Candid Family Portrait Mini Sessions at a Greenhouse in Fairport NY

At Lucas Greenhouses, soil is not considered dirt until it falls to the ground. Well, with ten families in attendance at our planting party there was no shortfall of dirt. There was also no shortfall of fun and real life moments with family - my own included.

My own arrived in full super hero attire…to plant flowers. You guys, this is my real life. When your four year old insists on wearing a cape in public, you let him. And we captured it, because someday that tiny, every day moment will mean everything to me.

This is what our membership does. If this moment resonates with you at all, then please come talk more with us - your family is worth it. Your memories are worth it.

~ Erin

Candid Family Portrait Mini Sessions at the Seneca Park Zoo

Well from what I’ve gathered, the earth doesn’t much care if the weather is cold on Earth Day. Thankfully, a few of our members weren’t worried too much about it either.

The perk of a chilly day for our Zoo event though? The zoo wasn’t all that crowded. :)

As a mom, it’s one of the places we regularly visit throughout the year. It only made sense that one day our membership program would wind up there too! It just seems right that one of the places you enjoy time together as a family would be the zoo.

So we had our fill of the elephants and the giraffes at the Seneca Park Zoo. Because it was the Zoo’s Earth Day event we also had the opportunity to have a tree to plant or some wildflower seeds to start a butterfly garden.

So even though the weather didn’t want to be sunshine and rainbows, we made the best of a gray day.

Join us next month for a return of one of our favorite events - a planting party at Lucas Greenhouses!

Candid Mini Session Family Pictures: Swim Time in Fairport NY

So yes, technically spring is here. Technically we should have been soaking in the sunshine and warmth.

Technically.

I’m so glad we planned a swimming event for our portrait members in March, because technically - it snowed that day. So rather than complain about the snow, we hopped into the pool and captured our families splashing around.

The best part of this event, was that some of our families were at our last swimming event two years ago, when their littles - were super little. We’ve captured their growth for years. Even my own little has grown. In two years, he’s changed from a nervous toddler who wouldn’t go past his ankles in the water, to finding the deepest spot where he can still touch the ground on his tip toes.

I may not have been soaking in the sunshine, but I was soaking in the memories while my fingers got wrinkly.

We’ve grown together as a group, always welcoming new members with arms open. The kids are all becoming friends and forming bonds. Towards the end, they were playing water basketball as one big group. It’s becoming the thing we hoped it would be - a community.

If you’re still wondering why we keep talking about this membership - stop wondering, and start asking. We want to capture your family throughout the year! We promise, you won’t regret it.

~ Erin

Winter Family Pictures: Mendon Ponds, Birdsong Trail

Snowmaggedon nearly threatened to cancel this member event on us. But with quick thinking and moving the date up we just beat it out. We’re so glad we did.

I loved watching and capturing our families (of all ages) playing in the snow and whenever possible feeding the birds from their hands. What a joy it was to see the looks on their happy faces as a bird snatched food from it.

And to know that we’re giving these memories back to them - that’s everything. If you’re still wondering what this program is about, it’s about letting you be you, and enjoy life. And we do our part by giving it back to you.

~ Erin

Candid Family Pictures: Cookie Decorating

There were cookies, there was frosting, there were marshmallows and sprinkles. It was a sugary delight for all of the kids. And then the big guy in the bright red suit showed up.

My husband told me after the event, that he finally saw it. When I asked him what “it” was, he said “The magic of Christmas.”

Whoa. I didn’t see that coming.

He went on to tell me how he watched the kids’ faces when Santa popped in to say hello, and it was beautiful.

You guys - that right there is everything this program is all about.

See, while we were working to capture their faces, he was enjoying the moment. I imagine, without their camera phones in front of them for a change, our other parents were doing the same. They didn’t need to stress about getting the best picture, because we were there.

I’m so glad to be able to give this gift to our members all year long. Whether it’s the magic of Christmas, or a day at the beach, It’s an honor to capture their childhood.

Thank you to our families who give us this opportunity all year long. We hope you’ve enjoyed the moments and the memories made.

Happy Holidays,

Lori & Erin

Halloween Portraits at Wickham Farms: Fairport NY Photographers

For three years in a row now, we’ve descended upon Wickham Farms on the last Sunday of October. And in all three years, it has been raining. I’d say it’s depressing - but after all the rain we’ve had lately, I think we’re getting used to it.

Regardless of the weather we go, and we dress up in our Halloween costumes for fun and photographs. What better way is there really to capture your family’s Daniel Tiger, dragon, or Star Wars costumes than with us? Needless to say, we were thrilled to see so many of our cute faces in their costumes!

We did our best to not let the rain stop of us from playing in the pumpkins or on the tractor. There was even some mini golf and ice cream…yes, ice cream. Because kids don’t care if it’s 36 degrees outside when it come to ice cream.

These are the real life photographs we will remember someday - when your kids no longer want you to dress in costume with them. Because try as hard as we might, they keep growing up.

