One of these families lives in the Caribbean full time and I might be a little jealous.

The Village Gate is an excellent location for the winter because of the varied backgrounds. Also it’s heated.

Families getting together for the holidays is one of my favorite kind of sessions. I love the energy of wanting to capture time together that doesn’t happen as often as you’d like.

You all were a blast to work with!

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.

Jennifer, being super detail oriented, shared many details of that day. I won’t pretend to remember them all, but what I do remember is how much she was enjoying every single moment of their relationship. It was so sweet.

They chose Letchworth for their engagement session because it was where Mikey proposed and had a special place in their hearts.

In what was incredibly impressive planning, Mikey had given Jennifer a key months before. She wore the key everywhere. So the night before, Mikey hid a box with a lock that could be opened with key. When she opened it…

She said yes.

Letchworth engagement photography.

And, as often happens when you fall behind in blogging, they are now happily married. Their wedding was also stunning – that blog post is forthcoming.

Thank you so much Jennifer and Mikey for sharing these remarkable moments with me!

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!