My Business Turns TWO!
It snuck up on me, to be honest, the second anniversary of my business. I suppose that’s the way it’s supposed to happen—I’ve been so caught up in running the business on a daily basis that I forgot to take a moment to realize how far I’ve come.
Two whole years since I lost my job and embarked on this journey to go out on my own full time. Last year, we celebrated with a champagne photoshoot (read more about my career story and see the photos here!)
This year, I am so excited to announce that I am launching a new facet of this business: Lake George family vacation photography! I’ve had so many requests from visiting families that I’ve decided to open up the summer calendar for evening beach sessions all through the summer!
I’ve also had the honor of being asked to capture more commercial work—and though I can’t share the photos at the request of the client; it’s been a TON of fun! I had the opportunity to do more work to help promote tourism for the Catskills area, including mountain biking and motorcycle photoshoots where we rode in the back of a truck (I felt 20 instead of 40 for a day—it was exhilarating!)
Cheers to year 3, and more commercial and Lake George family sessions! I am so deeply thankful for your ongoing support and encouragement. This business couldn’t run without you all!
Ryan’s 2nd Birthday Photoshoot | Clifton Park, NY
When I sent Ryan’s 2nd birthday photos to his mom, I told Amanda that my favorite part of this job is watching the kids grow from year to year. We’ve all been friends for years, and getting the opportunity to see my friends become the best parents honestly makes me misty.
We met in Clifton Park for Ryan’s 2nd birthday photoshoot (do you remember his epic 1st birthday baseball session? I can’t even!) Getting to see him one year older was deeply moving for me.
I’ll be completely honest—one of the things I love most is when the parents and I share a mutual love for the bloopers in our sessions! (Spoiler alert: I’ll always provide the bloopers! I mean, if we can’t all laugh about the emotional rollercoaster of toddlerhood, are we really even parents? We’re all in the same boat!) Scroll to the end of the gallery for the sweetest two tears you’ve ever seen.
Ryan, I am SO thankful to have had the chance to capture you again! Happy birthday, my sweet buddy!
Fit4Mom Class | West Mountain | Event Photography Glens Falls, NY
To be honest, summer has been full of days where I wake up a bit panicked and think to myself: what am I going to do with the kids today?!
Today we decided to join the pop-up Fit4Mom class at West Mountain in Glens Falls, and I am SO glad we did!
I decided to only take Kaiser, because I wasn’t sure how Kayden would feel about the chairlift. Now that we’ve done it, I think he would have been fine. But it was so special getting to ride it up the mountain with just Kaiser and I.
He ran right up to his friend Parker, and they held hands for most of our hike (cue the mom tears!) I love that one email from Beth inviting me to capture her grand opening class turned into such a wonderful friendship for both she and I, and our kiddos.
We figured out how to get on the chairlift, rode it to the top of the mountain, and successfully got off. We hiked as a group to a scenic overlook, and I had a moment where I stood silently and watched the beautiful activity, so thankful for this experience with Kaiser and the other moms. I am SO glad we went, and I can’t wait for the next class!
Silver Lake Sand Dunes Family Vacation | Mears, MI
Did you know that I grew up in Michigan? Born and raised in Livonia, went to Michigan State (go Spartans!) and we spent our summers in Silver Lake, Michigan, on the west coast of the state. My dad still lives there, and my sister and I were lucky enough to go back to see him for his birthday weekend!
After what turned out to be a 15 hour drive from New York through Canada (thanks to backups at the border), we arrived in Silver Lake late Friday night. It was surreal pulling into the deeply special place that holds so many childhood memories for us: Mac Wood’s Dune Rides, Craig’s Cruisers, the Golden Sands golf course, and the Whippy Dip! It’s incredibly comforting how little has changed, though everything seems to have gotten a sweet facelift.
Silver Lake is one of my absolute favorite places in the whole entire world, and watching the sun set over those majestic sand dunes did not disappoint. I’m so thankful I was able to spend the weekend with my dad and sister to celebrate his birthday. (And thankful to our husbands who so willingly watched the kids while we roadtripped through Canada to the mitten state.) I can’t wait to come back, Silver Lake!
