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
Princess Gert | In-home Angel Pet Portrait Photoshoot | Granville, NY
She passed just eight days after this session.
I don’t even normally deliver galleries that quickly, but something in my heart was telling me they needed them sooner.
Gert had a spirit all her own (just like her mama, one of my closest friends, Sarah.) When we found out that Gert was diagnosed with cancer, we knew we had to do an in-home end-of-life angel session for her.
We kept Gert comfortable at home and snuggled her up with her favorite people surrounding her, and captured some portraits that we’ll all remember for a lifetime.
She was a princess in her own right, and as royalty, deserved to wear the crown.
Thank you so much to the Sassaman family for letting me into your home and get to spend some quality time photographing your sweet girl in her final days. It is a session I will always keep in my heart.
The Top 4 Best Camera Bags: Kindly Camera Bags
Top: the XL Sling Bag; Bottom: The Jenessa
Can we talk about Kindly camera bags? I’ve tried many brands through the years, and I just bought my fifth camera bag through Kindly (including a second XL sling bag just so I have a backup!) These are by far my favorite camera bags.
If you’re on the fence, here are the bags I have and why I love them:
The Photographer’s Fanny Pack: this was the first bag I purchased, and it works well both as a fanny pack and as a crossbody bag, if you need it. Though, truthfully, as my equipment grew, I upgraded to the XL Sling Bag and that one is my go-to now, because it fits so much more!
The XL Sling Bag: I just bought a second one of these, because while I loved the Photographer’s Fanny Pack, this one just fits so much more. I can fit my 28-70 lens, my 70-200 lens, or my camera with my 85mm on it, along with a water bottle. It lets me leave my larger bag (The Jenessa) in the car so I don’t have to cart it everywhere I go.
The Jenessa: this is my biggest bag, and my main one that I’ve used to carry all of my equipment. It’s durable, spacious, and also has a backpack option which is key, since it gets heavy with all of my lenses in it.
The Courtney: honestly, I wasn’t sure if I needed this one, since I had my Jenessa and used it so much. But this one has been a great addition to the team. Slightly smaller than the Jenessa, with a top open instead of a side-open feature, I use this as my secondary bag and carry my laptop and secondary equipment in it. I’m glad I have both!
Clearly, I’m a bit obsessed. I’ve tried other brands and really love the warm brown color and the fact that my entire set matches, now!
BONUS: I designed and ordered custom Vistaprint luggage tags and put them on all of my bags just in case they are misplaced!
If you have any questions, or you’re on the fence about any of them, send me an email and I’ll show you photos or answer any questions to help you decide! Happy photographing!
Morgan and Nate | In-home Lifestyle Engagement Session | Granville, NY
It’s become a tradition each year, taking the Armstrong family’s annual holiday photos on their farm in Granville, NY. And their family has become a part of my own family tradition: Karl knows I have their session every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving, so he plays with our kiddos while I do it.
They have made me feel like part of their family, and it has been such an honor watching their family grow, as Morgan and Nate were engaged!
We can’t wait to capture their wedding later next year, and in the meantime, I had the opportunity to go and see their beautiful new home where they’ll start their family. (And I happen to live just five minutes away, in the same town, which makes it even more special!)
Congratulations, Morgan and Nate! I had so much fun with you all again this year!
Granville Lighted Tractor Parade 2025 | Event Photography
Our boys, ages 8 and 5, walked ahead of us over the lighted bridge on our way to downtown Granville. As we approached, I could hear laughter from the crowds as they gathered in groups with their children, bundled up in mittened hands and puffy snowsuits. The excitement in the air was palpable, and I smiled to myself, thinking how lucky we are to live in this community.
Each year, I am so honored to give back to our town by donating photography services to the Granville Lighted Tractor Parade event. It’s one small way I can give back, and I’m so happy to do so. My family loves the parade so much, and I’m so thankful to all of the volunteers who put so much time and energy into this event.
Thank you, Granville, for being the best small hometown we could ask for!
View the full gallery and download photos here: https://stacioswald.pixieset.com/2025granvillelightedtractorparade/
Glens Falls Ladies Night Event Photography at (g)row
Glens Falls Ladies Night is one of my favorite events of the year to photograph. I was so excited when Melanie and Hillary, owners of (g)row for kids, asked me to come back again this year!
Each year, I get to spend the evening with a different group of local vendors, but this year was extra special because I got to do it with my sister, Sandi, owner of Sandi Gaz Wellness, who was with her wellness journals! (Shameless plug—the journals are so well-developed, and I actually use them myself. They make great gifts!)
We arrived meeting two strangers, and left with tears in our eyes from laughing so hard, and two new friends—Rachel from Vintage Purrfect, and Kara from Hometown! We couldn’t have asked for two cooler ladies to spend the evening with, and I can’t WAIT to see them both thrive!
