McLaughlin Family | Batavia Family Photographer

McLaughlin Family

This is Amy and her son. Amy is a devoted client, but more importantly, a friend.  I was so excited to offer these mommy and me sessions.  I originally didn't want to follow the 'trend' of mommy and me sessions, but as I was assembling my family album from all the photos we took in the year 2016, I noticed something. I was in very few images. NOT GOOD!  This then solidified the importance of having portraits done of just mom and her children.  Sure, when I do family sessions I take photos of just mom and her children, but how often do you usually update your family photos? Generally speaking, once a year if you remember to schedule a session with your photographer.  Typically families rely on snapshots from holidays, family gatherings, and birthdays to keep their growing families documented. Think about it, though. Who's usually missing from most of those images? MOM! It's not that she's not there. It's that she's playing photographer and by the time she realizes she would like an image with her in it, the children are pretty much done and ready to move on.

Amy understood my purpose and once she found out I was offering these sessions, she was on board 100%! Amy has shared her trials and tribulations of motherhood, as well as, her victories and accomplishments. She not only works hard in her business and community, she is devoted to this little boy of hers and would jump through fire just to see him smile.  Currently Amy and her husband are trying to grow their family and have had some really trying times in the process.  As a friend, it's really hard to watch the roller coaster of emotions that she is dealing with, but to see her face light up when things are going great, is a really fantastic experience; she's like a little kid on Christmas morning.  

I am so glad Amy decided to take some time for herself and her son to come out and document their love for one another with me as a photographer in Batavia, N.Y. She loves this little boy with all her heart and you can see that he is pretty smitten with her, too! Have a look at a few of the images that mom hand selected to share and display in their home.  I threw in a couple of my favorite as well. 

Baltz Family | Batavia Children's Photographers

Meet the Baltz Family

Mom contacted me about having her family photographed and mentioned that she had not had any professional photos done since her oldest was 7; he is now 16.  Of course as a family photographer I was sad, but as a mom, I understood.  Life happens, and as your children get older they are more active in sports and extra curricular activities that just surviving the day is a victory in itself.  Upon mom's inquiry I investigated a little further about her children; names, ages, etc. When she mentioned that she had teenagers I was nervous.  A majority of the families I work with have younger children usually ranging from newborn to about 10.  I was nervous because teenagers, generally speaking, 'have it all figured out'.  They don't usually enjoy being photographed, and when I say they I mean boys, and they DEFINITELY don't like to be photographed with their siblings, and even more-so........{gasp} TOUCHING! 

These kids were the exception to the rule. They seemed to really enjoy each others company and totally went with anything I asked them to do.  Mom was so very awesome during the whole process and you could definitely see how much she loves her children.  She was so kind to them and had fun cracking silly jokes with them. You could tell that they have a wonderful bond. 

Mom drove all the way out from Henrietta, N.Y. to have these portraits done with me; a photographer in Batavia, N.Y. and I am so grateful that she trusted me to capture some really genuine and beautiful portraits of her children.  Have a look at a few of the images she hand selected to share and display in her home. {psst....my personal fave is the last one.}

The Baltz Family

Mager Family | Batavia Family Photographers

Check out the Mager Family!

They couldn't be any cuter!  Mom contacted me awhile back for photos and since this weather has been everything but cooperative it took awhile to complete their session.  Needless to say after nearly 3 months since her inquiry, 3 (or maybe 4) reschedules, we finally meet!  Their 2 little girls were ready to go straight away and oh how fun they are. The oldest was a little reserved, sweet and quite, but had just the right amount of spunk to keep up with her wild and crazy little sister.  It's amazing how multiple children from the same parents could have polar opposite personalities, but they do.  I have 3 of my own and the 2 oldest couldn't be any more different.  

Mom hand selected their dresses from the beloved dress boutique here in Batavia, N.Y. Pollyanna & Dot.  I love how simple and timeless these dresses are and they can be "dressed up" with nearly any accessory. Mom chose to pair them up with a simple white cardigan and cute ballet flats.  

At the end of their session they wanted to add one more family member, and boy did she spice it up a bit.  Dad was my designated wrangler if you will. He did great! Have a look at a few of their images from their session below. 

