The days of wearing all white for your Beach session are over. We feel your wardrobe should reflect your family and each family member’s personality, whether at the Jersey Shore or the Hamptons.

Maybe consider the interior design of your home. Clothing choices that clash with the color theme in your living room could be an issue when you are choosing where to hang your beach portrait as artwork.

Muted tones that work with the backdrop are one option. Soft blues with green and beige blend with the colors of the sea, sand, and grasses to create a natural and peaceful feel for your beach family portrait session.

Shades of blue and white are a safe option for your family beach shoot and never a mistake. Maybe add patterns to allow each family member to be “seen” and break up the monochromatic look.

As a general rule, I suggest the rule of working with three colors. Maybe one family member wears clothing with a pattern. I love the color combination in the image below which is flattering to this mother and daughter’s skin tone.

Primary and bold colors can make a powerful statement bringing joy and energy to this image.

So in summary, consider the following for your Summer beach portraits:

• Where you will hang this artwork?
• What colors are most flattering for your family’s skin tone?
• What mood would you like to create?
• What colors reflect the personalities in your family?

We are just an email or a call away if you feel a ‘wardrobe meltdown’ is imminent. Lay out clothing options for each member of the family on your bed, send us photos and we will share our input!

School is out for Summer! It’s time for lazy days at the beach with your family.

Making memories is what life is all about and we would love to capture your family in a beach photo session at the Jersey Shore!

We are booking our portrait sessions for July and August and are eager to connect with your family!

Our sessions take place at 7 am and 5.30 pm when the light is at its best for Summer beach portraits. We usually shoot at the Sea Girt beach which has beautiful grassy dunes and rustic wooden fences or Sandy Hook for a more wild and natural setting. If you have a stretch of sand that has special meaning to your family photo session please share it with us.

Check out our blog for suggestions on Beach session wardrobe tips for your family and do not hesitate to call us for more information about capturing your family at the Jersey Shore!

Capture Stunning Family Photos at Pier A Park in Hoboken with Mac Hartshorn.

How lucky are we to live so close to one of the most exciting cities in the world? Pier A Park in Hoboken offers a breathtaking backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, making it an iconic location for family photoshoots.

The blues and soft rusts of the New York buildings provide a monochromatic and powerful background for your family portraits. Mac Hartshorn, your favorite family photographer, has discovered intimate settings among the grasses and regal trees of this beautiful park.

June is the perfect time for a photoshoot, offering lush greenery from the spring rain and avoiding the heat and crowds of mid-summer. Mac Hartshorn is available to shoot at this location throughout the day, but 8 AM and 6 PM are the magic hours and book quickly.

Call our photography studio today to schedule your New Jersey park session!

I am sure that you are finalizing your plans for the summer and wanted to share an opportunity for you to get ahead of the holiday card rush.

If you book your beach session for a date in June, you will receive 25 complimentary cards with your order.

Our sessions take place at 7 am and 5.30 pm when the light is at its best. We usually shoot at the Sea Girt beach which has rustic wooden fences or Sandy Hook which has beautiful grassy dunes and but let us know if you have a stretch of sand that has special meaning to your family.

Our Signature Package is $550 and includes the following:

• 45 minute beach session with Mac Hartshorn at the Jersey Shore or Hamptons.
• Complimentary phone consultation prior to the session plus a personal design consultation at our Hoboken studio to reveal and guide you through your artwork selection.
• One custom 8×10 Standard Print.
• Twenty Five custom Holiday Cards.
• A social media sized file for sharing with friends on Instagram, Facebook etc. from the image you choose.

*Additional artwork is a la carte and custom framing is additional. Please note that we gift a social media-sized file with each image that you purchase as artwork.

We are working on a new collection of gorgeous holiday card designs for 2024, with double thick paper and chic envelope colors. Imagine having your cards ordered in September? That’s one thing checked off your list!

Please contact our photography studio or email studio@hartshornportraiture for more information and dates available for our Jersey Shore beach sessions.

Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit
The daffodil display is stunning and creates a beautiful backdrop for your family portrait.

Sunday, April 13th and Saturday, April 20th

Liberty State Park. Jersey City
The cherry blossoms and the Manhattan skyline- what a fantastic combination!

