Fairport Extended Family Pictures: Rochester NY Family Photographers

These wide, happy smiles are brought to you by lots of laughter and the promise of pie.

It helps that half of this gorgeous group knows us well, having been their family photographers through our Candid Mini Session Events and various family portrait sessions.

Family in town for the holidays? Why yes, we’ll make beautiful family pictures of your whole family for you. It’d be our pleasure.

(And if we can’t during the holidays, we’d be happy to offer you a gift certificate solution!)

Extended Family Pictures in Hamlin NY: Rochester NY Family Photographers

Their goal when booking this extended family session was to have one picture of the entire family together, having a good time with each other.

They went back and forth a little bit on where they’d want to take their pictures, but in the end the decision was easy. For them, a perfect Saturday includes time at the lake house, good food, good books to read and time with family.

All 3 families together at the lake house for family pictures it was. And it was as picturesque a setting as any for a morning family session. Together, no matter where it is, is a great place to be.

Hamlin Beach Family Pictures: Fairport NY Photographers

If you have a favorite place in the Rochester NY area, you go there for your family pictures. Which is what we did with Kylie’s family to compliment her Class of 2022 senior pictures.

They have so many memories from Hamlin Beach. Camping, swimming and playing with cousins. I was lucky enough to join this family and take some family portraits for them in their happy place.

And, not only did the bring their dog, but they also wore matching Puppie Love Rescue shirts!

The golden hour sunset did not disappoint in these family pictures, These guys were so much fun! I’m really glad Kylie is the oldest daughter! See you again soon! -Lori

Candid Family Mini Sessions in Rochester NY: Hipocampo Children's Books

When it comes to family mini sessions in winter, we get creative. We don’t use a studio and a painted backdrop.

We use your real life.

For example, we recently partnered with a great business like Hipocampo Children’s Books. We woredk together to create a family picture experience. In this case, Henry and Pamela at Hipocampo provided a story time for families to come and enjoy.

How does photography fit into this?

While story time was happening we captured candid family pictures. When story time wrapped up, we took a few posed family pictures as well. We used the colorful book background as the perfect setting for family pictures of book loving families.

Other examples?

• Bright lights and pinball game backgrounds for game loving families.

• Playground family pictures at your favorite playground.

• Halloween costumes and pumpkin picking for fall family pictures.

So what background fits your family? Maybe we have the perfect family mini session for you already on the calendar!

Family Pictures on the Farm: Fairport NY Photographers

I think we use a different vehicle in their family photos every year, but I have to say this bright orange truck might be a favorite!

We met up with these guys for their family pictures in Fairport. The nearby cornfield was the perfect setting for some late fall family portraits, and even the dog wanted in on the fun this year.

If you recognize them, it’s because they’ve been coming to our Candid Mini Session Events for a few years now.

We’re super grateful to them as well, as they’re hosting our upcoming Cars and Trucks Mini Session Event! They have a wide variety of cars (camaros and mustangs anyone?), trucks (like this awesome orange one) and tractors of all kinds to use for great family pictures, as well as some to let kiddos play on. I mean, what kid doesn’t love climbing into the seat of a tractor?

Family Pictures at Seneca Park: Rochester NY Family Portraits

The setting at Seneca Park was perfect for fall family pictures in Rochester NY.

This cutie pie two year old had his fill of playing in the leaves with his family, including his uncle and grandparents. Throwing the leaves at each other and being silly together provided some great opportunities for candid family pictures.

Alongside the leafy fun, there were also some posed family pictures included in their set. Their fall colored wardrobe worked perfectly with the colorful October trees.

Say hello to this cute family if you know them!

Also, huge “thank yous” go out to Shauna from SLZ Photography for her assistance in making this session happen!

Family Pictures at Sunken Gardens in Rochester NY

3 Month Old Pictures

Family pictures with a 3 month old aren’t always this easy. This little love was content to observe the world around her and accept all of the snuggles from her wonderful, albeit tired (she is only a 3 month old after all) parents.

Sometimes we shot candid family pictures of the three of them, other times we tried to get her to smile. There’s a magical power that most mom's have. It’s the ability to make your own 3 month old grin in her second portrait session. It was the first time I’d seen it happen in real life, and my heart can’t take the sweetness.

I mean, seriously, look at these - can your heart handle it?

3 Tips for Great Family Pictures with Pets

Candid Mini Sessions in Rochester NY

We love our four legged friends, so why not have a day to let them shine in family pictures?

Pets are always welcome at our family portrait sessions, but for this candid mini session event we put the spotlight on them. Four dogs and a stuffed cat showed up on this hot, buggy summer night! The mosquitos were definitely NOT invited to these pet mini sessions, but they came anyway.

Maybe next year we’ll see some birds, rabbits, or even frogs, who knows! Who would you bring?

Want tips for great family pictures with your pets?

1) Bring treats!

2) Expect a little chaos, and don’t panic. (it’s ok! It makes the candid family pictures even better!)

3) Tire them out before your family pictures! Run them, play with them, get them moving.