Pollyanna & Dot | Batavia Baby Photographers

Batavia, N.Y. Woman's and Baby Clothing Boutique 

O. M. G!! You guys, look at this adorable baby outfit I just picked up at Pollyanna & Dot here in Batavia, N.Y. 

Pollyanna & Dot is known for their beautiful "fit and flare" style dresses for woman, but let's not forget that they also carry some super cute baby clothes!  Also, another plus, if you cloth diaper like we do, a lot of the clothes she carries are cloth diaper friendly! The owner, Ashley Bateman, is also a fellow fluff mom, too!

This little blue and red, Under the Sea Dungaree is by Little Green Radicals, and made from 100% organic, fair trade cotton. Much of their baby clothing is made up of fun, unique patterns and vibrant colors, which I LOVE! Being a mom of ONLY BOYS, it's hard to find something unique for them. We're usually limited to solids, stripes, or plaid. All of which are fine, but not fun in my opinion.

This baby outfit buttons at the legs for easy diaper changes. It's great for summer, but can also work for colder months if you throw a onesie underneath and where like overalls. I know my son will be wearing this often.  As a photographer in Batavia, N.Y. I of course had to go out and grab some photos of him right away! I have an impatient personality when it comes to this sort of stuff. 

Grab yours before they're gone! P.s. If you have a little girl, she also has some REALLY adorable floral rompers, too! 

Ranlett Family | Batavia Family Photographers

Meet The Ranlett Family

I had the pleasure of photographing the Ranlett Family, and I am so excited to share a few images they chose from their gallery.  Mom did a great job picking out their wardrobe for their family portrait session. I mean, it's  not really hard when you have such a beautiful family to begin with. Am I right!?  Their little girl is the same age as my son and her personality is totally opposite of his. My son would've given the photographer a scowl for probably the entire session......not her! She was so happy to be there and gave me so many smiles. She was non-stop hi's from the moment I met her. Mom and dad did a great job wrangling her to get some really gorgeous family photos.

I would like to also give a shout out to dad for such a selfless act. He just got his hair cut just prior to their session. He grew it out and donated it. It took him 2 YEARS! His haircut was done at Jagged Edges Salon here in Batavia, N.Y. My son is doing the same thing and once I heard dad had done this, I decided to share his story with my son.  My son is 9 years old and sometimes worries that he'll be made fun of if he has long hair. Showing him that other "boys" are doing it, gives him a little more motivation to push forward with his goals. Thanks dad for being the motivation that my son needed.

Scroll down to see a few of their family photos. *Disclaimer* The last image I posted just because. It's totally out of focus, but dad tossed baby up in the air so high that mom, myself, and baby were terrified. Meanwhile, dad was totally having fun. You can see it in her face. I re-live that moment every time I look at the photo, hahaha!

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McLaughlin Family | Batavia Family Photographers

Meet the McLaughlin Family

Amy, mom, is the owner and groomer of Amy's Fluffy Friends here in Batavia, N.Y. She's a hard worker, loving mom and wife, active community member and one of the strongest woman I know.  This family has been through a lot in the past year and I am just so happy to see these beautiful, genuine smiles on their faces. They face the grind every single day and every single time they're in front of my camera their love and devotion for each other radiates.  They're so fun to work with and they go along with pretty much any crazy ideas I have. Dad is so on board with having their photos done, that is makes for a smooth session and you can just see how happy he is to be a part of this little family. 

I should also make note at how beautiful mom looks in her floral dress and yellow Cardigan. Her wardrobe is by Pollyanna & Dot; a local dress shop located here in Batavia, N.Y. You can find more info about her shop HERE.   The dress shop is owed by Ashley Bateman and she has been dressing Batavia and surrounding areas for over a year now. Amy loves her shop and she looks fabulous in her dresses!

Take a look at a few images from their gallery below. Enjoy!

Pollock Family | Batavia Family Photographers

Meet the Pollock Family

When I started photography I was so afraid to photograph families.  Now, I LOVE IT! Especially when you get that family that just "knows" what to do. This family was amazing to work with and so fun! Let's not forget to mention how adorable their little guy is.  Take a look at a few images from their gallery. 

Metzler Family | Batavia family/Newborn Photographers

This family is AMAZING!!

