Here comes the Spring!

Nothing casts aside the grays of winter in NYC like springtime!  This year, we were overwhelmed with a radiant palette of pinks, as cherry blossoms began to bloom.  This stylish family had requested a photography session with us, just as the spring colors were at their peak!  Their daughter was a joy to work with, and an amazing little listener.  We certainly had no shortage of laughs and giggles.  Mommy looked as radiant as ever, and along with their family pet, our photographer was able to capture some truly timeless family photos.

A favorite time of year for family photography.

Each year, Springtime photoshoots signal the start of our photography season.  As the temperatures warm-up, flowers bloom, and days get longer, families all throughout NYC welcome the new season with open arms.  A family photographer could not ask for a more beautiful backdrop than this.  Our only wish is that these flowers would stick around for just a bit longer!

The session started off with some tastefully posed family portraits underneath the canopy of trees.  We had to capture more close-ups than usual due to the abundance of smiles from this little girl!  Once she got comfortable with our photographer, she allowed her personality to really shine.  At times, we had trouble keeping up with her!  We have no doubt that she’s going to make a great big sister, come autumn.

Our Central Park mini sessions are amongst the most popular photo shoots that we offer.  Our best advice is to plan ahead, and book your session early, as the slots are very limited.  At Michael Kormos Photography, we’ve been photographing NYC families for over 15 years, and we’ve got the ins and out on all the good places in Central Park.  Trust our talented photographer to help pose your family, recommend the best locations for your photoshoot, and guide you throughout the whole process to yield the types of award-winning family photography that we’re known for!  Contact our studio today for a complimentary consultation, and to book your session.

 

When Is The Best Time to See Cherry Blossoms In NYC?

As a local photographer, I have to admit – when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom – NYC just feels magical. The pale pink of the flowers adds this ethereal feeling to New York City. For a brief moment, it feels as though we’ve been transported from NYC to the countryside.

In Central Park, you’ll find two main types of cherry blossom trees. The Kwanzanand the Yoshino. The Yoshino tends to bud first with the Kwanzan following soon after. The Kwanzan is probably what comes to mind when you picture NYC in bloom. It’s a double-petal tree with pale pink flowers. It has a lush appeal that is also soft and delicate at the same time. A beautiful choice for photography whether focusing on your maternity session, the new baby in your family, big family photos, or your recent engagement.

The Yoshino Blossom has a slightly darker hue, and the bark tends to show as almost black through photography. It’s an equally gorgeous tree to appear in the backdrop of your session, but it is important to remember how the tones vary. This is especially important in selecting your attire for photography, or if what you want out of your photos is something soft to reflect your family and baby.

For each of these trees, there is a very specific, albeit short window of time for photography when they are in bloom. Typically, mid-March through mid-April is the best-anticipated window of time. However, from the perspective of a photographer, I can tell you the most important thing to know is your window of time. You have about 10 days from start to finish.

Schedule Your Photoshoot

That 10-day window can seem super short when you’re trying to schedule with a photographer in NYC. You might be wondering how to make that short timeframe work with your photographer. And how and when to book your photography. From the experience of working with clients and families every year in NYC, there are two important things we can tell you. The first is don’t wait to book your photos. Don’t wait until the flowers are blooming. And don’t wait until the week before. Reach out to your photographer in advance! The second thing that is crucial in capturing your photos while the blooms are doing their thing is to trust your photographer.

An experienced photographer in NYC will know how and when to put you in front of the blossoms during that 10-day period. This season can and will be busy. There will be tourists vying to take in the sites and other folks from NYC with their family or new baby in tow heading to see and photograph the trees as well. It becomes a literal labyrinth of planning while trying to avoid site seers and tourists.

We know firsthand how busy and downright chaotic it can get. Our approach is to provide our clients with an elevated experience that is completely stress-free. We don’t expect our couples or families to know the exact day and time they should schedule their session. We don’t expect them to know which tree photography is best. And we don’t expect them to know how they can avoid foot traffic in order to have a memorable experience. We build that information into their experience and take away all the unknown and potential pitfalls.

It’s More Than a Photoshoot

In addition to providing our couples and families with a stress-free photography experience, we like to remind them of something. This time that they’ve scheduled together is so much more than just a photoshoot. For so many NYC natives, the blossoms mark the beginning of Spring and bring a feeling of renewal.

But the trees in New York City are also an annual occurrence. A funny thing happens with things in our lives that are annual occurrences, we create memories around them. The same way we create memories around annual holidays, we create memories around the gorgeous blooms in Central Park.

This is a really big reason why we love using this opportunity to capture families and engagements. You will always remember your yearly family photos with the pink trees in the backdrop. Or, each year when the trees bloom, you will always mark that time as “when we celebrated our engagement”.

It’s also why scheduling with your photographer to coincide with the annual blossoming of the trees is more than “just photos”. You are creating an experience for yourself and your family. One that should be savored and enjoyed. Not one that is rushed, or forced in between the tourists, foot traffic, and other parkgoers who are all trying to catch a glimpse.

Best Locations For Cherry Blossom Photos NYC’s Central Park

There’s no denying, one of the best places to photograph the cherry blossoms in the city is Central Park. There are a few hidden gem locations within the park that work perfectly for scheduling your photos. But the location we work together to select really all depends on your situation.

Will we be capturing your maternity photos? If so, will it be just you or you and your partner? What about family photography? Do you have small children or a baby attending the session? The needs and accommodations for each one of these types of photography can vary greatly. There is a stark difference between two adults celebrating their upcoming nuptials and a family with busy on-the-go toddlers or a baby in tow.

For engagement photos, you might have the flexibility to meet with us at sunrise when the park is empty and the soft glow of spring light hangs overhead. But, families with small children or a baby don’t have the same flexibility in their schedule. Which is why we always work with our clients to select the location and time that best works for them.

However, here are some of our favorite locations within Central Park to explore cherry blossom photos

Cherry Hill
Cedar Hill
Sheep Meadow
Great Lawn
Pilgrim Hill
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir

What to Wear to Your Session

Spring provides a wonderful time to select attire for photos. You have the option of wearing light layers to avoid the nip in the air. And the racks are full of the latest seasonal fashion. But what do you wear when the backdrop is pink?

Light neutral colors work best for the whole family, baby included! We particularly love these options:

Beige
Tan
Muted Greens
Creamy Ivory
Denim

Try to avoid anything too dark that could come across as fall or winter tones. We would also recommend staying away from crisp sharp white. Smooth tones like ivory, dove, or heavily edited grays work in front of the camera beautifully.