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A Beautiful Multigenerational Family Session at the Cleveland Museum of Art | Cleveland Family Photographer

One of my favorite parts of being a Cleveland family photographer is documenting families as they grow and change through the years. This recent extended family session at the Cleveland Museum of Art was a perfect example of why I love photographing multiple generations together.

The Cleveland Museum of Art provides a stunning backdrop for family portraits, with its grand architecture, beautiful stonework, and expansive grounds. It offers a timeless setting that complements both classic portraits and candid moments, making it one of my favorite locations for extended family photography in Cleveland.

This family gathered to celebrate the people who matter most—grandparents, adult children, grandchildren, and great memories in the making. With three generations together, the session was filled with laughter, conversation, and the kind of genuine connections that make family photography so meaningful.

We started by capturing everyone walking together across the museum grounds. These images are always some of my favorites because they showcase natural interactions rather than posed smiles. Watching family members chat, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company creates photographs that feel authentic and full of life.

Next, we moved to the museum’s iconic marble steps for a classic extended family portrait. The steps provided plenty of space for everyone while creating a beautiful, balanced composition. We captured a variety of groupings, including the entire family together, grandparents with grandchildren, sibling groups, and individual family units. These combinations ensure that every branch of the family has meaningful images to treasure for years to come.

One of the highlights of the session was photographing the family along the museum’s stone balustrade. The relaxed setting encouraged playful interactions and candid moments between cousins, siblings, parents, and grandparents. Some of the best photographs happen in these in-between moments when everyone simply enjoys being together.

Extended family sessions are about more than creating a holiday card photo. They preserve relationships, document family history, and capture the unique personalities that make every family special. Children grow quickly, parents become grandparents, and family dynamics evolve over time. Photographs help preserve these chapters so they can be remembered and shared for generations.

I love helping families create images that tell their story while also providing beautiful artwork for their homes. Whether it’s a large family gathering, a milestone celebration, or simply a rare opportunity to have everyone together, an extended family session is an investment in memories that only become more valuable with time.

If you’re considering an extended family session in Northeast Ohio, the Cleveland Museum of Art is a wonderful location that offers elegance, variety, and timeless beauty. Most importantly, it provides the perfect setting to celebrate the people you love most.

Looking to schedule your own extended family photography session? I’d love to help you create meaningful images that capture your family’s unique story.

 

Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background. Ten members of an extended family, including grandparents, adults, teenagers, and a young child, walk together across a grassy lawn outside the Cleveland Museum of Art. The group smiles and looks at one another as the museum building and trees appear in the background.

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Allison Liffman Photography is a Cleveland newborn, baby, family, motherhood, child, and portrait photographer proudly serving Cleveland, Pepper Pike, Beachwood, Shaker Heights, Orange Village, Chagrin Falls, and surrounding Northeast Ohio communities.

Fine art by Allison Liffman available at: AllisonLiffmanArt.com

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