Thanksgiving weekend is often the only time the whole family is in the same city at once, which makes it the best chance all year for Thanksgiving family photos. The way to actually get the photo is simple: book a photographer as soon as travel dates are known, choose one person to organize, and agree on a short priority list of groupings before anyone arrives. Here is how to plan it.
Choosing the day and booking early
Which day of the weekend to choose
Each day of the long weekend has its own trade-offs:
- Wednesday: risky. People are still landing, trains are packed, and someone's flight is always late.
- Thursday: most families are busy cooking and visiting, so do not plan photos around the meal itself.
- Friday: usually the best pick. Everyone has arrived, nobody is rushing to cook, and the energy is relaxed.
- Saturday: also good, especially in the morning, before anyone starts packing.
- Sunday: the travel day home. Only choose it if nobody leaves before evening.
Within the day, plan around the youngest and oldest people in the group. If a toddler naps at 1 pm, book the morning. If a grandparent tires by late afternoon, the same answer applies.
Book early, then fill in the details
A holiday weekend only has so many slots, and big family sessions need a long one. Photographers show their open dates on their profiles, so book as soon as you know who is coming and when. Your card is only charged once the photographer accepts, usually within 48 hours, so there is little downside to booking early.
Once you have the date, the rest can be sorted out over the following weeks: final headcount, outfits and the shot list.
Big group logistics
Large groups go smoothly when one person runs the plan. Choose an organizer, usually whoever booked, and let them handle these:
- Headcount. Group size limits vary by photographer, and some take up to ten or twelve people. If your group is bigger, check the profile and message the photographer before you book.
- Travel to the studio. The photographer shares the exact address after you book. Holiday traffic in NYC is real, so plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Splitting into two cars or taking the subway in smaller groups helps.
- Accessibility. If anyone uses a wheelchair or walker, or struggles with stairs, tell the photographer when you book, so they can plan seating and the order of shots around them.
- Kid supplies. Snacks that don't stain, wipes, a spare top for each small child, and a favorite toy.
- A group chat. Share the time, address and outfit palette in one message so nobody arrives in neon.
Our guide to a big family photoshoot goes further on organizing 10 people or more.
The shot priority list
Energy drops as a session goes on, especially for kids and grandparents. So do the most important photos first and the nice-to-haves last. A good order:
- Everyone together. The one photo the whole weekend is for.
- Grandparents with all the grandchildren. Often the one that gets framed.
- Each household on its own. Every family unit gets its own portrait for their holiday card.
- Grandparents as a couple.
- The adult siblings together, without partners or kids.
- All the cousins together.
- Fun and candid frames. A group hug, everyone laughing, the toddler escaping.
Send your photographer the list ahead of time with any must-have combinations, such as "grandma with each granddaughter." With a 90-minute session there is time for all of it, and the priority order means the essentials are done even if a little one melts down halfway through.
For seating and pacing with older relatives, see our three generations planning guide.
Outfits for a big group
With 8 to 12 people, matching becomes impossible and coordinating becomes essential. Pick a palette of three or four colors and let each person choose from it.
Fall palettes that work for big groups:
- Burgundy, camel, cream and denim.
- Olive, rust, oatmeal and brown.
- Navy, cream, gray and a touch of mustard.
Then the simple rules: no big logos, one pattern per household at most, and no one in bright white or neon, which pulls the eye in a group photo. The organizer can forward the palette to everyone. Our family photo outfit guide has more detail.
The set, the gallery and holiday cards
The set: autumn and classic
For Thanksgiving, look for a photographer with an autumn set, with warm fall tones and textures, which suits the season and looks good on a holiday card. A plain classic backdrop is a good second option for formal group portraits that you want to frame for years. Check the profile to see whether backdrops and accessories are included.
After the weekend: gallery and holiday cards
Delivery time varies by photographer. A session on Thanksgiving Friday can mean photos in early to mid December, which still leaves time to order holiday cards if you move quickly. If cards are the main goal, check the delivery time before you book, and use our holiday card photo timeline to work backward from the mailing date.
Ask for each household to get its own portrait, so everyone can use the same gallery for their own card.
Which session to choose
- A longer group session (often 75 to 90 minutes, up to ten or twelve people): the right fit for most Thanksgiving gatherings.
- A standard family session (often 45 to 60 minutes, two sets or backdrops): enough for a smaller group, such as one family plus grandparents.
Prices and lengths vary by photographer, and profiles show the real figures.
Quick answers
How far ahead should we book Thanksgiving photos?
As soon as you know travel dates. Holiday weekends have limited slots, and your card is only charged once the photographer accepts, so there is little downside to booking early.
What if someone's flight is delayed?
Start with the people who are there and the groupings that don't include the missing person. Tell your photographer as soon as you know.
Can we bring more than 12 people?
Check the group size on the photographer's profile and message them with your headcount before you book. It is better to talk it through than to squeeze a group into a session that does not fit.
Find a photographer
Book the weekend as soon as travel plans are clear. Browse family photographers in NYC and Long Island, and look for a profile with an autumn set and a longer group session.