What a very special shoot this was for me! It was 3 generations of strong, beautiful, smart and awesome ladies who wanted to do a First Birthday Family shoot! We talked about so many things. Paisley’s grandma raised her daughter on her own. She made sacrifices that single mothers do to make sure that her daughter would have all the opportunities that she could. And well, she did a great job! Her daughter is so smart and has an amazing career and now she is blessed with this beautiful daughter. And now they all get to dote on her and continue the tradition of raising brave, smart and strong women!
I am so grateful I was able to capture these images of the 3 of them for Paisley’s first birthday. And I am forever thankful to have had this experience with and met all of you!
There are so many options when it comes to the type of shoot you can book for your little one’s first birthday! I always include family posing and child posing when I do cake smashes too! You can learn more about those sessions here!
Paisley, you are one ADORABLE little girl! Those CHEEKS!!!
We had such a fun time this year at our Holiday Mini Sessions! This year’s backdrop for our family holiday photos was a rustic fireplace set with an exposed brick wall and wreath above the mantle. It made for the perfect backdrop for our Christmas set. And we even had our own little Santa show up for the shoot <3.
These sessions are quick 20 minute sessions and include a certain number of digital files. This year’s session included 5 retouched digital files. Families always have the option to add on additional files a la carte.
Oh the controversy!!
In the photography world, there is a lot of controversy around mini sessions LOL! Some people won’t do them at all. And I get it! It really depends on how you are running them and what you are including and the setups you are using. Doing it the “wrong” way can leave photographers burnt out, unappreciated and undervalued. And that’s not fun for anyone!
But mini family holiday photo sessions can be good for families who are looking for fun updated photos of their kids but may not want to have a full family session with print products. Some families DO want a full family session and create beautiful wall art for their home! The good news? I offer a little bit of both and something for everyone :). Oh and I already have next year’s backdrop ready to go! And omg it’s AWESOME!
You do you!
But hey, at the end of the day, we are all individuals and can make our own choices and run our businesses the way that makes the most sense for us. And right now I am really happy with the way I did things this year and I’m looking forward to doing more of the same! Hint, Hint…there will be more fun mini sessions coming up!!! Want to be the first to know? You can sign up for my mini session email list here 👇🏻
Sign Up!
This year I also dedicated one of my mini session days to include dogs! And we had some really cute ones show up for their photos! I mean, do I have the best job or what???
What a special day having Ari back to The Studio for her Birthday Photos! This little beauty has come such a long way in her short little life (and so have her parents)!
Ari’s mom came to me looking for a photographer to take Newborn photos of her baby girl who I believe was already close to 3 months old. Alot of photographers won’t shoot a Newborn after they reach 2 weeks old. And there is nothing wrong with that. It isn’t personal. They just may not feel like they will be able to get those beautiful sleepy, cuddly, newborn shots after that small window.
I said YES for the Birthday Girl!
You see, Ari spent the first couple of months in the hospital because she was born early. Regardless, I will never turn down a newborn because of their age. I know that I can get at least some of those shots. I will set realistic expectations and then if it goes great, even better! You can see more of Ari’s newborn session here.
Ari’s mom had a Little Mermaid theme in mind for her Birthday Photos. And while I don’t normally do themed cake smashes (I like to keep it simple), I couldn’t say no! I mean…The Little Mermaid’s name is ARIEL!! ARI – ARIEL…get it?? It took me a minute but then I put it together LOL. So that’s what we did! But I include parent poses and birthday portraits in addition to the cake portion so we actually got alot of variety of this little peanut! And Ari’s parents got the most BEAUTIFUL velvet album to display them in. Something they will be able to look through with Ari for years and eventually be able to hand down to her. I am a SUCKER for beautiful albums!!
Here are some of the images we captured of Baby Ari with those big beautiful eyes <3
How can I book?
If you are interested in scheduling a cake smash or first birthday portraits, fill out the form on the bottom of this page.
I was so happy to have Natalie back in The Studio for her First Birthday session! I do not get tired of seeing how “my” babies have grown over the course of a year. Especially when they haven’t been in since their newborn session! It is so fun to see the similarities to when they were babies, but also to see the changes that have happened since then! I genuinely LOVE it!
