Home Based Family Portraits in Fairport, NY

The youngest just turned one, not that you need an excuse to celebrate your family! These guys invited me over, and we played inside while it snowed like crazy outside. Each of the kids showed me their favorite toy, they read me a book and played a little piano too.

I may not have kids of my own, but I sure feel blessed to be able to spend so much time with them anyway. Kids have this ability to take the mundane and make it magic. I hope they, and all of us adults too, hold on to that forever.

Say hello to some of my Fairport neighbors! Thanks for inviting us into your lives. We really do love it!

-Lori

The Playhouse, Swillburger Rochester NY Engagement Session: Helen and Tim

Their perfect evening is a good beer and sitting home together playing video games. Everyone has their thing together, and for these two it’s gaming. Naturally, the first idea that came to mind for their engagement session was heading downtown in Rochester for an engagement session at The Playhouse. Conveniently, this was also where they had their first date.

It was super perfect - from skee ball to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They laughed and played and fake pouted when the other person beat them in a game. Along the way, we photographed who they really are as a couple.

After a drink and some games, we headed outside to Highland Park for a quick outdoor portion to their session. It was cold, but the light was perfect and they kept each other warm. We’re loving these Rochester winter engagement sessions lately. It seems to be making a come back, and we’re all for it!

Enjoy!

Erin

Extended Family Portraits at the Lamberton Conservatory, Rochester NY

Last time I saw this group, Emerson was Preston’s age, and Preston didn’t exist! My how time flies. It was so wonderful to catch up with everyone again, this time enjoying the warmth and greenery of the conservatory while it snowed outside.

The boys are definitely the stars of this show, and it’s obvious they love their parents and grandparents. I know these photos will be treasured now, and as they grow older.

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy this winter holiday celebration of three generations!

-Lori

Family Portraits in Fairport NY at Blue Hour

With 3 girls in college and 1 in high school, it’s rare to have them all in one place. In fact, it had been more than a year!

After discussing what mom wanted in these portraits, we both agreed it would be fun to incorporate the holiday lights in the village of Fairport. We created a few different looks along the Erie Canal path, then warmed up a little bit at Fair Pour while we waited for the sun to drop down below the horizon.

Golden hour gets a lot of love from photographers, but have you ever heard of blue hour? It is just as magical. It’s that time after sunset, before the sky goes black, there is a brilliant blue that contrasted perfectly with their bright red hats.

I had so much fun with this group, braving the chill for some memorable images. See you soon!
-Lori

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