Tips for Making the Most of Your Spring Family Pictures

Spring Family Pictures in Webster NY

Springtime in the Rochester area brings a burst of color and life, making it the perfect season for capturing memorable family portraits. If you’re planning family pictures this spring, here are some practical tips to help you make the most of it.

Timing is Everything

To take advantage of the beautiful spring light, consider scheduling your family portrait session during the golden hours of the day. Early morning and early evening (around dusk) provide the soft, warm light that enhances your family pictures. During these times, the sunlight is more flattering, and you'll avoid the harsh midday glare. Additionally, the spring light adds a fresh and natural glow to your photos, making them truly special. 

However, you should always be prepared for unpredictable weather, as we had with the session below at Webster Arboretum. Before the session, the forecast called for a 5% chance of rain - which turned into a 99% chance of rain, and caused a slight delay, but ultimately did not stop the fun!

Choosing the Right Outfit for Spring Family Pictures

Spring in Rochester is all about vibrant colors and blooming flowers, so your outfits should reflect the season's lively spirit. Here are some outfit suggestions to complement the spring scenery:

• Pastels and Brights: Soft pastels and bright colors work beautifully against the backdrop of blooming flowers and lush greenery. Think light pinks, soft blues, and fresh greens.

• Layered Looks: Spring weather can be unpredictable, so layering is key. Opt for light sweaters, jackets, and scarves that you can easily add or remove.

• Coordinated but Not Matching: Choose outfits that coordinate well but don’t match exactly. This approach creates a harmonious look while allowing each family member’s personality to shine through.

• Don’t be afraid to rock an umbrella if the weather changes mid family portrait session!

Ideas for Spring Family Portraits in Rochester NY

To truly capture the spirit of spring and your family’s dynamic, here are some photo ideas:

• Blooming Backdrops: Pose against the vibrant spring blooms at locations like this one at Webster Arboretum or Highland Park. The colorful flowers will add a lively touch to your photos.

• Family Fun: Capture moments of your family enjoying the season with a touch of candid family photography. Whether it’s playing in the park, having a picnic, or simply walking together, these genuine interactions can create cherished memories.

• Seasonal Props: Incorporate seasonal props such as flower bouquets, colorful kites or even a colorful umbrella if it’s needed! These props can enhance the spring theme and add a playful element to your photos. (Think “Singing in the Rain” vibes!)

By taking advantage of the beautiful spring light, choosing outfits that reflect the season’s vibrant colors, and selecting the perfect Rochester photo locations, you can create stunning family pictures that capture the essence of spring. Enjoy your photoshoot and make the most of this vibrant season!

Find more candid family pictures in Rochester NY on the blog

Candid Family Mini Sessions at Creative Gardens

Last summer, we had the joy of capturing a series of family mini sessions at Creative Gardens, and the results were heartwarming! These family portrait sessions, filled with laughter and genuine connections, showcased the beautiful bonds and unique personalities within each family.

The love and connection between family members was beautifully evident. We photographed parents playing with their kids, sharing warm embraces, and simply enjoying each other’s company. One image that particularly stands out was of a father with his two daughters as the sunlight creates a glow behind them. The tenderness and affection in these family pictures is gorgeous.

Here's a glimpse into the moments we captured at these family mini sessions.

Find Family Pictures on the Blog

Holiday Portraits at Fellows Road Park: Fairport NY Family Pictures

Capture the Magic of the Holidays with Family Mini Session Portraits

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than with beautiful family portraits that will warm your heart for years to come?

Whether you're looking to update your family photo album, create personalized holiday cards, or simply capture the joy and togetherness of the season, a family mini session is the perfect opportunity to do just that!

Mini sessions offer a convenient and budget-friendly option for busy families who want stunning portraits without the time commitment of a full session. In just a short amount of time, you'll have a collection of gorgeous images that perfectly capture the magic of the holidays.

From festive outdoor setups adorned with twinkling lights and rustic props to cozy indoor scenes complete with holiday décor, the possibilities are endless when it comes to mini session themes. Whether you prefer a classic, timeless look or something more whimsical and playful, your photographer can help bring your vision to life.

And the best part? Mini sessions are a fantastic way to get the whole family involved! Whether you're a family of two or ten, there's nothing quite like coming together to create lasting memories in front of the camera.

So this holiday season, why not treat your family to a mini session portrait experience? It's the perfect way to celebrate the magic of this special time of year and create memories that will last a lifetime.

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Looking for other Family Candid Mini Sessions?

Candid Family Pictures at Home: Fairport NY Photographers

They’re in their 9th year of annual family portraits. We’ve taken so many family pictures of these 3 and their pets, that we can line a photo from every year and watch their growth like you would in a flip book. It’s fantastic.

This year, their Fall wildflowers were beautiful, and they had apples to pick from their trees. They even each took a turn on the zipline that stretches across one a pond.

