Many women skip the maternity session and go straight for the newborn photos instead. This is a big mistake for a multitude of reasons, especially if it is your first child. Firts of all, pregnant women are absolutely gorgeous. Also, although it may not feel like it at the time, this phase passes way too quickly. You will want to remember these days when they are long gone.

Your wardrobe is a key component to having a successful photo session. What your family wears will impact the mood of your images, as well as the overall aesthetic of your images. I know that planning the wardrobe can feel daunting, but I work with each and every client to help make this process as easy as possible.

I have been photographing Long Island families for a decade now. Over the years, I have photographed my clients in a wide array of places. As a result, I have learned what works well and what doesn’t. Each family is unique, so I always take that into consideration. Prior to each and every session, my clients complete a questionnaire. These responses help me to suggest a location that is a good fit for their vision for their photos and their family’s personality.

I worked with this recent client when her first daughter was born and also for her daughter’s first birthday session. When she contacted me to tell me she was pregnant with her second child, I was elated to now only photograph her family again for a newborn session, but to also see how much her daughter has grown in the past few years.

Yes, that is right. I am talking to all of you gorgeous expecting moms out there. So many women choose to skip maternity photos and it makes me so sad. I know that some women don’t feel their best during pregnancy, or they feel that the photos will be awkward, but I encourage you to take the photos. First of all, no one is more beautiful than a pregnant woman. It sounds like a cliche, but women are simply radiant when they are pregnant. The pregnancy glow is not a matter of fiction. I have seen it first hand with each and every one of my gorgeous clients.

Most of the clients who book me for newborn photos are looking for images that are not heavily propped and focused on the family. I get a lot of inquiries from clients who are torn between an in home session and a studio session. Both of these are great options that allow me to capture family centered newborn images. The one to choose is really a personal choice and based on certain variables. I always do a pre session consult with my clients and during this consult I can help them to determine the session that is best suited for their family.

A decade ago, I started my family photography business. Over the past ten years, my approach to family photos has developed and I have learned so much. My approach to family photo sessions is to always capture your love and connection as a family. There are quite a few ways that I accomplish this during the session. So, although it may feel fun and maybe even a little chaotic, there is a method to my madness.

While every family dynamic is unique, there are some key images that I strive to capture during every family photo session. Here are a few of those ideas.

I recently renovated the Long Beach studio space and I am so in love with it. I wanted the space to have an earthy and natural look to it and be one that allows for natural and relaxed lifestyle images. When decorating with photography in mind, I try my best to incorporate an array of textures. Adding texture adds dimension to images. Although I incorporated some earthy textures like rattan and green plants, the studio is a very neutral space that allows for bright and airy images.

The only thing that is better than a newborn baby is twins! This family was amazing to capture. The twin baby girls are absolutely precious, big brother is an adorable doting brother, the parents are the sweetest, and the icing on the cake is the adorable golden retriever. I am a dog lover and I own a golden retriever myself, so whenever I work with families with dogs, I try my best to incorporate the dog as best as I can. This is because I know how precious a pet is to the family.

Last year I decided to take a brief hiatus from offering newborn sessions in the studio. Instead, I focused solely on in home newborn sessions. I decided at the end of 2022 to refresh and remodel the studio space and star offering limited sessions in the studio in 2023. Many clients, who felt their homes did not have the general aesthetic they wanted for their photos requested studio sessions and so the studio is up and running again.

Your child’s First Holy Communion is such a special milestone and is one that should be properly documented. These photos are far from the rigid and traditional posed photos of years past. Instead, the focus of my communion portrait sessions is on capturing candid and natural images of your child, as well as beautiful and artistic images that encapsulate this very special milestone. Most clients choose the church as the setting for these images and I just love the dramatic natural light that a church provides for portraits. I also make sure to capture plenty of images that allow for a child's whimsical nature to shine through.

My client recently moved to Long Island from California. Her family, including her parents, still live on the West Coast. She decided that for her first Thanksgiving here in Jericho, New York, she would book a family photo session with her two little boys to commemorate this next chapter in their life. She also wanted to include her parents, who would be in town visiting for the holiday. I just love the idea of incorporating grandparents into photo sessions. After all, they are such an important part of your life.

I have a lot of clients who initially intend to have photos taken of their children alone. I always encourage parents to get into photos with their kids. I especially feel this away about moms. I am a photographer and a mom and I can tell you that although I am an integral part of my girls’ life, there are very few photos of me with them. Most moms are the documentarian of the household, which means we often do not get into the photos with our children. A holiday portrait session is the perfect excuse to finally have those photos with your children taken. You already will be present at the session, so why not step into a few images with the kids? You will never regret doing so and your kids will thank you for it.

I offer holiday mini sessions each year in the Fall. I always include one session in the lineup that is holiday neutral. This year’s non holiday themed set was my boho harvest arch session. My husband hand crafted a wooden arch for me and it was decorated with pampas grass and florals. I used lots of textured props for this set to give it a very earthy and bohemian look. Wardrobe for this session was key for creating a cohesive aesthetic, so I sent a wardrobe guide to my clients with a color palette and outfit suggestions from vendors like Baltic Born, Joyfolie, Zara and H&M. My clients completely slayed their wardrobe choices and I just love each and every one of the sessions from this day.

The weather here on Long Island has been amazing this month. With the exception of a few cold days, the weather has been in the upper 50s to 60s. In fact, I haven’t been cold once for any of my outdoor sessions and I am ALWAYS cold. I am not complaining because the frigid winter weather is right around the corner.

Moms….I can’t stress to you enough how important it is to get in the frame with your children. Amongst our many roles as mothers, one is the documentarian of the household, which means that there are very few photos of YOU in them. We are such an important part of our children’s lives, yet we often have very little photographic evidence of that relationship. A motherhood or family session can finally give you those photos with your children that you will both cherish for years to come.

I photographed this family last year for their son’s first birthday photo session. Since that time, they have welcomed a little girl to their family and I had the honor of photographing them agin for an in home newborn session. It is always an honor to document my clients families as they grow and I was thrilled to be able to photograph this special time for this sweet family.

Surprise proposals are always exciting for me to capture, but this recent session was THE best. You may ask why? Well, because this session breaks ties with tradition. This proposal features a woman who asked her boyfriend to marry her and I just love it.

I often take on personal projects. This allows me the creative opportunity to explore new locations, lighting and posing that helps me to be a better photographer. During my busy season, it is really difficult to find the time to do so, but when my daughter asked for a photoshoot, I couldn’t say no. She loves having her photos taken and I love capturing her in a way that is authentic to her personality.

A first birthday is a very special milestone for any family. It is one of the most popular requests I get for photos and rightfully so. Babies are so adorable at this age. They have so much personality and it is a great stage to finally capture those photos of your child to preserve this special moment.