What Type of Family Portrait Fits you Best?

Fairport NY Family Pictures

You sit down and google “family pictures in Rochester NY.” 

The results come back with a list filled with different descriptions by different family picture photographers. Do you want family portraiture? Candid family pictures? Documentary photography? What is a lifestyle family portrait?

You get so overwhelmed by this decision that you give up your search for a family photographer, again. 

So how do you know what style of family pictures you like best?

We can help you out here. Most photographers will describe themselves using at least one of three main family portrait styles:

 Traditional Family Pictures:

This is essentially an all encompassing title for a photographer who takes family pictures. But there’s a little bit more to it. 

A traditionally trained portrait photographer often focuses their efforts on quality posing and controlled lighting in their family portraits. This often happens in a studio setting with lights, backdrops and perhaps props or sets. However, not every traditional or fine art family photographer uses a studio. 

Oftentimes an extended family portrait falls into this style of family photography. The resulting images tend to focus on the family smiling and looking at the camera.

This may be the simplest category to explain, but it is often one of the hardest to master.

A posed, smiley family portrait is considered most traditional.

Candid Family Portraits in Rochester NY:

If you’re looking for the opposite, or real, authentic, unposed images, then you are looking for a documentary family photographer. Strict photographers in this realm won’t add any light to a scene, but rather evaluate what is available and use it to show emotion. These sessions are usually longer and allow for the most freedom of movement. They can surround an event, or just capture a “day in the life” at home. This is a newer, but growing genre of family portrait photography.

Real life, real play and letting moments unfold are what the documentary side of our membership is all about.

Lifestyle Family Portraits in Rochester NY:

If you want something in between the two, then perhaps you’d best enjoy a lifestyle family portrait session. Lifestyle photographers enjoy a bit more freedom in their sessions. They’ll often choose the location and general position of a group, but then they give they family a little freedom to play using prompts.

This allows for natural moments to occur, such as laughter, hugs, and play, while still controlling the situation in terms of light and background.

Typically lifestyle family pictures are taken in a natural environment (whether inside or outside) rather than a studio. This type of photographer may opt to use lighting, or not!

Lifestyle family portraits are the best way to describe our Signature Family Sessions.

We gave her the location and gave her some ideas - she created the lifestyle portrait.

And Then There’s Us: Lori & Erin Photography

When you love all three options, and you just have to have all of the above - you join our family. Our candid mini session events are part of a membership that essentially uses all three of these family portrait styles. How, you ask?

We plan a variety of fun events, at the perfect times for your family. Then we photograph them. It’s that simple.

We do our best to plan these events to optimize the lighting and space while you come and enjoy a real life event, in a real world setting.

Sometimes we step in and interact with your family to get a posed portrait. Other times we give you a prompt for a something that feels more like lifestyle family pictures.

Sometimes the events are specifically planned to create a more posed portrait, such as our Pandemic Portrait themed event.

In the end, we give all of these family moments back to you. Consider us your personal, “all in one’ shop for family photography in Rochester NY.

So if you can’t figure out which category a photographer falls into by peeping their portfolio, just ask them. They should be happy to give you a better idea of who they are and how they photograph a family portrait.

Find out why our membership makes sense for your family here.

If you’re ready to learn more about the Lori & Erin Family, we can’t wait to welcome you.

Family Pictures at Webster Arboretum: Rochester NY Family Portraits

As I sit writing this, I’m grinning because this session was so much fun.

This little lady kept me on my toes the entire session. By the end of it, we had played hide and seek, Simon Says, and raced around Webster Arboretum together. She found me the most perfect fallen leaves, and picked dandelion flowers for us all.

Oh, and we took some family pictures along the way too. If that little smile doesn’t light up your day too, I don’t know what will.

Pittsford NY Family Portraits at Mendon Ponds Park

Oh I miss these colorful fall family portrait session days and this little family. Don’t get me wrong though, I’m totally ok if Fall waits it’s turn right now. I’m just reminiscing over happy smiles and family fun.

We laughed a lot as we wandered around Mendon Ponds Park. We visited the fairy houses, we played a game of checkers, and had a blast in the woods together.

That’s what it’s really all about, playing and being together while occasionally taking a great family picture - right?

Father's Day Photo Gift Ideas: Rochester NY Photographer

Honestly, over the years, I’ve often heavily relied on school to help my son create a memorable Father’s Day gift idea. Other than that, Lucas and I also pick out something of the Star Wars variety to go along with it.

