Family portraits with a toddler in their own front yard

This fall, I had the absolute pleasure of capturing the sweetest one-year-old, Violet, and her parents Morgan and Dan. We met for a session at their home in the early fall, and it was so perfect! We wanted to capture how much Violet has grown over the last year and all of her sweet mannerisms, personality, and the family’s interactions.

Violet was full of personality and gave us so many different expressions! I love photographing this age, because they always have so many new skills to show off. And, show off she did. She loved showing me how she stands, claps, and crawls. She’s so close to taking her first steps unassisted! Honestly, she was so adorable the whole time. I loved watching Violet’s little personality come out through the entire session.

It was really important to Morgan to capture some portraits of her and Violet together. Mom is usually behind the camera, so I always make sure to capture a few extra portraits of mom loving on her little ones, and I was thrilled that Morgan treasured these moments with her baby, too. I’ll never tire of capturing moms and their babies!

---

Save this post for later!

Fall family portraits on a sunlit path in saratoga springs

Fall family portraits might be one of my favorite parts of the year. When the Coppola family reached out about a session in Saratoga Springs, I couldn’t wait! I loved working with Mariesa, Benji, Benjamin and Nora for these sunny fall portraits. During our session, we tried to keep things super light and fun - relaxed for the kids AND their parents. Family portraits don’t have to be stressful, trust me! 

Throughout the session, one of my goals was definitely to bring everyone’s personalities out. While Benjamin was a little more reserved and shyer, Nora was all about the camera. It was a lot of fun to watch them interact and see Benjamin open up a little bit as the session wore on. Nora being silly definitely helped him relax a little bit! We also made sure to capture lots of cuddles with mom and dad in the photos too. 

Mariesa and Benji chose a great color palette for their portraits. With navy and creams, they stood out against the yellows and greens of the Saratoga Springs path we were on. I also love that the guys had their puffer vests on - they looked so cute together! Choosing what to wear is not only about picking colors you like together, but also making sure you’re comfortable and can move. I want us to play, run, and cuddle up during your portraits! 

Enjoy a peek into this beautiful fall session here in Saratoga Springs! 

---

Save this post for later…

2022 Holiday Sessions in Saratoga Springs

Happy holidays!! I’m so excited to share a little sneak peek into our holiday sessions this year. I was so happy to see a lot of repeat families this year, and I love when they visit the studio year after year for their holiday portraits. It’s so much fun watching the kids grow, and this year I loved when the children walked in and asked right away about the toy corner and told me, “I remember this toy! We played with this last time!”. It’s seriously such a special moment for me each time a family comes back to my studio. 

The all white studio is so versatile for these classic holiday portraits, and I keep adding to our furniture collection of chairs, benches, and loveseats with linen upholstery and weathered wood.  Every year I add more trees or greenery, and I love how it all comes together so beautifully and I can mix and match furniture, wreaths, and trees across the setups while still keeping everything classic and minimal with the focus on the family and not too overwhelming with props. This year, I created three different setups. 

The one I was most excited about was a collaboration with a talented local floral designer, Samantha Nass Floral Design.  She absolutely nailed the design with the inspiration photos that I sent her and incorporated the most beautiful greenery, winter stems, and a hint of red flowers.  

I’ve been wanting to do another giant wreath setup.  The last time I did an oversized wreath was in 2017, but since then I’ve refined my studio style and I am in love with flocked evergreens, so a flocked wreath with frosted berries mixed in was just the perfect look for the studio.  This was so much fun for some casual family & sibling portraits, and the perfect spot for fun Christmas pajamas!

I added the ornament wall the day before our sessions began when I saw that we had enough room for one more simple setup.  I love everything in muted neutrals like gold and champagne, and this wound up being a favorite setup for just about every family! I love that I have the flexibility and space to do that for families in the studio. 

Happy holidays! I hope everyone has a cozy year with their loved ones. 

