Celebrating a family milestone? Photograph it!

When we think of family photography, we usually think of posed (or semi-posed) portraits in a pretty outdoor location, candid storytelling photos of a day in the life at home, mini sessions, things like that. The emphasis is on portraits and connection and our full attention is given to creating photos.

This month, I had the honor of photographing a birthday party at Surf Seafood in Nashua, NH (sidebar: Surf has amazing food and top-notch service - I highly recommend it!). While we spent a bit of time before dinner snapping a few posed portraits of each of the family members and units, the emphasis of the night was on the party: the celebratory mood, the cake & candles, the family gathered around a long table, that kind of thing.

One of the reasons this particular client reached out was because they wanted to make it possible for family members to sit back, relax, keep their phones off, and enjoy being together, while still having photos to look back on. I loved that! Any time we can find ways to keep technology in its place, especially during important family gatherings, I’m a big fan.

There are stories to be told everywhere: graduations, retirement, birthdays, family reunions - if there is a special life event happening and your people are gathering around to help you celebrate, let me help you remember it forever!

Minis v. family sessions: how to pick between the two

Mini sessions have been around long enough that most people know the difference between them and a full family session, but here are a few things to consider when you’re thinking about booking one or the other!

Minis are great when…

• You’re short on time and need a quick snapshot of you and your loved ones. Minis are 15 minutes at a set date & location. You’re in and out quickly!

• Your kids are outgoing with strangers and/or older (12+): Older kids tend to do better than younger ones with quick photos. They’re usually more willing to follow direction, they get my jokes (lol), and I can easily tell them where and how to pose. Little kids are adorable, and it’s typically harder to earn their cooperation in such a short period of time.

• You love having seasonal photos of you and your loved ones.

• You’re flexible: Minis are typically scheduled at a set location/time, with a rain date in case the always-fickle New England weather has other plans. It helps to have some scheduling flexibility.

• You’re on a budget: You really want some special, updated photos of you and your family and you’re on a tight budget. Family photos are an investment, regardless of the session length. I offer minis to make them more accessible for more families, because nothing matters more than photos of you with your people!

Family sessions are great when:

• You’re looking for more candid photos. More time means more natural, candid, and relaxed images of you and your family. I can sometimes snag one or two of these in a mini, but it’s rare. More time is necessary for candids!

• You want to capture your unique story. Whether it’s the sweet, nuanced ways you love to show affection; a fun outing; or a meaningful family routine, more time means more opportunity for me to see and photograph your unique story.

• You want photos with the grandparents (or aunts & uncles, cousins, best friends - any extra family members!). Maybe you’re planning a party, maybe you have family visiting, or maybe it’s just been awhile since the grandparents got photos with their grandkids: a family session is a great way to get those images.

• Families with shy or little kids - more time might seem counter-intuitive, but for shy and/or little ones (under 12), the more time we have, the more time they get to warm up to me and let their true selves shine.

• You want a say in where your photos are taken. Maybe that’s at home, your backyard, a favorite hiking spot or park, or someplace entirely different, but family sessions allow more time and freedom to build a session that’s unique to your family.

• You have a special family tradition or activity that you want to remember with more than just your phone photos (and YOU want to be in those photos, Mom!).

Now that you have a better idea how to pick between a mini session and a family session, let’s get a date on the calendar! Check out my 2023 fall sessions here:

How to prepare for your next headshot - Nashua, New Hampshire photographer

Getting headshots taken? Do these 5 things!

If you’re a business professional or small business owner in Southern New Hampshire, chances are you need a headshot! Here are some key things you can do to help prepare for your session and get the most out of your investment.

• Get rest

  The number one thing you can do to prepare for your headshot session is to get adequate rest the night before. You want to look your best, and getting enough sleep the night before is an excellent first step. Allow yourself extra time before the session to perfect your wardrobe, style yourself, and travel.

• Think about props

  If we're creating headshots that have more of a lifestyle or branding feel to them than formal headshots, think about whether there are any props/visual elements that help tell your story. Some examples include your own laptop, paper planner if you use one, a favorite mug or pen or plant, etc.

  I'll have a couple of very basic things with me in our minimalistic, white office, but if there are things you use on a daily basis or brand elements that help tell your story, bring them along! And feel free to send me ideas/ask questions about this one, too.

• Plan your outfit

  It's also important to think carefully about what you plan to wear for your headshots. My Number One rule is to wear something that fits well and flatters your face, but here are some additional questions to consider:

  If you’re a business owner, what are your brand colors? Can you work them into your outfits?

  What neutrals do you naturally rock? White? Gray? Khaki? Brown? Black? Pick at least one and work it in to help bring balance to your images.

  Do you need to hire a hair and/or makeup artist, or are you comfortable doing your own?

• Arrive early

  Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early for your headshots; I often have these sessions scheduled back-to-back, and any missed time unfortunately can't be rescheduled.

  Once you arrive, we'll chat for a few minutes, and then get to work. We'll start with your most important photos and then have some fun.

• Have fun

  Headshot photos turn out the best when you are yourself. It’s important to remember: just because there is a camera pointing at you, you don’t always have to look at it. Sometimes the most meaningful images are when you’re enjoying a moment instead of posing.

  If you find it easier to relax with a friend around, consider booking a double session! Or invite them along for yours and they'll just be out of the frame. Either way, I'll be prompting you throughout to talk about yourself, your work, your hobbies, anything to help you relax and get those natural expressions coming through.

