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?
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.
We can help you out here. Most photographers will describe themselves using at least one of three main family portrait styles:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you’re ready to learn more about the Lori & Erin Family, we can’t wait to welcome you.
Winter is a magical time for family photos, filled with opportunities for fun and creativity. From sledding down hills to building snow forts and enjoying cozy moments by the fire, there’s no shortage of ways to capture the joy and togetherness of your family. Embrace the season with these adventurous winter family photo ideas that will create lasting memories.
In June, I donated a family portrait session to Lucas's school staff appreciation luncheon, and a wonderful family received the gift! We met at the stunning Genesee Valley Club in Rochester, NY, where I had the pleasure of capturing their love and connection in timeless portraits. This session felt extra special, as it was a way to give back to a school community that has played a huge role in Lucas's growth as he prepares to leave elementary school.
Winter chills family pictures in Rochester NY, but the Lamberton Conservatory offers a vibrant escape. Lush greenery and adorable turtles create a natural backdrop for capturing genuine family portraits, real smiles and timeless memories.
One thing’s for sure - the family pictures we take at our candid mini session events are nothing if they’re not real. We plan the events, and essentially hope for nice weather. While it was sunny for our Pot of Gold Scavenger hunt, it was also pretty windy.
But that didn’t stop our family portrait members from bringing their “A” game to the Leprechaun Trap contest.
One of the values behind the portrait membership program centers on the idea of doing something together.
While we couldn’t photograph each family at home making these amazing traps, we know it was an activity they’ll remember doing together. Especially when they look back at their family pictures with their trap, and on the scavenger hunt as a family.
Time spent together is more important to us than the perfect family picture. This is why we believe that our candid mini sessions make sense for your next family portrait session. You can actually read more about that here!
Congrats to the winners of our contest - The Miller family!
Winter is a magical time for family photos, filled with opportunities for fun and creativity. From sledding down hills to building snow forts and enjoying cozy moments by the fire, there’s no shortage of ways to capture the joy and togetherness of your family. Embrace the season with these adventurous winter family photo ideas that will create lasting memories.
Looking for a meaningful Christmas gift? A family picture gift certificate is a heartfelt way to create lasting memories. Learn why this thoughtful present is perfect for your loved ones.
In June, I donated a family portrait session to Lucas's school staff appreciation luncheon, and a wonderful family received the gift! We met at the stunning Genesee Valley Club in Rochester, NY, where I had the pleasure of capturing their love and connection in timeless portraits. This session felt extra special, as it was a way to give back to a school community that has played a huge role in Lucas's growth as he prepares to leave elementary school.
Feeling awkward in front of the camera? You’re not alone! In this post, we share simple tips to help you feel relaxed and confident during your personal brand photography session, from choosing the perfect outfit to embracing natural movements.
Winter chills family pictures in Rochester NY, but the Lamberton Conservatory offers a vibrant escape. Lush greenery and adorable turtles create a natural backdrop for capturing genuine family portraits, real smiles and timeless memories.
Taking outdoor family pictures in Fairport NY, in December can be a unique experience. The chilly winter air added a refreshing crispness to the atmosphere, making it an ideal setting for capturing cozy and heartwarming moments with this fun family.
Recently I shared a blog post full of tips for family portraits. As I wrote it I noticed, that many of the reasons parents dread family pictures, are the exact same reasons we formed our portrait membership program / candid mini session events.
So - below are my thoughts on why our candid event sessions a PERFECT fit for family pictures.
If you child has a bad day on the day of your once a year family portrait - that’s your memory of that day. With candid member events, you have chances all year long.
When you book a different photographer for every session, it’s not a surprise that your kids won’t be their real self with them. The kids in our membership get to know us and our silly sides. They trust us more each time we see them, which allows us to capture amazing moments.
And it doesn’t happen in poses either. Sure, it’s nice to have a posed family picture once in a while. But that’s not real life. Our events are different every month, changing with the seasons. They give you a way to play, but also a way to remember that play.
Be honest, which parent spends more time taking pictures with their phone, and which parent is in more of the pictures? Wouldn’t you rather enjoy the moment without the pressure of capturing it? See? We’re solving a problem you didn’t realize you had! Be in the pictures!
Did I mention you can get photos in all seasons? Prefer fall family fun to winter family fun? That’s fine, but you can have both. Heck, you can even have spring and summer fun too.
There’s no wrong answer when it comes to the kind of family portrait you like, and we offer more than one option. We just really believe in these candid mini session events. We have families that have been with us for years, and it’s amazing to see them grow. So if you want to know more about it - take a peek here.
And if you want to talk more? Hit that cute little button below.
The last time we saw our family portrait member families in 2020 was… well, cold.
We made it as fun as possible, and we were able to give back to our community at the same time. We photographed holiday family portraits in a real setting, rather than a horse drawn carriage or with perfectly posed props. We prefer a more candid portrait approach. Thankfully, it had snowed just the night before giving us a fresh coating of pretty snow and the perfect setting for some safe winter family portraits.