---

Save this post for later…

Fall Family Portraits with Young Children at Congress Park in Saratoga Springs

I’m so thankful I had the chance to capture another beautiful fall portrait session for Henry, Emma, and their parents! I’ve been working with this family since Emma turned 1 and now they’ve recently celebrated Henry’s first birthday, too. Over the years, I’ve watched them grow and become such an incredible family. I feel so lucky that they’ve trusted me with their memories, including this fall family portrait session at Congress Park.

We truly lucked out with the most beautiful day for their session at the park. Early October turned out to be the best time for peak foliage all around this year - and I’m so happy we caught it in time. Henry and Emma were amazing our entire session, playing together and enjoying the leaves. Henry has just started to walk and he loved chasing after Emma as we were together. She was the best at making him laugh, too! It’s clear they’re going to be amazing friends.

I can’t wait for you to see this beautiful session!

---

Save it for later:

Saratoga Springs Family Portrait Session in a Grassy Field

I can’t believe Ari is now 2! I had the honor of photographing him multiple times during his first year of life, so I was elated when his parents wanted to schedule a family session to celebrate his birthday this year. We planned his session right here in Saratoga Springs, and found this beautiful field to shoot in. It was perfect early in the morning - the light was coming up behind the trees and just made everything glow!

Ari had a great time playing with his parents. Their love for him really does shine through in every interaction they share together. I love that they were able to relax and just be with him while I documented it all. That’s how family sessions should be!

Happy birthday, Ari! I can’t believe how much you’ve grown!

Tips to look your best during family photos!

---

Save it for later:

Beautiful Family Portraits in their own Backyard - Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

This was by far one of my favorite family sessions this spring! When the dad reached out to me to plan a portrait session as a Mother’s Day surprise for his wife, I knew that this was going to be an extra special session with his girls.

He told me that they “had a lot of land” and that he would love to do their session on their property to make it extra meaningful, but he was worried that they hadn’t landscaped much yet. No worries, I told him! Photographers have a knack for finding picturesque spots in the midst of something that the naked eye would think is just ordinary.

In order to make sure that we planned it for the perfect time of day when the light was most flattering, we chatted a bit about the yard, shared some cell phone pics to see how the sun sets behind the trees, and then walked around the property when I arrived to find the perfect spot. There was this one cluster of trees where the sun was setting directly behind them, and the sunlight was truly sparkling beautifully as it came through the leaves. Everything was golden, and I knew that it would be gorgeous in their photographs. Plus it had bright pops of color from a few flowering plants, and I love how it all came together as a backdrop for their portraits!

These sisters were ADORABLE and so, so good in front of the camera! We didn’t catch a single bad expression because they kept smiling and laughing the whole time! Read these tips for a meltdown-free portrait session with kids!

Don’t you just love how the light sparkles here?!?! Yeah, me too!

It’s hard to believe, but our calendar is already filling up for fall portrait sessions. If you’re planning on capturing beautiful memories like these of your family this year, now is the time to reach out and set a date for your session! I have plenty of locations in mind, and if you have a spot you’d like to try (like your own back yard!), let’s chat!

Check out these excuses to stop making for putting off your family portrait session!

---

Save for later:

Springtime Motherhood Portraits with Florals and a Boho Egg Chair

I have been doing a springtime Celebrating Motherhood portrait event for as long as I can remember. It’s one of my favorite times of year to create something beautiful with lots and lots of flowers and photograph mamas just loving on their babies.

This year I went with a boho floral setup incorporating our wicker egg chair, and I absolutely loved how it photographed. It’s the perfect size for some cuddles, and it looks stunning with the white walls and giant white window in the studio. Plus, with the new (bigger!) studio, I was able to keep our egg chair setup all spring and we even incorporated it into a few other families’ portrait sessions for a shot or two here and there.

As always, neutrals are my go-to outfit recommendation in the studio. A few families did a gorgeous pop of color combined with those light neutrals, and it all came together beautifully. Scroll down for a peek at some of my favorite portraits in our boho floral egg chair prop this spring!

