We all know that feeling when you plan the perfect photoshoot and then—bam!—the weather decides it has other plans. That's exactly what happened when Camille booked a special mother-daughter session with her mom who was only in town for the weekend.


I was pretty excited about this shoot. Camille had planned this whole day out. They'd scheduled hair and makeup appointments together, picked out these super cute matching trench coats, and we were all set to wander around downtown Summit. If you've been there, you know how adorable the downtown shops are, and that train station backdrop? Photographer's dream.


And then... of course, the forecast for the day was rain. Because why wouldn't it be?


When Plan A Gets Rained Out


Listen, after years of dealing with unpredictable Jersey weather (especially in the spring), I've learned that sometimes your backup plan ends up being even better than what you originally had in mind.


With Camille's mom only being in town for the weekend, rescheduling wasn't an option. So we worked on a plan B. We decided to get some clear umbrellas for the shoot to keep us from any "surprise showers"—and I quickly scouted a cozy coffee shop that wouldn't mind us taking over a corner for a bit.


Here's the funny part—that cloudy, rainy day? It created the most gorgeous, soft light through those coffee shop windows. The kind of light that makes everyone's skin glow without having to adjust my settings every 5 minutes. And those matching trench turned out to be the perfect outfit for our rainy day adventure.


Mother and daughter in contrasting black and white outfits sitting together by a window and sharing a warm, intimate moment.
Close-up view of Mother and daughter hands against a dark and light contrasting outfit
Mother and Daughter in contrasting white and black outfits sit back-to-back while smiling warmly in an indoor setting.
Mother and daughter sitting by a window drinking coffee together on a foggy morning in a cozy setting.
Mother and daughter toast with coffee cups while sitting near windows in a bright coffee shop.
Mother and daughter enjoy coffee together while having a casual conversation near a window.
A mother wearing a black blazer with gold buttons smiles while looking away from the camera near a window.
Mother and daughter sit together holding hands near a window in a coffee shop setting, dressed in white and black attire.

Capturing Real Moments (With Coffee!)


So there they were, huddled over steaming coffee mugs (which, btw, made for the cutest props), just chatting away like I wasn't even there with my camera.


That's when the magic happens in photography. When people forget about the camera and just... exist together. Camille and her mom kept cracking each other up over as they talked about their day and their plans to celebrate her mom's upcoming birthday.


So I hung back and just let them do their thing—catching those real moments when her mom would squeeze her hand or when they'd both make the EXACT same expression at the same time. The DNA is strong with these two!


Not gonna lie—at one point my assistant and I looked at each other and we were both getting misty-eyed behind our cameras. There's just something about watching a mom and her daughter when they're completely comfortable together. It got me in the feels, that's all I'm saying.

Mother and daughter enjoy coffee together while chatting and pointing through a cafe window on a cozy afternoon.
Mother and daughter share coffee and conversation while sitting by a cafe window on a winter afternoon.
Mother and daughter smiling and chatting over coffee cups while sitting by a cafe window with reflections.
Mother and daughter enjoy coffee together while sitting by a window in a cafe with reflective glass and soft lighting.
Mother and daughter share a joyful moment while drinking coffee at a cafe window table.

From Coffee Shop to Train Station


After we wrapped up our coffee shop shots (including some cool ones through those rain-streaked windows—seriously my favorite!), we made a dash with our umbrellas to the Summit train station.


Not gonna lie, I was a little worried about my camera gear getting soaked, but I did prep ahead of time and purchased some camera covers on Amazon to help shield my camera from any droplets.


The train platform turned out to be photography gold. All that classic architecture with the moody rain vibes? Chef's kiss! Plus, watching them sit together on that platform bench got me thinking about how perfect the spot was for them—like, here's this mom and daughter who've been on this lifelong journey together, with all its comings and goings, but they're always connected no matter what. (Is that too cheesy? Whatever, I'm owning it!)


Mother and daughter with clear umbrellas share a cheerful moment on a rainy street corner while wearing winter coats.
Mother and daughter walking with clear umbrellas under a covered walkway wearing light colored coats on an overcast day.
Mother and daughter in stylish winter coats share clear umbrellas while standing in front of a brick building.
Mother and daughter in stylish winter coats share umbrellas while walking and laughing together on a rainy day.
Elegantly dressed Mother and daughter smile warmly while posing together on concrete stairs beside a brick wall.
Mother and daughter sharing an intimate moment in white and black outfits with their eyes closed and happy smiles.
Mother and daughter in contrasting beige and black outfits embrace warmly while sitting on orange-striped stairs by a brick wall.
Mother and daughter in white and black clothing pose together on wooden stairs with a brick wall behind them.
Mother and daughter in neutral-toned trench coats sit together on a bench against a classic brick wall background.
Mother and daughter in light colored coats sharing a joyful laugh together while standing on a train platform.
Mother and daughter in beige trench coats standing on a train platform with yellow safety line on the ground.

Why Mother-Daughter Photos Matter So Much


Let's be real—we all have about 5,000 selfies with our moms where one of us is half cut-off or someone blinked or the lighting is terrible. But how many genuinely beautiful, professional photos do you have together? Probably not many.


When you're a little girl, your mom is your whole world. Then you become a teenager and, well... we all know how that goes. But when you're both adults? That relationship transforms into something so special and complex. You're two grown women with your own lives who still share this incredible bond.


That's the stuff worth capturing—not just for your Instagram grid, but for when you're flipping through an album 20 years from now.

Mother and daughter in warm winter coats embrace while standing on a train platform.
Mother and daughter in winter coats stand close together on a train platform on an overcast day.
Mother and daughter share an intimate moment wearing contrasting trench coats in beige and black with white accents.

The Best Part? The Reaction


At the end of our session, I showed Camille and her mom a few previews on my camera, and you guys—the looks on their faces! Both of them got a little teary (which of course made ME get teary again), and it was this perfect reminder of why I do what I do.


Sometimes the days that don't go according to plan end up giving us the best memories.


So next time it rains on your parade (or your photoshoot), maybe it's just God saying "I've got something better in mind."


Want to book your own mother-daughter session? I work with clients all over NJ including Summit, Union, Chatham, Madison, Morristown and nearby towns. So reach out and let's create something amazing together! (Rain or shine, but maybe pack an umbrella just in case.)