Extended Family Photoshoot at Coogee Beach


There are extended family sessions…

and then there are the ones that mean something extra.


As a Perth family photographer, I get to document a lot of beautiful gatherings, but this Coogee beach session brought together something truly special. Grandparents, siblings, partners, cousins, multiple generations coming together with that easy mix of laughter, conversation, and the kind of closeness you only get when everyone feels completely at home with each other.


But this day held deeper meaning, too.

It was their dad’s heavenly birthday.


A date that could’ve felt heavy. Instead, they chose to be together. To gather. To lean into family, connection, and the people who carry his legacy forward every single day.

And honestly, that’s exactly what made this session so special.


We began in the dunes, where everything felt calm and grounded. Generations sitting close, arms around each other, that quiet kind of connection that doesn’t need direction. The soft light, the sand, the closeness, it all felt gentle and meaningful.


As an extended family photographer, these are the moments I know matter most. Not just the smiling photos, but the way people naturally lean toward each other. The way kids tuck themselves into laps. The way everyone fits together.

Then came the bigger groupings, all the siblings, all the cousins, everyone piled in. These are the photos that grow in value over time. The ones that say, this is our family, right here, right now.


As the session went on, the energy shifted. The kids loosened up, laughter got louder, and the “posing” disappeared. Cuddles, leaning into shoulders, genuine smiles, the kind that come from being around your people.


And then we headed to the shoreline.

Shoes off.

Dresses lifted.

Pants rolled.


Suddenly it wasn’t a photo session anymore, it was just a family in the water, laughing as the waves rolled in. Kids splashing, adults pretending not to get wet, golden light wrapping around everyone. Pure joy, real moments, no walls. I think they may have even forgotten I was there at some points as they lovingly played and teased each other.


Sessions like this always soften at the end. Everyone relaxed, sandy, happy, and this one finished with a few sneaky drinks for the crew while the sun dipped lower. No one rushing off. Just people lingering, talking, being together.

And that felt right.


Because days like this are about more than photos.

They’re about honouring the people who shaped us.

Holding onto each other.


Making memories on the days that matter most.

One day these images won’t just be beautiful.

They’ll be part of the story.

Part of the legacy.


Part of the love that carries forward.

Holly x

Wedding party members pose together on rocky beach cliffs at sunset in coordinated neutral-toned attire.
Group sitting together on rocky desert terrain wearing coordinated neutral and pastel colored outfits at sunset.
A group in coordinated neutral outfits sits together on a rocky beach with waves lapping at their feet.
A group wearing white dresses and light colored clothing pose together on a beach during a casual photo session.
A group of people in light colored dresses and outfits walking together on a sandy beach at sunset.
Two people in light beige outfits embrace tenderly against a backdrop of desert rocks during a golden hour photoshoot.
Two people share a tender moment together while sitting on sandy beach dunes in soft golden light.
A group of people wearing coordinated neutral outfits sit together on a sandy beach at sunset.
A family wearing white and beige sits together on a sandy beach during a warm sunset photoshoot.
A family wearing coordinated white outfits sits together on a sandy beach during sunset.