---

Save for later:

9 Tips to Look your Best in your Upcoming Family Portrait Session

Your family portrait session is coming up, and you want to look your very best in portraits that will be hanging in your home for years. While it’s true that your family portrait session is really about the kids, you still want to look & feel good in photos, too! You and your kids are going to be looking back on these photos for literally decades, and I completely understand the desire to capture your very best self in portraits.

First of all, you might be feeling a little self-conscious in front of the camera. I can assure you that nearly every adult I have ever photographed is at least a little bit self-conscious when the camera comes out, but once we start your session it all melts away. We keep things light and fun with games, laughs, conversation, and plenty of tickles for the kids. By making the session all about the kids having fun, the adults are automatically more focused on the kids and less focused on what their chin looks like on camera.

But still, a few tips go a long way! Read on for tips to look and feel your best at your next family portrait session.

1. Be comfortable in your clothing.

Choose clothing that is appropriate for the weather. You don’t want to be too cold OR too hot because that discomfort will show in your smile. Opt for fabrics that feel nice against your skin. In the summertime I love flowy, lightweight fabrics on moms. Dresses and long skirts photograph especially beautifully in the warmer months. In the fall, lightweight sweaters and layers are beautiful — avoid chunky knits that add bulk to your frame. For pants, tops, and dresses, choose a cut that is flattering and comfortable to move around in, and one that doesn’t keep slipping down so that you have to adjust it every 30 seconds.

PRO TIP: Try your entire outfit on (including shoes!) at least a week before the session and wear it for an hour around the house to make sure you can sit, stand, pick up the kids, and move freely without being too restrictive or too revealing.

2. Hydrate!

Drink lots and lots of water in the week leading up to your session. Also, be sure to pay extra attention to your skin and exfoliate & moisturize. All of this together will give you a beautiful glow that radiates from within, and you are going to love your portraits!

3. Take care of yourself before you take care of the others.

I know, I know. As a mom this is such a hard thing for us to do! But I promise you that a little extra self-care the day of your session will help you be and appear more relaxed in your portraits. Consider having the kids sleep at grandma & grandpa’s the night before so that you can get yourself ready in peace. Sneak away for a blowout at your favorite salon. Leave work a little early if it’s a sunset session so you have some time to listen to your favorite music or an audiobook or podcast, and just be intentional about taking a little extra time for yourself.

THEN get everyone dressed and out the door. Plan to arrive early so you don’t feel rushed in case something causes a slight delay — potty breaks, traffic, a wrong turn. With the right mindset ahead of time, all of those are tiny little speed bumps and they won’t throw you off even a little bit.

4. Consider getting your hair & makeup done professionally.

A hair & makeup artist knows just what to accentuate and which makeups look best on camera. They know how to apply a little more for emphasis without going overboard. Every time you step out of their salon you’re going to feel amazing. If you can, set aside 1.5 hrs before the session and treat yourself!

5. Know your most flattering angles.

I will guide you during the session, but sometimes when juggling a few kids and trying to get them to stay in one spot and smile, we don’t always notice every little thing about mom or dad’s pose. It just happens! So, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

• Angle your body so that one side is slightly towards the camera, and then put your weight on the back leg. Avoid being straight on with your shoulders squared to the camera.

• Tilt your top half slightly towards the camera.

• Be sure to turn your face to the camera. If you feel like your face is hidden behind a family member’s, it probably is. Bring it out so I can see your whole beautiful face!

• Remember that I am going to ask you to get extra close to your family members, so don’t be afraid to lean in and squish those faces together.

• If it bends, bend it! Keep your arms slightly bend and away from the waist to define your waist. If you have pockets (dads!), a great way to do this is to place a hand in a pocket — I prefer just a few fingers in the pocket so your hand doesn’t look like it’s been cut off. Bend your front knee just a little for a relaxed and flattering look.

• Bring your chin out and slightly down to avoid that dreaded double chin.

