Extended Family Photos at Mabee Farm | Rotterdam Junction NY Family Photographer

Some family photo sessions are about more than simply getting everyone together in front of the camera. Sometimes, the location itself is part of the family’s story—and this session at Mabee Farm was one of those.

I know this wonderful family through our local hockey community, so I was excited when they reached out about getting their extended family together for photos. When they told me they wanted to have their session at Mabee Farm in Rotterdam Junction, the location couldn’t have been more meaningful.

Mabee Farm has a personal connection to Cynthia’s family history. Her family line has ties to the property dating all the way back to when it was originally built. Being able to bring generations of her family back to a place connected to their own family history made this session feel incredibly special.

We took advantage of so many of the beautiful spots around the property, from the rustic wooden buildings to the gardens and the waterfront. The historic boat along the Mohawk River also made such a unique backdrop for some of the individual portraits.

Of course, with an extended family session, I always make sure we capture more than just the big group photo. We photographed the couples, the kids individually, different generations, and plenty of smaller combinations along the way. Those are often the photographs that become even more meaningful as the years go by.

I especially loved photographing the grandparents together. There is something so special about having photographs of the people who came before us—particularly in a place that holds so much of their family’s history.

Sessions like this are such a good reminder that family photographs aren’t only about what your family looks like right now. They’re about documenting where you came from, the people you love, and the story that connects one generation to the next.

And for this family, I can’t imagine a more fitting place to capture that story than Mabee Farm.