Elms Farm, NY - December Rathman Family

The Rathman family session at Elms Farm was such a wonderful reminder of why I love photographing families year after year. It was so good to see longtime friends Kim, Justin, Molly, and Tyler again — it had been at least six months since I had seen them, and it felt like no time had passed at all.

We started the session easy and relaxed, exploring the tree farm for a nice snowy pine tree setting, which was everywhere. From the very beginning, Tyler jumped right into the spirit of the session.

He was excited, helpful, and eager to participate — even helping choose the first out of many photo locations around the farm that ended up being perfect settings.

Kim and Justin later told me he hadn’t wanted to take photos earlier that day and had only agreed to one… which you would never guess from how much he embraced the session once we started.

During our tree farm portion of the session, Tyler added one of my favorite moments by wrapping the blanket around his head — and before doing so, carefully paying attention to which side of the print was most prominent. It was such a small detail, but it perfectly captured his personality and how engaged he was in the session.

We also made time for Kim and Justin to step in together for a few couple photos. I asked them to do what I call an “almost dance hug,” and it instantly led to great laughs, relaxed energy, and some really sweet, genuine moments between them. Those little in-between reactions made for some of my favorite images from the session.

I took my cues from the kids throughout the session, letting their comfort and energy guide the flow. That approach made everything feel fun and natural for them and resulted in so many joyful, genuine smiles. Everything went smoothly from start to finish.

As we continued exploring the farm, we even fit in some walking shots and playful moments along the way. Getting those single shots of Molly and Tyler was such a highlight — they were comfortable, confident, and completely themselves in front of the camera right from the start.

Sessions like this are such a gift — full of laughter, connection, and moments that feel true to who a family really is. I’m so grateful I got to capture this chapter for the Rathman family.