They enjoy a blend of posed family photographs and candid family pictures. Their family pictures tell the story of who they are and what they enjoy together.

And we’re the lucky ones that get to capture these family pictures, this story, every year.

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Find More Family Pictures on the Blog!

Holiday Candid Mini Sessions in Pittsford NY: Fairport NY Photographers

Our holiday family candid mini sessions at Pittsford Dairy were so dang cute!

From warming up by the fire to playing a quick game of hide and seek in the trees, this was the perfect location for some winter mini sessions for our families.

And when we were finished, we all headed inside for a fun, sweet treat! I mean, honestly how could we pass it up?

Looking for our next Candid Mini Session option? Check them out below!

Fall Candid Mini Sessions: Family Pictures in Rochester NY

2022’s Fall Candid Mini Family Sessions were gorgeous - every single one of them!

There were three opportunities for families to update their family pictures last fall. Our Tinker Park Family Sessions, a Halloween costume party at Chase Farms, and a late fall family mini session day at Abraham Lincoln Park.

Check out our favorites from each one below! Which will you join us for?

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Tinker Park

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Chase Farms

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Abraham Lincoln Park

Apple Picking Mini Sessions in Rochester NY

What is it about apple picking that makes for such fun candid mini session pictures? These family portrait sessions are always our most popular of the year.

Is it the fun of grabbing an apple and munching on it right there in the orchard? Is it the kids running up and down the paths? Is it the excitement when Mom or Dad lifts a child up to get the apple that’s all the way up on top of the tree?

We’ll never know for sure, but these families made the most of their apple snacks AND their family pictures.

Apple picking mini sessions for the win!

Mendon NY Family Pictures: Fairport NY Photographers

A fall family portrait session with the perfect blend of candid photography and posed portraits doesn’t exi…

Oh wait, just kidding. These family pictures in Mendon nailed it.

All of the necessary elements were there:

• A gorgeous day.

• Adorable, smiley kids, and their parents too.

• A swing set to climb on.

• A leaf pile ready for throwing.

• Chickens.

If that doesn’t sum up these family pictures, I just don’t know what does.

Beach Mini Sessions in Rochester NY: Fairport NY Photographers

Family pictures at the beach should always be this perfect.

Though for about an hour before them, it was pourinnnnng. We nervously watched the radar and hoped that we wouldn’t have to reschedule this candid mini session. Thankfully, the skies cleared and the light ended up being absolutely perfect.

We played on the boardwalk, in the sand, in the water and at Abbotts with this group of families. When it was all over, we were damp from going in the lake, full of sand and had full bellies from ice cream. But these family pictures were worth every grain of sand.

The pictures below were from our 2022 Candid Mini Session at the beach. This summer’s are happening in August! Want to join us?

Summer Candid Family Mini Sessions: Fairport NY Family Pictures

Pro tip: Kids are often much more excited to have their picture taken when they know something fun is about to happen.

Which is why our Candid Mini Sessions often include an activity!

For example, we go mini golfing! Along the way, we capture some adorable family pictures. In between the family portraits, they get to play, and so do you!

That’s why Candid Family Mini Sessions are perfect for kids who never sit still.

It really is that easy and fun.

Another fun place to explore in the summer is the Webster Arboretum. This location has so many great settings, not only for family pictures, but for kids to explore, run, and climb. Check out some of the fun we had below!

If you’ve hesitated on booking a Candid Mini Session in the past because you think your kids won’t cooperate, we get it. We hear that a lot from parents who have signed up in the past. But the pictures speak for themselves. Give it try, we’d love to meet you!

How to Have Summer Fun and Great Family Portraits Too: Fairport NY Family Pictures

If your family is anything like mine, your summer days and nights are jam packed with family fun. It feels like we’re on the go all summer long. Camps, traveling, swimming, splash pads, berry picking - you name it, we’re making the most of family time during summer.

And if you’re anything like me, you want to capture each and every memory, but you also want to be present in that memory.

The struggle is real. We get it. We’re constantly caught between taking the picture and being present.

This is why our Candid Mini Family Sessions are so important to us. Take our summer events for example. We visited Edmund Lyons Splash Pad and also went raspberry picking. With both of these mini sessions, we’re gave our clients the freedom to put their phone away and (gasp)… be in the pictures.

Because we’re there, and at these family pictures - that’s our job.

Rochester NY Family Pictures: Highland Park Mini Sessions

In the first few family pictures below, you can see everything you need to know about a Candid Mini Session Event. Highland Park in May during peak Lilac season was the perfect setting for this particular event.

The first family portrait is a shot we set up. We picked the angle, the back lighting, and even asked them for a little bit of the action you see. The result - an all smiles, golden hour family picture.

The family picture below that is far more candid in nature. We let them be, and allowed them to play on the playground together. The result - joy in a real moment as a family.

Real life doesn’t happen in posed pictures alone. That perfect blend of both types of family pictures is exactly what we aim for at every single Candid Mini Session.