Headshot sessions don’t have to be intimidating. Schedule yours today!

At-home family session: Hollis, NH

I absolutely loved meeting this sweet, new family in Hollis, NH, last month for a Christmas-themed at-home session - their little one was just the sweetest and such an easy sleeper! Hardly a complaint and she snuggled off to sleep in Mom’s arms. 

Have you ever had photos taken in your own home? I love the relaxed, comfortable pace, all the natural light, and the very personal touch it adds to family photos. When you’re in your own space, it’s easier to let your guard down, be yourself, and capture some of the details of your beautiful home. And there’s no rushing to get somewhere, because you’re already there.

I’ve been taking my own family’s photos indoors for a couple of years now; I’m thrilled to now be offering the same experience for all of you. Do you have a home you love and a need to update your family photos? Want to capture some memories of your lives right now, in your favorite space? I’ve got a few spots available in January & February and would love to connect! Click the button below to get started.

Family session: Hollis, NH

Word to the wise: if you’re holding back on doing a family session because your kids are solidly in the cranky-baby or headstrong-toddler phase, don’t! They’ve got their own light & loveliness and we can still make magic 😚

These friends brought their two littles up from MA for a fall family session and both boys weren’t having it at least half the time. But you know what? We played some games, we went for walks, we threw leaves, and we snuggled (I only snuggled the baby, lol) and look at how things turned out!

“If you’re in New England and need a photographer who can meet babies and toddlers in literally ~whatever~ mood may strike them and capture both the joy and chaos of life with littles, you need Lynnae! She works magic!”

— ABK

Capturing this season in your lives is so precious, something you’ll look back on later and be so thankful that you did. I’ll be booking outdoor shoots through the winter for the adventurous, snow-loving families, or you can get on my calendar now for Spring 2022 before prices go up!

Fall Minis 2021: Part 3

It’s the final installment of my Fall Mini Session highlights series and I feel like I saved the best for last. 😍 (More hyperbole, yes, because I loved every single session, but hyperbole’s my favorite and you get the idea). The kiddos in these sessions all brought SO much energy, excitement, and enthusiasm to their sessions, and they even brought some ideas of their own to suggest as we went through the sessions (Keep reading to see some of those).

Sidenote: my favorite place to take photos is at Beaver Brook in Hollis, NH. My family loves hiking there, they have incredible educational programs for people of all ages, and I get to support their efforts through their Photographer Membership + donating 5% from the sessions I photograph there. This year, I did both mini session days at Beaver Brook - one at everyone’s favorite, Maple Hill Farm, and one around the Brown Lane Barn. I found a lovely little hidden trail head I’d never been down before at Brown Lane Barn, and Cow Lane did NOT disappoint. 😍

The best thing I learned from this year’s mini sessions is that I will definitely be offering them again! I learned a lot, connected with a number of old and new friends, and really loved creating the space to capture a little light and loveliness for so many families. Thank you to everyone who came out and took a chance on a newer photographer - I loved getting to know and see you all

Fall Minis 2021: Part 2

Welcome back for Part 2 of my Fall Mini Session highlights! These families win cutest kiddo awards (ok, that’s some hyperbole because all of the families had cute kids, but, you know. Sometimes I’m a sucker for the 3-and-under crowd!). Also, there was a lot of throwing leaves to get some smiles. My favorite part of fall - and theirs! See what I mean? 😍

Mini sessions are a great opportunity to get some quick photos of you and your loved ones - perfect for a holiday/New Year card (if you send them), gifts for grandparents, and a brief snapshot in time. Mine run around 15 minutes, so we move FAST. One thing I learned is that while fast can be helpful for young kids, with their short attention spans and preference for exploring over sitting still or being held, it also doesn’t give them a lot of time to warm up to me, the photographer. But I think we did ok, don’t you?

Another fun thing about mini sessions with young kids is how you just never know what you’re going to get. Sometimes the cuteness means great photos come easy, and sometimes independence wins out and you’re just hoping for the best. Either way, I loved meeting all of these cute kiddos and can’t wait to see how they grow!

Stay tuned for Part 3, coming next week!

Fall Minis 2021: Part 1

I offered Fall Minis this year for the first time ever and had so much fun! Meeting new people and connecting with friends is one of my favorite things and I got to do a lot of both in one short weekend. You know what else was a first for me? Photographing teenagers + young adults! I was honestly more than a little nervous about it, but I think they’re now my favorite “kids” to photograph (don’t tell the three year olds!). I especially had fun making them do things they would NEVER do, like hugging Mom, Dad, and their siblings - all of them were great sports, though. and we got some lovely photos as a result.

One of the best parts was getting a chance to really get my feet wet with mini sessions and better understand what’s involved (hint: it’s a lot, but did I mention lots of fun?). I also have a better sense now of what kinds of photos are possible in minis vs. full family sessions (another hint: minis are great for quick, mostly-posed snapshots; family sessions are great for extended families, more candids, and a more relaxed feel to the session).

And minis aren’t just for whole-family images - we had time to get a few of just the parents! Good to see the love alive and well, even with teenagers in the house :)

More highlights coming in Parts 2 and 3! I offer mini sessions 2-3 times / year; hop on over to the Mini Sessions page to be the first to know when I do them again!