Candid Mini Sessions: Family Pictures at the Beach in Rochester NY

Beach lovers, unite! As family portrait photographers, we get excited every year about the possibilities for fun this Candid Mini Session bring. Here's why Family Mini Sessions at the beach are the ultimate fun-filled experience:

1. Perfect for All Ages

   The beach is a wonderful place for people of all ages. Kids can build sandcastles, run in the water, or simply explore the shore. Teens and adults can enjoy peaceful strolls, play beach games or just rest in the sand. No matter your age, the beach offers something for everyone, making it the ideal location for a family mini session.

2. Relaxed Atmosphere

   There’s something about the sound of crashing waves and warm sand that creates a relaxed atmosphere that allows families to be themselves and have fun. Unlike family portraits in a studio environment, the beach allows for natural interactions and genuine expressions. Kids can run freely, splash in the water, or build sandcastles, giving us as photographers the opportunity to capture candid family pictures.

3. Fun Activities

   Our beach Candid Mini Sessions aren't only about posing for family pictures. They provide an excellent opportunity for families to enjoy a variety of activities together. From playing with beach toys to splashing in the waves, this playfulness adds a touch of joy and real life to the sessions.

4. Natural Lighting and Stunning Sunsets

   As the golden hour sets in, beaches are blessed with glorious natural light, often creating a soft and dreamy atmosphere for your family portraits.

Family pictures at the beach are a great way capture precious moments while enjoying the natural beauty of the beach together.  So beach lovers, what are you waiting for?

Family Pictures with the Whole Family: Brighton NY Family Portraits

I have photographed every single person in this set of family pictures on more than one occasion. Whether at a wedding, newborn session or previous family portrait.

And on a lot of those occasions, we’ve had to adapt to whatever the changing conditions might be. Family pictures in the fall are beautiful. However, the weather is always unpredictable. For this family portrait, the rainy fall weather had us scrambling to find location options that would work for a family 9.

We settled on an in home family portrait, with the possibility of stepping outside in between rain showers if we could. Even the littlest was able to roll with the changes as we kept an eye on the conditions outside.

Despite the ever changing plans, I’d say that the smiles in these family pictures turned out perfectly.

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Find More Family Portraits on the Blog!

What to Wear in Your Family Pictures: Tips from Fairport NY Photographers

One of the most asked questions about our family portrait sessions we receive is: “What should we wear?” So we thought we’d answer it once and for all, right here on the blog.

Here are some tips on what to wear for family pictures:

• Choose neutral colors. Neutral colors like navy, black, brown, and gray are always a safe bet for family photos. They're flattering on everyone and they won't clash with the background.

• Add pops of color. If you want to add a little bit of personality to your outfits, you can do so by adding pops of color. This could be a bright scarf, a patterned shirt, or a pair of colorful shoes. Just be sure to keep the pops of color small so that they don't overpower the rest of your outfit.

• Consider the season. When choosing outfits for family photos, it's important to consider the season. For example, if you're having your photos taken in the summer, you'll want to choose light, airy fabrics. If you're having your photos taken outside in the winter, you'll want to choose warmer fabrics or plan out coordinating jackets.

• Coordinate your outfits. You don't have to wear matching outfits for family photos, but it's a good idea to coordinate your outfits so that they look cohesive. This could mean choosing outfits in the same color scheme or choosing outfits with similar patterns.

• Be comfortable. The most important thing is to be comfortable in your clothes. If you're not comfortable, it will show in your photos. So choose outfits that you feel good in and that you'll be able to move around in easily.

  No matter what color scheme you choose, make sure that the colors flatter everyone in your family.

Here are some additional color schemes to consider for your family portrait session:

• Earth tones: This color scheme is perfect for fall or winter photos. It's made up of warm colors like brown, tan, and rust.

• Pastels: This color scheme is perfect for spring or summer photos. It's made up of soft, light colors like pink, blue, and yellow.

• Monochromatic: This color scheme is all about using one color in different shades. It's a great way to create a cohesive look for your family photos.

