Everything You Need to Know About Long Island Family Photos
Locust Valley, Long Island family photo. © Dan Wagner 2023
Finding out what you need to know about hiring a photographer to shoot your Long Island family photos isn’t easy. How do you choose which Long Island family photographer is best for you? How much do family photos cost on Long Island? What are the best Long Island family photo locations? How should I prepare for a Long Island family photo session? Should I shoot my own family photos? Why should I get professional family photos? These are great family photo questions! Asking questions about family photos will help you save money, and find the best Long Island family photographer for you. This article will teach you everything you need to know about Long Island family photos!
As a Long Island family photographer, I understand how difficult finding an affordable, skilled, and caring photographer can be. And like you, there are times when I need to call a friend to photograph my own family. That’s why I believe that every family deserves beautiful family photos! I promise to make your Long Island family photo journey informative and fun. So, let’s get started!
But before we do, I want to share a fun backstory about the family photo above. Back in 2007, I met the dad when he was working at Subaru. While there, his wife came to visit. When she mentioned needing family photos, I told her to look no further. We’ve been friends ever since. That’s one of the rewards of being a Long Island family photographer—you get to meet great people.
The photo below is of their youngest daughter with her pony. I remember taking family photos of her at the hospital when she was born—look at her now. That’s another reward of being a Long Island family photographer—watching children grow up. Same for her recently engaged older sister!
Locust Valley, Long Island family photo. © Dan Wagner 2023
What Makes a Long Island Family Photographer Good?
This question really goes to the heart of the matter. If a photographer isn’t good at what they do, then what’s the point? Why go further? And by good, I mean great. To be a great family photographer you need to start with talent, and over 10,000 hours dedicated to your craft. Most importantly, you have to have a burning desire to do right by people.
Great family photographers are always honest with others, and with themselves. When a photo is working, they feel it. And when a photo isn’t working, they know how to fix it quickly. Being able to make a photo shoot enjoyable, and coaxing genuine smiles are the hallmarks of a pro.
Locust Valley, Long Island family photo of the eldest daughter with her fiancé. © Dan Wagner 2023
How do I Know if a Long Island Family Photographer is Good?
Look at the photographer’s work. Try picturing your family in similar photos.
Do the families in their photos look happy and relaxed? That’s important!
Good family photos should be enjoyable to view, well-composed, and make you want to smile.
Communications with the photographer should be friendly and inspire confidence.
Pricing should be reasonable, and in line with other local family photographers.
Recommendations from friends, and good reviews carry weight, too.
Sensing your family photographer is looking forward to working with you speaks volumes.
Locust Valley, Long Island mom and dad family photo. © Dan Wagner 2023
How Much Do Family Photos Cost on Long Island?
The cost of hiring a Long Island family photographer can vary widely, and depends on a variety of factors. In general, the price of family photos will vary from a low of $400 for a 1 to 2 hour photo shoot, to a high of $3,200 for more hours, and extra goods and services such as extensive retouching, large framed canvas prints, and albums.
As a photographer, one of my pet peeves is when other photographers describe their wedding or family photo prices as an “investment.” If a plumber said fixing my leaky faucet was an investment, I’d expect a large bill. It also irks me when I see other photographers making strange claims that they spend 20-30 hours on retouching family photos. That doesn’t make sense.
That said, I charge $500 for a 1.5 hour local family photo shoot that includes color-corrected photos at full resolution for printing, plus reduced resolution for social media. All photos are electronically delivered within a few days. Families may order prints and albums on their own, or through me at an added cost.
Centerport, Long Island family photo. © Dan Wagner 2023
This is one of my favorite families. Like the other family in this article, I’ve known them for years. I even photographed their wedding. Watching the kids grow up is amazing. Check out the adorable dog. He always knows when to look at the camera!
Where Can I Take Family Photos on Long Island?
Many families enjoy taking photos inside and outside their home. A cozy living room, nice backyard, nearby park, or pretty beach are good family photo locations. One thought about outdoor public spots—if any of your family members might be shy or self-conscious, especially teenagers, then potentially busy outdoor areas might not be the best choice.
