NY Family Photographer and an Authentic Childhood Summer Night

Hi! I’m Meg, and as your NY Family Photographer, I am always fine tuning my approach to photographing families at play in order to create authentic and joyful photographs. I have long held the belief that families that are playing together: running, hugging, twirling, giggling; will enjoy their photography session more than if they are standing still and cheesing for the camera. Additionally, their photos will go from stiff bodies and awkward smiles to beautiful artwork that reflects their family and their love for one another. It is within this simple, yet genius idea that Backyard Sessions were born.

So, What Even is a Backyard Session?

I first introduced Backyard Sessions in May 2025. And I’ll admit it , families were a little hesitant to sign up for them at first. We are all so accustomed to the idea that family photos should take place in a field of tall grass at golden hour that we are afraid to look elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong, I love tall grass and golden hour as much as the next photographer. But Backyard Sessions are an opportunity to really embrace childhood and those fleeting summer nights. As so many influencers like to regularly remind me, we “only get 18 summers with them” after all. Once I started sharing the photographs from my first few Backyard Sessions on social media, I began receiving inquiries specifically for Backyard Sessions.

A Backyard Session is the session you didn’t even know you needed. It is the family session that preserves childhood. Backyard Sessions preserves the long summer evenings and the late sunsets. They are nostalgic and chaotic and beautiful. Backyard Sessions are full of love and dirt. They are splashing in pools, sticky fingers from popsicles, drinking from the hose, running barefoot with the dog, doing cartwheels through sprinklers, messy hair – don’t care; they are giggles and hugs and so much love. Backyard Sessions are forgetting there is a photographer present. They are making real memories with your family and loving every second of it. And once you see it, you understand you need it.

Interested in all outdoor options for family photos? Check out An Honest Guide to Outdoor Family Portraits in Albany, NY to help you decide which session is right for you.

Planning your Backyard Session with your NY Family Photographer

Once you’ve booked your Backyard Session with your favorite NY Family Photographer (me!), I’ll send you a short questionnaire to help us plan out your session. I typically like families to choose 2-4 activities and rank them in order of importance. I will then come up with a plan for our session. For example, if we are going to be running through a sprinkler, playing yard games, and eating popsicles, my suggestion will be that when I arrive everyone is dressed in “normal” clothing (i.e. no bathing suits yet). We’ll start with a few prompts to capture a couple traditional family photos, move on to yard games, change into bathing suits, turn on the sprinkler and finish up with popsicles.

NY Family Photographer Capturing the Traditional Images

When I arrive at your home, I like to start each Backyard Session with a few “traditional” family photos. I say “traditional” because my idea of traditional still involves games, movement, and interacting with your family – not just cheesing for my camera. I will place your family in the best spot in your yard for the light and then capture a couple of images of everyone together, everyone smiling, everyone loving on one another. We won’t spend more than 10-15 minutes before we move on and get down to business!

Let the Activities Commence!

Most families will choose one or two dry activities before everyone gets wet! This allows me to capture your family participating in a variety of activities; not just the sprinkler/pool. I’ve had families draw with chalk on the driveway, play a game of cards, participate in a very competitive game of pickle ball, fish, garden, play on the swing set, play with the dogs, pick wildflowers, ride bikes; the options are endless. The objective is for your NY Family Photographer (moi!) to capture your children doing their favorite activities!

And then Everyone Gets Wet!

While it is not required (and I have had backyard sessions sans water play), many families opt to incorporate the pool, sprinkler, slip’n’slide, or water balloons into their session. I mean, honestly, what is summer without water?!

Wrapping up your Backyard Session with your NY Family Photographer

To finish up the evening (and reward children for their stellar behavior!) most families choose a treat. If you have a fire pit, s’mores are a very popular choice. If not, no worries, toddlers and young children are just as happy to enjoy a popsicle or ice cream treat on their towels as the sun sets. The entire session takes about 90 minutes and by the time I leave, you’ll have created beautiful memories with your family. Photographs will soon join via your inbox and then in the form of an album or prints for your walls. Decades from now, these are the photographs you will look back at and treasure. These are the photographs your children will want to share with their children. And these are the legacy you want to leave behind.

Interested in learning more about Backyard Sessions? Click HERE to learn more! If Backyard Sessions are currently booking, you’ll also be able to schedule one HERE.

Commonly Asked Questions Answered by your NY Family Photographer

What time of day do you start Backyard Sessions?

I prefer to start Backyard Sessions roughly 2 hours before sunset. Obviously this changes throughout the year! In June we start around 6:30pm. In August we’ll start around 5:30pm.

Do we need a big backyard?

Not at all. A small yard works just as beautifully for Backyard Sessions.

What if the weather changes?

The weather can shift quickly in Upstate NY. If needed, we can adjust the timing or move the session to a different date.

What should we wear?

It’s completely up to you! You can start in something nice-ish and change into play clothes and/or your bathing suits or you can dress in something more casual to start! Some families choose to be a little more dressed up for the first 10-15 minutes while other families let their children choose what they wear since this mainly a documentary session. Most families end up in bathing suits though!

What if my children don’t cooperate?

That’s the beauty of a Backyard Session! Your children don’t have to cooperate! This session is all about them doing their favorite activities with their family in a place they feel comfortable. I will not be posing them, I will let them create the magic and as your NY Family Photographer, I will artistically capture it!