• Complementary colors: This color scheme is made up of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. It's a great way to create a striking look for your family photos.

Most importantly, have fun with it! Family portraits are a time to celebrate your relationships, so make sure you enjoy the process of choosing outfits AND getting your family pictures taken.

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Family Pictures with Santa: Fairport NY Family Photographers

What do you do when Santa comes to the door? Answer it, obviously!

This was such a unique and fun family portrait session. Santa arrived with a gift for each child, they put them on the tree together. They spent some time talking about the spirit of the holidays, and then they decorated cookies WITH Santa!

I felt like one of Santa’s elves photographing these family pictures. It was so magical! I believe this was an experience that this family will be able to cherish for years to come. And these family pictures will surely help them to do just that.

Family Pictures in Webster NY: Fairport NY Photographers

Since we saw them last, they’ve had 3 beautiful kids and lived out of state. They recently decided to make the move back to Rochester and one of the first things they did was book their family pictures. They hadn’t even officially moved into their new house yet, but they knew they wanted to update their family portrait before the weather changed to snow.

And what a beautiful day we had at Abraham Lincoln Park. Even though there were a few playground bumps and bruises along the way, we captured some gorgeous family pictures for them to cherish in their new home.

Welcome home Heather and Blaze!

Summer Family Pictures in Pittsford NY: Fairport NY Photographers

Bubbles, Curious George and flowers were the three things that brought the fun to this 2 year old’s family pictures. Well, that and Mom and Dad.

We captured their summer family portraits at The Fish Hatchery in Powder Mills Park. Carly was non-stop energy, the way most two year olds are, and that just means we work fast! We keep the session fun by moving quickly and keeping things fresh.

The results are family pictures that are just the right amount of candid play and posed images. See what we mean in the pictures below!

Can’t wait to see you at 3!

Lifestyle Newborn Session in Rochester NY

Last we saw this family, it was at their beach maternity session.

Now, they are a family of four, which includes their fur baby of course. Photographing this moment in their lives together was such a joy. The newborn session centered on the nursery and the gorgeous mural (painted by one of our branding photography clients, Amy Colburn!)

They put on a record and they read together, they snuggled, and they loved on their newborn. This newborn session wasn’t over the top. It was sweet and perfect for this family as they welcomed their little one home. We can’t wait to see them grow.

Family Pictures at Eastman House: Rochester NY Photographers

This family get together was planned so that the whole family could meet the newest 11 week old addition, August. So yes, an extended family picture was a MUST.

This crew of 17 people included Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and Great Grandparents of all ages, from 11 weeks to 90 years old - oh, and a four legged family member.

The wall of greenery at Eastman Museum was a great backdrop for such a large extended family portrait in Rochester. We created family pictures of all different combinations, along with a few adorable candid pictures as well.

Who knows when this whole group will get to be together again like this? No one does. That’s why it’s always an honor to be a part of another family’s moments, even if for a brief moment in time.

Getting together for the holidays? Yes, that’s the right time to create this kind of lasting portrait.

Extended Family Pictures in Hamlin NY: Rochester NY Family Photographers

Their goal when booking this extended family session was to have one picture of the entire family together, having a good time with each other.

They went back and forth a little bit on where they’d want to take their pictures, but in the end the decision was easy. For them, a perfect Saturday includes time at the lake house, good food, good books to read and time with family.

All 3 families together at the lake house for family pictures it was. And it was as picturesque a setting as any for a morning family session. Together, no matter where it is, is a great place to be.

Family Pictures with High School Seniors: Fairport NY Photographers

Bella’s senior portrait session wouldn’t have been the same without including the rest of the family: Mom and Zada, their Italian Mastiff.

Part two of her Senior Pictures took place at the hidden gem that is Corbett’s Glen. (If you missed part one, find it here.)

It was clear to see the special bond these two beautiful ladies share, and I was honored to capture a little family portrait for them.

Say ‘hey’ to Stephanie and Bella!