Casey’s First Birthday Family Cake Smash Photoshoot | Glens Falls, NY
This is the first family cake smash session I’ve done, and it was SO MUCH FUN. The love that this family shares is palpable, and everything about this Glens Falls session was authentic: the smiles, the laughter, and the post-cake clean-up.
Emily and I serendipitously met at the Glens Falls Ladies Night event at (g)row for kids. Our booths were in the same room, and I immediately felt drawn to her. (She’s also the owner of The Upstate OT!)
We had to reschedule their original session due to stormy weather, and I was so honored to get to do their session on Casey’s actual birthday! It honestly made me teary. Seeing his sweet face on the day he was actually born was very special.
Cake smash sessions tend to go one of two ways: some babies dive right in and face plant into their cakes, and others carefully and curiously inspect the cake. Casey’s sweet demeanor made him the latter, which was so beautiful to watch! We held his two-year-old sister off as long as we could, and then mom and dad made such a great call and decided to let her join him, and they joined in too. It was one of the most fun moments full of love and laughter that I’ve had the chance to witness yet, and I will forever be championing the family cake smash session!
Happy birthday, sweet Casey! The world is so lucky to have you and your wonderful family in it!
Lake George Family Photography | Vacation in Lake George, NY
This sweet extended family invited me to their Airbnb in Lake George, NY to capture their family vacation! From the sweetest little Isla to the tallest cousin, this group was SO much fun!
As I do for all vacation family sessions, I arrived about 30 minutes early to scope out the yard and choose the perfect location with the best lighting. This helps our sessions to go smoothly and we’re good to go when the family is ready to come out and take the spotlight!
The kiddos were SO sweet, and you could feel the love that all of the cousins had for each other. Lake George family vacation photography is honestly some of my FAVORITE aspects of my work! You can always opt for a beach session in Lake George, too! Stay tuned for the two upcoming beach sessions later this summer!
Thank you so much to the Scalzo family for inviting me into your home to spend time with your family! I had the best time, and I hope you had a great vacation!
Go Glens Falls All Stars Baseball! | Sports Photography | Glens Falls, NY
Okay, an aunt can take a minute to brag about her nephew, right?! If you didn’t see the tournament, the Glens Falls All Stars 8U baseball team is doing an INCREDIBLE job, and brought home 3rd place in the Granville Little League tournament!
Watching my nephew, Jaxson Gazdecki, out on that ball field honestly made me emotional. Not only is the team super talented and fun to watch, but watching him on first base, every now and again I caught glimpses of the baby he once was in his expressions. Now, he’s a big boy, and swings that bat like a true baller!
I texted my sister that I am loving this new bond between Jax and I. I love to photograph him, and as he continues to play through the years, the photos are a gift I can give him and a bond we can share. That makes me super proud and excited for the future.
I had so much fun photographing the Glens Falls All Stars and I can’t wait to see them play again!
Fit4Mom One Year Anniversary | Event Photography | Glens Falls, NY
I was so honored to be asked to photograph Fit4Mom Queensbury/Saratoga’s one year anniversary event in Glens Falls again this year! The location at Hovey Pond Park was the same, the weather was similar, but the kiddos were all one year older. Last year, Kaiser and I arrived a bit nervously and met everyone for the first time. This year, Kaiser bounced right over to his friends, and I ran up to mine, hugging everyone with fierce congratulations.
Beth and Christine celebrated their one year anniversary, and honestly it made me emotional. Seeing a small business grow and getting to be any small part in supporting it is incredible. But what really makes my heart grow is the community that Fit4Mom has shared with me, inviting me to come and capture the event, and also to bring my kiddos.
Last year, Kaiser rode with Beth; this year, he rode in Christine’s stroller, and both of them welcomed him with open arms! I didn’t even have to worry about him, because I knew if I didn’t have eyes on him, one of my fellow mamas did. That’s what building a village is all about, and I am so deeply thankful for mine.
Congratulations Beth and Christine on ONE WHOLE YEAR! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Fit4Mom Queensbury/Saratoga!
