As I am typing this blog post, it is snowing steadily outside. At this moment it does not quite feel like, it but we are only twenty days away from the official start of Spring. It has been a long winter and I am looking forward to the warmth and beauty of Spring. I am also looking forward to all of the exciting sessions I have planned for the season, including an Easter mini session, which I am offering for the first time ever.

As many of you know, I offer mother and child sessions each year. These are my favorite sessions to offer because I personally know how hard it is to get out from behind our cameras and get into those photos with our children. As mothers, one of our many roles is to be the documentarian for the family and, consequently, we become an invisible presence in the annals of our children’s lives. I offer the motherhood sessions because I want every mom to have an opportunity to be photographed with her children. I know that having photos taken of you with your children is something you will never regret doing and years from now, you and your children will both be thankful to have these photos. After all, they are only little once.

I absolutely love when I get the opportunity to photograph my previous newborn clients for first birthday sessions. It truly is such an honor to be able to document these milestone moments for my families and I feel blessed to also be able to watch their children grow. When my client contacted me about first birthday photos for her little one, I was shocked. I really could not believe that a year had already gone by since I photographed Miss S and her family for newborn photos in the studio. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time goes by.

Some of you may recall my blog post from last Summer about our newly purchased 1969 Playmor canned ham style camper. Although I have not posted in quite some time about the camper, we actually began renovations in the Fall and are nearly done with the interior of the camper.

Tim did all of the renovations himself. He added a hot water heater and rewired the camper to add electric so that we could utilize the hook up services available at most campgrounds or a generator. As far as structural repairs, we were fortunate enough that most of what we needed to do to the camper was cosmetic. Tim had to fix some rot at the back of the camper and reseal the windows, but other than that, the camper was in great shape.

I have just packed away the last of my holiday decorations and I can hardly believe that the holidays have come and gone. The holidays are a whirlwind of family gatherings, activities, preparations, and, of course, shopping. Although I enjoy the festivities, I also like the few weeks afterwards, during which time I can decompress and get my wits about me again. Now that I finally have my head above water again, I am focusing on the Spring. Yes, I know, we are still in the clutches of Winter, but just remember, with each passing day, the days get longer and bring us one step closer to those beautiful Spring blossoms and mild weather.

For many of you, this Spring is particularly special because your little ones will be receiving their First Holy Communion , a special milestone that I know you want to document. I love photographing this special moment because it is the perfect time for me to capture a wide array of classic portraits of your child. My communion portrait sessions are centered on capturing candid and natural images of your child, as well as beautiful and artistic images that encapsulate this very special rite of passage for your child. Some of my most favorite photos I have ever captured are those of children on their Communion day. I just love the dramatic natural light that a church provides for portraits, but it also seems that this special day allows for a child's whimsical nature to shine through and I love capturing that silly and relaxed side of children too. Scheduling the photos before the communion day ensures that you capture beautiful portraits of your child in a natural and relaxed way, without the stress of rushing around on the day of the ceremony.

I had a wonderful Fall season photographing families and children for their holiday photos. Although I loved every second of this time, I had very little time to keep up with blogging. Now that the dust has settled, I am finally catching up on blogging some of the newborns and birthdays that I photographed recently.

I love photographing first birthdays, especially when they involve cake smashes. My studio birthday portrait packages include two sets. Because a lot of what I do involves lifestyle photography, I usually encourage clients to utilize one of the more natural set ups that my studio provides, such as my bed or teal velvet couch. I find that these set ups allow for more natural images, as opposed to children being posed on a rigid backdrop. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the clean and classic look that my backdrops provide, but I find that you will be more likely to hang an image in your home of your child on a bed or seated on a couch.

I recently photographed a beautiful baby boy in my Long Beach studio for his newborn photos. This little man happens to share the same birth date as my eldest daughter. Now, I know some people fear that the holidays can overshadow December birthdays, but as a parent of a child born in this special month, I actually think it just enhances the festive spirit of the birthday celebrations. When mom booked the session, I knew I had to incorporate something to commemorate Christmas. I found an adorable handmade knit Santa suit to use and I just love the sweet images I captured of him seeping in the suit.

The holiday season is upon us and so are family gatherings. The holidays are a time to connect with our loved ones. Most importantly, the holidays are a time to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for and for most of you, I am sure your loved ones are on the top of that list.

Even though our parents and siblings are such a central part of our lives, we don’t have photos that document that bond. Sure, we get pictures of our children each year, which don’t get me wrong, is of the utmost importance, but when was the last time you had a photo taken with your mom or sibling? For most of us , it may have been at a wedding or other function during which time we quickly snapped an iPhone photo. Now, the cell phone capture is great to have, but does it really capture the essence of your family? For those of you who have been thinking about having your family photographed, the holidays are a perfect time to finally do so because the family is all together at this time of year.

n the age of social media, it seems tempting to skip out on sending out holiday cards. I hope the holiday card tradition never comes to an end. I am not saying this because I am a photographer, but because I truly love receiving holiday cards each year. To me, receiving a card from a family member or friend is a gesture of love, warmth, and thoughtfulness. A post on Facebook can never replicate the actual feeling of holding a card in your hand. Just like the Christmas tree, the holiday card is a staple of holiday decor. I love seeing the way families have grown and evolved from year to year and I display the cards right in my living room area and we all love to look at them. I know for some, sending out the holiday card can be a bothersome task, but I am here to give you some tips to perhaps alleviate some of the stress.