Family Beaches—Huntington has 8 beautiful town beaches. One of the best beaches for family photography is Centerport Beach. One of the reasons I love this spot is because it has beachfronts that face multiple directions. This means you will have options if the wind kicks up. The beach features a charming red storage barn, rows of colorful kayaks, swans, landforms jutting into the harbor, and more.
Personally, I prefer shooting at Centerport Beach during high tide. The reason for this is that the North Shore of Long Island has tide height fluctuations ranging 8-feet and higher. Although you can shoot at all times, I find the beaches more photogenic when the tide is up. Unlike the soft sandy beaches of the South Shore of Long Island, the North Shore beaches are rockier by the water’s edge—so don’t forget to bring flip flops to protect your feet. Also, the rocks might be slippery—so watch your step!
Family Parks with Beaches—If a family photographer can’t get great photos here they should give up! This spot features a beautiful park with waterfront views, a short sandy beach, and views in multiple directions. However, you need to make sure there isn’t a local event taking place on the day you’re planning on shooting!
Family Parks—Heckscher Park, located a stone’s throw from downtown Huntington is a beautiful spot for family photos. Wooded areas, winding paths, stone and wooden bridges, and a large pond with ducks and swans offer a variety of photogenic areas. As with Cold Spring Harbor State Park, check to see if there are any events going on. Winter family photo sessions after a snowfall is a fun time to shoot there. Speaking of winter shoots, some days are too cold and result in watery eyes and red noses—so plan accordingly.
Northport Family Park—Here you’ll find a scenic pier, waterfront park with a gazebo, and lots of cute dogs. Normally there’s ample parking, but on occasion you might have to find side street parking involving a 5-minute walk. Also, be sure to check the local calendar for events. Fortunately, you can always opt for Centerport Beach, and other nearby locations.
10 Important Long Island Family Photo Session Tips
Check your local weather for temperature, precipitation, wind, and other information.
Try to avoid shooting outdoor Christmas cards in November—it might be too cold. Or in December—you might not have enough time to get those cards printed and mailed!
Bring a variety of clothing. Try to avoid busy patterns, shiny fabrics, and white or very dark clothing.
Get a good night’s sleep. When you feel good, you’ll look good. Take allergy meds before the shoot during pollen season as needed.
Bring food or other rewards for young children. Try to get them in the spirit of taking family photos the week before the shoot. Make it fun!
Pick a time of day that works best for your energy levels.
Have some hairspray handy in case it gets windy.
Feel free to shoot some photos with a little movement.
Family photos should be an interactive experience with your photographer. Feel free to make suggestions. Asking the kids for their ideas is a good way to get them involved.
Should I tip the photographer for family photos? Not if it’s me. Perhaps if the shoot was a full day, or at some exotic location. It’s up to you.
Centerport, Long Island family Christmas photo with jumping Santas! © Dan Wagner 2023
The family photo above of the two kids jumping was a collaborative endeavor. Working together is often the best way to go. After each test photo, I showed the kids the results on my camera’s LCD screen. That way they could get an idea of how they looked in midair, and also how to improve their positioning. We had a lot of fun shooting this photo. The parents were just out of frame, and found it very amusing. Even the seagull on the left got in the shot—talk about perfect positioning!
How Long are Long Island Family Photo Sessions?
For families with active children and busy schedules, the actual shooting time is usually a half hour or so. The added time is for getting ready, and setting up extra shots whenever possible. It’s nice to have some variety. Most of the families I photograph enjoy making family photos a yearly event.
As a photographer, I spend another 6 hours or so when you include the discussions, planning, processing Raw photo files, naming, editing, and electronic photo delivery.
I help families show their love with beautiful family photos.
Every Family Deserves Beautiful Family Photos!
Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences about Long Island family photos and photographers in the comment box below. Have a wonderful family photo session, and many thanks for visiting my Long Island wedding and family photographer blog!