Merck Forest Photos | Rupert, VT
Summer vacation started today, and I wake with a bit of a panic when I don’t have a plan for the day. So I made a list of things to do near us, and at the top of it was visiting Merck Forest in Rupert, VT.
I always get nervous when I visit a new place, even when I’m with the kids. And when I say that Merck Forest far exceeded our expectations, I’m not exaggerating. Everyone we met was so incredibly kind and spoke right to Kaiser and Kayden, making them feel so welcome and increasing their confidence. They were all so knowledgable and friendly (including the sweet pup, Honey Bee, who did some tricks for us!)
I was able to breathe and let them just be kids for a bit (though I did have to reign in Kayden when he chased after a forklift, so excited to see the installation of their new sign!) They ran up the roads and through the fields with the kind of abandon I hope their childhoods are filled with. And honestly, the energy of everyone there, the animals and land itself, filled me with a sense of hope and belonging. I hope to be able to stay connected to Merck Forest for many years to come. Thank you for having us!
My Baby’s Kindergarten Graduation Photos! | Granville, NY
It was hard to edit my baby’s kindergarten graduation photos through misty eyes. It was a total splurge, buying a cap and gown that he didn’t need, but I felt the same mama tug at my heart, the way I did knowing it was his first Halloween, when I bought him two costumes (I couldn’t help it!)
He lost his two front teeth a few weeks back, and to be honest I wasn’t prepared. One, science is hard, and I didn’t know it happened this soon. Two, I was about to head out for the week to Lake Placid to capture a conference, and I was so worried that he’d lose it while I was gone. Thankfully, I pulled up to pick him up from school the day before I left, and a sweet stranger grinned back at me, holding his new toothbrush out as a trophy. He had a brand new smile, and he looked older and younger at the same time. It was wild.
My sweet baby, the one who laid his head on my chest and carries his Lamb Lamb everywhere we go, graduated from Kindergarten today. Please send hugs, I am not okay.
Rip Van Winkle Brew & Beverage Festival | Event Photography Catskills, NY
Arriving in the Great Northern Catskills region always feels like coming home. So when we were asked to capture photos and video for this year’s Rip Van Winkle Brew & Beverage Festival in Catskills, NY; I was over the moon!
I’ve been thrilled to be capturing more events, both corporate and non, this year. It’s a different kind of challenge—capturing vendors, food trucks, musicians, the venue—and it’s certainly not hard to capture joyful faces enjoying the event! My biggest challenge was not partaking in the incredible beverages that were offered (though I did purchase a bottle of the lilac gin by Black Button Distilling, which was so good!)
We captured both photos and videos, and then we had so much fun visiting downtown Catskill and some of the awesome businesses there such as Foreland, Creature of Habit, and Spike’s Record Rack. We then stopped over to say hi to the wonderful folks at Subversive Brewing—not only do they brew great beer, they also make an INCREDIBLE burger!
We can’t wait to come visit the Catskills region again! Thanks so much for having us!
TWO-dles! Riley’s 2nd Birthday Photoshoot | Clifton Park, NY
Ok, I can’t even take credit for the headline; it was one of the answers to my poll on Instagram to caption the balloon photo, and too good not to use (thank you, Kate!)
Riley’s 2nd birthday photoshoot in Clifton Park, NY was one for the books! And before you think I’m a terrible human for laughing with her mom about the balloon flying away (spoiler alert!) the kiddos were surprisingly calm about it, and we all gave each other big hugs at the end of our session!
Riley and Dylan are two of my favorite little humans in this world, so it was an EXTRA special honor to capture Riley for her 2nd birthday! As I always do with child-led sessions, we let the toddlers set the pace for our session and they are the bosses! We always capture posed portraits first, and then let them roam about and get great candid photos while they play away. Riley’s session was no different!
Then, tragically, as her mom and I watched on in shock and horror, her giant “2” balloon somehow escaped its holder and floated up into the skies. We both froze for a moment, and the two hats I always wear, photographer and mama, switched back and forth, as I finally regained my composure and snapped the balloon’s bittersweet departure. (Ha!) The kiddos honestly held it together SO well even through this, and Melissa and I had some great laughs as we relived our foreboding text conversation the night before about balloon weights.
