Summer Family Session at the Sagamore: The Spellman Family
Summer family sessions at the Sagamore in Bolton Landing are some of my favorites!
This was my first Sagamore session of the season with the sweet Spellman family! Michael and Darlene were celebrating their 40th anniversary (and they shared with me that they met when they were twelve! Can you believe it?!)
Theo and Sabrina were SO sweet for the entire session, and even snuggled up for some bonus photos down on the lawn.
Thank you so much to the Spellman family for trusting me to capture your beautiful family!
Lake George Family Photography | The Worden Family
Nikki reached out back in November to book an extended Lake George family session as a gift to her parents for the holidays.
When I finally stepped into their Airbnb this week, we hugged like long lost friends! Her kiddos were the sweetest, and didn’t even need time to warm up to me.
By the end of our session, we were all splashing in Lake George together; the PERFECT way to end a summer session! I drove home with wet pants and sandals, but it was WORTH IT!
Thank you so much to the Worden/Jamin/Gent family for trusting me to capture your family vacation in Lake George!
Toni’s Wine Bar | Schenectady NY Editorial Photography
Walking into Toni’s Wine Bar felt like being welcomed into a friend’s home for the best glass of wine.
Leaning against the wall behind the bar is a sign that reads “Shit List: Mitch, Me.” And she told me that the neon sign was serendipitiously delivered just hours before opening. The walls are dark, and it has a speakeasy feel, with several different intimate nooks around the space for relaxing with friends.
Toni is a bright light and a force to be reckoned with. She opened in November, and has taken Schenectady’s night life to the next level. She opened up about how close-knit and supportive the community has been, and how she had several people come to help when the ice machine broke last week. I love a good story of entrepreneurs lifting each other up!
Thank you so much for inviting me into your space (and sharing your “breakfast wine” with me, Toni!
Summer Kickoff 2026 | Ballston Spa Event Photography
Today was the perfect day to celebrate the season at the family friendly Summer Kickoff event, hosted in Ballston Spa by Fit4Mom Upstate NY and Play Hollow!
I took my little photo assistant along to help for the day, and he was over the moon when he saw Bluey, faceprinting, sidewalk chalk, giant Connect Four, all of the goodies for sale, and especially the Kona Ice truck!
(You’re allowed to have a snow cone at 10am when you’re a busy photo assistant, right?! Sidenote: he fell asleep in the car on the way home, and I sat in the driveway waiting for him to wake up. IYKYK, right, toddler moms?)
Thank you so much to my beautiful friends at Fit4Mom Upstate NY and my new friends at Play Hollow for hosting such a lovely event, and inviting me to capture it! I can’t wait to see you all again soon!
Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Event Photography | Wiawaka Lake George NY
Last night was my first time visiting Wiawaka in Lake George, and my first time photographing an event for the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce! It was the perfect first event, and absolutely stunning venue. This was a collaborative event with the ARCC Women's Business Council (WBC), Lake George Women in Business (WIB), and the Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce.
Wiawaka has an energy about it that is hard to describe. Walking up the drive, your shoulders drop a bit, you breathe in the fresh lake air, and you immediately feel a sense of community.
Upon arrival, I was immediately welcomed into the group, and introduced around warmly. As a bit of an introvert, it was so lovely to feel a sense of belonging!
Laughter and hugs were seen all around, and when the evening started to wind down, a group of women made their way down to the boathouse dock right on Lake George. I couldn’t help it—I dipped my toes into the lake, shoes, pants and all! It was so hot outside that the water felt incredibly refreshing.
Thank you so much to the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce for the warm welcome and for hosting such an incredible event! I can’t wait to capture the next one!
Slate Valley Farmers Market | Granville, NY Event Photography
From the moment Heather Magee, owner of Slateville Farm, reached out to inquire whether I’d be willing to photograph this event, I knew it was meant to be.
She and all of the other vendors in attendance have poured so much love and energy into reviving the Slate Valley Farmers Market, and it shows.
In attendance were Slateville Farm, Maddie’s Market, Swezey View Farm, Evergreen Ridge Farm, Braeside Bread Co., Simply by Grace Homestead, The Granville TNR Project, Hebron Hills Blacksmithing, and Hide From The Bear Honey.