And along with the family mini sessions, we created tons of ornaments to share with the seniors at The Friendly Home. Even though we weren’t able to hand them out in person, I hope the recipients felt a little bit of love from us to them. Thank you to all of the families who contributed ornaments!
We’re ridiculously grateful for our families, and are looking forward to another great year of Candid Member Mini Sessions. We’d love to see you there!
We took a lemon of a year, and turned it into safe family mini sessions. How about them apples?
Ok yeah sorry, that was terrible. What wasn’t terrible, (in fact it was the complete opposite) was our annual apple picking, candid mini member event.
We’ve been photographing our member families long enough to remember when some of our older members were our youngest members. I distinctly remember images and moments from those portrait session events.
That’s what I love about our candid member mini sessions; I love capturing these same smiles, year after year as they go from babies to little kids. It’s such an honor to stay a part of their lives on a regular basis.
Curious about what I mean by “candid member mini sessions” yet? Don’t be shy, find out more information!
I’ll be honest, had it not been for the Pandemic, I don’t think we’d have chosen to play in the sunflowers. Because 2020 threw us the curveballs, we pivoted and made our events work safely for our members.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to do it again. In fact, some of the family portraits that we captured that night may be all time favorites of mine. It’s just that we’d never really considered it before.
I’m so glad we did though - I mean, look at these. Seriously though, do it, and when you’re done - find out how you can get yours next year.
In June, we called our Member Mini Session the “Pandemic Portraits.”
We asked our families to show us what or who kept them busy during their time at home together. Because as hard as it all is, it’s real at this moment in their lives. And man, did they ever deliver.
Our members showed us everything from gardening to their brand new puppies. It was the first time in months we’d seen them and it felt amazing to be able to capture their families again, even if it was only for a few minutes.
We don’t know what the coming months will bring, but we know that these families can handle anything, as long as they’re together.
Over the years, we’ve photographed a lot of family pictures in Rochester. We’ve captured hundreds of photographs of growing families, some of which began as amazing wedding couples.
We’ve literally captured the changing seasons of a family’s life together. From wedding, to first child, to second and on and on. And we photograph them so regularly, they feel like actual family to us. I know what activities they enjoy, and more often than not, I know what’s going to evoke a real childlike laugh from them. I not only know the names of their children, but the name of their child’s favorite stuffed elephant.
I know these things, because for the past five years, we’ve been photographing these particular families on a nearly monthly basis through our portrait membership program.
I know what you’re thinking - whhhhoooaaa, monthly portrait sessions? You crazy?
Well, yes, I am a little crazy - but that’s not what we’re doing here. If you want a photographer that takes the time to get to know your family, and a photographic experience that’s more than poses.
Our portrait membership is what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t yet heard of it - here’s a recap of years of candid, real life moments from one family that has been along for the ride from the start.
If you’re curious, please ask questions - because we want to make it as easy to understand as “E for elephant.”
It’s one of the quintessential fall family activities. Go to the apple farm, chase your children around the field and while you’re at it, pick some of New York’s finest apples straight from the trees. Honestly, it’s a little bit chaotic for us to photograph each of our member families that day (because the farm is huge!) but it’s the best kind of chaos ever.
Hayrides, petting zoos, and laughing kids spoiling their dinner with apple cider and donuts. It’s childhood at it’s finest. And it’s such a privilege to give these memories to them. When our families look at the book we’ve created for them at the end of the year, these particular pages always give them (and us) a few chuckles.
If you still don’t know what our portrait membership is all about - there’s an easy way to learn more. JOIN US at our next event on October 27th, at Chase Farms. Come in costume, get a pumpkin and chat with us about it!
Oh what a lovely, messy night we had! The threat of rain didn’t stop us from creating our new shirts with our member families. These candid family portrait moments are always different, each event changing with the season.
There are some events that are now traditions. Apple picking (which is coming up soon!) being one of them. But this was a new one for us. Tie dye is such a common “summer time with kids” activity, that it made sense to include it in this years lineup.
Big thanks to Dana Sharp (one of our awesome members) for leading the group and showing us all some tips and tricks in creating great tie dyed shirts for the whole family!
Curious as to what these “members” are that we’re always talking about? Check out our membership information, or come to our next event to find out more!
Going to the playground with Lucas is one of my favorite things to do. It’s an everyday moment and a simple joy. But how often in these moments are we as parents thinking of everything else going on in our lives? Or maybe we’re so busy chasing one child around with our phone camera, that we didn’t see the other climbed the rock wall on his own for the first time? How often do you notice their giant candid smiles as they run or slide down the slide?
These moments, they’re what’s real. I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to capture these moments for our portrait members every single month. The family pictures they receive don’t have you chasing your kids with your camera. They show you on the slide with them.
Someday friends, these candid family pictures will be more priceless than you can imagine today. This single thought is what keeps us motivated to capture your family pictures in Rochester NY.
I look at the pictures below and I actually feel every smile. And I smile back. I hope you do as well.
~ Erin
