Fall Mini Sessions NJ - Steinel Family | Family Photographer Millburn NJ

I got to photograph this family and their adorable new pooch Rocky at one of my Fall Mini sessions in Millburn NJ. It was a beautiful bright Fall morning with a slight chill in the air. I loved the dynamic between the siblings and we got to do some fun shots of just the two of them.

Surprisingly, their dog Rocky was a great subject. Given the fact that he was a relatively new puppy for the family and was still pretty young and wild, pulling on the leash in every direction, he posed for me like a true model!

Dogs are always welcome at my family sessions as long as they don’t try to eat me ;) Please do let me know if you’re bringing a pet to your family photoshoot so I can plan your session with them in mind.

Isn’t this family so cute?

Family Photographer Maplewood NJ | Fall Family Photos - The Barreses

If you’re looking for a NJ Family Photographer near Maplewood, please reach out for availability.

Fall was finally showcasing some of its colors in Maplewood as we moved closer to October. As a NJ family photographer, I look forward to this time of year and love scouting locations around Maplewood and South Orange as the foliage turns. The South Mountain Reservation offers some beautiful spots for family photos.

I met the Barrese family at the reservation to capture their Fall family portraits and some playful candid moments.

I absolutely love capturing children’s personalities during my sessions. Alexandra was a bit shy at first but grew more and more curious about me and my big camera as we moved through our session. We did so well, in fact, that we got to two different locations during our photoshoot in Maplewood NJ.

Check out some of their family moments and reach out when you’re ready to book your family photos :)

Mommy and Me Maternity Session | Lisa and Jasper | NJ Maternity Photographer

Mommy and me sessions are so close to my heart. They make me think of the special tiny moments I share with my own boys and never fail to remind me of the fleeting nature of time [insert sad face].

When a Mommy and Me session is created around a glowing Mama-to-be, it makes it even sweeter. For this session, the dynamic of an expectant mother with her firstborn child, who was about to become a big brother, is so bitter-sweet and beautiful. Only a mother can understand that feeling. Having gone through this experience not too long ago, I still remember the feeling all too well.

Lisa and Jasper were such a fun duo to photograph! Lisa has Broadway performing and touring under her belt and is on maternity leave from teaching dance at a local dance studio. Jasper is a spunky two-and-a-half-year-old who loves trains and enjoys being his Mama’s sidekick.

We met up at Memorial Park in Maplewood, NJ. It was a cloudy morning, which gave us beautiful soft and moody light as we moved around the park to capture some candid moments as well as a few gently posed ones.

Lisa wanted to capture some images of her holding Jasper’s hand while walking side-by-side. It’s such a simple moment but I know that as the new baby arrives and Jasper grows through the years, these images will be cherished and will bring back memories of that moment - a little hand holding on, fitting just right…

We played some silly games and Jasper got to mess up Lisa’s beautifully styled hair and give her super smoochy kisses. His favorite thing was running over the bridge, playing with the trains I brought along and observing the ducks in the river.

Congratulations to the Boag Family on the arrival of their Baby Boy!

Here’s a taste of their session:

Welcome Baby Alexandra! - West Orange NJ Newborn Photographer

In-Home Newborn Photography Session in West Orange NJ

I got to meet and photograph this West Orange NJ family after they welcomed Baby Alexandra into their family.

These sisters were adorable but Baby Alexandra absolutely refused to sleep for most of her newborn photos… And that’s okay! As a newborn photographer, I do come across some babies who have a tough time settling, for various reasons. Babies go through so many adjustments in their first days, and it’s completely okay for them to be awake when I arrive.

My approach to newborn photography is baby-led and in cases like this, I start with family and sibling poses before setting up any solo shots of the newborn. I find that many babies will settle and eventually get tired enough to fall asleep.

Because I photograph most of my family portraits with swaddled babies, new parents are often amazed at my swaddling techniques and cannot believe how easily their fussy newborn settles. And I agree that swaddling abilities are a very important factor when hiring a newborn photographer. You do want a professional who has the proper knowledge, training and experience with newborn safety, wrapping and posing. It makes all the difference in the outcome of your session and keeps your baby safe during their photoshoot.

Baby Alexandra eventually started dozing off as her sister held her - so sweet :)