Cheers!
-Lori

Holiday Candid Mini Session Event: Fairport NY Family Pictures

Our holiday mini sessions are ready to share! Oh what fun we had!

Our candid mini session events are not just about posed family pictures with a pretty background. We do our best to make them a family style fun event too.

This time around, we had a fire pit, hot chocolate, ornament making, lots of trees to decorate and a tire swing to play on.

And because we know you folks want a pretty setting too, we had a few trees pre decorated for our families to have a posed holiday family picture in front of.

These candid mini session events have evolved so much over the past two years, and we’re grateful for every family who has joined us.

As we wrap of 2021, we’re hard at work planning 2022 events - so if you have an idea, or want to partner on something, feel free to get in touch with us!

What Type of Family Portrait Fits you Best?

Fairport NY Family Pictures

You sit down and google “family pictures in Rochester NY.” 

The results come back with a list filled with different descriptions by different family picture photographers. Do you want family portraiture? Candid family pictures? Documentary photography? What is a lifestyle family portrait?

You get so overwhelmed by this decision that you give up your search for a family photographer, again. 

So how do you know what style of family pictures you like best?

We can help you out here. Most photographers will describe themselves using at least one of three main family portrait styles:

 Traditional Family Pictures:

This is essentially an all encompassing title for a photographer who takes family pictures. But there’s a little bit more to it. 

A traditionally trained portrait photographer often focuses their efforts on quality posing and controlled lighting in their family portraits. This often happens in a studio setting with lights, backdrops and perhaps props or sets. However, not every traditional or fine art family photographer uses a studio. 

Oftentimes an extended family portrait falls into this style of family photography. The resulting images tend to focus on the family smiling and looking at the camera.

This may be the simplest category to explain, but it is often one of the hardest to master.

A posed, smiley family portrait is considered most traditional.

Candid Family Portraits in Rochester NY:

If you’re looking for the opposite, or real, authentic, unposed images, then you are looking for a documentary family photographer. Strict photographers in this realm won’t add any light to a scene, but rather evaluate what is available and use it to show emotion. These sessions are usually longer and allow for the most freedom of movement. They can surround an event, or just capture a “day in the life” at home. This is a newer, but growing genre of family portrait photography.

Real life, real play and letting moments unfold are what the documentary side of our membership is all about.

Lifestyle Family Portraits in Rochester NY:

If you want something in between the two, then perhaps you’d best enjoy a lifestyle family portrait session. Lifestyle photographers enjoy a bit more freedom in their sessions. They’ll often choose the location and general position of a group, but then they give they family a little freedom to play using prompts.

This allows for natural moments to occur, such as laughter, hugs, and play, while still controlling the situation in terms of light and background.

Typically lifestyle family pictures are taken in a natural environment (whether inside or outside) rather than a studio. This type of photographer may opt to use lighting, or not!

Lifestyle family portraits are the best way to describe our Signature Family Sessions.

We gave her the location and gave her some ideas - she created the lifestyle portrait.

And Then There’s Us: Lori & Erin Photography

When you love all three options, and you just have to have all of the above - you join our family. Our candid mini session events are part of a membership that essentially uses all three of these family portrait styles. How, you ask?

We plan a variety of fun events, at the perfect times for your family. Then we photograph them. It’s that simple.

We do our best to plan these events to optimize the lighting and space while you come and enjoy a real life event, in a real world setting.

Sometimes we step in and interact with your family to get a posed portrait. Other times we give you a prompt for a something that feels more like lifestyle family pictures.

Sometimes the events are specifically planned to create a more posed portrait, such as our Pandemic Portrait themed event.

In the end, we give all of these family moments back to you. Consider us your personal, “all in one’ shop for family photography in Rochester NY.

So if you can’t figure out which category a photographer falls into by peeping their portfolio, just ask them. They should be happy to give you a better idea of who they are and how they photograph a family portrait.

Find out why our membership makes sense for your family here.

If you’re ready to learn more about the Lori & Erin Family, we can’t wait to welcome you.