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.

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 a meaningful milestone — one that deserves to be remembered with care and intention. As a St. Augustine First Communion photographer, I create natural, heartfelt portraits for families who want images that feel genuine, relaxed, and true to this season of life.

I photograph Communion sessions throughout St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, Nocatee, and surrounding Northeast Florida communities, offering a calm, guided experience from planning through delivery.

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.

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’re expecting a baby and searching for a more relaxed approach to newborn photos in Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, or St. Augustine, an in-home newborn session may be exactly what you’re looking for. The early days of bringing home a new baby can feel beautiful, exhausting, emotional, and overwhelming all at once, and the thought of packing everyone up for a photo session often feels like one more thing to manage.

If you are reading this article, odds are you just got engaged. Congratulations!!! Whether you knew about the proposal or it was completely a surprise, this is one of the most exciting moments in life for both of you and it is one that should be documented.

Your baby is about to turn one and you are considering a birthday portrait session for your little one. Cake smash sessions are a fun and joyful way to commemorate the milestone of your baby’s first birthday. These birthday sessions are amongst my favorite to photograph. I wanted to take a moment to go over a few tips I have accumulated over the past ten years as a first birthday photographer.

There are a multitude of reasons why I am passionate about documenting newborns and their families in their homes here on Long Island. I know that I have spoken about this topic before on the blog, but I wanted to take a moment to shed some light on this topic for those of you who are unsure about whether or not an in home session is for you.

Bringing home a new baby is already a huge adjustment for the entire family, especially for older siblings who are still learning what this new season of life looks like. One of the biggest concerns parents often have before a newborn session is how their toddler or older child will behave during the photos. The truth is, newborn sessions with siblings are rarely perfectly quiet or perfectly posed — and they are not meant to be.

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?