Newborn sessions don’t have to be involved. Complicated posing takes a lot of time and patience – but really high quality, peaceful images can be taken in 1 1/2 to 2 hours. If you’d like to learn more about newborn sessions, click here.

In our photo sessions, babies are in charge. If they’re unhappy, we take a break. They’re always warm, always comfortable, and always content.

The blanket and headband were a gift from family. You’re always welcome to include whatever you’d like in a session.

A few days earlier I’d had a newborn session with another baby girl and the mom said “no pink, pink is overrated.” When I arrived and started talking to Madlin she said, “I want pink. Lots of pink!” So funny how people wait for pink and can’t wait for it, or what to deviate from pink. Whatever works for you!

Tessa’s two older, very proud, brothers. They were so super gentle with her!

Neutral colors for the win.

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful family with me!

Pittsford NY Newborn Photography.

Her kids were such a joy to be around. They really enjoyed exploring the park, which is one of the really wonderful things about on location photography. It’s okay for kids to be kids and run around and explore.

Tinker Nature Park has some older buildings that serve as rustic backdrops. There’s quite a lot of variety in a small amount of space which is what we look for in a great location. To learn more about how to choose a great location for your photo session, click here.

What a beautiful happy family! I love their spring color scheme. There are so many easy ways to dress for a photo session. Click here to learn more about what to wear.

At the end of (almost) every session, rainbow lollipops are to be had. This can also sometimes make for a great photo opp.

So sweet! I bet she doesn’t look like a baby anymore.

I love parent/child images so much. The connection is just so sweet.

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful family with me!!

Tinker Nature Park Family Photography.

Some moms don’t feel comfortable being photographed right away, but Malissa was 100% on board. If you can muster up the energy, it’s great to have mama-baby photos. They’re simply priceless.

Finneas didn’t really want to sleep for us, but that was completely fine. He was awake but calm and looking around. So sweet!

Malissa and Justen were able to incorporate some blankets that were meaningful to them. If you have any I’d definitely recommend including them.

Part of the reason we wrap babies during newborn sessions is to hide their diapers, and the other reason is that when they’re awake they kind of flail their arms all over the place. Wraps are an artistic way to keep their arms in place.

Baby Yoda for the win.

I have a number of cheescloth wraps to choose from but you’re always welcome to include your own bit of style – such as a baby yoda hat.

This might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

Keeping babies happy and comfortable is our number one priority during a session. To understand better what to expect during a newborn photography session, click here.

Sessions take place in your home because my kids are loud and crazy and because it’s where you’re most comfortable. No need to clean anything (you just had a baby!) – only a very small area is needed.

Thank you so much Malissa and Justen for sharing your beautiful baby with me. Welcome to the world Finneas!

Henrietta NY Newborn Photography.

You can view more Highland Park sessions by clicking here.

One of the best things about my job is meeting super fascinating people and one of the worst things is not being able to write all about it! If you ever have a chance to meet these amazing people, consider yourself fortunate.

Pets are always welcome in your family photos. This does tend to go well for calmer dogs, but even hyper puppies can be lured with a few well timed treats. It’s a little bit like working with toddlers – you don’t need very long at all to get a great photo!

I did learn that they have a pool and might have been a touch jealous. If you saw the meme about wearing a size 8 cruise that might be me with pools. I may have taken a trip to Florida once just to swim in some really warm pools.

Aren’t they the cutest??

Thank you so very much for sharing your beautiful family with me! I hope our paths cross again soon.

For more ideas about how to choose a great location for your family photo session, click here.

Roberta has such a gorgeous family and they were an absolute joy to work with.

People often ask if they’re allowed to do different groupings. You definitely are – the session belongs to you and you can choose any combinations you’d like. Extended family sessions are a great time to photograph different groups in your family. Multigenerational photos are the best.

Pulling aside your family for a quick portrait is also a great idea when you’re already dressed for the occasion, and in one place, something that for sure happens less frequently as your kids get older.

And of course the grandparents/grandkids photo is always popular. The youngest was quite the ham for this one! He was a huge fan of the oinky pig.

Thank you so much Roberta for sharing your beautiful family with me! I hope you all have an amazing winter.

