We all look forward to vacations with out family. A vacation is a time to unwind, relax, and bond with your family members. This time is stress free and without the distraction of work, technology and provides you with the time to focus on each other.

While planning a family vacation the last thing you are thinking about is family photos. I get it can be a bit overwhelming. You are already inundated with a multitude of tasks including the planning of the trip, where to stay, activities, packing for the entire family and the list goes on. The thought of adding in a portrait session may seem overwhelming, but it is so worth the extra time it takes to plan. Here are the reasons why:

As a Long Island family photographer who photographs primarily at the beach, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is “what colors should we wear for our family beach photos?” This is an important thing to consider as you plan your upcoming shoot because it really determines the vibe and aesthetic of your images. To choose your outfit’s, you will need to consider the location, your family’s personality/style and your photographer’s editing style. I always provide my clients with a wardrobe guide after booking and I am available every step of the way to help plan their wardrobe. If you are looking for some quick tips in regard to choosing your family’s wardrobe, here are a few factors to consider:

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.

For most people, having your family photos taken is a special occasion. What you wear to your photo session will dramatically impact the overall aesthetic for your images. It is important to choose outfits that will not only look good in the photos, but also make everyone in the family feel comfortable.

Now that the Fall season is upon is, you have likely been hearing about mini sessions. Although I capture families throughout the year for full length sessions, I offer mini sessions once a year during the Fall season. I offer minis because as a mom, I understand the appeal to capture some beautiful, professional photos for a lower price point in a faster time frame. Mini sessions are a great option for some families, but they aren’t for everyone. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether a mini session is right for you and your family.

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.

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.

For some people, choosing the wardrobe is the most stressful part of a family session. I don’t want my clients to feel any stress at all about a session with me and I want to make the styling portion of the session simple for you. To help alleviate some of the burden of styling for my clients, I recently subscribed to a wonderful service called Style & Select. It is a website that allows you to coordinate outfits for family photos.

We are now almost through the second week of the quarantine in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. While we all want to do our part to flatten the curve, this time can be stressful and anxiety producing. Like most of you, I have felt a wide array of feelings over the last two weeks, including fear, anxiety and anger. The first few days of this situation awakened anxiety in me that I have not felt in many years. Thankfully, a conversation with my seven year old daughter changed my entire viewpoint.

At bedtime this past weekend, I asked my oldest how she was feeling in response to the stay in. She happily exclaimed, “I love it!” That night, I reflected on how our past week was going. My daughter is prone to explosive tantrums and meltdowns and in the last two weeks, she has experienced barely any. She is happy and does nothing but laugh and sing all day. When I asked her why she was so happy, she said simply, “because I am home with mommy.” It is that simple for a child and the moment truly put things in perspective for me.

I absolutely love in home lifestyle newborn sessions. These sessions are the most natural and organic way to capture those first moments with your baby. I capture you and your family interacting with baby, but I also make sure I get a few polished portraits of baby for you to use for birth announcements and to hang on your walls. I have found that most families really appreciate and value those images of them with baby so much more than the posed mages I provide.

I often get asked by clients, what can I do to prepare for this session and what can I expect? So, I decided to write a blog post in which I will answer those questions.

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.

Like most New Yorkers, I eagerly await the arrival of Summer all year long.  It is my favorite time of year and because the season is so fleeting, I try my best to enjoy every second of those eight precious weeks of warm weather and care free fun.  Like most of you, I am busy building memories with my little ones and as a family photographer, I try my best to document as many of these memories as possible to authentically document the story of our summer vacation together.    

I am so thankful for all of the families who have hired me to photograph them this holiday season. I am looking forward to meeting all of you.  

I would like to take a moment to offer some tips that can help to make our mini session run smoothly.