family photographer for the new york catskills + hudson valley

One of the questions I get asked most often is, Where should we do our family photos? And my honest answer is this: the best location is not always the most dramatic one. Yes, I know there are beautiful mountain views, rivers, fields, and postcard-worthy backdrops all over the Catskills. We’re lucky like that. But the location that often means the most years later is the one that feels connected to your actual life. The place where your kids run wild. The porch where you drin

When I survey the families I photograph, one of the biggest concerns they have when scheduling their family photos is ' where to have it'. This is so funny to me, because as a professional photographer, location scouting is actually a significant part of my job. In fact, each year I strive to add one new, fantastic location to my list. Of course, we all have our favorite spots. For me, what makes a spot perfect for family photography is a mixture of accessibility, light, loca

Cliche as it may sound, it's true that there's never been a better time to host an event in the Catskills and Hudson Valley! A wildly popular destination, not just for New Yorkers, but for people all over the country, incredible resorts, venues and restaurants keep popping up. If you're an outside of the box momma-to-be, you're probably craving a unique and beautiful location to host your upstate New York baby shower, but you might not know where to start. Lucky for you, I'

If you're traveling to the Catskills with kids, figuring out where to eat is probably high on your list. The good news? Sullivan County is full of welcoming, family-friendly restaurants, whether you're in the mood for a quick bagel, a sit-down meal, or a spot where kids can roam while you relax. This guide highlights Livingston Manor, Roscoe, Callicoon, Jeffersonville, and Narrowsburg, five small towns in the Catskills and Hudson Valley, each offering great food and a laid-ba

Finding new locations for family photo sessions in the Catskills is a challenge year after year. As somebody who has lived in Livingston Manor since 2011, I know lots of great shooting spots in this part of the Sullivan Catskills, but further east near Woodstock, Phoenicia, Saugerties, Mt. Tremper and Hunter has been a little trickier, especially since lots of families love to book vacations at the AirBnbs and VRBOs in the area. But recently, I discovered the Thorn Preserve i

Let's talk about location! Early on in the booking process this is one of the first questions I ask. If we are looking to do an outdoor session, the location is crucial. I have some tried and true locations in my back pocket that I will suggest, and there are other locations that a lot of people like to have their sessions at (with me or other photographers) that I actually don't think are great locations at all. So what do I look for in a location for my clients? A few thing

Never hesitate to ask for a session in place I've never shot at or been! A few weekends ago, I had a couple request a session at a brewery. More recently, I had a couple from Brooklyn staying at The DeBruce, Livingston Manor's newest restaurant/inn. It turns out that The DeBruce was the absolute perfect setting for Elysia and Wes's 10th anniversary session. They were in the middle of enjoying a quiet weekend there, when I paid them a visit and we explored the halls and onl