How to Have Summer Fun and Great Family Portraits Too: Fairport NY Family Pictures

If your family is anything like mine, your summer days and nights are jam packed with family fun. It feels like we’re on the go all summer long. Camps, traveling, swimming, splash pads, berry picking - you name it, we’re making the most of family time during summer.

And if you’re anything like me, you want to capture each and every memory, but you also want to be present in that memory.

The struggle is real. We get it. We’re constantly caught between taking the picture and being present.

This is why our Candid Mini Family Sessions are so important to us. Take our summer events for example. We visited Edmund Lyons Splash Pad and also went raspberry picking. With both of these mini sessions, we’re gave our clients the freedom to put their phone away and (gasp)… be in the pictures.

Because we’re there, and at these family pictures - that’s our job.

Rochester NY Family Pictures: Highland Park Mini Sessions

In the first few family pictures below, you can see everything you need to know about a Candid Mini Session Event. Highland Park in May during peak Lilac season was the perfect setting for this particular event.

The first family portrait is a shot we set up. We picked the angle, the back lighting, and even asked them for a little bit of the action you see. The result - an all smiles, golden hour family picture.

The family picture below that is far more candid in nature. We let them be, and allowed them to play on the playground together. The result - joy in a real moment as a family.

Real life doesn’t happen in posed pictures alone. That perfect blend of both types of family pictures is exactly what we aim for at every single Candid Mini Session.

Keuka Lake Family Pictures: Fairport NY Photographers

How do you celebrate your anniversary and your baby at the same time? This adorable family chose to celebrate with family pictures!

They came to the area to spend time with their family at their cottage on Keuka Lake. That’s where Lori spent some time with them, photographing some fleeting baby smiles and little family moments.

What do you have coming up that you want to celebrate with family pictures?

Family Pictures in Webster NY: Fairport NY Photographers

Since we saw them last, they’ve had 3 beautiful kids and lived out of state. They recently decided to make the move back to Rochester and one of the first things they did was book their family pictures. They hadn’t even officially moved into their new house yet, but they knew they wanted to update their family portrait before the weather changed to snow.

And what a beautiful day we had at Abraham Lincoln Park. Even though there were a few playground bumps and bruises along the way, we captured some gorgeous family pictures for them to cherish in their new home.

Welcome home Heather and Blaze!

Summer Family Pictures in Pittsford NY: Fairport NY Photographers

Bubbles, Curious George and flowers were the three things that brought the fun to this 2 year old’s family pictures. Well, that and Mom and Dad.

We captured their summer family portraits at The Fish Hatchery in Powder Mills Park. Carly was non-stop energy, the way most two year olds are, and that just means we work fast! We keep the session fun by moving quickly and keeping things fresh.

The results are family pictures that are just the right amount of candid play and posed images. See what we mean in the pictures below!

Can’t wait to see you at 3!

Family Pictures at the Lamberton Conservatory: Rochester NY Photographers

Warning: The cuteness level is high in these family pictures. There’s a dash of adorable and a sprinkle of love too.

The request was for family pictures that included Laura’s parents and grandma. So we visited the Lamberton Conservatory and used as many of the various climates as we could in one family portrait session. We captured a variety of family combinations, including one of three year old AJ and his great grandmother, “Mega.”

That particular image might be one of my favorite family pictures of all time. The look of absolute joy on both of their faces caught in that moment is perfection.

Fairport Family Pictures on the Erie Canal

In their many years of coming to us for family pictures, I don’t think we’ve ever photographed their family portraits this close to home. When I suggested it, they were on board with giving it a try.

Thomas Creek Boardwalk is one of our favorite hidden little gems in Fairport. It’s nestled in the Village of Fairport, right alongside the canal path. There are a few different background options to work with, and they’re not far apart, which was especially important to this family session as we were dodging rain showers to make these pictures happen!

Also, can we talk about their color coordination for a sec? Perfection. Thanks for staying on brand, friends!

Lifestyle Newborn Session in Rochester NY

Last we saw this family, it was at their beach maternity session.

Now, they are a family of four, which includes their fur baby of course. Photographing this moment in their lives together was such a joy. The newborn session centered on the nursery and the gorgeous mural (painted by one of our branding photography clients, Amy Colburn!)

They put on a record and they read together, they snuggled, and they loved on their newborn. This newborn session wasn’t over the top. It was sweet and perfect for this family as they welcomed their little one home. We can’t wait to see them grow.

Spring Candid Family Pictures

Family Pictures in Rochester NY

Spring definitely brought us a variety of weather for our various candid family mini sessions. One day was the perfect sunny evening, and the next was chilly with a chance of rain.

But that’s ok, because our candid mini sessions can withstand any temperature, and so can the families who joined us for candid family pictures.

For example - At Kings Bend Park, the golden hour light was perfect for portraits of the kids at play on the playground, or throwing rocks from the edge of the nearby water. Parents could relax and enjoy the time with their kids at the playground, or step back and let them play while we captured their laughter and smiles.

On the day of our first May event, it was sunny and gorgeous ALL day. But right around the time our Candid MIni Sessions with Jardin Terrariums got underway, the sun faded and the rain began. Thankfully, the families who joined us for terrarium building with their families were flexible, and went with the changes seamlessly.

They still got to experience an activity, and create a memory with their kids - and we were still there capturing the candid family pictures, so they didn’t need to take their phone out once to take a picture themselves.

So what do you think? What Candid Mini Session on the upcoming calendar catches your eye?

Family Pictures in Tinker Park: Pittsford NY Photographers

We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again. There’s never a wrong time for family pictures.

It’s just as important when your kids are about to graduate high school as when they’re taking their first steps. In fact, it might even be more important when you are in the midst of senior picture season, to capture that family portrait at the same time.

This is what Alison’s family did one evening at Tinker Park. From senior pictures to family pictures, we had the privilege of photographing both of these moments for their family. If you want to - go take a peek at Alison’s senior pictures!

Fairport NY Winter Family Pictures: Candid Photography

How do you know if our Candid Mini Session Events are for your right for your next set of family pictures?

For one, you love candid pictures of your family. Our sledding mini session event is a prime example of the candid side of life we capture. We take a few posed pictures of each family, and then it’s all about the play!

Their scrunched up, happy screaming faces as they come down the hill are pretty fantastic. Aren’t they?

And if you don’t care for snowy family pictures, that’s ok, because our candid mini sessions happen every single month. These family pictures mini sessions are always changing, and usually include some sort of activity that keeps your kids happy while we capture their smiles.

Victor NY Family Pictures at Boughton Park

I’ve been photographing family pictures for this group for 13 years.

Every year their family portrait feels more important than the last. It’s one year closer to the kids being full blown adults. It’s one year closer to them graduating high school. I can tell you right now, when that happens, I will be crying right alongside Mom and Dad as I take their senior pictures.

13 years of finding new ways to make them laugh at each other. 13 years of sibling goofiness. 13 years of growing.

The most important thing I’ve realized along the way? 13 years goes fast.