Thank you so much to (g)row for inviting us back again this year, it felt like coming home when we walked through the door, and we can’t wait for next year!
Lake Placid Fall Family Photography
When Jen reached out to ask if I take photos in the Lake Placid area, I had to stop myself from jumping up and down. YES! All of the yes! Lake Placid is one of my absolute favorite places, and I love any opportunity to visit.
They were staying at the Golden Arrow Resort for a week and were hoping for fall foliage, but weren’t sure if they were going to miss it.
Spoiler alert: they NAILED it!
This family was so sweet, and we even found a nice even spot on the beach to accommodate family members with mobility challenges to make sure everyone was safe. And four-year-old Mason got to check out the lake, too!
We had so much fun together, and we wound up with PERFECT weather. (As we all know, it’s dicey this time of year, and I’m currently staring out at a dismal cloudy sky.) I was prepared for any weather, however, and brought my beautiful clear umbrellas just in case, though we didn’t need them!
Thank you so much to the Giroux-Gandolfo family for inviting me to Lake Placid to photograph your beautiful family this fall. It was one of my FAVORITE days!
Fall Family Mini Session Photography | Saratoga Springs, NY
I’ll be honest, I almost didn’t offer mini sessions this year.
The truth is, while other photographers seem to be booking left and right, mine just didn’t seem to be booking! More families were booking full sessions (which I LOVE!) And I considered not even offering them.
I’m SO GLAD I DID! This year’s fall family mini sessions in Saratoga Springs, NY were truly some of my favorite sessions of the year. I had families come back to me for their third or fourth year in a row, and new families that I was meeting for the first time! And for the very first time, I fully booked them! (I wound up with a few cancellations, but I was SO thrilled with the turnout!)
Thank you so much to all of the families who trust me year after year to photograph your growing families. I can’t tell you what an honor it is when your kiddos run up to me and offer me hugs! Truly, this was the dream when I started this business. To watch your families grow right alongside my own. Thank you for inviting me into your lives.
What would you like to see for mini sessions? Any location suggestions, or time of year you’d love to see offered? (Mother’s Day, Spring, Summer, etc.?) I’d love to hear what you want!
Our Ten Year Anniversary! Hiland Park Country Club, Ten Years Later
10 Years.
Our DIY photoshoot at Hiland Park Country Club was chaotic, and also perfectly represented what the last ten years have looked like for us. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Instead of a cake, just like our actual wedding, we went with donuts from Hicks Orchard, and we got them again for this year. It was perfect.
I emailed Hiland to request permission to come and take photos, and explained that we were married there ten years ago, and were hoping to be in the very spot where we were married at the exact minute. (It was 4:44pm on October 16th, 2015.) They were incredibly gracious and said yes!
When we arrived, it looked the same and also so different. I remember everything about that day, and how I felt walking outside to take photos. Our original photographer, Laura Harris, found the perfect tree, and I was just hoping it was still there.
I gasped when I saw that it was.
So much changes in ten years, and also nothing. When you marry someone, I truly believe that you don’t really know how you’ll both age and what kind of parents and partners you’ll become. We got lucky. Through my postpartum depression and anxiety, toddlerhood, starting school, and everything in between, Karl stepped up and became the partner I didn’t know I needed.
Then, when I started this business, he did the same. Encouraged me through those early days when I wasn’t sure how we’d do it. He told me that he always knew I could do it, I just needed to believe in myself.
We found ourselves at Hiland at 4:44pm yesterday, during what turned out to be a hilariously chaotic DIY tripod photoshoot (I should have just taken my own advice and hired a photographer!) And as I watched the boys run around, high on sugar, grass stains on their new suits, I looked at Karl and realized we had gotten everything we’d dreamed of all those years ago. With an extra shot of chaos that I didn’t know I ordered, but if Starbucks usually gets it right, maybe so did we.
10/16/25 - Ten Years Later
(We did these on a tripod with the interval timer on the Canon R6 with 85mm 1.2 lens. Chaotic but we did it!)
10/16/15 - Our Wedding Day!
(Photos by: Laura Harris Photography, an absolute artist and ninja. I can’t recommend her enough!)
Lake George Conference Photography | RHC Annual Conference
It rained as I pulled into Fort William Henry in Lake George, NY on the brisk September morning. I unpacked my gear from the car and went into the conference center where I met with the Rural Housing Coalition to photograph their annual conference.
My favorite thing about capturing conferences is those small moments in between breakout sessions, where colleagues gather in the common space to debrief and catch up. This group does incredibly important work, and I could feel the energy as they traded stories and offered advice to one another.
After the breakout sessions, the luncheon began in the Carriage House, and as always, despite the rain, the views didn’t disappoint.