Thank you to our portrait membership families for a great afternoon!

~ Lori and Erin

Apple Picking at The Apple Farm: Candid Family Pictures

Wow - what a night we just had for our Apple Picking membership event. The craziness of chasing families through the apple orchards was so much fun! When I say chasing, I mean some of the kids were literally racing through the rows of trees. And yes, mine was one of them.

This is our second year of this particular event and it was also our most attended ever. The Apple Farm in Victor is a great stop for apples and pumpkins, and we took advantage of a great Sunday afternoon with each one.

At one point I heard my husband say “wow, this is actually kind of surreal.” and I asked him to explain. He went on to talk about how we’ve watched not only our own child grow and change from year to year - but each of the other kids and other families as well.

We know more than their names. We know their favorite stuffed animal’s names, we know which ones love to run and which ones love to snuggle and be shy. We know how to get some of them laughing, and we’ve watched each one come out of their shell a little more each month.

It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of so many families lives. We’ve watched them let their guard down and share real, unposed moments in front of us. It’s a privilege that comes with time and a growing relationship because of our membership program.

Thank you to our families for coming out, and enjoying time with each other, and letting us be part of the fun too.

~ Erin

PS - if you want to see what this program is all about, join us at our next event on October 28th at Wickham Farms!

Beach Family Pictures in Rochester NY

I honestly don't know how else to say it - our members ROCK. They get it, they get us and every time we see them it just gets better and better.

The photographs we take at these events are of real life. These kids are real, and their parents let them be that real because way back in the back of their minds, they know that these are the moments they'll forget over time.

They'll forget that big excited grin as they run to the water fully clothed. They'll forget collecting shells and feathers and rocks along the shore. They'll forget how watching their kids play makes them feel, no matter how crazy the day was up to that point. They might even forget that sticky mess of an ice cream cone, melted all over their face, clothes and shoes (though, not anytime soon.)

Except - This night they won't forget, because these photographs will be there to remind them. This moment in their children's lives is now captured, preserved, and forever cherished in photographs.

This event might have been one of my all time favorites - a perfect night for sand, sun, waves and ice cream.

If you want to remember that messy but happy face, if you want to remember the moments in between the dressed up portrait sessions - you should be here, with us.

Family Pictures at Webster Pier: Webster NY Photographer

Alaina and her family have been part of our membership program since Alaina was born. It's been amazing to watch her turn into this bubbly little girl. Witnessing and capturing growth, not only in Alaina's size but as a family is a beautiful experience. 

Picking flowers, climbing benches, playing peek a boo - really, is there a better way to spend a morning with a two year old? I think not.

Her eyes light up with happiness when she's playing. And that laugh, I swear you can almost hear it in these photographs. 

Check them out, you'll see what I mean!

~ Erin

Candid Family Pictures: Family Fitness Day

Being active is important, even if it's just getting out there for a bike ride with the family. So teaming up with local fitness vendors for this month's membership event was such a great experience.

The event brought us to Fellows Road Park for Perinton Rec Center's: Walk, Bike, Play, Family Fitness Day event.

We played fun games that got us moving with Joe from Next Level Athletics. We also did yoga with Allison from Butterfly Kids Yoga (some of it in our own special toddler way) while Bach to Rock motivated us with their musical talents.

Doug from RVE was there to get our bikes ready for the summer, and they used the basketball courts to create the perfect track for our bikes and scooters to follow. Then we played on the playground to finish up the morning.

Our families just got to play and do a little yoga together, while we captured their time to give back to them in the form of memories. It was a great Saturday spent being active together.

If this wasn't your cup of tea, our next event is going to take us to the beach - so sign up and join the fun!

Candid Family Portrait Mini Sessions in Webster NY

It was the perfect night to play. Our membership events aren't complicated. Most of the time, they're short outings. They're designed to give you a break to spend time doing the things that actually matter. Whether on the weekend or a beautiful night at the playground.

Our group continues to grow, and not just in numbers.

We watched this week as our families and kids actually grew together through play. They raced each other, they climbed and they hunted for bugs. It was awesome.

We've also watched them grow physically, from babies to running, jumping little kids. Keeping up with them all has become an exciting challenge.

It was a simple trip to the playground, but it was the perfect day to capture the little moments of play that we want to cherish forever.

~ Erin

PS - if you want to be a part of it all, get in touch!

Candid Family Mini Sessions: Easter Egg Hunts

Three minutes of egg searching craziness. That's how long an egg hunt takes a child.

It takes at least two of those minutes to find and set your phone, then another minute to catch up to your child and attempt to snap a photo of them trying to carry eight eggs in two hands. By that time, you might have missed the moment.

Being present is something we all struggle with, right? You want to enjoy, but you also don't want to forget their smiling faces in this moment. I am that mom, every day.

This is the reason we created this membership. So you can be there, enjoying "right now." Because we're taking care of the rest.

Catch up with us and the fun of the egg hunt event below! Then join us on April 6th to find out how you can start enjoying "right now" with us.

~ Erin