Family session

A Morning Family Session in the West Village

The West Village in the morning is special for so many different reasons— the way the sun filters through old city streets, the soft glow bouncing off historic brownstones, and the quiet hum of the city awakening in the background. For this family session, we wandered through the as the morning light rose, creating the perfect atmosphere for timeless portraits.

This young family wanted to capture the beauty of their everyday moments: their two little girls, one just a few months old and the other a playful toddler. We started with relaxed shots on the stoop of a classic West Village townhouse before exploring the neighborhood’s storybook corners.

Capturing New York’s Quiet Charm

The session wasn’t about posing — it was about connection. The girls’ laughter, the parents’ shared smiles, the rhythm of the city in the background — all came together to tell their story. Between the cobblestones and the golden sunlight, each photo reflected the warmth of a family growing together in one of New York’s most iconic neighborhoods.

Book Your Lifestyle Family Session
If you love the charm of New York’s neighborhoods, an afternoon session in the West Village is the perfect way to capture your family’s story. I’ll help you preserve these beautiful, fleeting moments — the ones you’ll want to remember for years to come.

Golden Hour Family Session on the Beach in Locust Valley, NY

The Joy of a Big Family Session

This session, which included over ten family members, was about more than just taking pictures; it was about capturing this families true personality and their unique dynamic. I made sure to capture siblings with siblings, cousins with cousins, parents with their kids, and the grandparents with their grandkids, so on and so on! It was a ton of fun watching the kids just be kids, and getting creative with the different combinations, poses, and candid moments we could initiate.

Golden hour, the hour before sunset, is one of the most flattering and magical times for photos. The light is soft, hard at times, and creates a warm that is not seen during the harsh dayligh. On this Long Island beach in Locust Valley, NY we were presented with:

  • Warm, Soft Light: The sun’s glow added a natural radiance to every image.

  • Beautiful Colors: The sky shifted from soft gold to gentle pinks and blues, creating a dreamy background.

  • Relaxed Atmosphere: As the day winds down, families can enjoy a peaceful, laid-back session by the water.

Creating Timeless Family Memories

What makes large family sessions so special is that they bring everyone together in one place. As your kids get older, getting everyone in one place just gets harder and harder. These aren’t just photos; they’re a family heirloom, which will be referenced and shared for years, generations to come!

Book Your Long Island Family Session

Whether you’re gathering a large family or celebrating an everyday moment, a beach session at golden hour is a beautiful way to capture your story. I photograph families across Long Island and New York City, always focusing on natural, heartfelt moments that showcase your unique bond.

A professional family photographer captures the true spirit of your family.

You deserve a professional photographer that captures the true spirit of your family and what makes your family, your family. Hiring a photographer who is both friendly and patient will be the absolute key to capturing amazing photos, especially with young children. On today’s family session, I knew we’d be taking several snack breaks and toy breaks to regain the kids attention, so in planning the shoot I purposefully blocked out my morning. This family session wasn’t booked as a “90 minute session” or as“2 hours with overtime” as many photographers often do. I’m not interested in rushing anyone. I’m interested in capturing fun and happy family photos.

The best Long Island Family Photographer is an experienced family photographer because as we all know, there’s Instagram and then there’s reality.

Capturing family lifestyle photos are just as important as capturing the traditional posed family photos. Often the lifestyle photos are the best photos because they are organic and the emotions captured are natural, not posed.

For this shoot, we discussed capturing both traditional posed family photos and lifestyle shots (I.e. kids playing with their toys, bouncing on the bed). As I photographed this Long Island family, we alternated between posed formal poses and the fun candid moments. The constant change between “Look here and smile” (formal family photos - traditional) and “let’s play with the building blocks” (candid lifestyle) really kept the kids relaxed and engaged as I took photos.

Sagamore Hill Fall Family Session

long island family photography locations

Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, NY is a great location for family photo sessions any time of the year. The main reasons I really like Sagamore Hill for family photo sessions:

  • No permits are required

  • There is plenty of space to pose without having other people in the background of your photos

  • Diverse scenery - Sagamore Hill has fields, shoreline, buildings, and woods providing different looks for your family session. We can start in the field, change outfits, and then go down to the beach.

  • Bathrooms - There are bathrooms for the kids and for changing clothes. You can wear one outfit in the field and another down by the beach.

Photography the sudran family at sagamore hill, ny

Rachel and Brian found me online with a quick Google search of “Long Island Family Photographers”. This was their first time hiring a family photographer to capture their family, as their son Max just turned 2. They were excited, but nervous. Being photographed is an awkward experience.

We started the family session with walking poses and a ton of candids. I really wanted everyone to forget they were being photographed and to be as natural as possible.