Family Pictures at Hamlin Beach: Rochester NY Photographers

I’ve known Laurie since my high school softball days. So when she reached out to us to for a family portrait session at Hamlin Beach, it felt like coming home - but with a lot to catch up on and two cute littles.

And from the light to the playing with the kids, their session went perfectly. We even had time to play in the water together. There’s nothing like getting a big, wet hug from your subjects at the end of a family session.

It doesn’t have to be summer though to take your family pictures - snowmen, snowflakes and a great winter afternoon is just as fun and beautiful!

Playful Family Portraits at Egypt Park and Lollypop Farm

We love when families approach us using words like “candid, playful, fun” when they describe what they want out of their family portrait session.

During the session, we let the little one lead the way, and that meant starting on the playground. We made silly faces, looked for frogs, ran around and even visited the horses over at Lollypop Farm. It was a great day, and so special to have all the family in town!

I’d be happy to hang out with this fun loving group any day!

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

Highlights from Valencia & Barcelona, Spain

There was a request for photos from our trip to Spain, and well, twist my arm!

Most of our trip was spent in Valencia - the Tancat de la Pipa to be exact. That’s where we volunteered, working to restore Lake Albufera and it’s surrounding areas. Our group was specifically working to clean up the lagoons, which supply lake with clean water.

Every day, we traveled down the bumpy dirt road to our project site. Each day we received a different assignment which brought us all around the lagoons. We moved plants, weeded, monitored water levels and waded in to plant aquatic grasses, and it felt great to be making a difference. There are only three full time staffers working this large area, and without volunteers, they simply wouldn’t be able to get it all done.

We weren’t alone. We met volunteers from California, and also local college students getting hands on experience. We traded stories about our cultures while we worked, learned new words and developed friendships. If we had traveled from place to place on a tour bus, we never would have made these genuine connections. This was by far my favorite part of the trip. We got to make an ecological difference while enjoying the sunshine and making friends.

While we were there, Valencia was celebrating Las Fallas. This festival, dedicated to St. Joseph, is several days long. While I had read about this in advance, I truly had no idea how BIG it was. Our volunteer hosts going out of town for the long weekend should have thrown up some red flags, but we had no idea.

Las Fallas is not just a four day festival like I had read - but a month long one. We arrived the week before the festival officially began and were greeted with daily fireworks in the streets. We saw hundreds of ninots (large sculptures) get assembled. And as the festival drew near, we were treated to concerts outside of our window from 12-4am. And on the last day, they burn down all the sculptures!

Despite the noise and festival crowds, I always felt safe. We walked or took the subway around the historic city. We saw mile-long parades of people in traditional dress, carrying flowers to a create a several story tall living monument. (Think Rose Bowl Parade.) We saw the holy grail, the beach, and the largest aquarium in Europe. In Valencia, we were both travelers and volunteers.

Leaving Valencia, we spent a weekend in Barcelona before coming home. Here, we did a 180 and became tourists, taking the open top bus to see all the city highlights. We took a day trip to Montserrat in the mountains and finished with a guided tour of La Sagrada Familia. If you aren’t familiar with Gaudi’s famous structure, go Google it right now. Seriously. I have been in the Vatican, and I would say this church is far more stunning.

We certainly enjoyed our time in Spain and the Tancat de la Pipa! If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about volunteering abroad, I highly recommend you check out Goat Volunteers. They have over 60 projects to choose from in 14 countries. And, if you mention my name when you apply, you can save $25!

So, if you have been to Spain, what was your favorite part? And if not, where should we go next!?

Talk to you soon,
Lori

Family Portraits in Fairport NY at Blue Hour

With 3 girls in college and 1 in high school, it’s rare to have them all in one place. In fact, it had been more than a year!

After discussing what mom wanted in these portraits, we both agreed it would be fun to incorporate the holiday lights in the village of Fairport. We created a few different looks along the Erie Canal path, then warmed up a little bit at Fair Pour while we waited for the sun to drop down below the horizon.