They are so laid back, easy to work with, and fun! Mom contacted me a while back about doing maternity/newborn photos. I expressed to her that I only offer lifestyle newborn photos. She was totally on board and I have to say, I'm in love with all of their images.  Big sister was so sweet to her baby sister. She loved giving her sweet kisses and "attempted" to hold her as best she could.  

Also, can we give mom a big shout out at how amazing she looks?!  She's really pulling off this mom of a newborn way better than I did. 

Lifestyle photography is so beautiful and raw. As a newborn lifestyle photographer in Batavia NY, I love how much more comfortable my families are in their own home; especially the children. Another great thing about lifestyle photography is that should the family move to another home, they have these images to share with their little ones as they get older and can show them where they came home from the hospital, what their nursery looked like as a baby, their bedrooms as they became a toddler and so on.  I love looking back on old photos from when I was a kid and seeing the different homes we lived in as we grew up. It's really cool to see and memories come flooding back from that time in my life.  

Thank you, Metzler family, for sharing this amazing time in your life with me. I am so honored to have been chosen to be your newborn lifestyle photographer in Batavia, N.Y. Check out a few hand selected images from their gallery below. 

CLICK HERE to book your newborn lifestyle photography session today! 

Cora says, thanks for checking out our family photos!

Turner Family | Batavia Family Photographers

Oh Boy!

Check out this adorable family.  Mom has her hands full with this crew of boys. I can absolutely relate to her life as a mom.  I'm sure she cleans the toilet at least 1,200 times a day and if she doesn't I need to know her secret because I know I do!! One of the greatest things about being a mom of boys is that boys LOVE their mommas!  I definitely know this momma is loved so very much by her littles and I was so fortunate to be able to witness and capture their little snuggles with her.

I also need to give a shout out to dad and big brother because they were fantastic to photograph. Let's face it, dad's and older children usually don't enjoy having family photos done, but these two were so happy to be there and it definitely shows.  Or maybe they didn't and they're great actors! Either way, BRAVO!

Have a look at a very small collection of their gallery below and leave them some love in the comments. 

To book your portrait session with your Batavia NY Family Photographer CLICK HERE I look forward to hearing from you.

Mommy & Me Portrait Special | Batavia Family Photographers

Mom, you are special.

You might not feel that way when your little is puking all over you, the bags under your eyes have swelled due to lack of sleep, you're in your sweatpants for the 3rd day in a row because what's the point?! But I assure you, your place as a mother is one of the most (if not is) important roles you'll ever play.   

As a Batavia, NY Family photographer I feel as though it's important to be IN photos with your kids, and so my goal this year, is to be in more photos with my boys because I am THAT mom that I just mentioned above.  My hair is in a constant state of flyaways, leggings are my favorite "pants", and while spit up is no longer an issue; my sweat from wrangling 3 boys and 3 dogs is! I don't ever feel as though I'm 'photo ready.'  When I look at photos of my mom, her being 'photo ready' is the last thing on my mind.  I'm thinking how great these images are to look back on from when we were little. The memories that were captured. And when she is gone, I will cherish ANY photo I have of her because I won't be able to see her face any longer.

Remember that when you book your Mommy & Me Portrait Session with your Batavia, NY family photographer.  These keepsake photos that you get to hand down to your children when they're grown and starting their own families. I am also offering a FREE GIFT when you pamper yourself at Pollyanna & Dot or Jagged Edges Salon in Batavia, NY.  This is a great Mother's Day gift to yourself or your mom!

These are available for the entire month of May. Space is limited so CLICK HERE to schedule your Mommy & Me session today.

My Family | Batavia Family Photographers

You can NEVER have enough family photos!

I have about 9584445446464675664646413117 x 500,000, photos, but I still don't think that's enough. 

This is a photo that my mom requests every other Christmas. One where most of the family (yep, that's not all of them) gathers to share love, laughter, and of course FOOD! The reason I'm sharing this, is because this is the very last photo I have of my grandmother before she passed away yesterday morning. It was so unexpected and sudden. She is the one sitting on the couch all the way to the right.  I am mad because this was Christmas day 2016.  It is now April, and THIS is the last photo I have of her! That's why that number above is still not enough.

