Hudson Valley Family Photography for Real Families

There's no hard cap. I've photographed couples with a newborn, families of seven across three generations, and everything in between. The more people involved, the more flexibility matters — big groups mean more logistics, more personalities to warm up, more moments to wait for. If you're bringing grandparents, cousins, or an extended crew, just mention it when you reach out so I can plan accordingly.

They always cooperate eventually — usually once they realize I'm not going to make them stand still and smile. Kids are my favorite subjects because they're completely unfiltered. A toddler mid-tantrum or a six-year-old making a face at the camera is often a more honest, memorable photo than a row of forced smiles. The chaos is the point. I've never ended a session without something good — and the kids usually give me the best frames of the day.

Golden hour — roughly the hour before sunset — is almost always the best light to photograph in the Hudson Valley: warm, soft, and flattering on everyone. That said, I can also shoot in the morning or on overcast days, which give a soft, even light with no harsh shadows. If you have a specific date or event in mind (holiday cards, a birthday, a milestone), reach out early — fall dates in particular go fast.

Yes, and I genuinely like in-home sessions. There's something irreplaceable about photographing a family in their actual home — the morning light in the kitchen, the chaos of breakfast, the way a toddler insists on showing you every toy in their room. These sessions show the texture of daily life in a way an outdoor session can't. In-home lifestyle sessions are especially popular for newborns, when getting outside isn't always practical. If that's what you want, just say so when you reach out.

For fall sessions (September–November), reach out by July or August at the latest — those dates fill up early, and I can't always fit last-minute requests during peak foliage season. For spring and summer, a few weeks of lead time is usually enough. Winter is the most flexible. If you have a specific date in mind, reach out and I'll let you know what's open.

Every file you receive is fully edited — color corrected, exposure adjusted, retouched to look its best. You get them as high-resolution JPEGs in a private online gallery, with the rights to print and share them however you like. The files are large enough to print at wall-portrait sizes with no loss of quality. What you won't get: watermarks, locked files, or a sales pitch to buy prints from me at a markup.

Absolutely. If somewhere matters to your family — a park you visit every summer, the trail where you got engaged, your own backyard — I'm always glad to shoot a location with personal significance. I can also suggest spots based on the season and the look you're after. The Hudson Valley has real variety: rivers, mountains, farm fields, forests, historic architecture. I know the light in most of these places well.

You'll usually have your gallery within two to three weeks of the session. I don't rush the editing — every image is reviewed and adjusted individually. If you have a hard deadline (a birthday, a holiday card order, a gift), tell me upfront and I'll do my best to hit it. Rush delivery is available in most cases. I'll confirm your delivery window when you book.

Light rain can make for moody, atmospheric photos — some of my favorites were shot in a drizzle. But if it's a genuine downpour, I'll reschedule. I watch the forecast in the days before your session and reach out if it looks uncertain. The policy is simple: if the weather makes a good session impossible, I find another date at no extra cost. Your deposit stays with the rescheduled session.