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Summer Of ’16 Captured

Photography has become one of my favorite hobbies. I love capturing moments each and everyday, and then sharing these experiences and images with all of you. Most photos are just the kids, with the occasional shot of Jason or I, mixed in. As you well know, getting the perfect family photo can be near impossible, because just getting everyone to look at the camera, let alone smile is a monumental accomplishment.

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Most of our family photos are taken during special occasions, or vacation. When we are away, it’s easy  to quickly hand over our camera, and ask someone to snap a few. But here in NYC, I rarely ask a passerby to take our photo. This is mainly because everyone is in a hurry, or we are so busy enjoying our time together, that I actually forget to document it with a simple picture.

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Since Gemma was born, I have regularly hired a professional photographer for family photos. Usually taken during the summer months, and with an iconic NYC background, these shots have been circulated to the grandparents, who are always eager for more photos of the kids. And, of course, these special pictures make their way into my cherished holiday cards.

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For this shoot, I connected with the super talented Amanda Gentile, a New York City based photographer, specializing in family session. Most of her time is spent in beautiful settings, like parks, where she shoots children, families or couples, or she works indoors for sittings with newborns.

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Prior to meeting for our session, we chatted on the phone about my vision. While I love candid shots most, I wanted to nail at least one good family photo. We discussed numerous locations, agreeing on one location that I had never considered, Washington Square Park.

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Last week, we met late morning, with the kids all ready to go. Amanda instantly connected with each of the them, knowing their names, and quickly learning about their personalities. Since she had scouted the park before our arrival, she knew exactly where to shoot for best light and backdrop. Having this all planned out, allowed the shoot to move very fast. This was a nice change from other shoots, which had tended to drag on, losing the children’s brief attention and patience.

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As the big pay off for being part of another shoot, I brought along a change of clothes for the kids, so they could play in the fountain, when we had finished. Amanda hung around while the kids started to jump around in the sprinklers, and captured some shots of them splashing around. There are some of my favorite of the entire bunch.

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I could’t be more thrilled with the results from our photo session. One of the shots will be the new header for Stroller In The City! Can you guess which one?

If you are in need of a photographer in or around NYC, look up Amanda and schedule a session. And don’t forget, the holidays are just three months away!

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19 thoughts on “Summer Of ’16 Captured”

  1. I used to hate photography but once I learned more about it, it’s one of my favorite things to play around with!

  2. Excellent family photos! Amanda does have a lot of talent. It is easy to do a point and shoot but to be able to coax the kids to pose for the camera is just awesome. Thanks for sharing your photos. All of them are lovely!

  3. You have a gorgeous family and I love your photos! We desperately need to get family photos, but our oldest daughter moved to Tennessee after she graduated and our next daughter just moved out to go to college. I need to make getting family photographs a priority the next time we’re together!

  4. These are all such great shots! I feel like she really captured the spirit of your family in the photos. It’s lovely that you’ll have these memories on print to cherish forever 🙂

  5. The shots are amazing! I really think it’s nice to capture family photos, even if it’s just once a year. It’s the perfect way to keep memories and it’s good quality time as well. The photos in the fountain are awesome! The kids look so happy to be there!

  6. Great photos. Love that they seem so real. Some family shots are all posed and stuffy… these are real and natural.

  7. These are some great pictures. It is really good to see such a happy family enjoying themselves. I love to capture those great moments so that I can remember them when I am older. Looks as though you have done that quite well.

  8. Beautiful shots of your family & I agree that Amanda Gentile is an extremely talented photographer ~ love her work !!

  9. Pingback: Summer Farewell | Stroller in the City

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