My First Extended Family Session | The Van Oene Family

This session was a milestone for me.

The Van Oene family was the first extended family I ever photographed—more than six people, multiple families, lots of combinations to remember. It was a bit of a whirlwind. I was trying to capture everyone together, then each individual family, grandparents with grandkids, siblings, all the breakout groupings I could think of. And if I’m honest? I probably missed a few.

Looking back now, the images are far from what I’d consider “my best work.” The lighting, the posing, the polish—it’s not where I am today. But you know what? I’m still proud of them. I was brand new, doing my best with what I knew, and this was one of my very first paid sessions.

And the biggest compliment came later: when I walked into the Van Oene’s home to photograph them again, I saw one of my images from this very session printed and hanging on their wall. Not just printed—canvased.

That moment reminded me: even imperfect photos can carry perfect meaning.

Van Oene family, thank you for trusting me so early on. You gave me a chance to grow, and I’ll never forget it.