I also LOVE getting to see the parents and talk to them about the year and how much has happened and how THEY’VE GROWN! It’s especially fun when this is their first baby and they go from being brand new to the whole parenting thing to having a year of experience under their belts. You can see photos from Natalie’s Newborn Session here.
If it doesn’t come through in my writing on this page, I REALLY LOVE what I do! And I REALLY LOVE the families that choose me to capture the most important times in their lives. It’s really an honor and I am so grateful <3
We started Natalie’s Birthday Session with family pictures, then took some portraits of just Natalie and then we went to town on that cake!
Thank You
Thank you so much Kathryn and Eric for trusting me with these special moments and the opportunity to watch your beautiful baby as she grows! THOSE EYES!!!
Communion – the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.
This is a little story about an event I did for communion photography. This post is kinda personal. I don’t like to talk about religion. I believe everyone has a right to believe what they want. I was raised Catholic. I went to public school my whole life, but ended up at an all girls Catholic high school, The Academy of St Elizabeth, when I was 14. Going from knowing no one and having no friends, feeling lost and sad and angry, to meeting some of the most amazing girls (now women) that I will ever know. Some of my best friends to this day are girls that I met in my four years at this small and tight knit school. I am by no means a deeply “religious” person, but I am spiritual and I LOVE my St E’s girls.
My friend Lauren
One of the girls I met was Lauren. Lauren was younger than me, but we both played softball. Age didn’t really matter much once you crossed that sports line. Our teams were like family and we really genuinely cared about each other. Lauren was a hell of a pitcher too, so she had that going for her 😉
Years later (not telling how many LOL) and Lauren reached out to me for family Christmas photos. When I met her 2 girls I immediately fell in love! They were little fire crackers! And seeing Lauren was like a sweet memory of being young again. Now it’s 2021 and her older daughter was making her Communion. I was lucky enough to be able to come and document the reception. Lauren’s family is pure and loving and genuine and real and sweet and I honestly feel like another one of the family when I am around them. So I was so happy when she asked me to do their communion photography.
Sweet Papa
But one of my favorite memories of this day was Lauren’s Papa. He was the same age as my Grandma and had this twinkle in his eye. The love that poured out of him when he looked at his family was literally tangible. And I caught it that day. The way he looked at Lauren’s daughters, the way he looked at Lauren. I caught it. This is what I live for…
Lauren recently lost her Papa. I recently lost my Grandma. They were both in their late 90’s. So when I saw her share that he had passed away I immediately understood her sorrow. We were so lucky to have these strong and important people in our lives for so long. To have our kids know their Great Grandparents is such a gift. And while we understand how lucky we are, it is still such a deep loss. Maybe BECAUSE of all the time we had with them.
The Meaning of Communion
So when I write this and share pictures from Giuliana’s Communion, the definition of Communion holds so much more meaning. “The sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.” I’m sharing the communion of the day I captured with Lauren’s family. I am letting Lauren know that I love her and I am so grateful for her and for the honor to be able to capture these special moments in time for her and her family.
Lauren I am so sorry about your Papa. I met him ONE time that I can remember. Who knows, he may have been at some of our softball games! But he was special. I felt it. I saw it. And you were so lucky to have him in your life. XOXO
All the love to my SEAster, Lauren and her amazing family <3
Here are some photos from 2021. Next time I won’t be 2 years behind on blogging and will share pics from Olivia’s Communion soon!
Seriously, how did I get so lucky?? I don’t know what it is, but I just seem to get the absolute best Clients. When I met Kevin and Tommy they were just the sweetest and knew that they wanted to document this very momentous time with Baby Theo. I always say that I love the connections I get to experience with my Clients. But what I am realizing is I really love to hear the stories of the people that I meet. The love stories, the things that people overcome, the histories and the futures.
Theo’s story is one of adoption. And the adoption stories are always so moving. Sometimes people wait and wait and wait. Well, probably most times! And I can’t imagine how difficult that can be! Sometimes they wait and they get a call that they MAY have a baby, but then something doesn’t work out. I mean, how hard it must be to not get your hopes up or to just constantly be waiting and thinking about that phone call?
