It’s no secret that the Spring is a highly desired time to take family portraits. This time of year is one of new life, growth, and possibility. Although you are likely to be out a about more, family schedules aren’t jam packed yet. If you are not sure about what time of year is best for your family photos, keep reading to see why Spring is one of the best times to schedule a portrait session.

It has been a long and cold Winter here on Long Island, New York. Now that we are just a few weeks away from the Spring, I am pining for the warm weather, beach days and of fun filled nights on the beach with my clients for sunset beach family photos. My beach sunset family sessions always book up fast, so if you are considering one this upcoming Summer, now is the time to start planning for it.

I adore the six month milestone. Babies have so much personality at this phase and it is such a great time to capture a family’s bond. Some families come back to me after their newborn session to schedule a six month old family session and others schedule this session in lieu of a newborn session.

A question I often hear as a family photographer here in Long Island for over a decade now, is how often should I schedule family portraits? I have met many families during this time and I see many of them annually for updated photos, but is it necessary to have photos taken annually? As a mom and photographer, I can tell you the answer is, yes. I schedule photos for my own family every year and plan on doing so annually. I realize that for some, this may not be realistic, so I am going to go through some suggestions about when to schedule photos and why you should continue to do so.

The Summer and Fall months are always the busiest months for outdoor photo sessions. Most families prefer images captured in the golden glow of Summer, but Winter is also a great time of year to consider photos. Booking a snowy winter family photo session here in New York can be a great way to capture special memories of your loved ones in a beautiful and unique setting during what can be a magical time of year.

One of the most popular sessions I offer is the extended family photo session. People often book these sessions as a gift for a grandparent, for a family reunion or simply to just update their family photos. A photo session is a great way to document the bond your family shares. However, what exactly is an extended photo session?

Ok, so you finally booked that family photo session. Now comes the part that most people find hard, styling your family. Don’t stress. I have compiled a list of helpful tips to help you style your family for your portraits. If you have booked a session with me already, I also will send you a custom styling board for your family and you even have access to my client closet with women’s dresses available on loan. I keep the styling process completely stress free.

When I became a family photographer, I didn’t realize how much time I would spend looking at weather reports. I have spent a lot of time analyzing the weather patterns in the Long Island area. As a result, I’m well versed in how to manage rain, and to still give you wonderful family photographs that you’ll love.

A favorite client of mine recently booked me for a photo session including the grandparents. Coincidentally, the session took place on grandparents day, which is September 12th. It was a special session for this family because the grandparents were in the states visiting from Germany, so it was the perfect opportunity to capture professional photos with the extended family. I was thrilled to capture this session, not only because I love working with this family, but also because I love photographing grandparents. I figured I would use this session as an opportunity to blog about why I feel including grandparents in your family photos is so important.

There is just something special about the Fall. It is the season for cozy sweaters, pumpkin lattes and fun filled family activities. There are so many traditions associated with Fall ranging from pumpkin picking, apple picking, hayrides, making pies or simply just jumping into a pile of leaves. It is also the time of year that most people schedule their annual photoshoot as a family. Whichever activities you choose to participate in, you no doubt want to create living memories, and what better way to do that than to have a nice picture hanging on your living or bedroom wall?  

The beach is the ultimate place of tranquility, peace and beauty. For most of us, it is a place that we frequented during our own childhood and is associated with fun and laughter. Now that you have your own kids, I am sure that you visit the beach often for fun filled days at the ocean.

Did you know that the beach is also the perfect location for family photos? This location lends itself to images that are not only beautiful, but playful and packed with emotion. A Summer family beach session is centered on you spending time with your family at sunset, the most magical time of day.

I don’t know about you, but time surely seems to be flying by these days. Maybe it’s because I’m a mom of two active girls, who seem to be growing at the speed of light, or perhaps it is because my own parents are getting older. Whatever it is, I can’t help but reflect on my own childhood and how important my grandparents, parents and siblings were to me. I loved spending time with them and I wish I had professional photos that documented my time with them.

I know life is busy, but I can’t encourage you enough to prioritize extended family portraits. Years from now, you will be so very grateful that you made a point to get everyone together for a large family session. It is more than worth the effort, and I guarantee you’ll love every minute of it.

A first birthday is a special milestone for every family. Your baby has grown and developed tremendously over the past twelve months and now your little one’s personality is shining through. It is a good idea to take this opportunity to schedule a photo session for your child. If you There are many types of sessions you can book to commemorate this special occasion. If you are unsure about what type of photo session you want, I will go over each of the options below.

A lot of families will wait until the Fall to do their family photos. Most people do so because they want to also use their images for holiday cards. However, just because that’s the norm, doesn’t mean there isn’t an alternative. In fact, Summer is a great time of year to capture those family photos and you can still use your gorgeous images for those Christmas cards. Here are some reasons why Summer on Long Island is the perfect time for family photos.

For most people, having your family photos taken is a special occasion. What you wear to your photo session will dramatically impact the overall aesthetic for your images. It is important to choose outfits that will not only look good in the photos, but also make everyone in the family feel comfortable.

Now that the Fall season is upon is, you have likely been hearing about mini sessions. Although I capture families throughout the year for full length sessions, I offer mini sessions once a year during the Fall season. I offer minis because as a mom, I understand the appeal to capture some beautiful, professional photos for a lower price point in a faster time frame. Mini sessions are a great option for some families, but they aren’t for everyone. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether a mini session is right for you and your family.

No matter if it is your first, second or third baby, your pregnancy should be documented. This is such a special time and one that goes by so quickly. It is a milestone that you will want to remember in years to come. Each stage of your life with your children is different and that is why it is so important to have photos that document that evolution and development of your family. I know that it can feel challenging to schedule a maternity family session with young children, but I will make the process simple for you an you will even have tons of fun while having your family photos captured.

I receive tons of inquiries for multi generational family sessions. I photograph many of these large group sessions. They are really special sessions for the families and, often times, are gifted to grandparents for special occasions. This is a special gift that the entire family can appreciate.

As you can imagine, working with large groups like this involves a large degree of planning, flexibility and an open mind. It also requires lots of additional time, both during the session and in particular when it comes to editing these sessions, especially when the session involves multiple children of young ages.

Updating your family photos is important. You are documenting each stage of your life with your children and giving them tangible memories to hold on to. There is so much more importance attached to this than just pretty pictures. A family photo session is not just about having photos to hang on your wall. It is an opportunity to take pause and connect with your family. I want my photo sessions to feel like a fun experience for my families and not like a chore. It should be something to which you look forward and enjoy being a part of. How exactly do you accomplish this? Read below to find out.

To say that the weather this Summer has been unpredictable is an understatement. For most of my sessions this Summer, there has been a threat of thunderstorms at sunset. I was thrilled on the evening of this family session to finally have an evening with the sun shining and no clouds in sight. Although I love the moodiness and dimension a gloomy sky can bring to a session, it was nice to mix things up and have that abundance of golden sun on the evening of this beach session.