18/06/2026
June 17: Today I photographed two families traveling together in Amsterdam.
They came because they have Dutch roots and wanted to learn more about where part of their family story began. It wasn’t only about sightseeing. It was about connecting with a place that means something to them and spending time together across generations.
For larger groups, I often recommend the western side of the Canal Belt. The streets are quieter, there is more space to walk comfortably, and it becomes much easier to photograph the whole group together on bridges and along the canals. When there are children involved, the extra space also gives them room to play and be themselves.
What I was talking about in today’s video is something I always keep in mind when photographing large groups: a large group is really a collection of smaller relationships.
The first thing I look for is the connection that brings everyone together. Who are the people that connect these families? What is their relationship? From there, each family has its own story, and each child has their own personality and way of interacting with the others.
The photographs become much more meaningful when we pay attention to those connections instead of simply arranging everyone in a straight line and asking them to smile at the camera.
Today’s gallery will include the big family portraits, of course. But it will also include cousins playing together, parents with their children, and all the small moments that tell the story of this trip.
There is much more that goes into a large family session than I can fit into a short video, but this is usually where I start.
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Diary of a Vacation Photographer in Amsterdam
June 17, 2026