The last time I photographed this beautiful family was nearly a lifetime ago, when a new, wide-eyed photographer was just starting to work with clients and their oldest was just barely a teenager. You can see these beautiful adults as children by clicking here.

Their kids went in together on a photo session as a gift for their parents 25th wedding anniversary. What a special gift and what a privilege to be invited along!

They chose the same spot as they did in 2012, Onanda Park located at the end of Canandaigua Lake. You can learn more about how to choose a great photography location by clicking here. The best thing about Canandaigua Lake is the beautiful willows. Great locations offer a wide visual variety in a small area.

Now all grown up and out of the house!

Individual photos are always welcome. A group shot with individual shots in the same location and the same clothing help make a cohesive wall display if that’s what you’re going for.

Solid colors are a good choice because they bring attention to the face instead of clothing. To learn more about how to dress your family for a photo session, click here.

Thank you so much Kim and Derrick for sharing you beautiful family with me!

Elise and her two beautiful daughters came to mini sessions at Highland Park and just squeaked in a session before the rain.  The girls were an absolute joy to work with – so joyful and full of life!

Their beautiful matching dresses are the kind of thing a boy mom envies (ask me how I know).  Single colors are absolutely classic and you can never go wrong.  I love the way Elise’s dress is the same color palette.  If you’d like more ideas about what to wear to your photo session click here.

Highland Park is a classic location for photos in Rochester. It’s a great choice because something is always in bloom and it’s centrally located. To view more sessions at Highland Park, click here.

Mini sessions are shorter sessions held back to back in the fall and sometimes in the spring. They’re more economical than a full session and are a great way to get a smaller selection of family or individual portraits. If you’d like to be notified of next year’s sessions, enter your email here.

It was an absolute pleasure to work with you Elise! Thank you so much for sharing your family with me!

Caleb and his mom were visiting family here and Rochester and we headed over to Highland Park.  Katrina shared that she and her husband work for an animal safari which was fun to learn about.  It was a beautiful spring day and the flowers were in bloom.  If you’d like to see more session from Highland Park click here. Highland Park Professional Baby Photography.

He wasn’t quite sitting up on his own yet and so we were able to prop him up and then edit out mom’s hands. That works well for babies around this age if you’d like 6 month photos but your baby isn’t quite sitting independently.

As the mom of a baby who doesn’t smile much, I thoroughly appreciated Caleb’s smiles. He was such a happy baby!

His mom wasn’t planning on being in the photos but it’s worth being prepared to jump in a few. Most moms take all the photos and don’t end up with any of themselves!

For more location ideas, click here.  Rochester has some amazing photography locations including the University of Rochester, Corbett’s Glen and the George Eastman House.

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful family with me!

A few years ago when Jenn was a senior I had the privilege of photographing her senior portraits which have consistently ranked in the top 10 blog posts on the website ever since. Now she’s finished with college, working full time, engaged and I’m very excited to be photographing the wedding! In the mean time, her parents decided it was time for some updated family portraits.  Penfield Family Photography.

They have a beautiful home next to a golf course with a peaceful garden that was a perfect backdrop. Many people choose to have family photos taken right in their home because it’s easier than packing up and going somewhere.

We could have talked about gardening pretty much the entire time. Their color scheme was happy and summery. For more ideas about what to wear during a photo session click here.

They home schooled their kids all the way through, managed to visit the lower 48 states and now both are through college working full time. Mary might be my personal hero.

During your session you can choose was poses and people combinations you’d like. Some photographers charge per pose but we don’t. It’s your time so how you use it is up to you!

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful family with me!

Sujatha and her family came to Cobb’s Hill on this beautiful fall day to have their family portraits taken. Cobb’s Hill was new to me last year and it was a lovely location in terms of architecture and nature. For more location ideas, click here.

Such a gorgeous natural smile!

Which clearly runs in the family!

When your kids are little photo sessions can take up to an hour, but in this case we were done in thirty minutes flat. I barely got to know them at all! Though we did have a chance to talk shop about photography a little.

I should at least definitely remember what each of them did for a living but have to confess that they both had highly technical jobs that quickly left my brain.

Thank you so much Sujatha for sharing your beautiful family with me!