Family Pictures in Fairport NY

Candid Family Portraits at Home

It’s such a treat when an Instagram relationship moves to IRL (in real life). That was the case with Joanna, founder of TotsinRoc. After many months of following each other, comments and liking, we finally scheduled a play date. Her boys loved showing my little man all of their cool toys.

It wasn’t long after that when we found ourselves back together, capturing some candid family portraits in their backyard. We captured memories of them together on the swings, near the stream, even mom and dad in the front yard. The whole gang had fun with their family pictures, and I’m fairly certain everyone slept well that night!

We’ve had such a great time getting to know Joanna and her family, and we can’t wait for more adventures together!

Give TotsinRoc a follow today! You can find their adventures @totsinroc on Instagram and at facebook.com/TotsinRoc

Candid Family Portraits in Highland Park: Mother's Day Mini Sessions

I know every family photographer says it, but I mean it - our families are the best!

Because of rain, we rescheduled our Mother’s Day mini sessions in Rochester twice. When rain threatened again the third time, we nearly canceled it altogether.

But some of our candid mini member families said “Let’s play in the rain.”

And so, another mini session event happened despite the weather.

Honestly though, how cute are these family pictures in the rain?

What Type of Family Portrait Fits you Best?

Fairport NY Family Pictures

You sit down and google “family pictures in Rochester NY.” 

The results come back with a list filled with different descriptions by different family picture photographers. Do you want family portraiture? Candid family pictures? Documentary photography? What is a lifestyle family portrait?

You get so overwhelmed by this decision that you give up your search for a family photographer, again. 

So how do you know what style of family pictures you like best?

We can help you out here. Most photographers will describe themselves using at least one of three main family portrait styles:

 Traditional Family Pictures:

This is essentially an all encompassing title for a photographer who takes family pictures. But there’s a little bit more to it. 

A traditionally trained portrait photographer often focuses their efforts on quality posing and controlled lighting in their family portraits. This often happens in a studio setting with lights, backdrops and perhaps props or sets. However, not every traditional or fine art family photographer uses a studio. 

Oftentimes an extended family portrait falls into this style of family photography. The resulting images tend to focus on the family smiling and looking at the camera.

This may be the simplest category to explain, but it is often one of the hardest to master.

A posed, smiley family portrait is considered most traditional.

Candid Family Portraits in Rochester NY:

If you’re looking for the opposite, or real, authentic, unposed images, then you are looking for a documentary family photographer. Strict photographers in this realm won’t add any light to a scene, but rather evaluate what is available and use it to show emotion. These sessions are usually longer and allow for the most freedom of movement. They can surround an event, or just capture a “day in the life” at home. This is a newer, but growing genre of family portrait photography.

Real life, real play and letting moments unfold are what the documentary side of our membership is all about.

Lifestyle Family Portraits in Rochester NY:

If you want something in between the two, then perhaps you’d best enjoy a lifestyle family portrait session. Lifestyle photographers enjoy a bit more freedom in their sessions. They’ll often choose the location and general position of a group, but then they give they family a little freedom to play using prompts.

This allows for natural moments to occur, such as laughter, hugs, and play, while still controlling the situation in terms of light and background.

Typically lifestyle family pictures are taken in a natural environment (whether inside or outside) rather than a studio. This type of photographer may opt to use lighting, or not!

Lifestyle family portraits are the best way to describe our Signature Family Sessions.

We gave her the location and gave her some ideas - she created the lifestyle portrait.

And Then There’s Us: Lori & Erin Photography

When you love all three options, and you just have to have all of the above - you join our family. Our candid mini session events are part of a membership that essentially uses all three of these family portrait styles. How, you ask?

We plan a variety of fun events, at the perfect times for your family. Then we photograph them. It’s that simple.

We do our best to plan these events to optimize the lighting and space while you come and enjoy a real life event, in a real world setting.

Sometimes we step in and interact with your family to get a posed portrait. Other times we give you a prompt for a something that feels more like lifestyle family pictures.

Sometimes the events are specifically planned to create a more posed portrait, such as our Pandemic Portrait themed event.

In the end, we give all of these family moments back to you. Consider us your personal, “all in one’ shop for family photography in Rochester NY.

So if you can’t figure out which category a photographer falls into by peeping their portfolio, just ask them. They should be happy to give you a better idea of who they are and how they photograph a family portrait.

Find out why our membership makes sense for your family here.

If you’re ready to learn more about the Lori & Erin Family, we can’t wait to welcome you.

Family Pictures in Victor NY: Rochester NY Photographers

How do you adequately say thank you to one of the families who started your photography career?

Follow up question, why are they all grown up? I swear, these kids were little just last week. Over the years, I’ve worked hard at getting them to smile. I’ve made silly jokes, I’ve acted a little crazy, I’ve gotten them to play games, all in an effort to get them to show their real smiles.

This time, all I had to do was say the word “fart” (or some other similar word) and they would crack up.

Ahhh the joys of older kids. Though, I guess it could probably work on the younger kids too. I’ll give it a try at my next session.