Adorama Photo Walk in NYC | Urban Family Photoshoot Ideas

Urban or street photography is somewhat common. But Urban Family Photography is a bit more new to the industry.

I hear a lot of photographers ask “what do you do about the other people all over?” “How do you deal with distracting objects in the background?”

When photographing a family in an urban setting I suggest that you really embrace what makes the city so lively. Warn your clients that there will be some “strangers” in the background in some of the photos. Don’t try and wait for cars to pass, allow the traffic to be part of the story.

Take advantage of the colors and textures that are present in an urban setting.

I pose and guide EXACTLY the same as I would in a field or at a beach, I just embrace the surroundings.

That being said. I do try and find a few spots where I can grab a few portraits without too many distractions. I do this but placing my family right up against a building or by finding a little park nearby.

Don’t be afraid to think on your feet. In the shoot featured here, we walked around the Union Square area in New York City and stopped when we saw fun and beautiful areas. A fire station, an ice cream truck, a public market. We simply enjoyed ourselves.

This shoot was part of my Photo Walk that I did with Adorama last month. There were 50 students along with me. It was super fun!

Have fun and be creative with your next urban session. I know I love doing them!

One Cloudy Day | Seattle Family Photographer

Hey friends! I am super excited to share this family with you all. The mother, Amy, and I have really had a chance to get to know each other this past year but I had yet to meet her family. I really looked forward to our session together as it had been on the books since this past November. Well, typical for spring in Seattle, we have had a good combo of sunny days and rainy days. We had to reschedule once because of the rain but went ahead with the session on the new date even though it was cloudy and a bit chilly. I find it interesting how the weather really sets the tone for a session. I know these boys are active and love to explore, like most boys, however the chilly weather made them turn into their comfort, their family and we ended up with a much more cuddly session. My guess is that had it been sunny they would have been much more rowdy.

Our session began a bit strange with Dad helping an old man who was lost in the parking lot. It made if very clear to me just how he is both kind and selfless. Then, we played, looked for crabs, threw some rocks, and they snuggled with the best of them. There were lots of hugs and kisses. Even though it was in fact chilly, I felt their warmth the whole time and I think these images speak to their bond and closeness.

I will admit…I take a lot of photos. Once, when I was still finding my way in photography, I would spend hours culling, trying to get down to that “magic” number that my peers were telling me that my galleries need not exceed. Well guess what? Who cares! I am a storyteller. Some single moments have 30 images and I am not ashamed of that and you shouldn’t be either. Be the artist you want to be. Take the photos you want to take. Your work will be richer and mean more to you and the families you photograph if you put your heart and soul into it. And if that means taking a million photos, then do it. So here is a sample of this family's huge gallery. I hope it warms your soul a little as it sure did mine.