Family Photos

When it comes to family photography, there's something undeniably special about capturing moments in the comfort of your own home. Home is where memories are made, laughter is shared, and connections are felt most deeply. Recently, I photographed this happy family right in their Long Island home, and the experience was nothing short of heartwarming.

This particular family consisted of two adorable girls, their parents, and the grandparents, all of whom came together to create a picture perfect session that showcased the essence of family life. It was an intimate setting filled with genuine moments, and the photographs that emerged from this session truly reflect the love and bond that ties this family together.

Why home photography sessions with a professional are so, so good!

Comfort and Familiarity
One of the biggest advantages of having a family session at home is the sense of comfort and familiarity it brings. The children, especially, felt completely at ease in their own environment. There's no rush, no travel stress—just an opportunity to be themselves in the space where they feel most secure. This allows for more candid, natural interactions that truly capture the spirit of the family.

Whether it's the girls running through the living room, playing with their favorite toys, or sitting on the couch cuddled up with grandma and grandpa, the photographs taken in these spaces feel incredibly authentic. No stiff poses—just real, unscripted moments that tell the story of a family’s everyday life.

Generational Connections
Having the grandparents join the session added another layer of warmth and significance to the photos. It was a beautiful reminder of how family ties span generations. The joy on the girls' faces as they played with their grandparents or hugged them tightly was a testament to the special relationship between them. There’s something truly magical about capturing these moments, as they’re often the memories that last a lifetime.

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.

Early Fall Morning Family Sessions In Central Park are the best.

As a New York family photographer I’ve worked all over place, from Long Island’s beaches to upstate NY’s vineyards and lakes, and from the Upper East Side to Prospect Park. With my experience I’ve been able to successfully help families plan their own unique family photo sessions by offering real recommendations, not ones pulled off of Google. I understand the factors that come in to play when planning and photographing family photos; the children’s ages, the family’s personality, the look and feel you want to achieve, likes/dislikes, where are we photographing, the time of year, and the time of day we are photographing.

Living in NYC offers countless opportunities. However, one of my favorite locations for outdoor photography time and time again is Central Park. I’ve worked as a Central Park family photographer in every season and every weather condition imaginable. Each location within the park, each time of the day, each time of the week, and each time of the year offers its very own unique look and feel.

Joel's Morning Central Park Family Session

NYC weather in the Spring is … unpredictable.

Joel reached out back in February to schedule a Springtime NYC Family Photo Session in Central Park. His family would be visiting NYC for the very first time and they chose the second week of May. Being from Florida they wanted a warmer weekend for their visit and they hoped to get a glimpse of the cherry blossoms.

This trip was going to be special. It was his daughters’ first big trip out of Florida and the family photo session was his children’s Mother’s Day gift. Now that the girls were older, both Joel and his wife Samantha wanted professional, quality family photos to print and hang around their home. With a busy schedule, a keen focus on good lighting, and an effort to avoid crowds we chose a Sunday morning. Warm it was not (38*F), however everyone powered through it.

On my Central Park family photo sessions I like to select 2 main areas for us to take photographs. My go to location on the East side of Manhattan is the Model Sailing Boat Pond. This part of Central Park is quiet, as most tourists venture to the Bethesda Fountain and the southern part of the park. After the pond, we venture West to several fields where the kids can be kids.

When Is The Perfect Time for Central Park Cherry Blossom Family Photos?

As a New York City photographer, I’ve worked all over New York, from Long Island’s beaches to upstate NY’s vineyards and lakes, and from Manhattan’s Upper East Side to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. I have a ton of fun recommendations and suggestions for great family photo sessions. When clients ask “When and where is the best fall foliage in NYC?” or “When and where can we take family photos with the cherry blossoms?” a professional will know these answers. Other common questions and considerations are crowd size, view or no view, morning light vs afternoon light etc.,.

My favorite place for Spring time family photos is hands down Central Park.So, when is the best time for Cherry Blossoms in New York City? While the answer to that question changes every year, typically April 20th - May 1st is the best time.

An Experienced NYC Family Photographer

I’ve worked as a Central Park family photographer in every season and every weather condition imaginable. Each location within the park, each time of the day, time of the week, and time of the year offers its very own unique look and feel.

LET’S BOOK A NYC FAMILY PHOTO SESSION TODAY!