom in floral dress, dad in white polo, two blonde boys.
A smiling woman and two children sit together on white sand beach dunes with sea oats in the background.

The kids weren't exactly thrilled about waking up before sunrise, but their sleepy faces didn't last long. It just happened to be Blue Angels Week in Pensacola, and although we were miles away from the main beach and the pier, the Blue Angels repeatedly flew directly overhead during their morning practice.


Talk about a distraction!


Every time we heard the roar of the jets, everyone looked up with huge smiles. It became an unexpected part of their vacation memories and made the morning even more memorable.


Despite having fourteen people to organize, everything flowed beautifully. Everyone was patient, willing to follow directions, and most importantly, they had fun together. There were hugs, kisses, laughter, silly moments, and genuine smiles everywhere I looked.


Those are always my favorite sessions.


The best family photographs aren't about standing perfectly still and smiling at the camera. They're about the connections between the people you love most. The laughs between siblings. Grandparents hugging grandchildren. Parents watching their children play. Those little moments become the photographs you'll treasure for years to come.

Two young boys playing and hugging on a white sandy beach on a sunny day.

One of my favorite moments from this session happened at the very end. In all the years I have been photographing families, it is actually pretty rare for a family to be willing to get into the water. The Wiley family was different. Even with the rough surf that morning, they didn't hesitate. Dad held tightly onto the kids as the waves rolled in, and together they jumped right into the Gulf. I loved capturing their reactions as each unexpected wave splashed over them. There was so much laughter, so many genuine smiles, and pure joy in those moments. It was the perfect way to end an already unforgettable session, and it perfectly reflected the fun-loving spirit of this wonderful family.

Family of four laughing and playing in ocean waves on a sunny beach day, parents holding young children.
A joyful mother in a white dress carries her toddler son while running through ocean waves on a sunny beach.
Young woman in white ruffled dress smiling at beach with ocean waves in background.
Young woman in white dress walking barefoot on sandy beach with ocean waves in background.
Young girl in white dress posing barefoot on sandy beach with ocean waves in background.

Thank you, Sara, Bobby, Blayne, and your entire family for trusting me to capture your vacation together. It was an absolute joy spending the morning with all fourteen of you, and I hope these images always remind you of your week together in Pensacola—even the early wake-up call and the Blue Angels soaring overhead.


I hope you enjoy looking through your gallery as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Couple embracing on white sand beach with airshow planes in background, woman in floral dress, man in white shirt.
Family of four posing on white sand beach, parents smiling with two young boys hugging them.
Happy family of five posing on a sandy beach, parents with three young children in coordinating blue outfits.
Family of five posing on white sand beach, parents with three children including baby, sea oats in background.
Family of five posing together on a white sandy beach with calm ocean waters in the background on a sunny day.
Two young boys sitting together on white sand dunes at the beach, smiling with sea grass in the background.
Father sitting in beach dunes with two young sons, smiling among tall sea oats.
Happy family of four sitting in sandy beach dunes surrounded by sea oats grass.
A smiling blonde mother sits on white sand dunes holding her toddler, both wearing blue floral outfits.
A smiling woman and two children sit together on white sand dunes with sea oats at a sunny beach.
Family of four smiling together on sandy beach dunes with sea grass, wearing casual summer outfits on a sunny day.
Couple smiling together on white sand beach dunes with sea oats, woman in pink floral dress, man in white shirt.
Romantic couple sharing a kiss while sitting on white sand beach dunes together.
Couple embracing on white sand beach dunes with sea oats, woman in navy floral dress, man in tropical shirt and shorts.
A romantic couple embraces on white sand beach dunes with sea oats, woman in floral dress, man in Hawaiian shirt.
Young family of three standing among sea oats on sandy beach, toddler held between smiling parents.
A woman and young boy watch military jets fly over a white sandy beach on a cloudy day.
Large family group smiling together on a sunny beach, dressed in coordinating outfits of white, blue, and pink.
Family of four walking hand-in-hand on a sunny beach, with waves and blue sky in the background.
Smiling couple hugging on sandy beach shoreline, woman in floral jumpsuit, man in white shirt and cap.
Couple embracing on sunny beach, woman in floral maxi dress hugging man in white shirt and cap.
A smiling couple poses on a white sandy beach, woman in floral maxi dress, man in white shirt and cap, ocean backdrop.
Happy family of three posing on a sandy beach, parents holding toddler in turquoise outfit with ocean waves behind.
Black and white photo of a loving mother kissing her young blonde son while holding him at the beach.
Two young boys hugging and playing together on a white sandy beach on a sunny day.
Happy family of five walking along a sunny beach, waves in background, wearing coordinated outfits.
Happy family of five walking barefoot on beach shoreline, parents guiding three young children.
Family of five standing on beach shoreline, parents holding baby girl with two young boys.
Happy toddler boy in blue shirt crouching and playing in white sand at the beach.
Father in floral shirt kissing his baby girl with blue bow headband on a sunny beach.
A couple kisses their baby girl on the cheeks at the beach, dad in floral shirt, mom in navy dress.
A happy family of four walks barefoot on a sunny beach, wearing coordinated pink and white outfits.
Happy family of four posing together on a sandy beach with calm ocean waves in the background on a sunny day.
Family of four standing at ocean shoreline, parents with two children smiling at camera.
A smiling couple stands together on a sandy beach with ocean waves behind them on a cloudy day.
Couple smiling at each other on a beach, man in white shirt and woman in pink floral dress with ocean backdrop.
Three smiling blonde women hugging each other on a sunny beach with calm ocean water in the background.
Three smiling women in floral dresses hugging on a sandy beach with ocean waves in the background.
Three women in floral maxi dresses posing together on a sandy beach with ocean waves behind them.
Three smiling adults pose together on a sandy beach with ocean waves in the background on a cloudy day.
Large extended family group portrait on white sand beach, adults and children posing together outdoors.
Smiling young mother holding sleeping newborn baby with blue bow on sunny beach.
Three women in maxi dresses embracing while looking out at the ocean together.
Two smiling young women in summer dresses pose together on a white sand beach with ocean waves behind them.
Smiling man carrying laughing young woman on his shoulders on a sunny beach.
Joyful family of four laughing in ocean waves, parents holding children as water splashes around them.
Smiling mother in cream dress holding toddler boy on sunny beach with ocean waves behind them.