I’ll say it plainly: backyard family sessions are wildly underrated. People often assume they need a scenic overlook, a flower field, or some secret magical location to have great family photos. Meanwhile, some of the most personal, relaxed, and genuinely fun sessions I photograph happen twenty feet from the back door. Especially in summer. There is something about summer at home that feels real in the best possible way. Windows open. Bikes tipped over in the grass. Sprinklers ready. Bare...

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 drink coffee. The...

Isn't that always the key? Let me start by saying this: nobody needs to show up to family photos looking like they were styled for a catalog shoot. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to look like yourselves on a really good day. I think one of the biggest reasons people stress about family photos is because they assume outfits need to be complicated, expensive, matching, or deeply curated. They don’t. In fact, when clothing feels too forced, it usually shows. Summer family photos should...