Rochester NY Family Portraits: At home portrait sessions with four kids!

In order to create photos like these, it takes a level of trust. There must be a willingness on behalf of the subjects to let me into their homes, play rooms and backyards.

Alicia knows.

She knows that from her side of the lens, she sees chaos, and kids that are shy/cranky/rambunctious/sweet/silly/loving… you name it. And those feelings and expressions change FAST!

But Alicia trusts me. After all, we’ve been doing this for 7 years, since their oldest, Stella, was a baby. With the additions of Liam, Cormac and Finn, it just gets more entertaining each time I photograph the family.

This time, the kids showed me how they make their own instruments, pine cone piles, even no handed flips onto a mat! My favorite pictures almost always end up being the unscripted ones. My job is leave room for the kids to express themselves, and be ready to capture it.

Here are just a few of my favorites from their most recent session. Love you guys!

-Lori

Family Portraits in Penfield, NY: Two Dogs and their Humans

They bought the house last year, and I’m not sure who enjoys it more: the humans or the pets! Murphy and Maizey are two lucky dogs, they have a large fenced yard, and trails beyond that for exploring the woods and swamp.

I’ve known Rebecca and Cam for a while now, and it was fun to finally get them in front of my camera. The session started with the pretty leaves in front of the house and ended with some dirty dogs playing in the puddles out back. What better way to spend a Saturday morning?

Since these photos are part of a Christmas present, I’ve been waiting to share them so as not to ruin the surprise. But now I finally can, so say hi to some awesome people and their adorable pups!
-Lori

Victor NY Winter Family Pictures

It’s no secret that we don’t have a studio to shoot in. Background sets and props have never been big in our bag of tricks. We prefer a setting that feels comfortable to our families - and during the winter, the location we most often use is - at home.

When we suggest that to people, most of the time our families think they don’t have the right house for family portrait sessions at home. We disagree.

You’d be surprised what we can do in your space, and in the winter too. Snow is fun and pretty in your pictures. And as long as you’re having fun as a family, your image are going to be beautiful.

For example - these guys, they’re the first family I ever photographed all those years ago. Granted, they are also my family. I’m so thankful for their trust in me throughout the years.

Enjoy a peek into our session this year!

~ Erin

Keuka Lake Family Portraits: Danielle & Ziva the Therapy Dog

When you’ve got a dog that’s sweet and adorable, why not train her to be a therapy dog? I certainly wanted to take her home in my pocket, that’s for sure!

Say hello to Danielle and Ziva! Danielle is renovating a home on Keuka Lake with just a stunning view. We went down to capture her and Ziva in their happy place this Fall; it was so beautiful that I didn’t want to leave.

Thanks so much for inviting me to create portraits on Keuka Lake with you! I hope to see you again soon!

-Lori

Outdoor Winter Family Portraits in Fairport, NY

When I first met with Marissa, she told me “We’re from Chicago, we can handle the cold.” Oh how little did we know…

It was 32 degrees and sunny on this early November day. It was not what we were expecting! We literally had the boys running down the sidewalk to warm them up! They were troopers though, and we worked really fast to get all the images they wanted and get them back into the car and warmth!

If you ask me, it was worth it. Look at those colors and those faces! Have I mentioned lately how much I love my job? :D

Welcome to Rochester guys! Enjoy the Upstate New York winter,
Lori

Tinker Park Fall Family Session: Rochester NY Family Portraits

Let’s be honest, this fall was a doozy when it came to the weather. It rained, it snowed, it made life as a photographer in Rochester NY extremely tricky. So, when the last warm, sunny day came around, we took advantage of it.

The trouble is, so did every other photographer in Rochester. We were all racing against the clock of daylight savings time, and sunshine to make magic happen for our respective families. So we worked around each other peacefully, while letting the kids still be kids.

These two boys and their parents were fun and fast paced. There was leaf throwing and hunting for beautiful fall foliage and happy times together before they become a family of five this winter.

No joke, I’m going to remember this warm day when we’re knee deep in the winter doldrums this year. Enjoy this glimpse of sunshine!

~ Erin

Outdoor Fall Family Portraits in Fairport, NY

There is a lot to celebrate in the next year for this crew. Josh is graduating high school and Rachael is getting married! Mom and Dad wanted to celebrate their little family before it starts growing and changing, so they donned their favorite plaids and we enjoyed the autumn weather together.

The Thomas Creek Boardwalk, is one of my favorite “hidden” areas in Fairport. It gets a lot less traffic than the nearby canal path, but contains just as much beauty. Getting to share it with fun families like this one makes it that much better! 

Here are just a few of my favorites, enjoy!
 -Lori

Extended Family Portraits in the Finger Lakes

Oh where do I start with this gang? It’s been four years since I saw them last— at Rebecca and Dan’s wedding. We had a blast then, and we had a blast again now!

So much has happened in 4 years. The addition of Samantha, some hardships overcome, and a special birthday to celebrate. And check out this 1906 Ford Model A Roadster, with matching pint size version for the littlest member of the family.

It couldn’t have been a better day, with those perfect fall leaves, a brand new puppy to love on and the amazing people I got to spend the day with. Okay, it could have been a few degrees warmer maybe, if we had to be picky.

I wouldn’t trade this for the world. We’re so grateful to be in your lives and documenting these days for you. Love to you all!

-Lori

Family & Cousin Portraits in Seneca Falls, NY

Exactly five years ago to the day was when I last photographed these two families! Crazy how that worked out. There were two less kids then, and we played in an apple orchard. This time, we hung out along the Seneca-Cayuga Canal in Seneca Falls, closer to their homes.

It was a bright, chilly morning and we had a lot of fun! The kids found ways to entertain themselves when they weren’t needed for their portraits, including a game of soccer using nearby fall fruit for a ball.

It’s such an honor to photograph these kids... aside from just being great kids, they have great parents too whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing most of my life. We always have a good time together, so I’m hoping it won’t be another 5 years before the next session! ;)  

Love to you all,
Lori

Pumpkins, Tractors & Family Portraits in Fairport, NY

What says Fall in Fairport better than pumpkin picking at Powers Farm Market?  

It was a brisk morning, but these guys didn’t seem to mind. Charlie and Barrett enjoyed the pumpkins, tractors and the animals too. Besides the fun, doesn’t this family have an amazing fashion sense? I’m a little jealous.

I just love this family and the stylish photos we made together. And I love Fall portrait sessions in upstate NY!  Cheers to another beautiful autumn season, and say hi to the Drumms!

Enjoy, 

Lori

Sunken Gardens Family Portraits: Rochester NY

Our warm October day was one of the last we’d see for awhile, so we took advantage of the opportunity at Warner Castle and the Sunken Gardens in Rochester NY.

I remember Jeff and Megan’s wedding like it was yesterday. I remember they took a chance on me and my newness to photography. All these years later, they still do.

I actually think that their little leading lady is starting to trust me too. She comes out of her shell a little bit more each time I photograph her cuteness. And since we’ve been doing it since she was one - it’s about time. ;)

Enjoy the warm feeling that these sunny and happy faces bring to the day!

~ 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