Sunday, April 14th, Saturday April 20th and Sunday, April 21st

Peony Envy Gardens, Bernardsville
New for 2024. 
We are excited to introduce this location, with lush flowers and charming stone walls, creating a magical setting for your family.

Sunday, April 28th

The window for these gorgeous backdrops for your family portrait is small and your schedule is only going to fill up as the year moves along so let’s do this!

Since COVID there has been a shift in time spent together in real time and that includes Moms groups. Meet Aly Shampain, the founder behind Take a MOMent, a new moms support group that has quickly become an invaluable resource for mothers in Hoboken. Driven by her own transformative journey into motherhood, Aly recognized a pressing need within her community: the desire for a comprehensive and nurturing space where moms could come together, share their experiences, and access essential local resources. Fueled by her passion for creating meaningful connections and providing unwavering support, Aly established Take a MOMent as a space for moms to gather, learn, and grow. Through this initiative, moms find solace in one another’s stories, forge deep friendships, and tap into a network of dedicated local professionals eager to guide them through this beautiful yet challenging chapter of their lives. Take a MOMent has not only filled a crucial gap but has also empowered countless new mothers to embark on their parenthood journey with confidence, grace, and an unwavering sense of community.

The group is growing fast so reach out and get involved! Instagram link

Fall brings gorgeous images of still-lush foliage, sweaters in the park, and then changing colors. Here are some of our favorite locations for you to consider for the upcoming season…

Pier A, Hoboken

An urban park in Hoboken with a stunning view of the NYC skyline and dog friendly. Definitely a location for all seasons with a limited number of sessions that time with the backdrop of yellow ginkgo leaves forecast for the following dates:

October 28th, October 29th, November 4th and  November 5th

New Jersey Botanical Gardens at Ringwood Manor

Enjoy expansive gardens with a large variety of architectural backdrops for your family shoot.

Central Park

An iconic location- we need to say no more. Mac likes to shoot in the morning before crowds arrive.

I digress…how about scheduling a fall beach session and avoid the crowds, heat and Jersey Shore traffic?

Our sessions take place between 4 and 5pm – depending on the date – when the light is at its best. Mac likes to shoot at one of two beach locations:

Sea Girt beach has charming rustic wooden fences for your family portrait.

Another option is Sandy Hook which has beautiful grassy dunes and great expanses of beach.

For wardrobe, we suggest jeans and sweaters and include natural colors such as cream, beige, green and burgundy which work well with the natural backdrop.

We have some gorgeous holiday card designs for 2023, with double thick paper and chic envelope colors. Imagine having your cards ordered in September? That’s one thing checked off your list!

Give the studio a call to book your session!

Portugal is gaining popularity as a holiday destination and I recently found a window of time to explore. My plan was to balance seeing as much as possible but still having time to relax. Challenging but I think I succeeded.

After landing in Lisbon, spending a couple of days in this beautiful city, I rented a car to see the coast, ending my trip in Lagos and flying out of Faro.

Lisbon is a gorgeous city and I was a little obsessed with the beautiful old doors and tiled walls. If those doors could talk- the stories the would tell! The decorative stone pavements, and gorgeous churches were the highlight of my time in Lisbon.

I stayed in an 1800’s villa that I found on Airbnb. It has a kitchenette and opened out onto the garden. The rooms are newly renovated and I loved the location. Everything is about 15 – 20 minutes walk.

The tram # 28 is a great way to see the city on your first day. I took advice from my research online and walked through some beautiful, quiet streets and small tree shaded squares to pick up the tram at Estela Basilica. Please take the time to go inside this stunning Church but do not pay the four Euros for the staircase to ‘view’. Picking up the tram at this end of its route gives you more chance of a window seat and avoids lines of tourists waiting for the same tram.

I suggest you purchase the Viva card if you plan on stay for a few days and also visit Sintra. It costs 50 cents, you can top it up at any metro and all rides are 50% off.

There is also the Lisbon card if you chose to see some of the historic sights but I preferred to wander the streets. The two churches that I stumbled into were much more beautiful than the Lisbon Cathedral.

Bairro Alto is the old town – but quite touristy. I recommend you listen to fado music at Tasco do Chico but get there by 7pm as there was a line to get in. The space has so much history, a gritty vibe that serves traditional Portuguese food.

Stop by A Brasileira Bar (opened in 1905) in the Baixa-Chiado district for a coffee and Nata. It’s a very old cafe and Cavaleiro da Imaculada (church) is close by. The ceiling of this church is absolutely stunning and a must see!