6. Choose everyone’s clothing carefully.

I have sooooo many blog posts on choosing the right clothing, and every family receives a welcome packet with tips, too. Neutrals with a few pops of color are wonderful, and coordinating colors (but not matchy-matchy) is definitely the way to go. Plus, make sure every single person is comfortable in their outfit ahead of time, and don’t forget about shoes. The last thing you want is neon green light-up sneakers to stick out like a sore thumb in your classic family portrait!

7. Focus on the kids (instead of you!)

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Portrait sessions are so much easier with kids! When you’re busy making them smile and laugh, your natural smiles will come through, too. Focus on them and any worries about how you look on camera will melt away. And trust that your photographer (me!) has plenty of experience with where to stand in relation to you, where to place the kids in a way that’s flattering to you, and how to use light for the very best effect to give you absolutely stunning images.

8. Understand how Photoshop can help (and how it can’t!).

We’ve all heard that Photoshop can do amazing things. And when it comes to family portraits, I let every family know that most things that stand out to parents in their portraits can usually be clicked with just a click or two in Photoshop. Honestly, it’s usually a little more than just a click, but there are so many little things that might bother you in a photo that if they just disappeared you would love it, and oftentimes a photographer will edit those before you ever see the finished images, and it will still look perfectly natural and just like you so that you’ll never even know it was corrected.

Here are just a few. Some of these I do automatically, and others I only do if a client specifically requests it. My goal is to only remove temporary blemishes and leave any features that are more permanent unless a client requests it (i.e. scrapes and pimples are removed, but birthmarks or scars stay unless requested otherwise).

• Removing blemishes, cuts, scrapes, bug bites, nose boogies from toddler noses.

• Slimming arms and legs

• Filling in a sparse hair line

• Adjusting a neckline that may have slipped or revealed more skin than you would like.

• Removing bra straps, bra lines, panty lines.

• Fixing flyaway hairs

• Removing a stain on a shirt or piece of clothing

However, Photoshop is not a cure-all. You still need to do a little work before the session to arrive put-together. Here are things I suggest you do that will not be easily fixed in Photoshop.

• Iron your clothes and remove wrinkles ahead of time. If your child’s outfit will get wrinkled in the car seat, wait to get them dressed until you arrive at the session location.

• Remove any stains in your clothing before getting dressed that day.

• Clean your glasses lenses so they do not have any marks on them.

• Remove chipped nail polish. Have bare or freshly polished nails for your session.

• Choose your clothing and undergarments carefully and be sure they fit. We cannot fix something that is too tight or too low-cut.

• Be sure you love your clothing. Colors will not be changed in Photoshop.

Psst! I recently published a blog post with tips to look your best in your maternity portrait session! Check it out here.

9. Remember to HAVE FUN!

This is the most important part. We’re only together for about an hour, and I want these memories to be ones that you look back on and LOVE. Not ones that you look back on that stress you out. Stay calm, let me worry about getting the kids to show their personalities, and trust that I will capture their very best smiles and the most amazing cuddles that you want to remember forever.

---

Save for later!

Winter Family Portraits in Downtown Saratoga Springs

---

Save this post for inspiration later!

Colorful Fall Foliage for Family Portraits in Saratoga Springs

This is just the sweetest family, and I always have so much fun with them! I love it when clients become friends, and that is exactly what happened with the C family. Aiden was born a few months after Grayson, and now our little guys are buddies. We love watching them interact with each other, and I always enjoy hearing Grayson’s answer when I ask him who his friends are and he tells me right away, “Aiden is my friend!”

Aiden is such a cute little boy, and he couldn’t stop giggling & laughing during our fall family portrait session at SPAC! He loves nature and he was constantly finding sticks hidden under the leaves to pick up and play with. I’m obsessed with these little overalls and I think for toddlers they are such a classic look for portraits.

Speaking of outfits, can we talk about how amazing the whole family’s outfits are here?!?! That yellow silk blouse is everything, and dad looks super sharp in his blazer. This family took the outfit tips from the blog post below and ran with them, using color and textures for a really beautiful combination that photographed so wonderfully.

