Holiday Family Photos at TODO Studios in Yonkers, NY | Behind the Scenes with Greene House Photos
The holiday season is officially here, and I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours photographing my friend Kenny and his family at TODO Studios in Yonkers, New York. This was a fun session with a big group of family members, plenty of laughs, and two great holiday sets that gave us lots of opportunities to create some memorable photos.
If you've been following my social media, you may have already seen some of the behind the scenes footage and photos from this session. I wanted to share a little more about the experience, the studio, and how I approached photographing a larger family group.
Two Holiday Sets, Plenty of Possibilities
One of the things I really enjoyed about shooting at TODO Studios was having access to both of their holiday setups. They put together two beautiful sets this year, one with a white theme and another with a red holiday theme.
Both sets have their own personality, and having two different looks gave us plenty of variety throughout the session.
The white set was definitely the more spacious of the two. If you're planning a session with a larger family or multiple generations, this is a great option. We were able to comfortably arrange everyone for group portraits without feeling cramped.
The red set had a much cozier and more intimate feel. It's a beautiful setup for smaller family portraits, couples, or a family of four. It has that warm holiday atmosphere that works really well for Christmas photos.
Having both sets available allowed me to switch things up throughout our two hour session. We weren't limited to one background or one look, which made the final gallery that much more interesting.
Photographing a Big Family Group
For this session, we had approximately 18 family members, including 12 adults and six children. That's a lot of people to get in front of the camera, but fortunately, I knew everyone pretty well, which made the entire process much easier.
Everyone was great to work with. The kids were excited, focused, and ready to take their pictures. Even our youngest, who was just four years old, did an amazing job!
One of the things I always try to do during family sessions is keep things moving while making sure everyone feels comfortable. I want people to enjoy the experience instead of feeling like they're just standing around waiting for their turn.
We worked through the larger group portraits, smaller family combinations, couples, and individual shots. Everyone trusted the process, and that made a huge difference.
I also appreciate when families come ready to have fun. It makes my job easier, and it allows me to focus on capturing genuine expressions and moments along the way.
A Little About My Photography Approach
For this session, I primarily used my Canon RF 70-200mm lens for the larger family portraits. I really enjoy the compression that a longer focal length provides. It gives the photos a different look, helps separate everyone from the background, and creates a nice, polished portrait.
I also switched over to my RF 28-70mm lens throughout the session. This gave me the flexibility to experiment with different angles, tighter compositions, and some more creative perspectives.
I always enjoy switching lenses and changing my approach during a shoot. Even when working with the same family and the same holiday sets, I want the final gallery to have variety.
My goal is to give you more than a collection of people standing in front of a backdrop. I want to create images that you'll actually enjoy looking back on years from now.
Natural Editing and Photos That Still Look Like You
Something I take a lot of pride in is my approach to editing.
I'm not someone who likes to heavily Photoshop every image or completely change the way someone looks. I prefer a more natural approach. I want you to look like yourself when you're standing in front of my camera.
Of course, I'll take care of the little details, whether that's blemishes, minor skin imperfections, or other adjustments that help bring out the best in your photos. But I don't want the editing to become the focus of the image.
Every photo I deliver gets individual attention and editing. I want to make sure the lighting, color, contrast, and overall look are where they need to be before your gallery is ready.
Once everything is finished, you'll receive your images through a private Pic-Time online gallery. From there, you can view, download, share, and even order professional prints directly through your gallery.
Because let's be honest, these are the kinds of memories that deserve more than just sitting on your phone!
A Big Shoutout to Darwin and Jessica at TODO Studios
I also want to take a moment to recognize Darwin and Jessica for the work they continue to put into these holiday sets.
Year after year, they find ways to make the experience bigger, better, and different. You can tell they put a lot of thought and effort into creating something that photographers and families throughout the community can enjoy.
It's not just about putting up a backdrop and calling it a holiday set. They create an entire experience, and I appreciate the work that goes into making that happen.
A special thank you to Darwin for helping us accommodate such a large family during our session. He really held it down!
If you're visiting TODO Studios, please be respectful of the space and the work that goes into maintaining it. It's a fantastic studio, and in my opinion, one of the best photography spaces in Yonkers. The value you get for what they offer is pretty incredible, especially in the New York area.
Looking to Book Holiday Photos?
I've received quite a few questions and inquiries since sharing some of the photos and behind the scenes footage on Instagram and TikTok. A lot of people have been asking about holiday sessions, pricing, and availability.
I'd love to work with more families this holiday season, but there's one thing worth mentioning.
TODO Studios books up VERY quickly, especially during the holiday season. At the time of writing this, their weekend availability is essentially fully booked for the remainder of the season. There are still some weekday appointments available, but those dates can be a little more difficult to coordinate depending on everyone's schedule.
Unfortunately, my own weekend availability is limited by the studio's remaining openings, so I may not be able to accommodate every request for a holiday session this year.
That doesn't mean you can't reach out, though!
If you're interested in booking a portrait session, family photos, or another type of photography session, I'd still love to hear from you. I offer portrait photography and other sessions throughout Westchester County and the surrounding areas.
You can find my current pricing information through the Rates section of my website.
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Creating Memories That Last
Overall, this was a really enjoyable session. Spending time with Kenny and his family, seeing everyone have fun, and being able to create something they'll have for years to come is what photography is all about for me.
I always try to bring positive energy, keep things moving, make people comfortable, and give every session my best. Whether it's a small family portrait session or a group of nearly 20 people, I want everyone to walk away feeling good about the experience and excited to see their photos.
Thank you again to Kenny and his family for trusting me to capture these memories, and to Darwin and Jessica at TODO Studios for creating such a great space for our local photography community.
Until the next session!
Anthony Greene
Greene House Photos
Yonkers, NY