Hungry? Try O Trevo for traditional Portuguese lunch which was a fave of Anthony Bourdain.

I suggest at least one Pastel de Nata per day until you find your favorite!

The Alfama district is very old and I would suggest a wander late afternoon, have dinner and then walk up to Miradouro da Graca for a view of the city and a drink as the sun goes down.

I would recommend at least two- three days in Lisbon and one day for Sintra. I was told to get the train (45 min ride) early to avoid lines at the castles etc. and it’s cooler there so bring another layer.

After two days I was ready for the beach and skipped a day in Sintra.

The real beauty of this country was yet to come as I traveled south along the coast. If you have time, make a stop in Evora which is about one hour outside Lisbon. This town is known for its walled city and a chapel made from human bones! I heard it’s a must see.

My fave coastal towns are Porto Covo -a small town for the stunning beaches surrounded by cliffs and my LOVE was Vila Nova de Milfontes. Wow. A postcard perfect small town with one of the best restaurants in Portugal. I could have spent a week here visiting the stunning beaches nearby.

Tasca do Selco is a destination restaurant. Friends who live south and have told me they drive there just for a meal and I was not disappointed. I had the octopus salad and traditional Portuguese dessert, both were paired with wine by my dear waiter George. FYI- I really enjoyed sitting at the bar. They get very busy so it could be your only option if you don’t book in advance. The other tip is to arrive at the restaurant at opening time (7pm -super early) and you can often get a table.

I continued south and stopped in Praia do Monte Clérigo which is in the town of Aljezur – a laid back surfer beach. If you stroll south on the beach and catch the tide going out you can in a stunning cove which I had all to myself for hours.

My final destination on this road trip was the Algarve and the magnificent Lagos. The beaches have been compared to Australia’s Ocean Road and I agree.

Praia Dona Ana is stunning and if the tide is low, there are adventures to be had! Walk as far right as you can and clamber over the rocks to discover beaches with little or no one else in sight!

I discovered a man on this beach selling boat trips. It is inexpensive and local fisherman take you along the coast and into caves. You can also rent paddle boards and kayaks closer to town if you prefer but I really enjoyed the boat trip.

Praia de Camilo the next beach over with access via wooden walkways and 160 steps, smaller but worth a half day. Pack into this small cove and live like a European for a few hours and enjoy a drink from the little bar. Do not leave without stopping at A Camilo – the best fish restaurant in Lagos- and having the oysters. I am spoiled for life! I am pretty sure I will never experience a better oyster- caught across the bay in Alvor. I could not control myself and ordered the octopus and clams dish. Incredible!

Arribale is charming and the meat is cooked on an outdoor grill with a traditional setting and a view of the sea, Other recommendations include Tanino’s and Travia which serves tapas plus organic wines and Port. Divine!

My adventure was coming to an end but I do want to mentioned Silves- a mountain town which is twenty minutes away and also Alvors which is known for their seafood and the nearby Praia de Tres Amigos for more beach cave exploration.

I’ll be back soon!

Many of you have been asking about wardrobe choices for your beach session.

Personally, I like to steer away from all white. To me that looks a little dated and we want these images to be timeless and hanging in you home for years to come.

As with any session, I suggest that the matriarch select her clothing, pick something you feel beautiful in. Put yourself first for a change!

If your clothing of choice has a soft pattern, then you have your color palette!  Choose three colors and voila! Whether a small family or a larger multi generational beach session- this rule seems to work. Tones of these colors can be light or dark to add variation.

Once again, it’s a good idea to have at least one member of the family with a piece of clothing that has a pattern so the overall look is relaxed and less staged.

If you have girls- a simple summer dress that she can twirl in works well.

Another suggestion is to think about the decor in your home. You don’t want the wardrobe colors to clash with the tones in your living room or family room

I’ve included some wardrobe options in this story that we love. Purples, greens and blues are safe with blush and soft orange looking stunning for some.

What are the most flattering colors for your family’s skin tone, hair and eye color?

Lay clothing on the bed and work with options until you have a color scheme that is pleasing to the eye.

I do not suggest purchasing new outfits for everyone – that can lead to a melt down. Remember I am only a phone call away if you are stuck.

Good luck – we will meet you at the beach!