Winter Family Mini Session Events: Rochester NY Photographers

In December, parents everywhere live behind their camera. They’re photographing every family party, every cute holiday cookie, every visit with Santa - literally everything.

How often do you think that parent gets in one of the holiday family pictures? Or rather, how often do you think that parent gets to truly ENJOY the moment? Think about it - are you that parent?

Here’s how we fix this problem: Our Candid Mini Session Events.

Boom. Done. Look at these moments that would have gone un-captured if mom or dad had been taking the pictures. This style of family photography is what every parent doesn’t realize they want.

Sure, we take your posed family portrait too, but these candid pictures are why these mini session events exist. These moments are the gold.

Check out pictures from our last candid mini session event of 2021 below - ice skating at Roc Holiday Village!

Family pictures with a 6 month old: Rochester NY Family Portraits

These family pictures were taken almost one year to the date that Laura and Kevin posed in this same spot with an empty onesie and their pumpkins.

Now, a beautiful 6 month old sits in that onesie, in the same spot for her third family session in her first year portrait series. Lori mentioned at the time, that as she shot this session, she got a little teary eyed thinking back to that very first announcement session.

We also got a glimpse of her perfect little fairy Halloween costume - and we’re basically dead.

Check it out, we think you’ll agree.

Holiday Candid Mini Session Event: Fairport NY Family Pictures

Our holiday mini sessions are ready to share! Oh what fun we had!

Our candid mini session events are not just about posed family pictures with a pretty background. We do our best to make them a family style fun event too.

This time around, we had a fire pit, hot chocolate, ornament making, lots of trees to decorate and a tire swing to play on.

And because we know you folks want a pretty setting too, we had a few trees pre decorated for our families to have a posed holiday family picture in front of.

These candid mini session events have evolved so much over the past two years, and we’re grateful for every family who has joined us.

As we wrap of 2021, we’re hard at work planning 2022 events - so if you have an idea, or want to partner on something, feel free to get in touch with us!

Family Portrait Mini Session Events

Candid Fall Family Portraits at Chase Farms

Our last October mini session event went on rain or shine. Because it was all about the Halloween costumes!

It’s a moment in childhood that parents can never do justice on their iphones in the dark on Halloween night. The kids are too hyped up to stand still. It’s dark out. The pictures are always a blurry mess. All of this is why this event is one of our most popular fall mini session events.

Our families are so creative when it comes to their Halloween costumes, and we love taking these unique family pictures.

Some families opted for a traditional candid family mini session (ie. sans costumes), and that’s ok too. Your family pictures, your call!

Want to learn more about our candid mini session events? The 2022 schedule should be dropping soon, so go check it out!

Mini Sessions at Long Acre Farms: Fairport NY Family Pictures

Next up on our “fall family pictures” fun tour is our mini session event at Long Acre Farms!

We had a handful of families come and play, while we photographed them playing together as a family. One of the highlights at the farm were the tractors. Many family pictures were taken while the kids played all over them.

We took a few minutes with each family to grab that posed family picture for their holiday cards. However, for the most part these candid mini sessions are all about the play, which is why our Fall mini session events are so popular.

Join us next time by picking a mini session event from the schedule to sign up! The 2022 calendar is coming soon!

Candid Mini Sessions in Fairport NY

Apple Farm Family Pictures

My son reminded me this morning that technically, according to the calendar, it’s still Fall until December 21st. So this blog post about fall family sessions is absolutely, 100% NOT late.

It might be a bit more blustery than these apple picking candid mini sessions in September were though. Apple picking is basically THE fall family activity in Rochester NY, right? We plan an apple picking candid mini session event every year, and it’s always one of the first to sell out.

This year we met a few new families and chased a few new kids around the apple orchard at Schutts Apple Farm and also at The Apple Farm in Victor NY. The family pictures we capture at these events are always some of my favorites, every single year.

If you’re interested in learning more about our Candid Mini Session events, we’d love to chat with you!

Family pictures with the whole family in Canandaigua NY

Reuniting with a past wedding couple and their family for extended family portraits is always a great time. Seeing their kids, how much they have grown, and catching up with them at their parents anniversary dinner was very special to us.