I spent quite a bit of time as a child running back and forth between my aunt/uncle's house and grandma/grandpa's house. I don't remember a ton, but the one thing I do remember is that SHE is why I know of Bob Ross.  I don't recall a time when visiting her, that I didn't hear something about a happy little tree or chh, chh, chh faintly in the background.  I don't recall my grandma yelling (loudly anyways) often. Maybe Bob Ross had something to do with that. His show was so calming. I guess Grandma and Bob Ross can paint together now wherever they are. Happy little trees, clouds, streams, water falls and whatever else their hearts desire. You will be missed, Grandma. Looking at this photo, and you sitting there, so healthy and happy, I just can't believe you won't be there next year. 

Rest in peace Grandma. 

And just when you think you've clicked that shutter one too many times, click it again!

Photographer in Batavia NY | Baby Suzanna | Fresh-48

I LOVE babies! I really, REALLY love new babies!  I was told that Golisono Children's Hospital has a baby snuggler program for the NICU. I "jokingly" say I'm going to be the baby smuggler instead. But for real though, Hahahaha!  

Meet little Suzie.  She was born last Tuesday (4/4). Mom and dad didn't find out what they were having. Can I just say........patience!  I wanted to find out the gender of my children the same day I found out I was pregnant. How these two held out for a full 9 months is beyond me! Here are a few shot from their Fresh-48 session, and I am so in love. I only wish big sister, Cora, could've been there. Unfortunately, it's flu season and UMMC (Batavia, N.Y.) is being very cautious about letting in the littles.  

Your baby will only be this little once! Their tiny little fingers and toes. Skin so pink and soft. You savor it, and I'll capture it! 

Click here to schedule your Fresh-48 today!

Little Fighter; Lucas | Photographer in Batavia NY

Meet Lucas! 

You see that cute little face? That's the face of a fighter, a survivor; a baby! He has overcome so much more than many adults have in their entire lifetime, and he's ONE! 

I met Lucas's mom in a social media mom's group. I won't go too much into the story of how because I don't want to lose track of the real story here, but needless to say, a couple of other moms were being very rude and selfish. Lucas's mom in-boxed me to share kind words. This was just before Christmas, and so our family was doing our annual Christmas donation. It was Christmas trees to families in need. She shared with me that her son had, had three, THREE brain surgeries that year and that she was just thankful he was alive! She was appalled to see these woman acting the way they did. I was so touched by her story that I just knew I had to meet her and her little guy. So I sent mom a little surprise in the mail; a gift certificate to have her family photographed.  

Here's Lucas's story:

"3 days before he was 4 months he was rushed to children's hospital because he couldn't eat without choking and wasn't breathing right. He had lost movement in his arms. After 5 hours of being there he was put in picu on a ventilator to help him breathe. After numerous tests and MRI's they found chiari malformation and syringomyelia myelia. He had emergency surgery at 4 months old to help treat his symptoms. We was there for 2 weeks in picu. Little did we know our journey had just begun.

A few days before his 8 month Birthday he showed all the symptoms and signs again and was rushed back up to children's where they found he had hydrochephalus and at 8 months had emergency surgery yet again and had a shunt placement. After this surgery he showed improvement again but was hospitalized twice for a week each for high fevers and had to have his shunt tapped and antibiotics each time. We finally got home and was okay for awhile, but at his 11 month checkup (MRI) they found his csf fluid was blocked and the fluid in his spine had grown and he would require another decompression surgery.

So, at 12 months, he had another brain surgery. He did well the next few months and in November we got great news that his MRI showed fluid was flowing and the fluid in his spine had gone down. He has good days and bad days. When the weather changes it is really rough on him. His shunt was just checked recently and is working great. He will have the shunt for life and it does require revisions as he grows so everything is checked every 6 months. His next MRI is in May and we are hopeful for good news as this is an incurable disease and treatment is the only option.

He continues to grow and is the happiest kid. We got lucky and he has no motor skill delays but does require pt to keep on it as the syringomyelia affected his left leg for a bit. He will continue to have MRIs every 6 months and if I think he's acting off. It's been a rough road for our family but looking at him you would never know.

