Central Park Family Photographer Paula Brearley

Family Sessions in the Upper West Side, NYC


The Upper West Side is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Manhattan for family photography. Its historic brownstones and grand apartment buildings lead straight to Central Park—a perfect combination of city charm and natural beauty. Families, visitors, and New Yorkers from all boroughs gather here to enjoy one of the city’s most beloved outdoor spaces.


Why the Upper West Side is Ideal for Family Sessions


Central Park offers endless picturesque spots for family portraits, from fountains and bridges to tree-lined pathways and historic landmarks. Despite the occasional crowd, the park’s size allows for stress-free, relaxed sessions where kids can be themselves and families can move freely through the scenery.


Capturing Elegant, Timeless Moments


For this extended family session, we started with portraits at home before strolling through the park. The family wanted modern, minimal, and elegant photos for their holiday card—exactly my style. By keeping the session organic and natural, we captured real moments, genuine laughter, and the warmth of their connections. The final images reflect the family’s energy and personality beautifully.


Whether you’re looking for candid moments, stylish portraits, or a mix of both, the Upper West Side offers the perfect backdrop for unforgettable family memories in NYC.

a candid view of a toddler boy sitting on the floor with beautiful light photo by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photographer
a black and white scene of a grandmother carrying her baby grandson during a family session at the Upper West Side NY
a half body view of a grandfather holding his baby grandson at home during a family session at the Upper West Side
grandparents sitting on a couch with their toddle grandson during a Family Session at the Upper West Side in NY
a candid scene of a grandmother and her grand daughter at home on a white couch photo by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photos
a sweet view of a grandmother sitting on a white couch with her two grand kids during a Family Session in the UWS NY
a black and white scene of grandparents and their two grand kids on a couch photographed by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photos
a serene view of a granddad with her grand daughter on a couch during a Family Session in the UWS NY by Paula Ortiz
a black and white candid scene of a grand dad and grand daughter smiling during a Family Session at the UWS NY
a candid landscape view of a grand dad playing with his grandkids on the couch during a family session at the UWS in NY
a candid view of parents and grandparents sitting on a white couch looking at a boy play during a family session
a candid scene of a toddler boy and girl playing in the living room photo by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photographer
a candid scene of a toddler girl dancing on a table while her whole family watches during a family session by Paula O
a candid scene of a mother holding her daughter in Central Park with beautiful golden hour light during a family session
a candid scene of an asian mom holding his baby boy close while making him laugh with a tree background
a candid scene of an asian mom holding his baby boy close in black and white photographed by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photo
an asian mother with her two kids at central park during golden hour smiling on their family session at Central Park NY
a black and white scene of a father holding his toddler son very close during a family session by Paula Ortiz NY Family
a candid moment of a family of four showing affection to each other with blurry tree background during golden hour
a candid moment of a family of four showing affection to each other during golden hour in Central Park by Paula Ortiz
a candid moment of a family of four during a family session in Central Park by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photographer
a candid moment of a family of four playing on a family session in Central Park by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photographer
a candid moment of a grandparents with their son and grand kids at Central Park by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photographer
a close up view of a little girls' hands holding a purple flower during a family session by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photos
a family of four sitting on a wood bench at Central Park with beautiful light and greenery in the background
a candid scene of a mother and son picking up flowers at Central Park during a family session by Paula Ortiz NY Family
a close up view of a toddler boy with his mother's hands holding him up by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photographer
a candid scene of a father holding his son in the air and smiling at Central Park during a family session by Paula Ortiz
a black and white candid scene of a girl jumping on the couch during a family session by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photos
a candid scene of a toddler boy pulling his orange sock during a family session by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photographer
a black and white candid scene of a mom and son playing with her husband and daughter in the background out of focus
a candid moment of a family of four on the couch at home in the upper west side during a family session by Paula Ortiz
a candid moment of a family of four hugging each other and laughing during their holiday session at home by Paula Ortiz
a black and white candid scene of father and daughter during a family session by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photographer
a layback scene at home of a dad with his daughter on the couch in neutral colors during a family session at the UWS NY
a candid view of a toddler girl hugging her Asian grandmom on a white couch during a family session at the UWS NY
a black and white candid scene of an Asian grandmother and her grandson sitting on a couch by Paula Ortiz NY Family
an Asian mother of two sits on the couch with her own mother during a family session at home in the UWS NY
a black and white scene of an extended family sitting on a big couch during a session by Paula Ortiz NY Family Photos
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All right reserved. Copyright 2026 Paula Brearley New York City Family Photographer.

Holiday Card Portraits


There is still time for your Holiday Family Session. Choose between a classic session or a mini, and make your Holiday cards extra special.


Fill out the form and I'll get back to you within 24 hours. It's the most wonderful time of the year!