I mean, what better way is there to celebrate a family legacy than with your kids and grandkids overlooking Canandaigua Lake?

How about capturing everyone in one family picture after a long year apart? Perfect.

It was a beautiful gift for a wonderful family.

Family Pictures at Sunken Gardens in Rochester NY

3 Month Old Pictures

Family pictures with a 3 month old aren’t always this easy. This little love was content to observe the world around her and accept all of the snuggles from her wonderful, albeit tired (she is only a 3 month old after all) parents.

Sometimes we shot candid family pictures of the three of them, other times we tried to get her to smile. There’s a magical power that most mom's have. It’s the ability to make your own 3 month old grin in her second portrait session. It was the first time I’d seen it happen in real life, and my heart can’t take the sweetness.

I mean, seriously, look at these - can your heart handle it?

3 Tips for Great Family Pictures with Pets

Candid Mini Sessions in Rochester NY

We love our four legged friends, so why not have a day to let them shine in family pictures?

Pets are always welcome at our family portrait sessions, but for this candid mini session event we put the spotlight on them. Four dogs and a stuffed cat showed up on this hot, buggy summer night! The mosquitos were definitely NOT invited to these pet mini sessions, but they came anyway.

Maybe next year we’ll see some birds, rabbits, or even frogs, who knows! Who would you bring?

Want tips for great family pictures with your pets?

1) Bring treats!

2) Expect a little chaos, and don’t panic. (it’s ok! It makes the candid family pictures even better!)

3) Tire them out before your family pictures! Run them, play with them, get them moving.

Family Pictures in Rochester NY: Fairport NY Photographers

It’s not often that we’re able to take a same day booking for family pictures, but the stars aligned for this family!

Patricia and her family are moving. You may recognize Lara from her senior portraits last summer.

Lara is headed off to California, her brother to Wisconsin, and their parents are moving south to follow a job opportunity. There was a very small window when they would be together for family pictures in Rochester NY, before splitting up to 3 different states.

Their house was already mostly packed when I arrived, but that didn’t matter. We were able to capture family pictures by the tree the siblings grew up playing in, the garden dad nurtured for years, and the home that saw them through so much. 

Having just moved myself, I know all the feels that go along with it. Memories of the past, excitement for the future, and so much in between. Thanks for letting my document the last days of this chapter for your family! 

Do you have any big changes coming in your life? We’d love to capture this slice of life for you. Reach out and start the conversation, don’t wait until the last minute!

Family Pictures in Fairport NY

Candid Family Portraits at Home

It’s such a treat when an Instagram relationship moves to IRL (in real life). That was the case with Joanna, founder of TotsinRoc. After many months of following each other, comments and liking, we finally scheduled a play date. Her boys loved showing my little man all of their cool toys.

It wasn’t long after that when we found ourselves back together, capturing some candid family portraits in their backyard. We captured memories of them together on the swings, near the stream, even mom and dad in the front yard. The whole gang had fun with their family pictures, and I’m fairly certain everyone slept well that night!

We’ve had such a great time getting to know Joanna and her family, and we can’t wait for more adventures together!

Give TotsinRoc a follow today! You can find their adventures @totsinroc on Instagram and at facebook.com/TotsinRoc

Candid Family Picture Mini Sessions

Kings Bend Park: Pittsford NY Photographers

When we set up these family mini sessions in Pittsford NY, we had no idea how just how great the turnout would be, thanks to Joanna from TotsinRoc.

10 wonderful families came to play while we photographed a mini session for each family. We captured candid family pictures of them playing on the playground, as well as updated a posed family picture for their walls.

On top of all the fun we collected canned goods and non perishables to donate to the Perinton Food Shelf. At the end of the event, we were able to donate 3+ bags of food!

We couldn’t have done it without TotsInRoc. We were so thankful to work with her on setting up these candid mini sessions - and on her birthday no less!

If you want to get in on the action, we host these mini sessions all year long, so go check out our event schedule and sign up for your favorite today!