It is just the kind of event that our community needs, and the fact that I waved to three people who I knew while I was walking down the street from my home to the market told me I was in the right place.
As a bonus, my sweet kiddos, my husband, and my mother-in-law all came to visit, as well. (They loved the strawberries, the blueberry jam, the kettle corn, and ESPECIALLY the giant cookies!)
Thank you, Heather, for inviting me to capture this event, and bringing such a wonderful event to our community!
Acrobat: U2 Tribute Show at The Strand Theater in Hudson Falls, NY
Acrobat: U2 Tribute Band at The Strand Theater in Hudson Falls
Part two of my doubleheader weekend was covering the Acrobat: U2 Tribute Band at the Strand Theater in Hudson Falls, NY. (The first was photographing the annual Granville Area Chamber of Commerce member dinner.)
It was a wonderful juxtaposition of networking and taking candid event photos in a gorgeous venue, then going underground to capture the energy and love of Acrobat, based in Toronto.
The energy that Acrobat pours into the crowd is palpable, and it was such a joy to be present and capture the action.
As a contributing photographer for Metroland Now, I cover events and concerts whenever I can, and it’s an awesome fuel for creativity!
Thank you to The Strand Theater, Acrobat, and Metroland Now for making the most incredible doubleheader of my photography career possible!
Granville Chamber of Commerce Member Dinner | Gables and Gardens
Pulling into Gables & Gardens in Granville, NY feels like arriving at a magical place. The grounds are sprawling, lush, and welcoming, which is no surprise, as it’s owned by Mandy’s Spring Nursery (also owners of Canopy in Saratoga.)
The Granville Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual member dinner there on Saturday, and it was as beautiful inside as it was on the outside.
The weather seemed to clear just in time for the event, and each member who came through the door had a smile on their face. Hugs and laughter were abundant, drinks were served by On The Rocks Pub, and the food was incredible, as well.
Thank you to the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to photograph this event at Gables & Gardens—I had such a wonderful time!
I wish I could have stayed for dinner, but this event was only part one of two for me that day! The second act was about to begin shortly after I headed to cover a concert for Metroland Now in Hudson Falls!
20 Years in New York
20 years ago, I made the bravest decision of my life. I graduated from Michigan State University, and applied for an internship at Cosmopolitan Magazine. I didn’t think I had a chance.
One month later, with no place to live and a mountain of student loan debt, I packed my bags and moved away from everything I knew and everyone I loved in Michigan to New York.
Thankfully, my aunt and uncle graciously allowed me to live with them for the duration of the internship. I commuted down to NYC from Poughkeepsie that summer, every day in awe when I stepped off that train and into a different world.
I fell in love with magazines and photography, and they wove their way into the fiber of my being.
I never got on the flight back home to Michigan.
After that, I worked for agencies and magazines, learning as I went, making connections that would turn out to be lifelong, and made my way in the world.
Now, I’ve lived in NY for almost half of my life.
I get to photograph concerts, motorcycles, conferences, doctors, events, families, and my own sweet kiddos.
Now I am living my dream, all because I missed a flight 20 years ago.
Lake George Engagement Photography | Jennie and Ari
Memorial Day weekend in Lake George feels like the official start to summer. When Jennie and Ari contacted me to schedule their Lake George engagement photoshoot on the Friday of the weekend, I was so excited!
Jennie and Ari have a sweet ease about them. It’s the subtle energy in how they interact and move about the world together. It was lovely to witness, even just for our session.
Avid readers, their proposal story had a sweet literary twist to it, and so I brought along a prop book to help tell their tale. (And I didn’t even notice Jennie’s sweet book tattoo until I began editing! It was serendipitous!)
Congratulations on your engagement, Jennie and Ari! Thank you for trusting me to capture a chapter of your love story!
Outdoor Headshot Sessions | Devin & Madison | Saratoga Springs, NY
We rescheduled Devin and Madison’s outdoor headshot sessions due to the May rain that hit last week. I always keep a close eye on the weather, and will reach out before your session to discuss whether you’d like to reschedule!
There are such a wide variety of possibilities for headshot sessions—in studio, in-office, and outdoor. Outdoor headshot sessions are some of my favorites, providing a natural, authentic, organic feel!
