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.

It is no secret that I am a big proponent of taking family photos. This is especially true for newborn photos. With that being said, I have many clients who just want a photo session that is focused on the baby alone. These clients are looking for images to hang on their walls and use for announcements. Most of these clients book a family session wither at six months or a first birthday, when moms are feeling up for family photos.

Today is a mild Winter day here in Long Beach, NY. We are just a few short weeks away from the Spring season and I am ready for it. Spring is a busy time of year in the photography industry. Clients are looking for a portrait photographer for a wide array of occasions ranging from Communion portraits to Mommy and Me photos. I love this season because I capture a diverse range of clients and each session is unique.

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.

I have been a newborn, children’s and family photographer for ten years now. In that decade, I have had the honor of photographing countless families with their newborn babies. Although I have a beautiful studio located in Long Beach, NY, most of these newborn sessions have been scheduled right in the comfort of my client’s homes.

A first birthday is a milestone that is often photographed. The first birthday session is a popular session in my studio. This is for good reasons. The first birthday is a time in your child’s life that is perfect for updated portraits and many families want photos to capture this stage of childhood.

There is not much that you need to do to prepare for a first birthday or cake smash photo session. However, I do have a few tips to help you properly book your photo session.

Most people book newborn sessions and a first birthday session, but so much happens between those two milestones. Baby’s develop so quickly in the first year and though each phase should be documented, the six month milestone is such a perfect time to schedule a photoshoot.

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.

The first birthday is such a special milestone. Your baby has grown so much over the past twelve months and you want to document this special moment. I love photographing babies at this age. They have such big personalities and are so much fun to photograph. While I offer several options for first birthday portrait sessions, the most popular session is the studio birthday photo session.

When most people think of first birthday photos, the first thing that comes to mind is an elaborate set and a cake smash. I enjoy those studio sessions very much. In fact, I capture many first birthday portraits in my Long Beach photography studio. I love the creative side of planning, designing and building a set. I also love to photograph a baby on these sets, gleefully making a mess with cake. The photos always make me smile and I know that families cherish those type of images.

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.

Getting engaged is a monumental milestone in life. It is the start of a lifetime commitment to your significant other and a moment that is the foundation on which the rest of your life rests. It is also a moment that should be special and meaningful. Many of my clients struggle with how to make this moment special, but I am here to reassure you that no matter what you do, I promise it will be special because this memory is unique to you as a couple. Hopefully, that sentiment relieves a bit of stress; but, if you want to know how to have a successful SURPRISE proposal, I am going to give you a few tips to pull it off.

Congratulations on the newest addition to your sweet family! These first few days & weeks are just so magical and it is such an honor to capture your little babe during this special time. Here are some tips & tricks I’ve found to be super helpful in preparing for your newborn session so it can be as fun, stress free and enjoyable as possible.

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.

If you are reading this, you have likely just given birth to your baby and are considering a newborn session. Congrats to you and your family. This is such a special time in life and one that deserves to be properly documented. I wanted to take a moment to put together a prep guide for my clients and anyone else who is considering an in home newborn session.