We had such an amazing time, and I was SO honored to capture Riley to celebrate turning the sweetest two so soon! I can’t wait to see you all again!
NYSBDC | Event Photography | Lake Placid, NY
I moved to New York from where I grew up in Michigan eighteen years ago. It was the bravest choice I’d ever made, to be followed by a series of brave choices that I didn’t know I’d have to make, including starting my own business sixteen years later.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of photographing the NYSBDC 2024 in Lake Placid, and being in the presence of a group of people who devote their lives to helping small business owners succeed. It was a full-circle day, indeed.
The New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC) provides small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York, like me, with the highest quality, confidential business counseling, training, and business research at no cost. It has been a lifeline for me, and I am so honored to capture this event for them.
Thank you to everyone who made this conference possible, I was so deeply excited to play even a small role by photographing this event.
Spring Mama and Me Session | Mik & Milo | Saratoga Springs, NY
I received a note home from school a few days before Mik & Milo’s Saratoga photo session that there was a snow day give back and school would be closed that day. I froze and did a childcare brain spiral, (as all mamas do when we receive news of a surprise day off of school!) Luckily, Milo and Kaiser have known each other since they were newborns and went to daycare together, so when I reached out to Mik to ask if she’d mind if I bring Kaiser, she was totally up for it!
It wound up being such a hit—the boys instantly started playing together again, and we even snapped a few cute photos of them together!
This session was another reminder of how thankful I am to have such an incredible village of mamas who are kind, compassionate, and allow me to blend the two reasons I started this business in the first place: my love of photography, and my love for my babies.
Thank you, Mik and Milo, for the best spring photo session turned playdate! I can’t wait for the next one!
Mother’s Day on Tap Event Photos | Scotlander Brewing | Argyle NY
I can’t think of a better way to spend Mother’s Day than taking photos and sharing a pint with my friends at Scotlander Brewing for the Mother’s Day on Tap event! It was the perfect way to end the weekend after two photoshoot events at the Rip Van Winkle Brew & Beverage Festival and Mother’s Day on Tap! (Both involving beer, which makes me love my job even more!)
Scotlander did an amazing job with the event, and they were such wonderful hosts to all of us vendors in attendance, including Bark Hill Farm, Bee and Bramble, 4JFarmm, Mapleland Farms, Rollin’ in Gravy Food Truck, Spindle City Leather, and Tim Rodrigue & Norm Allen with the awesome tunes—all raising funds and awareness for Comfort Food Community.
I am deeply proud to be part of this event. Everywhere I looked, there were hugs and cheers, and happy kiddos (and pups!) prancing around. What a way to spend Mother’s Day! I can’t wait to photograph this event again next year!
Mother’s Day Mini Sessions | Glens Falls, NY
The weather couldn’t make up its mind for Mother’s Day mini sessions in Glens Falls, but the sun peeked out JUST IN TIME, and the flowers are just starting to bloom! I had SO much fun photographing my sweet families!
The sessions were supposed to be 15 minutes long, but truthfully I just couldn’t resist snapping a few extras for every session. The kiddos were just so sweet, and the natural candid snuggly moments happen when you least expect it.
Mini sessions are great for kiddos with short attention spans (like mine!) And these sessions, in partnership with Fit4Mom Queensbury/Saratoga, were the perfect welcome to Spring!
We played and laughed, and I had so much fun capturing these sweet kiddos. Thank you all for the giggles! I can’t wait to photograph more family sessions this spring and summer!
John’s Spring School Photos | Glens Falls NY
The day before had POURED, so when I arrived in Glens Falls for John’s school photo portrait session to a cloudy sky, the first thing I did was check for rain. (We lucked out—it started to sprinkle RIGHT after our session!)
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Erica and her family for many years, and had the honor of capturing her business headshots last year, and we even attended last year’s wellness retreat together!
