3 Reasons Why Spring is the Best Time of Year for Family Pictures: Rochester NY Photographers

Spring is our favorite time of year. The temperatures rise, the colors burst everywhere and the sun comes out of it’s winter hibernation in Rochester NY. It’s easy to see why our Candid Mini Sessions in Highland Park are always one of our most popular family mini sessions.

Here’s why we think that spring family pictures in Rochester NY are the best:

1. The weather is ideal

(Mostly. We do live in Rochester after all.)

During spring, the weather is mild and comfortable, not too hot or too cold. The sun is shining, and the natural light is perfect for capturing beautiful family pictures. You don't have to worry about the heat, and humidity of summer or the gray skies of a Rochester NY winter.

2. The world is gorgeous

Spring is the season of renewal, and nature is alive with vibrant colors. The trees and flowers are blooming, and the grass is green and lush. This creates the perfect backdrop for your family pictures, especially at Highland Park. The bursting color will make your family pictures pop.

3. It's a time for family gatherings

Spring is a time for family gatherings like Easter and Mother's Day. This makes it the perfect time to take family pictures. You can capture memories with extended family members or simply take pictures with your immediate family. It's a great way to create lasting memories.

So what’s your favorite season for family pictures? I hope it’s Spring… c’mon say it’s Spring… you know you want to!

Family Pictures in March: Candid Mini Sessions in Victor NY

March in the Rochester NY area is what we call “Mud Season.” But it’s also the time of year for Maple EVERYTHING, which makes March awesome.

The idea for “pancakes and pictures” as a Candid Mini Session was born out of necessity during the pandemic. That first portrait session event was of a tailgating variety, but has evolved now that the barn at Kettle Ridge Farm has opened for dining.

First, you eat the pancakes, and spend time with your family. Then after everyone’s bellies are full, we take a few fun family pictures!

This year it was a touch cold and rainy, but we did it anyway. We even got away with asking the kids to jump in the puddles - because believe it or not, those playful family photographs are priceless as your children grow.

We’re thankful for our families who brave the weather, and are willing to hang with us, even if we get a little wet.

Fall Candid Mini Sessions: Family Pictures in Rochester NY

2022’s Fall Candid Mini Family Sessions were gorgeous - every single one of them!

There were three opportunities for families to update their family pictures last fall. Our Tinker Park Family Sessions, a Halloween costume party at Chase Farms, and a late fall family mini session day at Abraham Lincoln Park.

Check out our favorites from each one below! Which will you join us for?

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Tinker Park

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Chase Farms

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Abraham Lincoln Park

Apple Picking Mini Sessions in Rochester NY

What is it about apple picking that makes for such fun candid mini session pictures? These family portrait sessions are always our most popular of the year.

Is it the fun of grabbing an apple and munching on it right there in the orchard? Is it the kids running up and down the paths? Is it the excitement when Mom or Dad lifts a child up to get the apple that’s all the way up on top of the tree?

We’ll never know for sure, but these families made the most of their apple snacks AND their family pictures.

Apple picking mini sessions for the win!

Beach Mini Sessions in Rochester NY: Fairport NY Photographers

Family pictures at the beach should always be this perfect.

Though for about an hour before them, it was pourinnnnng. We nervously watched the radar and hoped that we wouldn’t have to reschedule this candid mini session. Thankfully, the skies cleared and the light ended up being absolutely perfect.

We played on the boardwalk, in the sand, in the water and at Abbotts with this group of families. When it was all over, we were damp from going in the lake, full of sand and had full bellies from ice cream. But these family pictures were worth every grain of sand.

The pictures below were from our 2022 Candid Mini Session at the beach. This summer’s are happening in August! Want to join us?

Rochester NY Family Pictures: Highland Park Mini Sessions

In the first few family pictures below, you can see everything you need to know about a Candid Mini Session Event. Highland Park in May during peak Lilac season was the perfect setting for this particular event.

The first family portrait is a shot we set up. We picked the angle, the back lighting, and even asked them for a little bit of the action you see. The result - an all smiles, golden hour family picture.

The family picture below that is far more candid in nature. We let them be, and allowed them to play on the playground together. The result - joy in a real moment as a family.

