June is always a very busy time of year for engagements. The weather has started to warm up, people are getting outdoors more and it is the perfect time to ask your loved one to marry you. I get a lot of inquiries for this type of session and many clients are often interested in the beach as a possible location. I just love photographing surprise proposals and I love capturing them at the beach. Although the beach is a great spot to start your life as a couple together, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that this location is best for your proposal.

Most of my clients who book a beach family session are hoping for an evening with the gorgeous golden glow of a sunset. The beach at sunset is a beautiful location for family photos, but you don’t need to have the sun to have great photos. In fact, I much prefer having some clouds in the sky for a session than a clear sky and when there are dark cloudy evenings can add beautiful dimension and mood to your images.

Many women schedule maternity sessions for their first pregnancy, but it is also important to schedule a maternity session for a second pregnancy. Your family dynamic is about to change and it is the perfect time to capture those last moments as a family of three.

I am sure you have heard many times that newborn sessions must be scheduled within 7-14 days of birth. This may be true for some, but not every baby has to be photographed in that rigid time frame. There are different types of newborn photography and they all have different guidelines. Today, I am going to break down some of those differences.

I often get asked whether the studio or home is the best place to schedule a newborn session. I have blogged about the in home newborn sessions, but today I am going to discuss the studio session and for whom this session is best suited.

Your little one’s first birthday is quite a momentous occasion. Many people contact me to book a first birthday portrait session or cake smash session to document this special moment. While I offer several packages both in the studio and outdoors for first birthday photos, I do encourage clients to use this opportunity as a time to update their family photos.

I know I say it all the time, but I truly love photographing proposals. There is nothing quite as special as capturing couples as they embark on their life’s journey together. I am always humbled and honored when I am asked to photograph engagements and as my clients will tell you, I put my heart and soul into ensuring that your day goes off without a hitch. I want your day to be absolutely perfect and I will work with you to make sure it is nothing short of that.

It is hard to believe, but I have been in the business now for a decade. During this time, I have photographed countless children, newborns and families. I have learned many things during this time period as both a photographer and as a mom. One thing I have learned is that photo sessions should be as stress free as possible for every client. I like to provide each client with options for sessions that create a relaxing and calm experience for them. For some clients it is my studio, for others it is their home. Today I am going to talk about the in home session and what client this session is geared towards.

It is hard to believe that it is Memorial Day weekend. Although this weekend is the unofficial start of Summer, my season of beach family photos has already begun. I started shooting on the beach in early May and I have been loving every second of it. The beach truly is the perfect place for family photos. It allows for interactive images, whether it be fun and playful or cozy and connected. Although the beach is a popular location for beach photos, there are some things you need to know ahead of time about scheduling your family photo session at the beach.

Many women skip the maternity session and go straight for the newborn photos instead. This is a big mistake for a multitude of reasons, especially if it is your first child. Firts of all, pregnant women are absolutely gorgeous. Also, although it may not feel like it at the time, this phase passes way too quickly. You will want to remember these days when they are long gone.

Your wardrobe is a key component to having a successful photo session. What your family wears will impact the mood of your images, as well as the overall aesthetic of your images. I know that planning the wardrobe can feel daunting, but I work with each and every client to help make this process as easy as possible.

I have been photographing Long Island families for a decade now. Over the years, I have photographed my clients in a wide array of places. As a result, I have learned what works well and what doesn’t. Each family is unique, so I always take that into consideration. Prior to each and every session, my clients complete a questionnaire. These responses help me to suggest a location that is a good fit for their vision for their photos and their family’s personality.

I worked with this recent client when her first daughter was born and also for her daughter’s first birthday session. When she contacted me to tell me she was pregnant with her second child, I was elated to now only photograph her family again for a newborn session, but to also see how much her daughter has grown in the past few years.

Yes, that is right. I am talking to all of you gorgeous expecting moms out there. So many women choose to skip maternity photos and it makes me so sad. I know that some women don’t feel their best during pregnancy, or they feel that the photos will be awkward, but I encourage you to take the photos. First of all, no one is more beautiful than a pregnant woman. It sounds like a cliche, but women are simply radiant when they are pregnant. The pregnancy glow is not a matter of fiction. I have seen it first hand with each and every one of my gorgeous clients.

Most of the clients who book me for newborn photos are looking for images that are not heavily propped and focused on the family. I get a lot of inquiries from clients who are torn between an in home session and a studio session. Both of these are great options that allow me to capture family centered newborn images. The one to choose is really a personal choice and based on certain variables. I always do a pre session consult with my clients and during this consult I can help them to determine the session that is best suited for their family.

A decade ago, I started my family photography business. Over the past ten years, my approach to family photos has developed and I have learned so much. My approach to family photo sessions is to always capture your love and connection as a family. There are quite a few ways that I accomplish this during the session. So, although it may feel fun and maybe even a little chaotic, there is a method to my madness.

While every family dynamic is unique, there are some key images that I strive to capture during every family photo session. Here are a few of those ideas.

I recently renovated the Long Beach studio space and I am so in love with it. I wanted the space to have an earthy and natural look to it and be one that allows for natural and relaxed lifestyle images. When decorating with photography in mind, I try my best to incorporate an array of textures. Adding texture adds dimension to images. Although I incorporated some earthy textures like rattan and green plants, the studio is a very neutral space that allows for bright and airy images.

The only thing that is better than a newborn baby is twins! This family was amazing to capture. The twin baby girls are absolutely precious, big brother is an adorable doting brother, the parents are the sweetest, and the icing on the cake is the adorable golden retriever. I am a dog lover and I own a golden retriever myself, so whenever I work with families with dogs, I try my best to incorporate the dog as best as I can. This is because I know how precious a pet is to the family.

Last year I decided to take a brief hiatus from offering newborn sessions in the studio. Instead, I focused solely on in home newborn sessions. I decided at the end of 2022 to refresh and remodel the studio space and star offering limited sessions in the studio in 2023. Many clients, who felt their homes did not have the general aesthetic they wanted for their photos requested studio sessions and so the studio is up and running again.

Your child’s First Holy Communion is such a special milestone and is one that should be properly documented. These photos are far from the rigid and traditional posed photos of years past. Instead, the focus of my communion portrait sessions is on capturing candid and natural images of your child, as well as beautiful and artistic images that encapsulate this very special milestone. Most clients choose the church as the setting for these images and I just love the dramatic natural light that a church provides for portraits. I also make sure to capture plenty of images that allow for a child's whimsical nature to shine through.