Jan & Samantha’s Family Session in Tarrytown

A Beautiful Spring Family Session in Tarrytown

Jan and Samantha wanted family photos that documented this stage of life with their two-year-old daughter Harper in a way that felt joyful, natural, and true to their family.

The three of them live in lower Westchester and spend as much time together as possible outside of the work week. Both Jan and Samantha commute into the city during the week, so weekends are especially important family time for them.

For their session, we met at Pierson Park and the Scenic RiverWalk in Tarrytown on a beautiful warm day in May.

Spring sessions along the Hudson River always feel especially lively this time of year. Everything was green, the weather was perfect, and the entire park had such an easy relaxed atmosphere that worked beautifully for a family session with a toddler.

Letting Harper Warm Up Naturally

One of the biggest things I focus on during family sessions is creating enough space for kids to simply be themselves instead of expecting immediate smiles and perfect posing. Once children feel comfortable, the photos become so much more genuine and relaxed.

Before the session, Jan told me Harper can sometimes take a little time warming up to new people, which is incredibly common for toddlers. Harper brought along her favorite stuffed bunny, appropriately named Bunny, which absolutely had to make an appearance in a few photos. It also became a very helpful tool for grabbing her attention throughout the session.

She was incredibly sweet and curious the entire afternoon and loved pointing out airplanes, the sun, and different things happening around the park as we walked together.The session included a mix of classic family portraits along with lots of candid moments focused on interaction and movement. We spent time skipping together along the RiverWalk, running up and down grassy hills, cuddling together on benches, and simply exploring the park as a family.

Ending the Session With Ice Cream by the River

Some of my favorite moments from the session happened naturally in between posed photos. Harper danced with her parents, held their hands while walking through the park, and snuggled up with Bunny whenever she needed a little break. Those quieter candid moments are always the ones families end up cherishing most years later because they genuinely reflect what life felt like during that season.

Toward the end of the session, the family stopped at an ice cream truck parked nearby, which ended up being the perfect way to finish the afternoon. The photos of the three of them eating ice cream together by the river felt so simple and joyful in the best way. It captured exactly the kind of relaxed family memory they wanted documented.

Family sessions do not need elaborate setups or perfect behavior to create meaningful images. Some of the best photos come from simply allowing families to spend time together naturally while documenting the connection between them. Jan, Samantha, and Harper’s session felt full of warmth, movement, and the kind of everyday joy that makes this stage of parenthood so memorable.