Tag Archives: Bergen County professional photographer

Summer family photo session in Wyckoff

In this edition of Throw Back Thursday I bring you a summer family photo session that I did with a great family in Wyckoff – enjoy!

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you may noticed that I often write how much I loved a certain session or a family… and it may sound redundant when I say that time and time again but it does not make it any less true – I do love my families and the images I create for them.

Case in point is family/session – this was my first family photo shoot with them but I’ve known them for a while –  big sister S. is my Alexa’s best friend and because our kids get along so well we met up with the parents and would not you know – we get along great with them so now we are family friends!  And if that was not perfect enough – they also have a wheaten terrier and you know that since getting our Millie I’ve been obsessed with all things dog related:)

It seems that every parent comes to a photo session worried about their kids ‘behaving’ and I always reassure them that kids just need to be themselves – they don’t need to pose or smile on command at their photo sessions with me.   And once parents let go of their expectations of that their children should be doing we all start to have fun!

At this Wyckoff family photo shoot the parents were relaxed from the very beginning and their mood reflected in their kids.  The kids were being kids – happy, silly, loud, loving and I got to capture just that.  And while every family session I photograph is unique in its own way, what is common among all my family photo sessions is that I capture emotions and love and it makes me so happy to do that!

Looking at these images makes me smile and what’s even more important it made these parents smile:)  At their viewing/ordering session there were so may ‘awwwwws’ and at the end this Mom told me that these photographs were exactly what she wanted captured.  And to me there is no higher praise than that!

2016-07-13 Hoffman Family002_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family003_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family004_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family007_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family008_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family009_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family010_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family011_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family012_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family014_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family016_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family018_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family023_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family025_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family026_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family028_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family029_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family031_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family033_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family034_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family035_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family037_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family038_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family041_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family044_WEB

no comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

Ridgewood lifestyle family photo session | Bergen County photographer

Being a Bergen County family and children photographer for close to 8 years I’ve photographed many many many families over the years.  I do my best to blog these sessions and share what I think makes each family and session special.  As result there are probably hundreds of blog entries on this website and of course you can view them in Archives on this website but really, who has time to look through that, right? 🙂   So I’ve decided to introduce Throw Back Thursdays to this blog!  I am so excited that old family and children sessions will get to see the light of day again as part of Throw Back Thursday series:)  So without further ado I present to you a Ridgewood family photo session I did with one of my favorite families – enjoy!

Can I just say how much I LOVED this Ridgewood family photo session?  This is my fifth session with this awesome family – every time I photograph them I feel that the session I just did is my favorite session. And of course this was the case this year – I absolutely love the images we got and now this is my favorite session of this family:)

This year we decide to split up the session between their Ridgewood home for fun images with their house and downtown Ridgewood – for some urban shots.  That’s a great thing about my Signature sessions – they don’t have to take place in the same location and so many of my clients take advantage of that – and get a great variety of images and capture places that are meaningful to them!

This family loves lifestyle family photography and so do I – and I had a blast photographing parents and kids doing what they do best – having fun together.  There were kites and bubbles, chocolate chip cookies and peek-a-boos, hugs and cuddles and even some upside-down action:)

I love looking through these images – I think they capture an idillic childhood and an immense amount of love these kids grow up with!

2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family002_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family004_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family006_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family008_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family010_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family012_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family013_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family016_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family017_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family019_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family022_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family025_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family026_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family027_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family029_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family030_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family035_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family037_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family038_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family041_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family043_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family044_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family046_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family047_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family052_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family054_WEB2015-05-15 Ainsworth Family055_WEB

Lena Antaramian of Live Love Laugh Photos is a nationally recognized family photographer located in Bergen County New Jersey.  She specializes in authentic lifestyle family images that are not posed and capture precious family memories.  If you are looking for a professional photographer to photograph your children and family and are located in Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Franklin Lakes or other towns in Bergen County please reach out to us to schedule your session.

no comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

Wyckoff family photo session in a field of daffodils

I am so grateful for my Ridgewood photo studio during winter months – it is absolutely perfect for newborn and kids sessions especially when it is cold and grey out.  But my first love is on location family photography and by April, after spending months photographing at the studio in the winter I am so excited to be heading outdoors for family sessions.  This session was my first outdoor session of the year and it was glorious!  The trees were starting to bloom, daffodils were out and there was no snow in sight!

I’ve photograph these guys for a few years now and I love seeing them year after year.  Ms. K. was a bit shy at our first session, then less shy a year later and this year all the shyness was gone –  she was holding my hand, ‘helping me’ make her brother laugh, and singing her heart out!  And her brother slowly transformed from an adorable toddler to an equally adorable little boy who was entertaining me with a very interesting rendition of Feliz Navidad – crinkly nose and all:)


no comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

Summer family photo session in Wyckoff

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you may noticed that I often write how much I loved a certain session or a family… and it may sound redundant when I say that time and time again but it does not make it any less true – I do love my families and the images I create for them.

Case in point is family/session – this was my first family photo shoot with them but I’ve known them for a while –  big sister S. is my Alexa’s best friend and because our kids get along so well we met up with the parents and would not you know – we get along great with them so now we are family friends!  And if that was not perfect enough – they also have a wheaten terrier and you know that since getting our Millie I’ve been obsessed with all things dog related:)

It seems that every parent comes to a photo session worried about their kids ‘behaving’ and I always reassure them that kids just need to be themselves – they don’t need to pose or smile on command at their photo sessions with me.   And once parents let go of their expectations of that their children should be doing we all start to have fun!