But sometimes, I do get a little bit clever. I mean, I have all of these amazing moments captured, so why wouldn’t I make something great with them?

And why wouldn’t I share those ideas with you?

Here’s a few photo gift ideas that we can help you create in time for Father’s Day.

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Simply sweet photo collages

We can make these in almost any size, using custom designs or your own ideas. Frame it, make a canvas.

(I found this one on pinterest, so it’s not my own - but I love the idea!)

Put your favorite phrase and images on it!

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Photo Books or Accordian Books

Large or small! Use your favorites of Daddy with his little people through the years, or use ones we’ve taken!

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Metal Prints

Or how about, a photo collage ON a metal print?! Boom. Done.
Metal prints are a unique, modern way to show off a favorite photo!

Most Dads won’t say it out loud, but they want to be captured, in their element, with their kids too.

Do something they love and capture that moment.

If you want to wait for us, we’ll be here when you’re ready.

But most importantly, print your pictures.

Don’t let it die on your phone or with a beautiful comment attached to it on social media.

Please, print your pictures.

Playful Family Portraits at Egypt Park and Lollypop Farm

We love when families approach us using words like “candid, playful, fun” when they describe what they want out of their family portrait session.

During the session, we let the little one lead the way, and that meant starting on the playground. We made silly faces, looked for frogs, ran around and even visited the horses over at Lollypop Farm. It was a great day, and so special to have all the family in town!

I’d be happy to hang out with this fun loving group any day!

Family Portraits in the Eastman Museum Gardens

This amazing family is part of our portrait membership program. Seeing them grow each year and watching the kids grow into their fun (and adorable) personalities is a major perk of the job of a Family Photographer in Rochester.

They played hide and seek, peekaboo, and they laughed and hugged. Their family pictures at the Eastman House went swimmingly. It was a great day for a beautiful family.

Candid Family Picture Mini Sessions in Fairport NY: Picnic at the Playground

Going to the playground with Lucas is one of my favorite things to do. It’s an everyday moment and a simple joy. But how often in these moments are we as parents thinking of everything else going on in our lives? Or maybe we’re so busy chasing one child around with our phone camera, that we didn’t see the other climbed the rock wall on his own for the first time? How often do you notice their giant candid smiles as they run or slide down the slide?

These moments, they’re what’s real. I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to capture these moments for our portrait members every single month. The family pictures they receive don’t have you chasing your kids with your camera. They show you on the slide with them.

Someday friends, these candid family pictures will be more priceless than you can imagine today. This single thought is what keeps us motivated to capture your family pictures in Rochester NY.

I look at the pictures below and I actually feel every smile. And I smile back. I hope you do as well.

~ Erin

Candid Family Portrait Mini Sessions at a Greenhouse in Fairport NY

At Lucas Greenhouses, soil is not considered dirt until it falls to the ground. Well, with ten families in attendance at our planting party there was no shortfall of dirt. There was also no shortfall of fun and real life moments with family - my own included.

My own arrived in full super hero attire…to plant flowers. You guys, this is my real life. When your four year old insists on wearing a cape in public, you let him. And we captured it, because someday that tiny, every day moment will mean everything to me.

This is what our membership does. If this moment resonates with you at all, then please come talk more with us - your family is worth it. Your memories are worth it.

~ Erin

Lifestyle Newborn Sessions and Family Pictures Rochester, NY

This little guy is such a sweetheart! He was alert, calm and watchful at only a week old. We think he got used to the sound of 4 dogs while in the belly - so noise definitely didn’t bother him. And his fur siblings are very protective of the new little one in the house!

I couldn’t be happier for this family, some of the nicest people I have met. Do they look familiar? Well, you’ll be seeing more of them, and so will we! We can’t wait to watch little AJ grow up!

Say hello to our newest portrait membership family: AJ with mom and dad, Laura and TJ!

-Lori

Pittsford Dairy Farms Family Pictures

It’s the dead of winter, the time of year when it starts to get harder to see the grey skies every single day. Personally, winter isn’t my thing. I prefer spring time and summer to this bundling up.

But then I photograph an awesome family like this and I think “ok, yes, maybe winter can be bright and happy.”

I mean, they were the perfect amount of giggles and hugs and fun with a hot chocolate break in the middle. A little goofy fun mixed with a whole lot of love. They made photographing a winter family portrait session look easy.

And when the snow fell lightly at the right moment, adding just a touch of season to the images - perfection all around.

See for yourself!

~Erin

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

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