John was such a sweetheart, and such a trooper to go along with all of my silly session prompts. (If you’ve had a session with me, you know that we try to loosen up with some relaxing yoga-type poses and exercises, which elicits a more comfortable experience.)
I LOVE when clients bring an extra outfit, and you should have seen his face light up when he put that Tupper Lake hockey jersey on! I told him next time we’ll have to bring his hockey stick and whole outfit!
We walked around Hovey Pond Park and tried out several of the areas I’ve been wanting to photograph in—it was an awesome experience! We even snuck in a few mama-and-son photos. (Even if you come to a session feeling like you want the focus to be on your child and not be in them, you will be so thankful if you choose to.) Thank you so much, Erica and John, for trusting me to capture your school photos! I can’t wait to see you again soon!
Girls Weekend: Wine Tasting in the Finger Lakes, NY
My sister and I ran away for the weekend to go wine tasting in the Finger Lakes region in NY. As an event photographer, it was every bit as stunning as you’d imagine, and I was drooling to capture everything! As a sister and fellow wine enthusiast, it was EVERYTHING.
The four and a half hour drive from Glens Falls went by in a flash, as we caught up on everything that has recently been going on in our lives. Between us, we have three boys—ages 7, 6, and 4. (Special shoutout to our husbands who so lovingly encouraged us to go while they watched the kids!)
We stayed at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, which was every bit as breathtaking as we pictured. It had a gorgeous view of Seneca Lake, and was walkable to all of the sweet downtown shops and restaurants, including one of my personal favorites, Upstate Brewing (you all know I love good beer!)
Sandi booked us a wine tour at Experience Finger Lakes for Saturday, and we absolutely loved it! Our tour guide, Liz, was so knowledgable and made our experience all the sweeter. We visited Buttonwood Grove Winery, Silver Thread Winery, and Damiani (where we had a personalized wine and chocolate pairing! I mean, does it get any better than that?!)
We had the best time, and though we of course wished it was longer, I can’t wait to come back to the Finger Lakes, both as a tourist and a photographer! (Not-so-subtle hint: please, invite us back—we’ll capture your girls weekend, bachelorette, or family reunion and even join you on the wine tour (twist my arm!)—we’d be THRILLED for a reason to return!)
Awkward Family Photoshoot | Hudson Falls, NY
From the moment we stepped into the studio in Hudson Falls, NY for our awkward family photoshoot, my sister and I could NOT stop laughing.
For awkward outfits, she found matching white turtlenecks at Peter Harris on sale for $2. They were PERFECT. To add to the hilarity, we had decided to photograph it ourselves, on a tripod. (Always a comedy of errors!)
We created a Pinterest board for awkward photos, and decided to try to keep it simple with three poses: the uncomfortably close, over-the-shoulder pose; the lay on the floor pose; and the wheelbarrow pose.
Every time I set the interval timer, it took 20 photos in a row. The first 5 are spent capturing me running into the frame, the second 10 are the two of us dying laughing, and the last 5 are actual photos. Ha!
We had SO much fun doing this photoshoot, and we can’t wait to print and frame it for our parents! If you want to die laughing and come up with a creative gift for your family, I can’t recommend an awkward family photoshoot enough!
Upstate NY Event Photography | Common Roots Brewing | South Glens Falls, NY
Walking into the new Bierhall space at Common Roots Brewing in South Glens Falls was like taking a breath of fresh air. And being invited as the event photographer for this incredibly special occasion was a deep honor.
You can feel the love of this family with every person who came through the door. The younger kids bounced in with excitement, and the adults carried with them the same energy. Hugs were abundant, and the joyful smiles that came with each conversation were palpable.
We photographed Robin and Bert’s family members first, including seven kiddos under the age of four—the newest addition at 8 weeks! They were all SO sweet and bursting with party energy, and it took everything in me to focus on photographing them and not snuggling those sweet cheeks! (I was so excited to see Oliver and Archer again after our first session last Spring!)
It was a deep honor to capture this event, and the warmth, love, and laughter we were witness to that evening will stay in my heart. Thank you so much for trusting me to capture your event and your sweet family, Robin and Bert!