We found the perfect little spot in the park that was covered in colorful fallen leaves, and the sun was filtered just right through the trees. A week later this path was bare, and I’m so glad we did our portrait session when we did!

One of my favorite things about this location is that there are so many unique spots just a short walk from each other. In 3 or 4 minutes, you can have an entirely different backdrop for your family portraits!

---

Love this fall family session? Pin this image or any from the post above!

Why 2021 is the year to finally schedule your family portrait session

Earlier this week I shared a roundup post with some of my favorite family portraits from 2020. Did you miss it? Check it out here, and then read on!

Today’s post is for the mamas. And dads, if you’re reading this you can keep reading, of course, but I know that it’s usually the moms that schedule family portrait sessions, so this one is for them.

---

I am 100% that person that makes resolutions every January with goals for the new year, things I want to work on, little changes to my daily life that I want to get better at. You know the deal.

And the #1 thing I always say every single year is I want to
GET IN THE PICTURE.

How many other moms out there say the same thing? How many other moms out there look back through their family photos and notice that one key family member is missing from almost all of them?

And then, how many of those same moms keep putting off scheduling their family photo session? There are a million excuses that I have heard for why years have gone by without slowing down for a portrait session. I even did a blog post about them a few years ago! But you know what? This is your year to stop making excuses and get in the picture with your babies — because no matter how old your kids are, they will always be your babies!

Reason #1: Let’s start with the obvious. Did you see the year we just survived? Now we all deserve to celebrate with the ones we love!

2020 was something else. But it’s finally over, and 2021 is going to be amazing! Make this the year that you have something to look forward to. Make this the year that you finally do that thing you’ve been telling yourself you’ll get around to scheduling. Book that family portrait session!

Reason #2: Your walls are starting to look a little boring. It’s time for some fresh wall art!

We’re all spending a lot more time at home, and if your walls are looking a little uninspiring these days, isn’t it time you did something to change that? All of our portrait sessions include a complimentary design appointment where we plan artwork to fit your home and your lifestyle. Trust me. We’re going to create something that will be absolutely perfect for your family that you are going to love seeing every day!

By the way, one of the most interesting blog posts that I read years ago was about how when children see themselves in family photos on their walls it boosts their self-esteem. This is so powerful, and every year I keep coming back to this blog post to reread that fact. Check it out here!

Reason #3: There’s never going to be a time when you’re not busy, but you’re less busy now than you used to be!

I know what you’re thinking. Planning a portrait session feels like a lot of work! Picking a date, picking a location, finding outfits, worrying about whether your kids will behave. Who has time for that?

Thankfully, I literally take all of those worries off of your plate when you schedule your portrait session with me. That is why I provide such a hands-on experience to every family that I work with. I’ll help you find a date & rain date. I’ll recommend beautiful locations for the season and time of day. I’ll help you find outfits, and I even have outfits at the studio you can borrow for moms and babies! As for the kids’ behavior? I have a toddler at home and in my past life I was a first-grade teacher. I’ve seen it all! I expect kids to act like kids, and I have a million games and tricks for your session that will make it so much fun for everyone. No stress. No tears. Just laughter and smiles! I promise. :o)

So, with none of that to worry about, you’re not too busy for a session now, are you? One hour. That’s it. Let’s do this!

---

Inspired by this reminder to get in the photo? Pin this image or any from the post above!

Oh, What Fun! A Peek at This Year's Holiday Sessions, Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

This is one of my favorite blog posts that I wait all year to share! The holiday session recap!

Today’s post is FILLED WITH HOLIDAY MAGIC, sharing a peek at some of my favorite images from our Deck the Halls Holiday Event in the studio. This year we held holiday sessions over two weeks in November, welcoming so many beautiful families into our Saratoga Springs studio for their holiday portraits.