I come to each session with the location in mind, and for this session in Saratoga Springs NY, I had five different spots picked out in the park. We worked with the light (it was partly cloudy, so we had some shots that were in full sun, and some that were a bit more overcast, providing a nice variety of options for the clients.) We worked with the spots that I had pre-vetted, and also found a few new hidden gems of our own!
Devin, owner of Devin Leigh Marketing; and her husband, Madison, owner of Mastadon Strength Lab, have two very different visual brands. The variety provided with an outdoor session gave them both a nice array of options to choose from, and as a thank you, we even snuck in a few adorable couple shots for them! Thank you both for trusting me, I can’t wait to cover future events and the gym’s grand opening!
Lake George Family Photography at the Sagamore | The Cocozza Family
This session with the Cocozza family at the Sagamore in Bolton Landing, NY was heartwarming and so memorable! Rachel reached out to book this session as a surprise for her father-in-law on his birthday weekend.
The wind was strong, but it didn’t stop us from capturing all of the beautiful moments and love this family shares.
We chased the light (and the littles!) and even got a few funny photos in for the blooper reel!
Thank you so much to this sweet family for trusting me to capture this beautiful family vacation memory for them!
Granville Chamber of Commerce Mixer | Event Photography
Amy Hoffer, Tourism & Economic Development Specialist, Washington County
Walking into a networking event alone can be a vulnerable thing. Who will be there? Will I know anyone?
Last night’s mixer event hosted by the Granville Chamber of Commerce at Slate Town Brewing in Granville was one of the best I’ve been to! The highlight was when I was introduced as “the one whose son wears suits to kindergarten every day!” I couldn’t help grinning from ear-to-ear.
Amy Hoffer, Tourism & Economic Development Specialist for Washington County made a super helpful presentation on social media best practices, and I alternated taking photos of her and the screen itself, so I could keep notes for later!
Thank you so much to the Granville Chamber of Commerce for a wonderful event!
Catskills Winter Editorial Photoshoot | Travel Photography
I’ve been loving the commercial and editorial photography sessions this year! We went back to the Catskills to work with Catskills Tourism and the team at Workshop to help promote their winter season. It turned out to be one of my favorite photoshoots that we’ve ever done.
We started at Bearpen Mountain Sports, and were immediately greeted by Stella, the gorgeous golden retriever who lives there. She was, of course, our favorite model from the day! Here our models tried curling, winter biking, and of course enjoyed some apres action at the beautiful lodge on the premises! (You know I love the beer portion of the shoots!)
We captured more at Hotel Vienna, including the sauna and indoor pool, and even photographed some late night fun at Slopes Bar & Restaurant.
Thank you to the Workshop team for another incredible travel photoshoot in the Catskills!
Therapist Branding Photography Session | Angie Doty | Glens Falls, NY
Meet Angeline Doty, LMHC-D! She’s a thriving mental health therapist and fellow female small business owner running her own private practice in Glens Falls, NY.
As soon as she stepped into the studio with her mom (who graciously agreed to model with us!) I knew we were meant to meet. She has an air of confidence and charisma about her that is contagious.
Angie is currently working on her website with designer John Coleman, and reached out because she wanted to have headshots taken. When I learned what they were for and that she was building a website, I knew we had to do a branding session too. She was going to have a need for detail shots, close up photos, and a few of her interacting with a “client” (enter mom!) So I gently nudged her in that direction, knowing how valuable those photos would be for her.
The difference between a headshot session and a branding session is that headshots are purely just that—portrait photos from the waist up, used for your website, social media, your LinkedIn profile or any other materials. A branding session includes headshots, but offers more: detail photos (books, items with your logo on them, tools of your trade, candid photos of you in action—on a laptop, taking notes, interacting with a potential client, if it makes sense for your business.)
Branding photos offer what I like to call a custom stock library. You come away with a gallery of photos that you can use for whatever you like! Those detail photos are handy for sub-pages on your website, a generic social post, digital ads, or even a billboard, if you’re so inclined!
Thank you so much to Angie and her mom for coming into the studio for this branding session. I felt like the universe put us together for a reason, and I was so thrilled to serve you!