My approach to newborn photography is a bit different than other photographers. As opposed to photographing baby in an array of props and outfits, I center my sessions around the family and their interaction with baby. I do this because I know that years from now when baby is grown, you are going to want images that capture those first few moments with him. I know sometimes as moms, we don't feel our best right after delivery and would rather not be in photos, but years from now you will be so grateful to have photos that document those precious first moments with your baby.

I have been in the process of renovating my studio here in Long Beach, NY and I am excited to reveal some of the changes. I want all of my studio sessions to have a very clean, modern, and polished look, so I have made some changes to the layout of the studio which will provide me the opportunity to do so.

My most recent addition to the studio is a gorgeous teal mid century velvet couch with which I am obsessed. It makes the perfect addition to the studio and will be a staple in my studio newborn sessions, as well as children’s portraiture. The couch will allow me the opportunity to get cozy and connected family images, as well as timeless images of babies celebrating their birthdays.

When my client first contacted me a few months ago, she was uncertain as to whether she wanted to book a studio session or an in home session. Last minute, she decided to go with the in home session and, of course, I was thrilled to be able to document her first moments home with her baby in the comfort of her gorgeous Babylon home.

The in home session is the most natural of all of the newborn sessions I offer. It is the perfect session for new moms because I come to you and it alleviates the stress of getting out of the house with a newborn. Furthermore, most clients feel more like themselves and at ease in the comfort of their own home, thus allowing me to capture the most natural images possible.

It is always a true honor to be asked to photograph a surprise proposal. Not only does photographing this type of engagement session require the client to have faith in my ability to capture the moment, he must also depend on my reliability during what is amongst the most intimate and joyous occasions that one can celebrate in life.

When I was contacted a few months ago by the groom to be, I knew that this engagement session was going to be really special and I was elated to be a part of it. With the help of his brother, the groom concocted a stellar plan to propose to his girlfriend at one of the best locations in the Long Island Region. The groom was planning his top secret proposal at Macari Vineyards in Mattituck. I can’t think of a better place to start the journey to marriage together.

I have been busy over the last few weeks photographing children and families outdoors in this gorgeous New York Fall weather.   I am having so much fun meeting new families and catching up with clients from last year.  The weather has been absolutely perfect!   

I have finally had a few moments to put together my November mini session schedule.   This year’s indoor set is a beautiful and classic rustic set. The rustic session is designed to resemble a log cabin and is decorated with vintage and rustic accents. I have added stands of globe lights to give the set a unique look. Children will also get to cuddle up beneath a holiday blanket and sip on some hot cocoa in the “cabin.”

I recently photographed this little cutie, who happens to share the same birthday as me.  I have photographed both her and her siblings before. Baby’s mom is super creative, so I love working with the family.  

Mom contacted me and wasn't sure if she wanted to schedule her daughter's first birthday session in the studio or outdoors. During the warmer months, I always encourage my clients to schedule their child's cake smash session outdoors. An outdoor session allows for more natural and organic images and no backdrop is more beautiful than that which Mother Nature can provide. Because mom had a boho themed session in mind, it made even more sense to choose an outdoor location for her daughter's first birthday photos.  

Although I love photographing newborns, six month sitter sessions are quickly growing to become my favorite type of session. Babies are so adorable at that age and their true personalities really starts to shine through, which means it is a great time time to update your photos of your little one.

When mom contacted me earlier in the Summer, she said she wanted to photograph her son outdoors on the beach for his six month session. As you all know, I prefer to shoot outdoors whenever the weather allows me to do so.

When my client said she wanted a session for her daughter's first birthday that was natural, I knew she had come to the right place. Don't get me wrong, I love studio birthday sessions, but if the weather permits, I always encourage my clients to choose an outdoor location of their choice. 

Outdoor locations allow you to get more "mileage" out of your photos. Not only are you getting photos of your child commemorating her first birthday, but you are also getting images that capture the natural essence of your baby.  These are timeless images that you can use not only for thank you cards, but to hang on your walls year round.

When my client contacted me a few months ago and asked if I would be willing to travel to Fire Island for a large family session with her in laws, I immediately said yes. Because I live in Long Beach and spend my time on the beaches here, I don't really travel over to Fire Island much anymore. In fact, the last time I visited was a few years ago on a girl's overnight trip to Ocean Beach. 

Because my client's father in law would be visiting from Hawaii to spend some time with his grandchildren, she wanted to book an extended session that included not only her own children, but her sister in law's family and of course, the special visitor, her father in law.  

Many times when clients first contact me about photographing their new baby, they are uncertain whether they want to book a studio session or an in home session. I offer both options and I love both types of sessions for different reasons.  

The in home session is the most natural of all of the newborn sessions I offer.  It takes place in your home and because every client's home is unique, the images will encapsulate their individual style and personality. When lighting allows, I try to incorporate the master bedroom, living room, and even the nursery for the photos of your baby. As moms, we work hard to create a beautiful home for our family and homes make the most unique and beautiful backdrops for newborn images.    

September is only a week away and that means it is time for my annual holiday mini sessions. I recently announced this year's family campfire sessions and now it is time for me to reveal this year's beach holiday session. I am thrilled to finally be able to share the details of this year's holiday theme and I think you are all going to love it as much as I do.  

Last year, we built a sand snowman together on the beach and this year, I invite your child to set sail with me into the holiday season with my nautical themed holiday session. Your child will board my handmade driftwood sailboat, which will be decorated with subtle holiday decorations and a strand of globe lights.  The boat will be placed along the shoreline to give the appearance that it is about to set sail.  Your child will even be able to hoist the sail of the boat!