This coincided with moving into a new house & studio! We moved in and renovated the studio only two weeks before our first session, and it all came together so beautifully just in time for portraits. Our huge new studio had space for FOUR DIFFERENT SETUPS this year, and I absolutely loved capturing a variety of portraits for all of the families that came to the studio.

We welcomed many repeat families, and I always love seeing them year after year and watching their children grow! Plus a few new families, and even a family that drove 3 hours to get here that I’ve been photographing since 2012!

It was a wonderful event and I truly enjoyed every magical moment! Enjoy a peek at some adorable kiddos and families, and so much holiday cheer!

---

Love these classic holiday photos? Pin this image or any from the post above to save for next year!

Fall Family Portraits with Pumpkins at Saratoga Spa State Park

I loved this family’s fall portrait session at sunset in Saratoga Spa State Park! I’ve been capturing their portraits ever since they were waiting for Baby Georgia to arrive, and to see her now at one year old with so much personality was so much fun. We got together for a beautiful session right as the leaves were starting to change colors, and we had so much fun exploring a few of my picture-perfect spots in the park for their family portraits.

Oftentimes with toddlers, their favorite toy makes an appearance in their portrait session because they like something familiar to hold and play with while in front of the camera. Georgia’s favorite doll, “Miss Avery”, was no exception and is now memorialized in their family portraits. What a sweet memory!

Of course we had to head over to the pumpkin display on South Broadway, a favorite fall landmark in Saratoga Springs every year. I just love how these beautiful fall colors pop against Georgia’s neutral cream sweater dress!

---

Love this fall family session? Pin this image or any from the post above for inspiration!

Fun and Laid-Back Fall Family Portraits in Saratoga Springs

Just look at these two brothers! Aren’t they the cutest, most adorable little guys you’ve ever seen?!?!

We had so much fun during this fall family portrait session in Saratoga Springs at Saratoga Spa State Park. It was unseasonably warm and the family had to swap out their sweaters and boots for short sleeves and sandals that afternoon, but we still captured so many fun and cozy moments of this beautiful family together!

My favorite thing about this session? The minion shoes! In typical toddler fashion, little brother decided that he only wanted to wear his brand new yellow minion shoes that day, so they made an appearance in their family portraits! I love that this will be a part of their story forever!

One of my favorite ways to get kids to cuddle up and smile during a portrait session is to get them really close together and have them take turns telling jokes, tickling each other, and trying to squeeze a laugh out of the other one. It works every time!

This portrait session really was so much fun. It was filled with laughs and giggles, and so many games! The boys had a blast and they were surprised when we were all done! Wondering how to make your family session this easy? Check out the link for more tips!

---

Love this fall session? Pin this image or any from the post above for inspiration!

Family Portraits in Saratoga Springs with Fall Foliage

Aren’t these two the most adorable brothers you ever did see???

I loved meeting up with this sweet family at Saratoga Spa State Park for their family portrait session this fall. We had the most beautiful golden evening and the leaves rustled and sparkled on the trees for a picture-perfect scene. The session was filled with laughs, storytelling, and cuddles for baby brother, and we captured so many memories on camera for them to enjoy.

I love the outfits they chose for their session, and the colors coordinated perfectly without being too matchy-matchy. Find more tips for what to wear to your fall portrait session here!

---

Love this fall family session? Pin this image or any from the post above!

Fall Family Portraits in Congress Park, Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

This gorgeous family session in Congress Park already has me looking forward to doing a roundup post with the Best of 2020 Family Portrait Sessions. I just don’t know how I’ll choose only one or two for that post! So for now, enjoy soooo many of my favorite images that we captured of this sweet family during their fall family portraits in downtown Saratoga Springs.

We had originally planned on doing a Fresh 48 session when Baby Wells arrived, but unfortunately the covid closures happened at the hospital the week of his birth so we were not able to capture his portraits last spring. We waited until he turned 6 months old for a fun family session, and his mama even made his little outfit!