Adirondack Brewery Barrelfest | Event Photography | Lake George, NY
It felt like Christmas morning, driving up to Lake George for Adirondack Brewery’s Barrelfest event. It’s our favorite event every year, and we’ve been attending since the very first year they held it, fourteen years ago!
The weather is different every year—we’ve seen everything from glorious blizzard conditions to a full rain downpour. Luckily, this year was a bit chilly but dry and clear, perfect for celebrating!
It was great seeing all of our favorite breweries, and a few new ones, too! Thank you to Adirondack Brewery for another incredible year of Barrelfest; we can’t wait for next year! Cheers!
Pink Boots Society Collaboration Collective Brew Day | Chatham, NY
The drive down to Chatham Brewing was a long but gorgeous one—it snowed last night, but the sun was shining today!
We began our brew day early, with folks from Active Ingredient, Chatham Brewing, Yesfolk, and Lou from Freight Yard Brewing leading the charge.
Everyone pitched in (myself included, I couldn’t keep my hands out of the grain!) We also helped a bit with the canning line, though our own brew won’t be ready for canning for a few weeks.
Thank you so much to the Pink Boots Society Upstate NY chapter, Chatham Brewing, and Freight Yard Brewing for hosting another incredible Collaboration Collective Brew Day—I can’t wait to taste the beer! Cheers!
In-home Lifestyle Family Session | The Klein Family | Clifton Park, NY
We had a Taylor Swift dance party in the living room, baked cookies in the kitchen, and snuggled on the couch to read a book. This in-home lifestyle family session with the Klein family was filled with love, laughter, and so much energy.
When someone invites me into their home, I know I’m entering a sacred space. I come in respectfully and take a few minutes to talk to everyone about how they’re feeling. Unless we’ve had a session together before, I know the kiddos sometimes take a few minutes to warm up, so I show them my camera, ask them if they like having their photo taken, and if they want to show me their rooms. I’ve spent the last few years watching Briar and Ada grow at their family’s annual event the PSA5K, so they welcomed me with open arms immediately and couldn’t wait to show me their rooms, including the sweet 3D-printed hearts they had created for their classes as valentine gifts!
We moved through the session with ease, and I kind of sat back and let the family do their thing, documenting it from corners of the room and letting the energy wash over all of us. I have a sister, and we’re about the same ages as Briar and Ada. I couldn’t help but relive our own childhood, watching them dance, be silly, and love each other.
At the end of our session, the girls hugged me and told me they had a gift for me. They gave me the 3D-printed heart they had made. I was honestly SO touched, and tears welled up in my eyes. I will keep it close to my heart whenever I think of our session. Thank you so much to the Klein family for welcoming me into your home—it was a day I’ll cherish always!
Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby | Granville, NY
To the mama of the boy who came over to comfort Kayden while he was crying because his derby car didn’t win… thank you. He offered a hug and a high five, and in that moment, I realized why we’re all doing this. To build a sense of community and caring for each other.
This was our first year doing the pinewood derby race with Pack 44, and we had SUCH a fun time! The parents and leaders all did such a wonderful job putting it together, and the cars were so awesome!
I’m so proud of these kids and even prouder to be a part of this community. Thank you for welcoming us and helping us to teach our boys how to be kind and care for one another.
We can’t wait for next year!
Catskills Tourism | Touring Editorial Photoshoot | Catskills, NY
Our golf photo made the cover of the Greene County Destination Guide!
Behind the scenes:
In this era of AI, the story behind the photos enhances human connection and authenticity.
For this editorial photoshoot in the Catskills area, we were charged with showcasing the gorgeous new Catskills visitor center in Leeds, NY.
It was an incredible autumn day, and the first time Paul and I worked together. There’s always a fine dance photographers and videographers do to be courteous to each other and give each other the space to capture what’s needed. So for the visitor center photos, we took turns and had our models run through welcoming us into the center several different times (thank you for your patience, models! )
We captured authentic emotions and managed to showcase the beautiful center, both interior and exterior.
Love this team! I can’t wait for our next Catskills photoshoot!
Client: @yourwrkshp / Catskills Tourism
Objective: Editorial and commercial photo and video
Creative Director: @joeyarcuri
Account Executive: @k_bray_
Videographer: @frederickproductions
Photographer: @stacioswaldcreative
