Long Island Family Photographer

Photographing One Large Long Island Family

Family photography is unique, as it has so many different variables; the children’s age, family dynamics, location, and so on. Todays session was perfection. I photographed 5 sisters and their families in Sayville, NY. Today’s family session was a gift for their mother.

I broke the session out in to parts by first photographing each family. Then I captured the kids, cousins, parents, and sisters individually. Later, I brought everyone together. While most of the session was posed, I introduced time for candid photos. The candid photos really captured everyone being their true selves.

A Fall Family Session at Caumsett State Park

When reading this blog post forget where you are, and forget the title of this blog post. Believe it or not, this family session was captured right here on Long Island. Caumsett State Park in Lloyd Harbor, NY is one of my favorite places personally and professionally because of its open spaces, wild fields, and rustic farm buildings. I have photographed all over Long Island, Westchester, and NYC, but Caumsett is my favorite place for family photos, especially in the fall. There are areas for formal posed sessions and areas where the kids can just be kids.

Annual Family Photos at Morgan Memorial Park Glen Cove

In the fall, Long Island is a-buzzing with family photographers snapping away. However, one of the biggest challenges we face, as professional Long Island family photographers, is where to photograph and not have other people in our photos or have to pay large permit fees. The farms out East are beautiful, but they’re a drive and they are always super busy. Luckily, for Nassau County families, there are a few beautiful, not crowded, and close places, which are great for taking family photos.

Morgan Memorial Park in Glen Cove is a little known secret to North Shore Long Island photographers like myself.

Photographing annual family photos with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents is a timeless gift you can give your kids.

Today’s session was our 4th annual family photo outing. Every year, this Long Island family does a full family session when the foliage hits peak, and it’s amazing to see how much everyone changes in just a year.

Sister, Sister

Photographing Multi-generation Family Sessions

It’s one thing to have your immediate family photographed by a professional family photographer. It’s another when everyone is involved from grandma and grandpa to aunts, uncles, and cousins. In 5 years, 10 years, or 50 years, or even in one single year, these photos will act as a time machine transporting you back. After the past year, when we couldn’t see one another, the photos on our phones and the printed photos around our homes reminded us of the happier times, of the ones we love, and of all the amazing moments we have shared together.

Montauk Beach Family Photographer

I photographed Matt and Lexi’s proposal in Montauk, NY 3 years ago! I can’t believe it’s been 3 years.

Well, 3 years later, I’ve been asked to photograph their whole family back in Montauk. We picked the beach across from their family’s home because it was convenient and because the eastern Long Island location captured the essence of their Montauk summer living.

As a photographer, it was a tough family shoot to photograph because of the strong East to West winds, the sun was still strong, and when working with little kids you never know what you’re going to get. The common misconception with family photos is “Instagram vs Reality”. People only see the best photos. These are the photos with the kids happy and smiling. However, what you don’t see are the crying photos, not looking at the camera photos, and the bloopers.

We tried to have Issac cooperate, but he was not in to having his photo taken. So, plan B was to have Isaac be Isaac, a kid who likes to play in the sand with his toys. I photographed him playing and then had everyone gather around him, and I captured the moment. I then consistently tried to capture more posed and structure photos.

Long Island Family - Manhasset Family Photographer

That’s a wrap, 2019! My very last photoshoot of 2019 was a super fun family photo session with 9 month old Jayden and his parents, Mina and Jon. Our photo session was at their family’s beautiful and open home in Manhasset, NY.

Mina and Jon’s son Jayden was a lot of fun to photograph. He was super curious and didn’t mind dressing up in his new pajamas.

Photographing families in their home makes for the best photos. Everyone is comfortable and the kids have all of their favorite toys right there. Especially for little kids, home photoshoots are the best, not only because home is where the toys are, but because it’s easy for everyone. We were even able to pause for Jayden’s 30 minute nap and pick right back up again when he woke up.

Family Photo checklist for kids

  • Toys: On family photo sessions I always recommend brining a few toys. Children, young and old, need a distraction. It’s hard to constantly smile photo after photo, and still look happy. A toy break can be a great mood booster and a nice way to relax.

  • Snacks: Even this photographer needs a snack break from time to time. Bring snacks to our family shoot. It’s a huge mood booster and even a bargaining chips to get the kids to pay attention and behave.

  • Budget time: Budget time in to your family photoshoot for snack breaks and time to play. Not all of our photos have need to be posed photos. Sometimes the best photos are of the kids just being kids…. even if it’s on the floor. Posed family photos are great, and so are candids.

At Home Family Photos With A Professional Long Island Family Photographer

Holiday family photos

My last photo assignment of the 2019 was one of my favorite family sessions of the year. To be honest, family photography is not my number one photography service. I don’t advertise for family photography or “family photographer”, and I don’t talk about my family photography work all that much. However, family photography is my favorite type of photography for a whole bunch of reasons. First, it’s rewarding and relaxing. I can be goofy, and there’s no strict timeline of what needs to happen and when it needs to happen.

happy Family portraits

Photographing this family at their Manhasset, NY home was a ton of fun! Their kids, Ethan and Aria, were so easy to work with. Maybe it was the holiday season that had everyone feeling good or maybe, just maybe, it was the promise of Disney Plus and lollipops that had everyone on their best behavior. Not once did these kids complain.

HOw to prepare for a family photo session and working with a professional photographer.

Mom was prepared for our morning photography session. She had plenty of ideas and examples of what she wanted photographed. Everything was ready for our family photo session.

  • Snacks that were not messy

  • Toys

  • Family photo poses and ideas