This sweet baby boy was so happy and smiley, and he loved cuddling up in his mama and daddy’s arms. It’s clear to see just how much joy he has brought to their lives this year, and he has definitely been a bright spot for them!

---

Love this fall family portrait session? Pin this image or any from the post above for inspiration!

Our studio's COVID health & safety policies.

Updated January 2022.

Yes, I am fully vaccinated and up to date on boosters.

We’ve all adapted to this new reality to keep our families safe, and I want you to know that your family’s health & safety is as much a priority in running my business as my own family’s health & safety is.

Because I work with so many babies with vulnerable immune systems, I’ve always made it a point to sanitize and disinfect the studio and props between clients, and now we’re taking a few extra measures to protect everyone as well. Read on for how we’re keeping families safe during their portrait sessions.

Overall safety precautions during Covid

• In accordance with the current NY mask mandate, I ask that everyone over the age of 2 wear a mask during their session. You may remove the mask when being photographed.

• I will wear a mask the entire time.

• If you have a 2 or 3 year old who has a really difficult time wearing a mask, and having them keep a mask on is going to only cause a mini meltdown, let’s skip the mask for them. We want them in their best mood in front of the camera, so if that means we don’t ask them to wear a mask, that’s okay.

• Fever?  Cough?  Shortness of breath?  No problem at all.  Let’s keep everyone safe and reschedule.  

• If anyone in your household or any immediate caregivers have tested positive for coronavirus in the 14 days prior to your session, please notify me immediately and we will reschedule.

• All pre-consultations will be done through video chat. You have the option of scheduling your ordering appointment either through video chat or in-person at your home, whichever you feel more comfortable with!

What can you expect with our studio sessions during Covid?

Please follow all of the guidelines above.  In addition, we are implementing extra safety measures in the studio to keep everyone healthy and worry-free.

As always:

• Studio will be cleaned & disinfected before every session.

• Fabric and props will be sanitized between sessions.

• No shoes in the studio.

Extra precautions:

• 48 hours between studio sessions.

• Immediate family only.

• No outside props.

• All clients will wash or sanitize hands upon arriving to the studio.

• Hand sanitizer and face masks will be available.

Thank you for your understanding & cooperation as we all work together to keep our families healthy!

8 tips for a meltdown-free portrait session with your kids

You found the perfect photographer.  You picked a date and rearranged your family’s schedules.  You shopped for the most perfect outfits that coordinate but aren’t too matchy-matchy.  You even know which wall you’re going to hang that new family portrait on after your session.  You are 100% ready for this portrait session!

But, wait… what if your kid melts down?  What if he loses it and you don’t capture a single smile?  What if your kids start fighting halfway through the session?  

That’s every mom’s worry, right?  I’ve never met a mother who didn’t have those same panicked thoughts running through her head before a portrait session with her little ones.  

Lucky for you, I’ve worked with hundreds of families and getting kids to laugh, listen, and smile comes pretty naturally to me!  My teaching background plus a solid 20 years of working with kids has made that pretty easy for me, and it sure comes in handy during our family portrait sessions!

Here I’m sharing a few tips to help your family portrait session go more smoothly.  But the most important thing that I want every parent to remember is that I never expect to show up to a portrait session and have the kids be little angels.  I expect them to act like kids, and kids like to run, jump, spin, be loud, get silly, sing, show off, say no, and assert their independence.  When they are free to do all of those things, that is when we capture the best portraits that showcase their beautiful personalities.  That is when we have fun and create memories that your family will laugh about twenty years from now.  

So please, mama.  Don’t put too much pressure on yourself or on your kids, and let’s just have fun together! 

The most important thing to remember is that your kids will feed off of your energy.  Stay calm, happy, and relaxed, and your kids will, too!  

Give your kids a snack before the session.  With a full belly, they’ll be able to run and play without getting distracted by hunger.

Healthy babies are happy babies!  If your child is sick, please reach out to postpone!  I promise you we’ll capture better smiles when your little one is feeling 100% like themselves.

