Best Locations for Family Photos on Long Island: Studio, Beach, and Beyond
One of the first questions I hear from families who are booking a session is where they should have their photos taken. It sounds like a simple question, but the answer really does depend on your family: how old your kids are, whether they do better with open space or a more contained environment, and what kind of images you actually want to end up with whether that be in this year's holiday cards or on the walls for years to come.
Long Island has genuinely beautiful options across the board, and this is my honest guide to the main location types, and what I usually suggest depending on what you look like as a family.
If you are starting to think through your session, you can learn more about family photography sessions on Long Island and what to expect from the booking process.
Studio Sessions at My Manhasset Studio
For families with babies, toddlers, or younger children who want a more controlled / posed experience, I almost always suggest a studio session. The environment is completely child friendly, which matters a LOT. Parents don't have to worry about their kid running into traffic, a pond or any number of other things in an outdoor scenario. There are no distractions, no wind, and no mud.
My Manhasset studio is set up specifically for children with age appropriate toys and we keep the session flowing for those perfectly posed portraits. I love studio family sessions because the focus stays entirely on your faces and the dynamic between you, rather than on managing the environment. They work beautifully year-round, which is another real advantage on Long Island, where outdoor sessions can be affected by weather or seasonal timing in ways that are hard to predict.
Studio sessions tend to be a particularly good fit for families who want a cleaner, more refined look, or who are not sure how their youngest will do outside.
North Shore Beach Sessions
The North Shore of Long Island has a softer, quieter coastal feel than the ocean beaches on the South Shore, and that quality translates directly into photographs. The water tends to be calmer, the color palette leans more neutral and muted, and the overall atmosphere feels more intimate than a wide open ocean beach.
Evening beach sessions on the North Shore are some of my favorite sessions to photograph. The light in the hour before sunset wraps around families in a way that is genuinely hard to replicate in any other setting. If your family loves the water, or if you want images that feel a little more expansive and natural, a beach session in that window is worth planning around.
Beach sessions work best for children who are comfortable with sand, wind, and a less structured environment. There are more candid portraits and less posed portraits.
Parks and Garden Settings in Nassau County
Parks and garden locations are probably the most versatile option for family sessions because they work for any family and in any season. Nassau County has a range of beautiful park settings with a mix of open fields, wooded paths, and natural framing that photographs beautifully no matter the time of day or weather.
I especially love fall park sessions for families with multiple children because there is enough space for kids to move around and still be in the frame, which is often where the best candid moments happen.
Parks also tend to be easier for children who are a little shy or who take time to warm up. Having some room to run around before the session starts genuinely helps, and I always build time into outdoor sessions for exactly that.
How to Choose Based on Your Family
The single most useful thing about choosing a location is to think about your kids first and the setting second. A beautiful beach is only going to produce beautiful photographs if your family is comfortable there. A studio session that feels contained and calm will almost always produce better posed images with a toddler than a wide open park where they can run in six directions.
If you have a mix of ages, I look at the youngest child first and let that guide the recommendation. I work with each family to help you prepare your children for the session so no matter which you choose, your children will have a session they enjoy and provide you gorgeous images.
I guide every family through this conversation before we book. You do not need to have it figured out before you reach out! When you are ready, you can get in touch here and we will figure it out together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you help families choose a location, or do we need to decide in advance?
I help with this as part of the booking process. Once I know a little about your family, ages, what kind of images you want, and what you are drawn to, I can give you a clear recommendation. You do not need to arrive with a location already decided.
What time of year is best for outdoor family sessions on Long Island?
Fall is my most requested season! Sometimes I see over 50 families during autumn. The light is soft, the temperatures are comfortable, and the outdoor environments look genuinely beautiful. Winter outdoor sessions can work on mild days, but studio tends to be more practical from November through March.
Are beach sessions a good choice for very young children?
It depends on your children and only you know them best! Children who are comfortable in sand tend to do great. And, we always get great candids at the beach!
Can we combine studio and outdoor photos in the same session?
No. Unless your children are over 10 years old, this never works well. All the new things your child is experiencing (me, being in clothes they might not love, being in a new environment, being asked to stay still and SMILE) exhaust them very quickly. Adding in travel time, they will just not give you great images in two different locations. If you are drawn to both looks, the better approach is usually to book separate sessions on different days.
What happens if the weather is bad on the day of an outdoor session?
I monitor the forecast closely in the days leading up to every session. If weather looks like a genuine problem, we will talk through options ahead of time rather than waiting until the morning of. I have a studio available, so in most cases we have a real backup rather than just rescheduling if your schedule in the fall consists of sports, school events, etc.
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