It was 85 degrees in mid September, and it was only 10:00 am. They were a little sleepy from the night before. But Mom and Dad promised them ice cream from Pittsford Dairy Farms if they were good for their family pictures at Schoen Place.
Not only were they good, they hammed it up for me as often as possible. They shared their latest ballet moves, hugged and played along the canal like professionals.
I’d say that they most certainly earned their ice cream before lunch. :)
~ Erin
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
This is my favorite way to capture a family portrait session: a few smiling portraits with the family, then play time!
Teddy enjoys staying at his grandparents house where he can play on the shore of Lake Ontario. It’s made even better when his cousins are in town!
Whether it was throwing the ball for Orzo, the Goldendoodle, jumping in the water or having splashing contests, it wasn’t hard to capture natural smiles on this kiddo.
Teddy loves life, and I love documenting his enthusiasm for the world. It helps that he has a pretty great family as well!
Long live summer fun,
Lori
With 18 people to gather it can sometimes be a chore to set up a family portrait of the whole family.
But not for this family. Even with a last minute time change because of the weather, they were all ready and willing to make these portraits happen at the Eastman Museum. The cloudy skies made it easy to set up a portrait most anywhere on the grounds.
This is the type of family portrait that only happens once in a blue moon, especially with large families. So when it does, we love to be able to be there with you. And if the family is as easy going as this one was, it'll be a piece of cake!
~ Erin
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.
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of taking family pictures for this crew on a few occasions. When they came home for the holidays this past year, they were ready to update the extended family portrait.
Ella the elephant was an important part of this particular family portrait session. After all, she's two year old Chloe's BFF. I can't say that I blame them, they are pretty darn cute together. Especially when Chloe felt that Ella was hungry and should have a dandelion snack.
Chloe always keeps us on our toes. She loved finding flowers and leaves at Tinker Park in Henrietta. She also loved playing with her birthday balloons and the end of the session.
A portrait session with a two year old is kind of like a race. It's a fun game of chase, because two year olds have a love for exploring. Chloe is a natural explorer with a smile that lights up the world around her.
And we just love capturing that smile.
~ Erin
Bacon and eggs a la Dad in the morning.
S'mores in the fire pit at night.
BBQ's out on the patio.
These are just some of the ways this family loves to hang out together at home. With four great and very different kids, home is a big part of their world.
So why not plan your portrait session in your own space? Let the kids show off their rooms. Or let them giggle together in the kitchen.
Even if for most of the day it rained, you can still have fun inside like these cuties did. The possibilities are endless.
~ Erin
The last time I photographed Barrett, he was a newborn, being baptized. Now, he is a little boy who loves running and playing. His big sisters have turned into beautiful young ladies that are a joy to be around. Maybe it’s the familial bias, but they are some of my favorite subjects. :)
However, this session did present some logistical challenges. Planning from Rochester and Kentucky for a session that would take place in Syracuse was fun. And wouldn’t you know, when we finally agreed on Franklin Square Park, they would be painting the benches that day? We managed to keep the kids away from the wet paint, and used the sculptures, brick and ivy as our setting.
We broke up the posed shots with some playground time and enjoying exploring the outdoor stage at Thornden Park. Check out a few of my favorites below!
Until next time,
Lori
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
This adorable family loves to spend time outside together when they can, whether they're hiking, riding horses or around the neighborhood on the golf cart.
I caught up with them, and their two cats for a Cobblestone Living portrait session. For a little something different, we even included some time on the golf cart, which really mades this preschooler happy!
I had a blast chasing around their 3 year old and getting to know them while I did. What a cute and fun family portrait session! :)
~ Erin
These two are beautiful people, with a wonderful home and love for wine and gardening. Also, they have the cutest little dog, Cocoa, who did NOT want to be left out of the session. A few pets from me and we were fast friends.
This was such a relaxed, easy going session. Howie and Jona made it so easy to see how happy they are together.
It doesn't matter how long you've been married. What matters to me is when you look at each other, your smile changes into something real. You can't help but get closer to each other. And you laugh.
And it's beautiful - every. single. time.
~ Erin
Two families and Momo, all together for a fun, fast paced session. Most sessions with three kids under the age of four usually are.
To get them all to smile at the right time often requires both of us and some very silly faces and games. The sillier we are with, the happier the kids are. On a warm day, we have to move fast to make sure we get those smiles early on.
It's a little bit of work, but when it happens, it's magic. And as these kids grow up, they'll cherish these images more with every passing day.
Until next time,
Erin
This little man was one of the most peaceful one year olds I've ever had the pleasure of photographing. He had no trouble wearing his cute little bow tie and suspenders. And for the most part, he stayed just about anywhere we put him.
He was content to sit and watch the world go by while his parents did their silliest dances to make his adorable little smiles happen.
He kissed Mommy with big open mouth kisses. He walked barefoot through the grass (a feeling most one year olds can't stand!). And when he was done, he cuddled into them both so naturally perfect.
Being able to photograph one of our former wedding couples - well that was just icing on the birthday cake.
Happy First Birthday little man!
Erin
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.