Holiday Family Picture Mini Sessions: Winter Family Portraits

The last time we saw our family portrait member families in 2020 was… well, cold.

We made it as fun as possible, and we were able to give back to our community at the same time. We photographed holiday family portraits in a real setting, rather than a horse drawn carriage or with perfectly posed props. We prefer a more candid portrait approach. Thankfully, it had snowed just the night before giving us a fresh coating of pretty snow and the perfect setting for some safe winter family portraits.

And along with the family mini sessions, we created tons of ornaments to share with the seniors at The Friendly Home. Even though we weren’t able to hand them out in person, I hope the recipients felt a little bit of love from us to them. Thank you to all of the families who contributed ornaments!

We’re ridiculously grateful for our families, and are looking forward to another great year of Candid Member Mini Sessions. We’d love to see you there!

Apple Picking Candid Mini Sessions: Victor NY Family Portraits

We took a lemon of a year, and turned it into safe family mini sessions. How about them apples?

Ok yeah sorry, that was terrible. What wasn’t terrible, (in fact it was the complete opposite) was our annual apple picking, candid mini member event.

We’ve been photographing our member families long enough to remember when some of our older members were our youngest members. I distinctly remember images and moments from those portrait session events.

That’s what I love about our candid member mini sessions; I love capturing these same smiles, year after year as they go from babies to little kids. It’s such an honor to stay a part of their lives on a regular basis.

Curious about what I mean by “candid member mini sessions” yet? Don’t be shy, find out more information!

Candid Mini Sessions: Sunflower Family Portraits at Wickham Farms

I’ll be honest, had it not been for the Pandemic, I don’t think we’d have chosen to play in the sunflowers. Because 2020 threw us the curveballs, we pivoted and made our events work safely for our members.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to do it again. In fact, some of the family portraits that we captured that night may be all time favorites of mine. It’s just that we’d never really considered it before.

I’m so glad we did though - I mean, look at these. Seriously though, do it, and when you’re done - find out how you can get yours next year.

Mini Member Sessions: Fairport NY Family Portraits

In June, we called our Member Mini Session the “Pandemic Portraits.”

We asked our families to show us what or who kept them busy during their time at home together. Because as hard as it all is, it’s real at this moment in their lives. And man, did they ever deliver.

Our members showed us everything from gardening to their brand new puppies. It was the first time in months we’d seen them and it felt amazing to be able to capture their families again, even if it was only for a few minutes.

We don’t know what the coming months will bring, but we know that these families can handle anything, as long as they’re together.

Family Pictures through the Years: Fairport NY Family Portraits

Over the years, we’ve photographed a lot of family pictures in Rochester. We’ve captured hundreds of photographs of growing families, some of which began as amazing wedding couples.

We’ve literally captured the changing seasons of a family’s life together. From wedding, to first child, to second and on and on. And we photograph them so regularly, they feel like actual family to us. I know what activities they enjoy, and more often than not, I know what’s going to evoke a real childlike laugh from them. I not only know the names of their children, but the name of their child’s favorite stuffed elephant.

I know these things, because for the past five years, we’ve been photographing these particular families on a nearly monthly basis through our portrait membership program.

I know what you’re thinking - whhhhoooaaa, monthly portrait sessions? You crazy?

Well, yes, I am a little crazy - but that’s not what we’re doing here. If you want a photographer that takes the time to get to know your family, and a photographic experience that’s more than poses.

Our portrait membership is what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t yet heard of it - here’s a recap of years of candid, real life moments from one family that has been along for the ride from the start.

If you’re curious, please ask questions - because we want to make it as easy to understand as “E for elephant.”

Apple Picking Family Pictures: Victor NY Family Photographer

It’s one of the quintessential fall family activities. Go to the apple farm, chase your children around the field and while you’re at it, pick some of New York’s finest apples straight from the trees. Honestly, it’s a little bit chaotic for us to photograph each of our member families that day (because the farm is huge!) but it’s the best kind of chaos ever.

Hayrides, petting zoos, and laughing kids spoiling their dinner with apple cider and donuts. It’s childhood at it’s finest. And it’s such a privilege to give these memories to them. When our families look at the book we’ve created for them at the end of the year, these particular pages always give them (and us) a few chuckles.

If you still don’t know what our portrait membership is all about - there’s an easy way to learn more. JOIN US at our next event on October 27th, at Chase Farms. Come in costume, get a pumpkin and chat with us about it!