Golden hour gets a lot of love from photographers, but have you ever heard of blue hour? It is just as magical. It’s that time after sunset, before the sky goes black, there is a brilliant blue that contrasted perfectly with their bright red hats.

I had so much fun with this group, braving the chill for some memorable images. See you soon!
-Lori

Tinker Park Fall Family Session: Rochester NY Family Portraits

Let’s be honest, this fall was a doozy when it came to the weather. It rained, it snowed, it made life as a photographer in Rochester NY extremely tricky. So, when the last warm, sunny day came around, we took advantage of it.

The trouble is, so did every other photographer in Rochester. We were all racing against the clock of daylight savings time, and sunshine to make magic happen for our respective families. So we worked around each other peacefully, while letting the kids still be kids.

These two boys and their parents were fun and fast paced. There was leaf throwing and hunting for beautiful fall foliage and happy times together before they become a family of five this winter.

No joke, I’m going to remember this warm day when we’re knee deep in the winter doldrums this year. Enjoy this glimpse of sunshine!

~ Erin

Sunken Gardens Family Portraits: Rochester NY

Our warm October day was one of the last we’d see for awhile, so we took advantage of the opportunity at Warner Castle and the Sunken Gardens in Rochester NY.

I remember Jeff and Megan’s wedding like it was yesterday. I remember they took a chance on me and my newness to photography. All these years later, they still do.

I actually think that their little leading lady is starting to trust me too. She comes out of her shell a little bit more each time I photograph her cuteness. And since we’ve been doing it since she was one - it’s about time. ;)

Enjoy the warm feeling that these sunny and happy faces bring to the day!

~ Erin

Schoen Place, Pittsford NY Family Portraits

It was 85 degrees in mid September, and it was only 10:00 am. They were a little sleepy from the night before. But Mom and Dad promised them ice cream from Pittsford Dairy Farms if they were good for their family pictures at Schoen Place.

Not only were they good, they hammed it up for me as often as possible. They shared their latest ballet moves, hugged and played along the canal like professionals.

I’d say that they most certainly earned their ice cream before lunch. :)

~ Erin

Extended Family Portraits at Eastman Museum: Rochester NY

With 18 people to gather it can sometimes be a chore to set up a family portrait of the whole family.

But not for this family. Even with a last minute time change because of the weather, they were all ready and willing to make these portraits happen at the Eastman Museum. The cloudy skies made it easy to set up a portrait most anywhere on the grounds. 

This is the type of family portrait that only happens once in a blue moon, especially with large families. So when it does, we love to be able to be there with you. And if the family is as easy going as this one was, it'll be a piece of cake!

~ Erin

Summertime Family Portraits in Victor NY

This adorable family loves to spend time outside together when they can, whether they're hiking, riding horses or around the neighborhood on the golf cart.

I caught up with them, and their two cats for a Cobblestone Living portrait session. For a little something different, we even included some time on the golf cart, which really mades this preschooler happy!

I had a blast chasing around their 3 year old and getting to know them while I did. What a cute and fun family portrait session! :)

~ Erin

Spring Family Portraits at Home: Victor NY

With two adorable kids, and two adorable kittens, it's really hard to not get a cute image or two. You just can't go wrong.

And how about that backyard? I just loved the McKenzie Child's inspired curtains around the patio and that amazing outdoor couch to curl up in together. Also, we had to get a shot of dad with his Chevy Volt. Hooray for eco-friendly clients!

This family is so easy going and a joy to be around. Hope to see them again soon!
-Lori

Candid Family Mini Sessions: Easter Egg Hunts

Three minutes of egg searching craziness. That's how long an egg hunt takes a child.

It takes at least two of those minutes to find and set your phone, then another minute to catch up to your child and attempt to snap a photo of them trying to carry eight eggs in two hands. By that time, you might have missed the moment.

Being present is something we all struggle with, right? You want to enjoy, but you also don't want to forget their smiling faces in this moment. I am that mom, every day.

This is the reason we created this membership. So you can be there, enjoying "right now." Because we're taking care of the rest.

Catch up with us and the fun of the egg hunt event below! Then join us on April 6th to find out how you can start enjoying "right now" with us.

~ Erin