When did 10 become the new 15? I came to photograph this small gathering of cousins celebrating a tenth birthday. The goal was fashion images of each girl. We started inside but we ended up outdoors - mid February and the birthday girl had on shorts! We were all surprised by the unusual weather that afternoon but no one was disappointed. Plenty of great backdrops.
What to do when a child shows up to a photo shoot in costume? The costume, the identity of the day, is very important to the child and they may be very hesitant to remove it....
Batman, aka Henry, came with his parents to my studio last week. As an experienced mother I immediately started calling him Batman which was exactly what he wanted to hear, step one. I ask if he could perhaps demonstrate some flying techniques, something he was thrilled to perform. After a few clicks of the camera and lights, I gently asked him to show me who was under the mask, he pulled it up and with coaxing eventually shed it completely with the cape!
Mom didn't pressure him at all and had brought a white button down shirt for the shoot. Henry liked what he came in but mom asked him if he would like to look like dad in the white shirt, bingo! He agreed and let her change the shirt. It was a fantastic session! Light, lively and captured him perfectly!
As an experienced children's photographer and mother, I had realized that the costume was important and it was who Henry wanted to be for the day. Indulge the need, pay attention and the rest will fall into place! Hours after he left the studio with mom and dad, I noticed the mask was left on my desk, completely forgotten! His mom is coming by in a day or two to pick it up...
Dogs are a must for family photos! Sometimes they are more work, but mostly they are the easiest subjects....this is a case of a dog walking a boy!
Unseasonably warm, why not? Its never the wrong time to have beach portraits! This day was extremely cloudy, a photographer's dream! No shadows and the ability to shoot from any direction without squints!
There was a small mouse running around behind me until a seagull swept down and captured it! I don't know who screamed the loudest, the mom, the kids or me!
This past Saturday was not warm enough to swim, especially in a huge lake! When we went to the dock to take pictures, the dad put the boys on a swing above the lake. Needless to say the boys stayed dry holding on tight and I was able to make amazing images with "natural" smiles! A win win situation.
This past Saturday was not warm enough to swim, especially in a huge lake! When we went to the dock to take pictures, the dad put the boys on a swing above the lake. Needless to say the boys stayed dry holding on tight and I was able to make amazing images with "natural" smiles! A win win situation.
The traffic was ridiculous and I arrived late. The mom was anxiously texting me to hurry as all three were losing patience. The lighting was soft and beautiful but all were upset and not into the shoot. Slowly but surely as we scouted for locations in Central Park, we came across an amazing tree, then rocks that lined up and more. So with the perfect backdrop and lighting, I needed to work on the adolescents. I resorted to politics and sure enough, it worked!
The traffic was ridiculous and I arrived late. The mom was anxiously texting me to hurry as all three were losing patience. The lighting was soft and beautiful but all were upset and not into the shoot. Slowly but surely as we scouted for locations in Central Park, we came across an amazing tree, then rocks that lined up and more. So with the perfect backdrop and lighting, I needed to work on the adolescents. I resorted to politics and sure enough, it worked!
It felt like an August day this past Saturday! Lucky as its cold again and this gorgeous little toddler had to wear this fab dress sans sweater! A late walker, the mom contacted me as soon as she started to set up a shoot with her brother, whom you may recognize in many of my galleries...
Her brother chose a beautiful dandelion for his mom, and one for his sister. He enjoyed her reaction.
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These one year old adorable identical twins were a true and rare treat! Age one marks the transition to toddler from baby. Toddler stems from "to toddle" and these little ones were on the go as soon as they were released from the stroller. It took me about 15 minutes to distinguish one from the other, while they share the same faces their personalties were different.
Its been seasonally warm this winter, so far. This family reunion was after Christmas and the weather was perfect for this Harlem outdoor photoshoot! The family was so much fun, some visiting from Australia. Laden with multi outfit changes for the cousins and tons of interchangeable bright hats, we were set for the fun!
Women glow during pregnancy! Many women are so self conscious about their changing bodies but this an important time for professional photographs to celebrate the belly! Of course future siblings play an important role and assume the shoot is for them, but with a little coaxing....everyone gets camera time!
Pets are an integral part of the family, many times, the "first child". While the session can be more challenging with pets, it is by far worth the challenge! The animals sometimes become the stars of the photo shoots.....This small series were taken over two years in Tuxedo, New York.
Still need to finish blogging about my summer shoots- tons of fall images soon! These images show the warm glow of the late afternoon / early evening summer sun. The girls had a blast! Next summer I need to convince the parents to join in!
I've photographed in the Hamptons all summer and finally got the chance to photograph a family in Fire Island! Its a completely different scene there. No cars, just simply wagons and bikes with a tiny grocery store and a single restaurant in the adjacent town. Super rustic and very cozy! The real beauty for children is the independence they get from being able to go places safely without parents hovering....
These children, my seventh year photographing them, were never this excited! I heard from each one all about their treks alone to the next town on their bikes! And what would a beach experience be like without a newly captured hermit crab?!
Finally a day with little humidity. The twins, whom I have photographed since they were babies, were almost ready to go when I arrived. They just needed a quick outfit change, a puppy on a leash and a few jokes......The setting was spectacular to say the least, the girls were beaming with joy- my job was to freeze these beautiful moments for posterity.
She came with a fresh mani pedi, orange no less! Not a hair out of place even after lots of running and jumping! What a great session with lots child photographer collaboration.
Recipe for a successful newborn photo shoot: One sleeping newborn, two sibs and a baby grand piano....Baby number three for this growing family and another son no less! The boys are loving and fascinated with the new bundle of joy. I feel like it was yesterday that I photographed the middle one, Jake, also a day before his Bris. 
When indoor portraits are finished and there happens to be the rare balcony available...Yes, it was me outside with the camera freezing, but well worth it for this beautiful mom and her daughters!