At this Wyckoff family photo shoot the parents were relaxed from the very beginning and their mood reflected in their kids.  The kids were being kids – happy, silly, loud, loving and I got to capture just that.  And while every family session I photograph is unique in its own way, what is common among all my family photo sessions is that I capture emotions and love and it makes me so happy to do that!

Looking at these images makes me smile and what’s even more important it made these parents smile:)  At their viewing/ordering session there were so may ‘awwwwws’ and at the end this Mom told me that these photographs were exactly what she wanted captured.  And to me there is no higher praise than that!

2016-07-13 Hoffman Family002_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family003_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family004_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family007_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family008_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family009_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family010_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family011_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family012_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family014_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family016_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family018_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family023_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family025_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family026_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family028_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family029_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family031_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family033_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family034_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family035_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family037_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family038_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family041_WEB2016-07-13 Hoffman Family044_WEB

no comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

Mia and Alexa Turn 8 | Spa-themed slumber party craziness

I am taking a break from blogging adorable kids that I photograph at my Ridgewood photography studio to bring you something completely different but equally adorable – if I may say so myself:)  My girls just turned 8 (pictures from their 8 year old photoshoot are still being edited!) and all they wanted for their birthday was a slumber party.  Now I personally think that 8 is a bit too young for a slumber party but they begged and begged and begged and I finally gave in.  To make it manageable (and to make sure that I maintain my sanity) we decided to keep it small and invited only 5 girls.

My sister is an AMAZING party planner (you can check out her party planning website here) but unfortunately (on so many levels) she lives in Atlanta.  The girls and I were visiting her a few weeks ago and when I confessed that I was so stressed about the whole party planning side of it she took matters into her own hands and after half a day of brainstorming we had a clear plan of what to do. So with almost everything planned out and purchased (thank goodness for amazon.com) I was ready for the party.  And I have to say it was pretty AWESOME!

It started with these beautiful hand-made (by my sister) spa-themed party invitations – they were so cool I almost did not want to give them out!  And things only got better from there:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_91_WEB

There were matching PJs and robes for all the girls and color coordinated turban towels:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_1_WEB

and a ‘spa station’ with cucumber and lemon sparking water, non-toxic nail polish and foot shaped toe separators:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_10_WEB2016-03-05 Slumber Party_8_WEB

There was yummy food by Catchy caterer (think deep fried mac-and-cheese bites and cheddar sliders) and there was plenty of dessert including a giant chocolate cupcake cake made from scratch and decorated by yours truly.  The cake actually tasted better than it looked but my kids were very impressed with my cake decorating abilities nonetheless:)2016-03-05 Slumber Party_4_WEB

and of course there was popcorn because no slumber party is complete without it!:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_7_WEB

After the initial screams of excitement died down and everybody had their dinner, Mia and Alexa made their wishes and blew out their birthday candles:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_25 B&W_WEB

and that’s when things really got interesting!  There were plenty of games:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_16 B&W_WEB2016-03-05 Slumber Party_67 B&W_WEB

and lots of giggles:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_30 B&W_WEB

There were adorable girls in matching PJs:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_34_WEB

and organic yogurt and banana facials (which did not stay on for too long):

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_39_WEB

 

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_40 B&W_WEB

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_46 B&W_WEB

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_45 B&W_WEB

There was nail-painting:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_56 B&W_WEB

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_57 B&W_WEB2016-03-05 Slumber Party_58 B&W_WEB

and scary stories reading:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_61 B&W_WEB

lots of chatting:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_62 B&w_WEB

and present-opening:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_75 B&W_WEB

There was movie watching:2016-03-05 Slumber Party_83 B&W_WEB

and an impromptu ‘photoshoot’ by a budding photographer:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_53 B&W_WEB

and all-around craziness of having 7 eight-year-olds together in one room:

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_84 B&W_WEB

And there were a breakfast of donuts, waffles and milk served in old-fashioned diary bottles and happy girls giving me ‘thumbs-up’ for a great party!

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_86 B&W_WEB

2016-03-05 Slumber Party_85_WEB

This spa slumber party loud and messy and chaotic and EXHAUSTING and so much fun!  My girls already told me that they want the exact same party next year:)

Lessons Learnt:

And now to the serious stuff – coming from a Business and IT consulting I did an internal ‘debrief’ of the party and collected some lessons learned that I am happy to share with you. So if you are a brave soul who wants to attempt to throw a spa slumber party for your daughter (or any other type of a slumber party for that matter) – I hope these will help you to maintain your sanity and learn more my mistakes:)

  • The most important thing you can do is to hire a babysitter to help you and entertain the kids.  I had a sitter help me out for 3 hours and that made a huge difference.  Don’t get me wrong – I was still EXHAUSTED at the end of the evening but I cannot even imagine how tired I would’ve been without her help.  If I ever throw a slumber party again I will definitely consider asking her what her nightly rates are:)
  • 8 is probably a bit too early for a slumber party because 3 out of 5 girls who to the party ended up crying at some point at night missing their Mommies
  • If you think having an at-home party is less expensive than having it at a party place  – think again:)
  • If you are foolish enough to have an agenda as to what to do and when (like I did!)  – just tear it up and throw it out – the party will NOT go according to it
  • Be prepared not to get much sleep.  This party brought me back to the days of having newborn twins – when you are tired and finally calm everyone down and go to sleep only to be up many many times tending to crying children, soothing and calming them down.
  • Watching your kids and their friends have fun and hearing them say that it was the BEST PARTY EVER will make you forget all the hours of work you put into it and all the hours of sleep you did not get and you will be glad that you did something for your children that they (hopefully) will remember for a long long time!

 

Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *