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?


Tinker Park


Chase Farms


Abraham Lincoln Park

Honeoye Family Pictures: Fairport NY Photographers

Their annual fall family pictures took place around the time this kiddo turned 7. It began as soon as he got off the bus from school, with the dog waiting for them to walk up the long driveway.

Their family portrait session is full of candid, lifestyle family photography blended with posed portraits. It’s often a fast paced family session, which is so common with family pictures that include active kids!

There’s usually running, playing, jumping and leaf throwing involved. When they play, we photograph their big laughing smiles. At the end of the portrait session we’ll have added 2000 more steps to our fitbit.

These 3 (plus fur babies) are always worth every extra step.

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!

Mendon NY Family Pictures: Fairport NY Photographers

A fall family portrait session with the perfect blend of candid photography and posed portraits doesn’t exi…

Oh wait, just kidding. These family pictures in Mendon nailed it.

All of the necessary elements were there:

  • A gorgeous day.

  • Adorable, smiley kids, and their parents too.

  • A swing set to climb on.

  • A leaf pile ready for throwing.

  • Chickens.

If that doesn’t sum up these family pictures, I just don’t know what does.

Eastman Museum Family Pictures: Rochester NY Photographers

We know we’ve said it before, but it’s worth mentioning again. We LIVE for Spring.

Now that there’s a grandchild in the mix, this family was ready to come together and update their family picture. Eastman Museum was the perfect setting for this family portrait session.

The daffodils and flowering trees, alongside the architecture of the mansion created a beautiful backdrop for a wall worthy family portrait.

The garden and the buildings also gave their newly minted one year old easy spaces to climb and explore.

So if you come to us with a desire for family pictures in the Spring - we’re here for it.

Family Pictures with Grandparents: Fairport NY Photographers

The primary mission for this set of family pictures in Honeoye was to capture grandchild and grandparents together. In just the first few minutes of the family portrait session, the mission was achieved.

One of the perks of getting to know your family photographer, is that your kids also get to know them.

And vice versa! Over time, us photographers get to know your kids too! We know what’s going to make your child laugh, or if your child is shy for the first 15 minutes, or if the only thing that ever works to get smiles is fart noises.

So the fact that we had what we needed, and then just had time to play was not surprising to either parents or photographer.

After pictures with grandparents were done, there was time to show off some new trophies and hobbies, like lacrosse. Asking a silly 7 year old to give his fiercest lacrosse face resulted in a really fun portrait. One that maybe someday will get compared alongside a high school senior picture. We hope to take it when the time comes!

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?

Summer Candid Family Mini Sessions: Fairport NY Family Pictures

Pro tip: Kids are often much more excited to have their picture taken when they know something fun is about to happen.

Which is why our Candid Mini Sessions often include an activity!

For example, we go mini golfing! Along the way, we capture some adorable family pictures. In between the family portraits, they get to play, and so do you!

That’s why Candid Family Mini Sessions are perfect for kids who never sit still.

It really is that easy and fun.

Another fun place to explore in the summer is the Webster Arboretum. This location has so many great settings, not only for family pictures, but for kids to explore, run, and climb. Check out some of the fun we had below!

If you’ve hesitated on booking a Candid Mini Session in the past because you think your kids won’t cooperate, we get it. We hear that a lot from parents who have signed up in the past. But the pictures speak for themselves. Give it try, we’d love to meet you!

How to Have Summer Fun and Great Family Portraits Too: Fairport NY Family Pictures

If your family is anything like mine, your summer days and nights are jam packed with family fun. It feels like we’re on the go all summer long. Camps, traveling, swimming, splash pads, berry picking - you name it, we’re making the most of family time during summer.

And if you’re anything like me, you want to capture each and every memory, but you also want to be present in that memory.

The struggle is real. We get it. We’re constantly caught between taking the picture and being present.

This is why our Candid Mini Family Sessions are so important to us. Take our summer events for example. We visited Edmund Lyons Splash Pad and also went raspberry picking. With both of these mini sessions, we’re gave our clients the freedom to put their phone away and (gasp)… be in the pictures.

Because we’re there, and at these family pictures - that’s our job.

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.

Keuka Lake Family Pictures: Fairport NY Photographers

How do you celebrate your anniversary and your baby at the same time? This adorable family chose to celebrate with family pictures!

They came to the area to spend time with their family at their cottage on Keuka Lake. That’s where Lori spent some time with them, photographing some fleeting baby smiles and little family moments.

What do you have coming up that you want to celebrate with family pictures?

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!