If you’re coming to Maui with extended family and want both family photos and maternity photos, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common types of sessions I photograph.
Babymoon trips often turn into full family vacations with grandparents, siblings, kids all in one place. Maybe it’s grandma’s birthday and everyone made the trip. It feels a little like old times. Siblings slipping back into their old dynamics, nieces and nephews running in and out of the waves, laughing, sandy, a little wild. Grandpa egging them on while the parents try to keep some kind of order.
And you’re in the middle of it, soaking it in, excited about the baby, aware of how full this moment is. It’s a lot. And it’s all special. Naturally, you want to document that.
The key is doing it in a way that still leaves space for your maternity experience inside of it.
Where Most People Are Surprised
What sounds simple: family photos first, then maternity, tends to blur together once you’re in it. The group stays close, the pace keeps moving, and by the time you get to your maternity photos, it doesn’t feel like a separate moment.
Nothing is wrong. It’s just the natural flow of a larger group. The difference comes down to whether you want your maternity photos to live inside that, or step outside of it.
I recently photographed a session with multiple couples, grandparents celebrating an anniversary, and a little girl about to become a big sister. It was beautiful—drawing her out of her shell, capturing each family, documenting the full dynamic.
But this is the reality of large group sessions: time gets divided. Between guiding everyone, helping people feel comfortable, and moving through combinations, there isn’t always space for the slower, more reflective feeling many people want for their maternity photos.
Three Ways to Structure Your Maui Large Family & Maternity Session
Option 1: One Session Centered on the Full Family
This is the most straightforward approach. The session focuses on the full group, then individual families, with your maternity photos woven into that same flow.
Full Group → Individual Families & Maternity Photos
This is best if:
- Your priority is simply having everyone documented while you’re all in one place.
- Coordinating a large group is your main logistical challenge, and you’re short on time.
- You are comfortable with your maternity photos living inside that shared family energy.
Option 2: Extended Family Photos + Time Set Aside Just for You
This approach creates a natural separation within the same session. We photograph the extended family and then set aside a window of time specifically for your maternity photos, either at the beginning, while things are still calm, or at the end, as the group naturally steps away.
Extended Family → The Group Steps Away → Maternity Photos
This is best if:
- You know you won’t be able to relax or feel as natural with the whole family there.
- You want a mix of candid, intimate photos that feel less “structured.”
- You want your maternity portraits to feel like their own moment rather than something we are simply fitting in.
Option 3: Two Separate Sessions (Two Completely Different Experiences)
This is the most intentional approach. Instead of trying to layer your maternity portraits into a large family event, we treat them as two distinct stories.
Family Session (Beach or Resort) + Maternity Session (Private Location)
This is best if:
- You want full creative freedom. You aren’t limited by what “fits” a family portrait.
- You want a different location. We can do the family photos at an accessible resort beach, then escape to a private stretch of coastline or a lush jungle setting for your maternity portraits.
- You want a different wardrobe. Family photos usually call for a cohesive look that serves the group. A dedicated maternity session allows for something more distinct. That editorial, flowing dress or custom maternity lei that might feel out of place in a big family lineup.
Which Option Is Right for You?
It comes down to how you want this to feel.
If you’re looking for a more elevated, unhurried experience, with photos that are especially connected and art in your home, a dedicated session gives you that.
If your priority is capturing everyone together, one session works well.
If you want both family photos and something more personal, adding time is a good balance.
How I Approach Extended Family & Maternity Sessions
This is where experience matters. After 14 years of photographing families in all stages of life, I guide sessions so they never feel like a checklist of combinations. People move in and out naturally, and the focus stays on connection rather than constant organization.
I know how important and short this season in life is, and I treasure my own maternity photos so much that I always make sure to give your maternity photos their own attention. Even in a larger family session. Sometimes that’s as simple as stepping away with you for a few minutes, just to get enough space to settle in and be present together.
I also help you choose Maui locations that work for a large group. Places with enough space to gather comfortably, easy access for all ages, and room for people to step back without it feeling staged. That’s what keeps the session feeling calm and natural, even with a large family.
Common Questions About Maui Maternity Sessions With Extended Family
The best photographer for this type of session is someone who can balance the logistics of a large group while maintaining the stillness required for high-end maternity portraits. I specialize in guiding these multi-generational Maui family sessions (35+ people) so they remain calm and centered on the family’s connection while also showing your maternity season beautifully.
Beaches, jungle spots, or flower farms with open space and easy access work best for larger groups. For maternity photos, I often guide clients to a location that fits the feeling they want, sometimes the same place, sometimes a more private setting.
Yes, all professional photography on public beaches requires a permit no matter how many people are included. I handle all permitting and insurance as part of your session.
The most effective way is through intentional styling. A custom haku or maternity lei instantly honors the individual and the moment. For exceptional local craftsmanship, I recommend Lei Atelier, Hakuleilani, or Haku Maui.
The best way to do Maui maternity photos with extended family is to intentionally create space for your maternity portraits, either by setting aside dedicated time within the session or planning a separate session altogether. This ensures your maternity photos feel calm, connected, and personal, rather than rushed within a large group dynamic.
Planning Your Maui extended family photos during babymoon
No matter how you choose to structure your babymoon on Maui and your family photo session, my goal is to ensure your maternity story isn’t lost in the beautiful chaos of a family reunion.
If you’re planning Maui maternity photos with extended family, I take on a limited number of sessions and recommend reaching out early. You can explore more of my Maui maternity photography here.
You can inquire here to start planning your session.
I hope to see you and your family on Maui soon.
More Resources For Your Babymoon
If you are still planning your Maui babymoon, here are some in-depth blog posts you might be interested in…
