Fall Family Photos at Owl’s Head Park | The Ridge Kids x Julia Xanthos Liddy

Fall Family Photos & Cherishing the Moments

This past weekend, my family and I had the pleasure of taking advantage of the gorgeous warm fall weather — yes, 60 degrees in November! — for a much-needed family photo session with Julia Xanthos Liddy, a talented local photographer and dear customer of ours.

Julia is not only known for her incredible photography, but she also helps lead a women-owned business group here in Bay Ridge — another reason I love supporting and collaborating with her. She made the whole session fun, relaxed, and easy… even for my teenage son, who surprisingly didn’t mind taking photos this time! (The getting ready part was another story 😅).

As with most family sessions, the lead-up was a little hectic. We had a morning Brooklyn Italians Soccer Game in Queens, got home around 1 p.m., and needed to be at Owl’s Head Park by 3:30 for our shoot. My perfectly planned outfit ideas for the kids? Yeah… those didn’t quite work out. They decided to style themselves — and honestly, I loved what they picked!

Abby wore a Rylee + Cru Aspen Beige Bow Sweater paired with Katie J NYC Brooklyn Wide Jeans, and Liam chose Hollister jeans, a tee, and a Zara zip-up hoodie. With a little guidance (and a lot of compromise), my husband and I coordinated from there — proof that sometimes letting go of the plan works out even better.

It’s been a few years since we last did family photos, and I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out. The golden hour light, the park’s fall colors, and Julia’s eye for capturing real emotion all made the photos feel so special.

Looking through them, I can’t help but feel both joy and a little sadness — my kids are growing up so fast. They’re not the little ones who once ran through the shop aisles anymore, but their love for each other shines through in every photo. Sure, they bicker (what siblings don’t?), but the bond they share is something I’ll always treasure.

If you’re looking for a local photographer for your holiday cards, family portraits, or seasonal photos, I highly recommend Julia. She’s talented, kind, and makes the experience effortless. We’re so grateful for the memories she captured — and for the reminder that even in the chaos, there’s always beauty in the moment. 💛