In Between Portrait Membership: Tie Dye Night candid family portraits

Oh what a lovely, messy night we had! The threat of rain didn’t stop us from creating our new shirts with our member families. These candid family portrait moments are always different, each event changing with the season.

There are some events that are now traditions. Apple picking (which is coming up soon!) being one of them. But this was a new one for us. Tie dye is such a common “summer time with kids” activity, that it made sense to include it in this years lineup.

Big thanks to Dana Sharp (one of our awesome members) for leading the group and showing us all some tips and tricks in creating great tie dyed shirts for the whole family!

Curious as to what these “members” are that we’re always talking about? Check out our membership information, or come to our next event to find out more!

Candid Family Picture Mini Sessions in Fairport NY: Picnic at the Playground

Going to the playground with Lucas is one of my favorite things to do. It’s an everyday moment and a simple joy. But how often in these moments are we as parents thinking of everything else going on in our lives? Or maybe we’re so busy chasing one child around with our phone camera, that we didn’t see the other climbed the rock wall on his own for the first time? How often do you notice their giant candid smiles as they run or slide down the slide?

These moments, they’re what’s real. I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to capture these moments for our portrait members every single month. The family pictures they receive don’t have you chasing your kids with your camera. They show you on the slide with them.

Someday friends, these candid family pictures will be more priceless than you can imagine today. This single thought is what keeps us motivated to capture your family pictures in Rochester NY.

I look at the pictures below and I actually feel every smile. And I smile back. I hope you do as well.

~ Erin

Candid Family Portrait Mini Sessions at a Greenhouse in Fairport NY

At Lucas Greenhouses, soil is not considered dirt until it falls to the ground. Well, with ten families in attendance at our planting party there was no shortfall of dirt. There was also no shortfall of fun and real life moments with family - my own included.

My own arrived in full super hero attire…to plant flowers. You guys, this is my real life. When your four year old insists on wearing a cape in public, you let him. And we captured it, because someday that tiny, every day moment will mean everything to me.

This is what our membership does. If this moment resonates with you at all, then please come talk more with us - your family is worth it. Your memories are worth it.

~ Erin

Candid Family Portrait Mini Sessions at the Seneca Park Zoo

Well from what I’ve gathered, the earth doesn’t much care if the weather is cold on Earth Day. Thankfully, a few of our members weren’t worried too much about it either.

The perk of a chilly day for our Zoo event though? The zoo wasn’t all that crowded. :)

As a mom, it’s one of the places we regularly visit throughout the year. It only made sense that one day our membership program would wind up there too! It just seems right that one of the places you enjoy time together as a family would be the zoo.

So we had our fill of the elephants and the giraffes at the Seneca Park Zoo. Because it was the Zoo’s Earth Day event we also had the opportunity to have a tree to plant or some wildflower seeds to start a butterfly garden.

So even though the weather didn’t want to be sunshine and rainbows, we made the best of a gray day.

Join us next month for a return of one of our favorite events - a planting party at Lucas Greenhouses!

Candid Mini Session Family Pictures: Swim Time in Fairport NY

So yes, technically spring is here. Technically we should have been soaking in the sunshine and warmth.

Technically.

I’m so glad we planned a swimming event for our portrait members in March, because technically - it snowed that day. So rather than complain about the snow, we hopped into the pool and captured our families splashing around.

The best part of this event, was that some of our families were at our last swimming event two years ago, when their littles - were super little. We’ve captured their growth for years. Even my own little has grown. In two years, he’s changed from a nervous toddler who wouldn’t go past his ankles in the water, to finding the deepest spot where he can still touch the ground on his tip toes.

I may not have been soaking in the sunshine, but I was soaking in the memories while my fingers got wrinkly.

We’ve grown together as a group, always welcoming new members with arms open. The kids are all becoming friends and forming bonds. Towards the end, they were playing water basketball as one big group. It’s becoming the thing we hoped it would be - a community.

If you’re still wondering why we keep talking about this membership - stop wondering, and start asking. We want to capture your family throughout the year! We promise, you won’t regret it.

~ Erin

Winter Family Pictures: Mendon Ponds, Birdsong Trail

Snowmaggedon nearly threatened to cancel this member event on us. But with quick thinking and moving the date up we just beat it out. We’re so glad we did.

I loved watching and capturing our families (of all ages) playing in the snow and whenever possible feeding the birds from their hands. What a joy it was to see the looks on their happy faces as a bird snatched food from it.

And to know that we’re giving these memories back to them - that’s everything. If you’re still wondering what this program is about, it’s about letting you be you, and enjoy life. And we do our part by giving it back to you.

~ Erin