December is here and the holidays are right around the corner. My Fall calendar was jam packed this year with holiday sessions, newborns and family sessions. I feel like I blinked my eyes and the calendar jumped from September to December. It was so great to meet new clients and work with former clients again. I love everything about Fall sessions. The light is so gorgeous in November, the foliage is at its peak and the rich colors for wardrobe make images from this time of year really pop.

I had a jam packed Fall season with holiday sessions, family sessions and newborn sessions. It is hard to believe that it is December and we are approaching the end of 2021. The new year is a time for reflection and changes and I have decided to make a few minor changes to my business model. The first of which is with my newborn segment of my business. As of January 1st, I will no longer be offering studio newborn sessions and will focus only on in home sessions.

I can hardly believe that it is October and we are officially in the Fall season. The weather has started to cool down, school is in full swing, and I have already had my first pumpkin latte. I just love everything about the Fall. The weather is spectacular, the foliage is beautiful and I love Halloween and Thanksgiving.

I can’t believe that it is now the end of September and my 2021 season of sunset beach session, is coming to an end. I had a blast with all of the beautiful families with whom I worked this season. September is a great month to schedule a family session. The beach crowds are gone, the humidity tends to break, the weather is milder and, best of all, the sunsets are the best of the season this month. Many of my clients knew all of this and opted for a session over the last few weeks and each and every session has been spectacular.

I never thought that anything could top a surprise proposal at sunset on the water, but this recent session has proven me wrong. I recently had the pleasure of photographing the most adorable couple for a secret engagement at the Bayshore Marina and we had what was arguably the most perfect night for photos. The session took place on a crystal clear 84 degree September evening and as the sun was setting, the moon was also rising. It was one of those rare evenings when the full moon appeared brightly in the sky exactly as the sun was setting. I am not sure that anything can ever top this evening because I am pretty sure that moonlit engagement photos are the epitome of romance.

September is my absolute favorite month of the year. Not only is it my birthday month, but it also happens to have the best weather of the year. I love that the humidity drops, yet it is still pleasantly warm. It also happens to be the kick off to my Fall family photo sessions, which after months of shooting sunset beach sessions in a great change of pace for me. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love beach sessions, but I also love to photograph families in parks, foliage and any other location that is scenic and social to them.

Oh, how I wish more women would schedule maternity photo sessions for themselves during their pregnancy. There is nothing that can surpass the beauty of an expecting mother; as cliche as it might sound, the natural glow of a pregnant women is simply unsurpassed. Sadly, so many women do not see themselves as beautiful during this momentous time in life. Many women tell me that they just don't feel their best during their pregnancy and, consequently, shy away from the camera during those nine months. I completely understand and I too felt this way about myself during both of my pregnancies. Although I did not shy away from the camera and took my monthly photos of my bump, I never scheduled a photo session with a photographer and I still regret it to this day.

This recent engagement session warms my heart. The couple has such a sweet love story. They met in elementary school, dated in middle school for a brief time, reconnected in college and have been together ever since. To say that they are meant to be is an understatement. One of their first dates was a walk on the path along the Cross Island Parkway and it is a place they visit frequently. So, my client wanted to propose to her near that area. His plan was a great one. Choosing a location that is authentic to you as a couple is one way to avoid arousing suspicion for the big day.

As a dog owner, I understand how important it is to have your fur baby participate in your newborn photos. While my studio isn’t conducive to sessions with pets, an in home newborn session is perfect for those families who want to make sure that their pet is included. You, your children and your pet can be photographed in the comfort of your own home and have beautiful and timeless images of this special moment in life.

A first birthday is the perfect opportunity to update your family photos. Instead of scheduling a first birthday session in the studio, you can schedule an outdoor photo session and include the whole family. Whenever weather permits, I encourage families to go this route. I always leave a little time at the end of the session for either a cake smash or first birthday themed portraits. This recent family took my advice and scheduled their son’s first birthday session on the beach at sunset. They wanted a few photos of a cake smash and the rest of the session to focus on them interacting as a family.

Although I love to shoot at sunset, this is not the only time of day a family session can be scheduled. I know we all love that golden glow of sunset, but your images are not about capturing the scenery, they are meant to capture you and your love for one another. For many families, this is a welcome relief, especially those with toddler aged children, whose bedtime often coincides with sunset.

On the day of a special event, it can be difficult to get yourself and your family ready. Capturing polished portraits of your special day is important and it can be helpful to schedule your photo session ahead of time. Doing so alleviates some of the stress associated with hosting an event, eliminates the need to rush around on that day and it is nice to know that on the day of the party you can relax because you have already captured images of your family together. This is especially true when photographing babies. They can easily become overstimulated on the day of a party, which would mean that the baby could be cranky for those family photos you want captured.

Oh my goodness…the weather this Summer has been so whacky and unpredictable. We are experiencing a very cloudy and rainy Summer here on Long Island, which has caused me to reschedule multiple photo sessions. I have learned from past experiences that when I book a sunset beach session, I have to also include a rain date on the calendar. This means that when clients book, they have two dates already blocked out on my calendar. This gives me flexibility to pivot when the weather just doesn’t want to cooperate. This is also why I have such limited availability for beach family sessions. I try to book only one or two beach sessions a week, so that I can make sure to get your family photographed, no matter what the weather report calls for. We had to reschedule this family’s date twice, as it was a rainy and cloudy week. It was completely worth the wait because the light was perfect on the evening of their session and I just love their collection of images.

I have been photographing most newborn clients in their own homes for  newborn lifestyle sessions, so it has been a while since I have photographed a family in the studio with their newborn. I prefer to photograph the whole family together for newborn sessions, so choosing either one of these sessions is a great option. For those clients who want more of a documentary look to their photos, the in home newborn session is best; whereas for others, the bright, airy and polished look of the studio newborn session is the best option. Both will document you and your family interacting with the baby.

This recent surprise proposal session is about as romantic as it gets. It took place on a gorgeous beach on one of the most gorgeous Summer evenings during a spectacular sunset. My client was out east with his girlfriend. He spent the day on the beach with her, took her out for a beautiful dinner and they ended the evening with a walk along a gorgeous beach with a natural and unblemished shoreline during sunset. However, unbeknownst to his girlfriend, their evening stroll was prearranged and coordinated by both my client and myself.

This recent family session was a special one. My client was born and raised in New York, but moved to England a few years ago with her husband. Her family resides in Long Beach and she was home for a visit for the first time since pre COVID for a visit with her mom. While here, she wanted to do a family session on the beach and include her mom, whom she does not see often, in the session.

When I get asked to do a family session that includes grandparents, I always know that the session will be special. I know how important the bond between grandparent and grandchild is and I love to photograph their special bond. A photo session that includes grandma and grandpa is a great gift for the holidays or any occasion and it is one that not only the grandparent will cherish, but you will too.

Although I photograph families in my studio often and love the look of these sessions, I equally love when I photograph newborns in their own homes. I find that with families with young toddlers, this is the least stressful way to have photographs of your baby taken. This allows you to be I the comfort of your own home, provides ample opportunities to give the big brother/sister breaks and also allows you to feel at ease and relaxed during the session. Plus, there is nothing quite like being at home and having your own unique home decor serve as the backdrop for your photos.

For those of you with little girls, I am sure you are well versed in all things princess. Most of the time, this includes dressing in full princess attire on a daily basis, which often includes being over dressed for most occasions. I, for one, love the innocence of this season of life and I have throughly documented it with my own two daughters and I love when clients ask me to document it for them too.