Thank you to the Rural Housing Coalition for inviting me to photograph their conference again this year—you are all so wonderful to work with, and I can’t wait for next year!
Cheers! TapNY Event Photography | Catskills, NY
When I saw a text come through that read “Hi, just got off the client call, are you free to photograph TapNY on the 28th of June?” I about burst into tears.
If you’re new here, I am a beer fanatic. And an event photography fanatic. And also a member of the Pink Boots Society. I was just hired for the photography gig of my dreams.
TapNY was held at Blackthorne Resort in East Durham, NY, this year, in the heart of the Catskills. We thought it was going to rain, but the weather was FANTASTIC. The crowds were lively and energetic, and everyone was in great spirits.
Seeing so many breweries in one place was like a grown-up version of Disneyworld for me, even though I was working the event. And we even got to say hi to a few of our favorite brewers at Mean Max Brew Works, under the tent. We also saw Catskill Brewing, Mountain King Brewing, Aspire Brewing, Frog Alley Brewing, Southern Tier Brewing, Sloop Brewing Co, Tin Barn Brewing, Active Ingredient, Eckhart, Roscoe Beer Co, Upward Brewing Company, Soul Brewing Co, Big Ditch Brewing Company, Beer Tree Brewing, Upper Depot, Paradox (one of our long-time favorites!) and so many others.
This event was a thrill from start to finish, and we were so honored to be asked to photograph it.
Cheers to another year of TapNY!
Sunflower Photoshoot | The Wheeler Family
This session may just look like any other sunflower session, but the truth is, Kait and I had to work together closely in the months prior in order to make this happen.
See these sweet twins grow from their adoption session two years ago!
The sunflower crop this year was a bit unpredictable since it’s been so rainy, and we had to move our session date due to the crop not being ready yet. But we chose another weekend and powered through!
While it may have seemed easier for all of us to just cancel the session after so many roadblocks, it was a great reminder that when you book a session with me, I’ll do everything I can to make your hopes come true. Through the booking process, I stay in close touch to make sure we have all details nailed down, and I do a weather check-in the week before your session. If it’s looking unfavorable for any reason, we will talk it through and reschedule if you prefer. Or, if like this family, your date can’t be rescheduled, I come bearing clear umbrellas, ready for whatever the weather throws at us!
Lyra’s Cake Smash! | Lake George Photographer
I was so excited to photograph the Viola family again this year in Lake George, this time to celebrate Lyra turning ONE! Getting to see my families each year makes my heart so happy!
Our inspiration started with the Pinterest board below, and with a little imagination, we brought her dream to life!
It was 92 degrees, and my biggest worry was about Lyra and her sister, Marcella, getting too hot; and also the CAKE melting. But they all held up so well! We set up next to a tree that had some shade, so when we needed a break, we took one.
Lyra was an absolute doll, and it was so much fun seeing her from belly to baby! She absolutely demolished her cake made by A Spoonful of Sugar (and even body slammed it!)
Thank you so much to the Viola family for trusting me with their Teddy Bear Picnic theme! I can’t wait to photograph you all again next year when you come back to visit Lake George!
Finger Lakes Wellness Retreat Photography | Sandi Gaz Wellness, Lake Canandaigua, NY
We just returned from the third annual Sandi Gaz Wellness Retreat, and I can confidently say it was the best year yet! Selfishly, some of my favorite memories of these retreats are from our road trip to the Finger Lakes—it’s rare for us sisters to be able to be in the car together for a few hours, and we talk through all of the things we missed during the busy summer.
We pulled up to the house for this year, and were stunned. It sat on Lake Canadaigua, with the wraparound porch of my dreams. A sprawling lawn gave reflective views over morning coffee, with a family of deer that visited us as they walked through the morning dew in the sunrise.
I said to Sandi that her retreat is so much more than a girls’ weekend—it’s an immersive therapeutic experience. She ran an EFT tapping workshop, we did yoga with the amazing Melissa Golub, and we each had 60 minute massages. We talked about deep issues affecting us all, and each of us came home with some tools to help us manage anxiety and stress.
I am so deeply thankful to be able to attend and capture these retreats for my sister. She works so incredibly hard to put these together every year, and seeing her shine in her element is a gift to me. Thank you for all of your time and energy again this year, congratulations on year THREE! I can’t wait to see what the next year has in store!
Ryan’s 3rd Birthday! From One to Three | Clifton Park, NY
Today, Ryan turns THREE! Happy birthday, sweet buddy.
Being able to photograph Ryan for the third year in a row is more than just a family photoshoot for me. I’ve known Marc and Amanda since I was in my twenties, and the fact that they trust me enough to capture these incredibly important moments for their family means the world to me. We all grew up together, were at each other’s weddings, and watched each other’s families grow. Our boys are collectively 3, 5, and 7, and seeing them all get so big gets me.
