hey friends! i can’t believe we are already approaching fall – i feel like summer went by in the blink of an eye and now we are anticipating the start of school, changing colors and preparing for holidays.  you know as well as i do that every year seems to go by faster and faster – i became a photographer to document my family’s life – from the littlest moments to the biggest ones.  as my oldest starts Kindergarten this year i am recognizing these changes coming faster and faster.  life is interesting – i remember everyone telling me to cherish every moment of my wedding day because it goes by so fast – which it completely did… but you don’t recognize it until you are in that moment – and then all of a sudden its gone.  though some of the days with a toddler and a pre-schooler are trying and long, the months and years seem to be flying by.  time keeps going and i am forever thankful for the family portraits we have to document our children’s growth and the family albums we have to tell our story.  we love to look back on how our family has changed over the years.  wo.. as we approach the rush of fall family photos i thought i would talk about some of my favorite locations to get us into the fall swing and go head first into the crazy!

first (and my most favorite) is Wildhaven Farm.  i have been lucky enough to have the exclusive rights to this property (thanks to my sister and her awesome husband 😉 ).  Wildhaven is perfect in any season – the changing colors in the fall, the creek and snow in the winter, and the beautiful sun filled fields basking in the summer sun.  i love it all!  there is such variety over the property from old red barns, the sun swept fields, the creek (which i still haven’t had a creek walking session in – who wants to try it with me?!?!?!), the ponds, the beautiful rocky tree lined driveway… its seriously amazing.

local parks are another great spot for family photos.  with many options for locations in a park such as walking trails, playgrounds and open fields there is lots of variety – and lots of room for kids to goof around and have fun.  my favorite part of family sessions is having fun, playing games, and of course lots and lots of snuggling on blankets.  i’ve been going to Indian Meadows Park in Glenville in the fall for years – some of my first ever sessions were there!  the changing trees and walking trails provide a fun location for those who love exploring the outdoors.

another favorite park of mine is jenkins park in burnt hills.  i have so many childhood memories of this park which probably contributes to how much i love it.  theres a cute little playground (that is usually empty!!!), awesome big baseball fields and tree lined pathways that let the setting sun in perfectly.

i can’t deny that i completely love outdoor sessions in the fall… but i also can’t deny the warmth i feel photographing a family inside their own home – where they can be comfortable and completely themselves.  and i make sure to let family’s know this as an option with any session.  kids are relaxed, dads are *usually* relaxed.. and we can just have fun in your own environment… and sometimes these lead to the most intimate, special, REMARKABLE moments in a family’s life.  <3

the most important thing about a family session is YOU.  as much as searching for and finding a location can be fun – what matters is that its you, and your family – and capturing moments in the growth of your family that you’ll never get back.  and what matters is that YOU get to cherish those moments every day when you walk past your family portrait on your wall….every. single. day.  i recently framed a family portrait and hung it on our dining room wall…. i LOVE seeing this portrait there.. and i’ll tell you why!  Dinner time is not always the most delightful time of day in our house – someone is usually complaining about how tonight’s dinner isn’t what they wanted… often we get screeches from the littlest kirkham, and usually lots and lots of neverending talking and “mom, mom, mom, mom, dad, dad, mom, dad.”  though i recognize i should be cherishing all these moments with my littles – sometimes that is really hard!!! BUT… having an amazing family portrait hanging literally right where i look up from my seat at the dinner table is an amazing way to give me a little bit of perspective… yes these dinners may be stressful, they may take everything in me to get through them without imploding… but oh my goodness i can see how my kids have grown in LESS THAN A YEAR… and i’m immediately thankful… thankful for this life, my family, and the fact that we can all sit down and eat dinner together…  family portraits matter.  documenting your life matters.  we all need to do it – cherish it – print it – remember it… and never let go. <3

i love seeing families year after year… watching the kids grow up and families develop… i love clients who turn into friends which makes sessions even more fun and relaxing.  i have all sorts of fun things planned for this fall season, and the many years following.  leave a little love note on why you want to become part of the #lkpfamilies group… i feel pretty special to be able to witness some of these moments that you all ask me to document.