I don’t know, I don’t have experience with that myself, but I can only imagine. And then…you get the call that your baby has been born and you’ll be picking him up?! Ugh, my heart explodes. My heart explodes for the couple and for that baby. Just knowing how much they will love and be loved.
Kevin and Tommy are the cutest and I just recently saw a photo of Theo and I can’t believe how much he has grown and how HANDSOME he is!
Something else that I love about this session is the ARTWORK that they picked out for their home. They chose to get a large family portrait on canvas and it came out gorgeous! But that wasn’t without help! The Artist Framer in Cranford designed the most beautiful frame for their piece. I am so impressed by the work that they do and the thought that goes into their frame design. It is an ART in itself! Tommy and Kevin told them about their fireplace with the gunmetal facade and their natural wood coffee table and The Artist Framer designed the most perfect frame, marrying the 2 materials together. Pics below!
HAPPY PRIDE!
It’s PRIDE month and I am SO proud to be able to share this beautiful session. And no, I haven’t been saving this blog post for PRIDE, I’m just REALLY behind on blogging and now it seems like a good time to share this session <3
Thanks Kevin, Tommy and Theo! And thank you to The Artist Framer for displaying my artwork so beautifully! XOXO!
As a Scotch Plains Cake Smash Photographer, one thing I love about my job is the people I meet and the connections I make! I met Leanne last summer when she was expecting her first baby. She scheduled me to do both Maternity and Newborn shoots. She and her husband are the sweetest couple and are so adorably in love. And I feel blessed that they chose me to capture that for them!
So fast forward to a year later and little baby Violet is ONE! So of course we had to do a Cake Smash session to document this milestone! We chose hues of Purple for her special session and I love the way the setup came out!
What about the cake?
Leanne has a baker that she uses for her special events, Allie’s Kitchen, and she made this beautiful cake for Violet! Isn’t it gorgeous?!? I do prefer to have parents bring the cake because they know their child best and with allergies I just think it’s the best bet. I like to use “naked” cakes because the star of the show is your little one, not the cake!
Just like her momma!
Momma owns her own Pilates Studio locally called M pilates + Yoga. What I found to be the most adorable thing is that Violet is always pointing her toes and showing off her form! She definitely takes after her momma in that respect!
Leanne and Rich, thank you for trusting me to document your journey with Violet and as your Scotch Plains Cake Smash Photographer! I always love seeing you and making the magic happen! And I will be in touch soon because your Album and prints are IN!!! And they are GORGEOUS!!!
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of photographing a wonderful extended family right here in Chatham. This session was extra special because it came as a referral from a client I’ve called “friend” for close to 30 years! (I know, I can’t believe I’m that old either—don’t remind me! LOL).
I have to take a minute to say how incredibly grateful I am for my friends and their referrals. Most of my clients find me through word-of-mouth, and I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without that support. Many of those referrals eventually become my friends, too. So, a huge thank you to Kim for introducing me to Nichole and her beautiful family!
The Perfection of a Backyard Family Session
Nichole is a mama to three beautiful girls, and when we first started planning our shoot, she had a specific vision: she wanted to capture their family in their own backyard. We were crossing our fingers that the flowers would be in full bloom and the grass would be that perfect, lush green.
Let me tell you—it did not disappoint! While we had to reschedule at least once due to the unpredictable New Jersey rain, the sun finally decided to show up for her session. And oh boy, did it show up!
Magical Golden Hour in Chatham, NJ
The light in their backyard was absolutely magical, perfectly complementing the energy of this family. There is something so intimate and relaxed about a backyard family session. The kids feel at home, the parents are comfortable, and we get to capture genuine moments in the place where your family’s memories are actually made.
As a family photographer in Chatham, I’m always amazed by the hidden gems we find right in our own neighborhoods. Nichole’s backyard provided the perfect backdrop for these three sisters to shine.
Here are some of my favorite images from our outdoor family session in Chatham!