He will need revisions in the future and possible surgeries are unknown as he grows. He also will never be able to play contact sports, no roller coasters and no bounce house or trampolines he's going to give me hell when other kids can. I feel so bad about it but his life is far more important than any sport." -Mom

Mom, thank you for sharing Lucas's story with me, and now the world, but most of all, thank you for sharing your little guy with me. I had a blast! He is definitely a happy, spunky little boy. I can't stress it enough that just because someone appears to be happy, healthy, or on top of the world, doesn't mean they actually are. We all lift our heads and put on a happy face when in public, but the real story of each person lies deep inside. 

“Give me scars, give me pain
Then they’ll say to me, say to me, say to me
There goes the fighter, there goes the fighter”

— "The Fighter" (feat. Ryan Tedder​)

Mom asked if it was okay if we could get a photo of Lucas with his Easter basket because he was in the hospital for his 1st Easter. My response- OF COURSE!

Here is an image of mom and big sister. I only added this one because I love the emotion and connection this image offers. You can see the love they share, and the strong woman that mom is. My only wish for this image is that Lucas was present, too. He was done by this point.

Batavia, NY, Family Photographer Quits!

I'm tired.

This photography business is TOUGH!  It's a grind every. single. day!  

I started photography because I loved it, and because I wanted to have great photos for my kids to look back on one day.  Since starting, photography has been an uphill battle. This industry is loaded with SOOOOOO many amazingly talented people that it's easy to doubt yourself. I am in constant wonder what do I need to do to stand out from the crowd? I am starting to lose my why. Why I started photography in the first place. I seldom grab my camera to document a moment these days, rather, to market it, or to find away to make the image relate-able to my fan base.   It's no longer fun; it's work!  Now, don't get me wrong, I never thought this was going to be easy, and I definitely knew that work is work no matter the field, but if you get to choose what you want to do, you should enjoy it. 

This passion and business will always be here, my family will as well, but they're in a constant state of change. My kids will NEVER be this little again, and it's time to savor it; savor their youth; savor their innocence.   It's time to throw up the white flag, and step down; for my family. 

So if you're reading this, thank you! Thank you for your support. Thank you for your commitment. And most of all, thank you for making it all the way to the end because here you will find out that today's April 1st, and you know what that means......

I LOVE the hell out of this business, and my kids get plenty of mom time, and if any of you know me, you know that I document everything! What I stated above about my kids is absolutely true, and they will never be this little again, so that is my why and I will never lose that.

-Happy April Fools Day!-

Batavia, N.Y. Family Photographer | Bateman girls

Meet Ashley,

She is the owner of Pollyanna and Dot; a quaint little dress boutique on Main st here in Batavia, N.Y. She offers unique, high end quality clothing, from baby to momma. And if you're not in the market for a dress. No problem! This shop has partnered up with The Hidden Door  to create 2 amazing shops in one! Who doesn't need home decor, right!?

I am so in love with this shop, it's not even funny! One of my favorite things about Ashley's dresses is that they're so universal, and might I add, comfortable! I've worn the same dress to shoot an event, and to plant flowers in my garden. Where else can you get that?!

When I am visiting Ashley's shop, I seriously have a problem not touching all of her dresses. The fabric quality IS ON POINT!

We're teaming up to offer something really cool for Mother's Day. Be on the lookout!Here are a couple of dresses that she currently offers in her shop. THEY'RE ADORABLE! 

Batavia, N.Y. Photographer | Metzler Family

Look at this adorable family. I mean, come on! Momma is due any day now, and look how fantastic she looks.