Plan the session around nap times, and if it’s a sunset session, sneak in a late afternoon nap.

Talk with your photographer and let your photographer know what interests your child.  Tell them about your child’s personality, songs that they love, characters that they like.  Your photographer will use this information to help your child feel comfortable and open up in front of the camera!

For little ones, bring a favorite toy or have a song queued up on your phone ready to go in case they need a little extra familiarity and motivation.

If you have older children who are in the “awkward smile” phase, spend some time encouraging them to smile naturally in the week leading up to your session.  Help them see and feel what their natural smile feels like versus what their “forced” smile feels like.

If you have a baby and we’ll be doing a family session on grass or sand, be aware of possible sensory issues that the baby may have of the grass or sand against their bare legs.  Have you seen those funny videos of a mom or dad putting the baby in the grass, and the baby holds their legs straight up into the air so it doesn’t touch their skin?  Cute on video, but it can be stressful during your portrait session, especially if baby bursts into tears and won’t stop!  Ease the baby into it by letting them play in grass or sand in the weeks leading up to your session, and bring a neutral blanket (or swaddle, or scarf) to sit them on top of. 

Finally, don’t feel awkward about doing a small bribe to get everyone through the session!  It’s amazing what kids will do when they know they have a treat to look forward to!

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful!  I can’t wait to see your family to capture some beautiful memories for you!

---

Pin this image or any from the post above to save these tips!

Studio Family Portraits with Toddler & Baby

Life is busy with a newborn, and I have a lot of families reach out about portraits when their baby is a little older looking for baby & family portraits. When baby is a few months old, it’s very unlikely that we’ll capture them sleeping in those curled up poses that we do in our newborn sessions (those are always done in the first two weeks when baby is sleepy and flexible).

But that doesn’t mean families need to miss out on portraits with their “older” baby! Actually, these portraits can be even more fun because we’re capturing their wide open eyes, their sparkling personality, tummy time, and real connections with the whole family. Plus mom and dad are sleeping ***a little*** bit better than they are on Day 7 with a newborn, so everyone looks a bit more rested. ;o)

This family planned ahead to do a 3 month session for their baby, and I love the portraits that we captured in our Saratoga Springs family portrait studio! Baby Clara was only 12 weeks old, and her big sister Hannah was absolutely obsessed with her little baby sister. They were so cute together, and it was so special to be able to capture that loving and comfortable bond between them on camera!

We do all of our family portraits on neutral white and cream backdrops so that they will match the decor in any home. Plus it allows the subjects to pop without a lot of colorful or prop distractions!

Hannah rocked her individual portraits and was all smiles and giggles. I love how playful these ones are of her on the studio couch!

Sweet baby cuddles in mama’s arms. You never want to forget this feeling of looking down at your baby and the weight of them in your arms, head resting on your elbow. It’s my favorite angle to capture of mamas and their babies.

Of course we did some individual portraits of Clara, too. We used a few outfits from the studio wardrobe, and they fit her perfectly! Plus, how adorable is she with these little pops of color?!?!

---

Inspired by this studio family session? Pin this image or any from the post above!

Best of 2019 Family Sessions

Whew, what a year! We do most of our family sessions outdoors from May through October, and it’s always so much fun scouting out new locations, bringing clients to my favorite picture-perfect spots, and watching magical moments unfold with the sweetest families and their little ones.

Today on the blog we’re sharing a peek into some of our favorite family portraits from 2019! From the beaches of Cape Cod and foliage-lined sidewalks in Boston, to gardens, park & neighborhoods in Saratoga Springs. Enjoy a look at some of the most beautiful moments that we captured on camera last year, and then start dreaming up your own family’s next portrait session!

In the cooler months we headed indoors for some lifestyle family sessions! I love light-filled homes for these cozy family sessions!

It really was such an AMAZING summer on the Cape! Definitely filled with some of my most memorable family sessions on so many gorgeous beaches.

---

Inspired by these family portrait sessions? Pin this image or any from the post above!