I teared up editing this gallery, especially when I sifted through the past three years. Watch him grow before your very eyes, below.
When you book a family session with me, you’re not just a number. For just a few minutes, your family feels like my own, and I treat your kiddos like I’d treat mine. Thank you all for trusting me through the years to capture your families. It is the greatest honor to document your legacy.
Glens Falls All Stars Baseball | Glens Falls, NY
We were ten minutes late; I had miscalculated how long it would take us to get there, and then someone had to go potty, and we needed snacks, and well. I don’t have to tell you what mom life is like.
So when we walked up to the game, chairs and cooler full of snacks in hand to keep my kids entertained, and heard the crowd chanting my nephew Jaxson’s name, I was stunned. He had made an incredible play, and though we missed it, I could feel the energy of the crowd and the players as we approached.
This team is special. There’s almost a magical energy surrounding the dugout. The kids are not only talented, but kind and respectful, too. And as a joyful 90s throwback bonus, the hype songs they chose when they went up to bat transported me to my college days and do a quiet little “ntz ntz ntz ntz” club dance from where I sat on the ground behind home plate. (Dr. Dre, anyone?)
The kids played an incredible game, but it wasn’t about the score. I’ve never been a sports fanatic, but as Hudson’s mom put it, I finally know what it feels like to have a favorite team. (And obviously a favorite player, though I’m a little biased.)
Is it time for fall ball yet?
Jumping into Summer | The Coffee Family | Lake George, NY
When Clark said to me at the end of their Lake George family photo session that they have a tradition of jumping into the lake afterward, I honestly thought he was kidding.
I literally said “you serious, Clark?”
He was.
And they did.
I still have goosebumps, and new family vacation goals.
Thank you to the incredible Coffee family for sharing their morning with me, and inviting me to come and photograph their sweet family at their Airbnb in Lake George! If you didn’t know this is an option, it is. I come to YOU so your family doesn’t have to leave the house (even if you’re not on the lake!)
It will be hard to top this session!
Our Family Vacation | Silver Lake, MI
After hours of driving, there is a place in the road where you turn a corner, and suddenly the dunes appear. It excited me as a child, and choked me up as an adult.
We drove out to spend the fourth of July with my Michigan family in Silver Lake, Michigan, where I grew up. It was the first time Kaiser and Kayden got to experience it (and meet so many of their cousins!) It was a soul-filling and deeply healing week for me.
I did just enough work to keep things moving, but truthfully, I took the time off. It was so deeply needed after such a busy June, and I actually felt refreshed when we got home (which is saying something, after a 14-hour drive!)
We spent the week on the Mac Woods Dune Rides, swimming in Silver Lake, hiking up the Sand Dunes, watching fireworks on my dad’s boat, drinking beer on the beach, making s’mores, and even greater memories. We even connected with Mal, Mike, June, Ian, Kristin, Andrew, and Emma; our Michigan friends who we haven’t gotten to see in a long time. It was a trip that I’ll never forget, thank you all for hosting us! It filled my soul (and my cooler with awesome Michigan beer from The Mitten Brewing Company!)
Adirondack Family Maternity Photography | The Tagley Family | Newcomb, NY
When Erica reached out to inquire whether I’d be willing to travel to Newcomb, NY to photograph her maternity session with extended family in the Adirondacks, I was over the moon.
The weather cleared up just in time for our session at Overlook Park, and Erica’s family arrived dressed to meet her bohemian theme. Her mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother joined her for this incredibly moving session, and it was an honor to be a part of it.
Erica, thank you so much for inviting me to be part of this special day for you. I’ll remember this Adirondack maternity session for years to come, and I’ll be thinking of you as you welcome your sweet baby to this world.
Business Retreat Photography | Kathy King Strategies | Lexington, MI
I landed in Michigan, checked my text messages, and saw that Emily was 15 minutes from the airport. I gathered my photography equipment and stood at the curb waiting to give my friend the biggest hug. We were headed to attend and photograph a business retreat in Lexington, Michigan, hosted by our business coach, Kathy King. We were so excited to meet other like-minded female entrepreneurs and spend the weekend working on the big picture of our businesses.
Emily, my best friend since seventh grade, and the owner of Whole Mama Michigan, introduced me to Kathy, who has helped guide us through entrepreneurship from the start. She has been such a guiding force, a quiet confidence behind the scenes.
I carried my camera to every session and captured photos throughout, simultaneously taking notes and documenting the entire retreat through photography. Corporate and wellness retreats like these are some of my favorite events to cover, from headshots to breakout sessions and mastermind walks on the beach.
The weekend was soul-filling, deeply informative, and left me teary-eyed and inspired on how to grow my business. (Stay tuned for exciting updates!) Thank you so much for hosting us and inviting me to photograph your first retreat, Kathy! I can’t wait for next year!