Real life doesn’t happen in posed pictures alone. That perfect blend of both types of family pictures is exactly what we aim for at every single Candid Mini Session.

Spring Candid Mini Sessions: Family Pictures in Rochester NY

Spring definitely brought us a variety of weather for our various candid family mini sessions. One day was the perfect sunny evening, and the next was chilly with a chance of rain.

But that’s ok, because our candid mini sessions can withstand any temperature, and so can the families who joined us for candid family pictures.

For example - At Kings Bend Park, the golden hour light was perfect for portraits of the kids at play on the playground, or throwing rocks from the edge of the nearby water. Parents could relax and enjoy the time with their kids at the playground, or step back and let them play while we captured their laughter and smiles.

On the day of our first May event, it was sunny and gorgeous ALL day. But right around the time our Candid MIni Sessions with Jardin Terrariums got underway, the sun faded and the rain began. Thankfully, the families who joined us for terrarium building with their families were flexible, and went with the changes seamlessly.

They still got to experience an activity, and create a memory with their kids - and we were still there capturing the candid family pictures, so they didn’t need to take their phone out once to take a picture themselves.

So what do you think? What Candid Mini Session on the upcoming calendar catches your eye?

Candid Mini Sessions: Fairport NY Winter Family Pictures

How do you know if our Candid Mini Session Events are for your right for your next set of family pictures?

For one, you love candid pictures of your family. Our sledding mini session event is a prime example of the candid side of life we capture. We take a few posed pictures of each family, and then it’s all about the play!

Their scrunched up, happy screaming faces as they come down the hill are pretty fantastic. Aren’t they?

And if you don’t care for snowy family pictures, that’s ok, because our candid mini sessions happen every single month. These family pictures mini sessions are always changing, and usually include some sort of activity that keeps your kids happy while we capture their smiles.

Northampton Park Family Pictures: Rochester NY Photographers

Family pictures just feel different when there’s no pressure to get the perfect posed shot. Great family pictures without the stress of perfection is our goal at every candid mini session.

So we set up what we call “playground parties. This one at Northampton Park was so much fun. We had the park nearly to ourselves the whole time, and the kids climbed and ran and played. I chased them around, being silly and letting their playful personalities shine.

Want to know more about the candid mini sessions?

Candid Mini Session Events: Fairport NY Family Pictures

The weather was chilly for our first playground Candid Mini Session of 2022, but it didn’t stop the kids from having a blast. And it didn’t stop us from capturing some family pictures while the kids played.

We love the Egypt Park playground, both for it’s proximity to Lollypop Farms, and it’s cute barn theme. There’s also a great paved path for scooters, and the playground area is padded which helps avoid muddy playground pictures in March.

We’ll have family mini sessions at playgrounds ALL year long, so if you missed out on this one - check the schedule below for the next one!

Candid Family Mini Sessions: Rochester Pinball Collective

This Candid Mini Session was unlike any you’ve ever seen before. Why? Because pinball games were involved!

One of the ways our mini sessions are different, is that we try to make them about more than the pictures. There’s often an experience involved, or an activity that your families would enjoy.

The idea for this one came from our family’s love of playing board games together. It didn’t take us long to brainstorm a way to capture this theme for other families too.

A huge thank you goes out to the Rochester Pinball Collective for opening their doors to our group of fun loving families.

Have an idea for an upcoming Candid Mini Session event? We’re always on the lookout, so tell us what your family loves to do!

Candid Mini Sessions in Rochester NY: Hipocampo Children's Books

When it comes to family mini sessions in winter, we get creative. We don’t use a studio and a painted backdrop.

We use your real life.

For example, we recently partnered with a great business like Hipocampo Children’s Books. We woredk together to create a family picture experience. In this case, Henry and Pamela at Hipocampo provided a story time for families to come and enjoy.

How does photography fit into this?

While story time was happening we captured candid family pictures. When story time wrapped up, we took a few posed family pictures as well. We used the colorful book background as the perfect setting for family pictures of book loving families.

Other examples?

• Bright lights and pinball game backgrounds for game loving families.

• Playground family pictures at your favorite playground.

• Halloween costumes and pumpkin picking for fall family pictures.

So what background fits your family? Maybe we have the perfect family mini session for you already on the calendar!