Adrienne Brand Photography

On the Gold Coast of Long Island lies a park previously owned by a person who probably had ridiculous amounts of money. The estate is perfectly landscaped with fountains and even a cottage for the ghost of caretakers gone by. The slate walkway seen here leads back to the gardener's cottage, where our little boy walked before disappearing beyond the pink haze of autumn fluffery.

If you're lucky enough to have a summer home in the Hamptons, you may have already visited the Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge in Sag Harbor, New York, or as I like to call it, "The Chickadee Park." The birds and chipmunks are so comfortable there that I felt like I entered Snow White's kingdom.  This past weekend was slightly overcast, but it didn't stop us from visiting the park with our entourage of children, who chased the birds around like they held the keys to Disney in their tiny claws.  This sweet little blonde peanut is my aunt's niece. I caught her being playful on the railings of the bridge. I told the adults in our pack to keep an eye on her safety while I photographed her in action. This time, however, someone got a shot of me, too! 

I love when parents bring accessories to photo shoots! Considering I have a full time job at a worldwide advertising agency in New York City, it's less I have to think about. It also breaks up the flow and sends us on another track, often with great results. A few of my clients have brought hats that have given them what seems like a whole new set of images! I photographed one little girl after Hurricane Sandy at Avalon Park in Stony Brook, on Long Island, New York. While the gas lines stretched down the road behind us, we walked the length of the pathway up the hill and through the woods. I photographed the girl and her sister the whole time, but when we put her hat on, another personality came out completely. Something about hats makes children concentrate more on the hat than their fear of the camera. So you end-up with more genuine photos of your kids. What's great about clients like that girl – besides the hat – is that she would perfectly pose  even before I was able...