This session did not start off on the right foot. This family brought their pup, Charlie. He is a Border Collie, and oh so sweet! We did their photos at Genesee County Park, which is not too far from Batavia, N.Y. As we were walking to my desired spot to get started, a man pulls in yelling out his window, "LEASH UP THAT DOG!" Mind you, this pup sits and stays on command. Perfect little listener.  Better than my children if we want to get real here.  Mom and Dad go ahead and leash him up.  I leaned into dad and quietly mention (tension breaker if you will) "I'm sure he's saying that because he has some crazy dogs, and he knows his are the real trouble makers here."  Low and behold, out jumps 2 pups just as crazy as their owner! Barking, pulling on the leashes, ready to rain on someones parade. That someone, is us.  The gentleman apologizes (for his tiny wild beasts) and moves along. We then get started. We're grabbing some shots, playing in the snow, being silly, and just when we thought we've rid ourselves of this man, along he comes to thank mom and dad for leashing up their pup (at this point Charlie's been unleashed again, oops.)   But we entertain the man anyways. Mom and dad accept his thank you, all the while, mom, dad and little Cora are all posed and ready to go. Can you say, awkwaaaaaard. Unfortunately we just can't get this man to GO AWAY!  Finally we do, but holy cow, this day definitely reminded me why I'd prefer to steer clear of heavily trafficked locations. It was a beautiful day (thus the busy day at the park), but not so much that we could just spend hours frolicking outside with a toddler.  I'm so glad that mom and dad were such great sports about the whole thing, and that little Cora really enjoyed playing with my bag of fake snow because we might not have gotten so many adorable shots. Well, you'll see if you continue to scroll down.

To give you an example of how patient these two really are, I must tell you that mom and dad don't know what this little bean will be. They know the baby is a human (that's what dad says), but what do you think? Will Cora get a brother, or a sister?

Western, NY Lifestyle Session | Norstrand Family

I met mom for coffee (big surprise there, I kinda LOVE coffee) and we chatted about her family.

She was interested in having a lifestyle session done. She spoke about how she is a dog breeder and that she had puppies she would like to incorporate into her session. I mean, how could you say no to puppies?  I asked if she felt she had a decent amount of natural light in her home because let's face it, living in Western NY, there are A LOT of overcast days, especially in the winter months.  She said they had okay natural light, BUT had another house that was on the market to be sold that we could use.  As a Western, NY lifestyle photographer I feel my job is to tell your story. So I had to find out the story with this house because I would much rather shoot in okay light and have a story, than a house with beautiful natural light and no story, but that's just me.

Apparently her daughter LOVES this house. This is the house she was brought home to after she was born, the house she started her 1st years of life in, and I was then sold on having their session there.  I have photos of every place that was my boys' 1st home and every single time I look at the photos, I am flooded with emotions and memories. Why wouldn't you want something so special as a keepsake?

Little A was a tad excited about being there and probably a little distracted to do any of the activities mom had planned, but let's face it, she was happy to be home.

Have a look at their session and if you're looking for a puppy, check her out here!

Western NY Lifestyle Photographer | Family

This is my 3rd time photographing this family and I love seeing them every time! I do have to say though that this time was different.  This time they were 100% ready to be photographed and you can tell in all of these images I captured of them. 

I have said it before and will say it again, if you're nervous about how your kids will respond to having their photos done in an unfamiliar setting, LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY is the way to go! 

Scroll down and have a look for yourself. I will warn you though, CUTENESS OVERLOAD! Just saying.......

Western NY Lifestyle Photographer | Fisher Family

I have just recently started to delve into lifestyle photography. I wasn't too sure how I would feel about them. The uncertainty of them, the unplanned concept of them, the trying to remain true to the definition of real photojournalism and create lasting memories, but alas, I am in LOVE with everything about them! I LOVE to raw emotion that is delivered from them, I LOVE the comfortableness of being in ones home, I LOVE that the location starts out with story already, and I LOVE that each session is unique to the family itself.

This family was still a little unsure when I arrived the morning of and so I suggested what other families have done in the past to get started. They baked, they danced, they read, etc.  mom instantly said "We don't bake" hahaha! But to be really honest, THAT is really the cool thing about these sessions. I am there to capture what YOU do together as a family and I think that's what makes them extra special and unique.

I am pretty excited to share these images. You can just see the love this family has for each other. Have a look! 

Also take note of the special cat that HAD to partake as well. I love including the family pet because one day they will no longer be and it's always nice to have a little something to remember them by. 

Boy or Girl? | Gender reveal session

I met these two soon to be moms for coffee to chat about their gender reveal session. I felt an immediate connection with both of them and just knew how much fun they would be to work with.  They are both SOOO excited for this new chapter in their lives and I could just see the love they have for each other and the love they will share with their new little bundle.  Scroll down and have a look for yourself!

GOTCHA!  Sorry, you'll just have to wait a little while longer.