More Than a Photographer: A Lifestyle Family Session in Northern NJ
What a gift it is to watch families grow over time. In an area so heavily saturated with photographers, I feel incredibly privileged when a family chooses me to document their journey year after year. I never take that trust for granted; I know exactly how special these memories are.
Chasing the Light: Shooting Into the Sun
During this particular session, I did something I don’t always do: I shot almost entirely into the direct sunlight. As a lifestyle family photographer in NJ, I can tell you that “shooting into the sun” is quite a challenge, especially when it comes to the editing process.
However, the extra work is worth it. The magical, ethereal quality the sunlight created in these images is undeniable. It adds a layer of warmth that perfectly matches the energy of this family.
Resilience and “Boy Energy”
As a mom of two boys myself, I am very familiar with “boy energy.” We actually had to reschedule our original date due to weather, and we almost had to reschedule a second time because the youngest had a run-in with a trampoline the night before!
Despite a trip to the ER and getting stitches, he was a total trooper. He showed up to our Union County photo session smiling, laughing, and ready to play. I was so impressed by his resilience!
The Bond Between Brothers
There is something so specific about the bond between brothers. Maybe I love it because I see it in my own home, but I think it’s deeper than that. I am drawn to connections—the bonds people have with each other, their pets, and the places they love.
I’ve realized that my “calling” isn’t just to document a day; it’s to capture these invisible strings that pull us together.
Capturing Connections vs. Taking Pictures
I’ve reached a point in my career where my goals have shifted:
I don’t just want to “take pictures.”
I don’t want to be “just a photographer.”
I want to be a connection-capturing artist.
I may not be able to bottle up the love between people and keep it forever, but I can do the next best thing. I capture those feelings through imagery and art. If you are looking for a lifestyle family photographer in NJ who prioritizes soul and connection over stiff posing, I would love to tell your story.
Take a look at the magic and connection from this golden hour session:
Homeschooling Creativity: A Photography Collaboration with My Boys
I honestly don’t even know what to say. This whole situation has me feeling so many things at once. To quote my man, the Fresh Prince, our “lives got flipped, turned upside down” literally overnight.
Everything changed in a heartbeat. I’ve been quarantining with my kids since school closed indefinitely over a week ago (has it really only been a week?!). While I’ll have much more to say on the “big stuff” later, I wanted to share how we are staying sane by getting back to what I love: the art of the image.
Turning Social Distancing into a Photography Lesson
In an effort to get outside with the kids while keeping things both fun and educational, I decided to lend each of my sons one of my professional cameras. The three of us set out to explore, absorb our surroundings, and take our minds off the world for a little while.
We started our journey by learning about aperture. For our first two days out, we kept the cameras in Aperture Priority mode set to $f/3.5$. This allowed the boys to focus on composition while the camera handled the rest of the settings.
Aperture Priority vs. Manual Mode
Seeing the boys work really reinforced why it is so important to eventually learn how to shoot in Manual Mode. While cameras do an okay job on “Auto” or “Priority” settings, they don’t actually know what you are trying to accomplish artistically.
Using photography for kids activities like this is a great way to show them that while the tool is smart, the artist is the one in charge of the vision!
The Results: A Creative Collaboration
Below are some of my favorite shots from Cole’s (age 7) very first day with a “big” camera. It was a true collaboration—he took the shots, and I handled the editing.
I especially adore the black and white portraits of him; I took those using his camera settings. We even managed a group shot of the three of us by setting the camera on the kitchen counter and using the timer!
What’s Next for Our Mini-Photographers?
The best part about this? My kids had a TON of fun. It wasn’t just a “school lesson”; it was a way for us to connect. Eventually, I plan to show them the editing process to see where their creative minds take them. I’d love to have us all shoot the same subject and then compare our edits to see how differently we each see the world.
If you’re looking for photography for kids activities to try with your own family during this time, I highly recommend starting with a single setting like aperture and just letting them explore!
Due to a last minute cancelation, we have a Newborn Model Call opportunity for THIS Friday! The session is complimentary and includes 2 images. If you or someone you may know would be interested, please fill out the application in my BIO!
