This year, I was excited to return to our local Christmas tree farm for the holiday mini sessions. I have had so many families request these sessions that I contacted the farm's owner in the summer to set up dates. I was eager to start planning!! We had such a fun weekend on the farm - gorgeous weather, lots of sunshine, super fun families and beautiful Christmas trees!

Friday evening gave us absolutely amazing sunset light which provided a golden glow over the tree farm fields. Each of the families were previous clients so it was special for me to see them all again! Seeing how much their babies have grown in the months or years since I last saw them makes me so happy! Saturday morning brought some chilly temperatures and frost on the grass and trees, but this gave such a beautiful glisten to field and trees! When it's cold outside, my go-to prompt is for families to snuggle in close together. It's a great way to keep the kids warm and to capture those cuddly photos! For our Saturday evening sessions, it had warmed up just a little bit and we were again blessed with gorgeous golden light. I feel so lucky to have gotten the opportunity to photograph so many beautiful families for this year's Christmas Tree Farm mini sessions. It was such a great weekend to celebrate the upcoming holiday season and capture festive photos for so many families! It truly was a perfect way to get into the holiday spirit! And after such a tough year, for so many families in our area and around the country, I am truly grateful for the clients who have continued to support my photography business and send sweet messages to me throughout this difficult year. I am thankful for each and every one of you and I hope to see you again for future sessions!

Meet the beautiful Ackenbom family! When dad contacted me to book a portrait session for his family, he shared that after the arrival of their second son, they did not have a chance to get family photos done and wanted to capture their newly expanded family. Their son was already 6 months 'and getting older by the day' so they were ready to book a session as quickly as possible! We were able to schedule our session for a gorgeous August evening and chose a perfect location in North Park - a favorite spot for portrait sessions! The family was super casual and prioritized capturing their family together, relaxed and having fun playing in the field.

Little Sidney was not quite ready to show off his smile when we got started, but big brother Stokely was ready for his photos! He had a gorgeous smile and was ready to show it off right away! When Sidney needed a quick break, I took Stokely aside for some individual photos in the field. The sunset light looked so beautiful in the trees behind him and he was so fun and easy to talk to, we were able to capture some truly gorgeous expressions! Next, we focused our attention back to Sidney who was ready for his close up. He was sitting up well on his own at this point, so we put him in a shallow white bowl for some stability while sitting in the field. He wasn't quite sure what to think about this set up but his big beautiful eyes and serious expression sure provided some perfect portraits!

After getting a few individual photos of the boys, I then pulled each parent aside for some photos with their children. Dad showered Sidney with chubby cheek kisses and Stokely with rib tickles while Mom snuggled in with her boys, providing loving cuddles while sitting on a quilt. While I always focus on the family together as a whole during the sessions, I love to also get individual photos of each parent with their kids. I hope that it is something that the child can look back on years from now and cherish how special they are to their parent. And their own special relationship always shows through in these photos, which is super fun to photograph!

I am so excited to welcome little Alana to the blog!! I have had the pleasure of photographing the Pristow family after the arrival of their first daughter, Emilia. So when mom, Erica, contacted me about scheduling Alana's first birthday session, I couldn't wait to see them again! Getting to see my client families each year is truly one of my favorite parts of the job - it is so much fun to see how their children grow and develop over the years! Fortunately the family lives in a neighborhood with a beautiful common space with a pond, trees and a small garden. So in order to keep the girl's close to home for their sunset session, we met at the pond area which also happens to capture truly beautiful golden sunset light. 

We started with their family photos both posed and candid images. I like to set my families up in a general pose and then give them ideas on how to interact with each other to capture genuine moments and reactions. I am not always a fan of stiff poses where the families are looking directly at the camera but prefer those candid moments. I absolutely LOVE the families snuggle close, have tickle fights, give their kids lots of kisses and laugh throughout the session. Having your photos taken should be fun and easy and I really try to accomplish this during each of my sessions. 

The Pristow family is one of those families that just jump right in and enjoy this time with their girls. They play, laugh and know the best way to get smiles from their girls. It's always a blast to see this beautiful family and their girls are so much fun to photograph! After we finished up with some family photos around the park grounds, including some photos of the sisters together, it was time for some individual photos of Alana to celebrate her first birthday. Mom had brought another outfit for Alana so after a quick outfit change, we set her up on a little blanket for her cake smash! Alana dove right into the little cupcake and enjoyed all of the delicious icing and sprinkles! What a fun way to celebrate a huge milestone!! 

What a beautiful day for summer sessions! When I had originally contacted the owner of Pisarcik Flower Farm, we had scheduled my spring Mama & Me minis on their farm. But then COVID19 happened and the world shut down so those plans had to be placed on hold. Once our businesses were allowed to start back up and running again, a new date was set for family summer mini sessions and I am so excited with how the day turned out! It was a gorgeous day in July, with just a slight impending storm at the end of the day, but it was a day full of families, laughter and catching up! Each of the families that had signed up for a session were previous clients. I was absolutely thrilled to catch up with each of them, see how they were coping through the craziness of our new 'Covid world' but also see how much their children and families had grown. Some had new babies I was able to meet for the first time, children I had not seen since their newborn photos or older children starting school for the first time in the next few weeks! It was so much fun seeing all of these families again and it definitely brought back a sense of normalcy! 

The owners of the flower farm gave us free rein to use the greenhouses and space around their farm, which was so generous and amazing of them to do. This gave myself and each family an opportunity to walk around the property, explore their beautiful floral nursery and capture beautiful images among the flowers! Each child walked around with wide eyes and excited enthusiasm as they smelled each flower and gently touched every plant. The laughs, smiles and wonderment we captured was amazing and I am truly grateful for Pisarcik Flower Farm for letting us use their gorgeous property! It was the perfect backdrop for these summer sessions!

Oh, sweet Avelin - how wonderful to meet you and your beautiful family! When mom, Noona, contacted me about a newborn session for her baby girl, Avelin had already arrived. She was just over 4 weeks old when we were able to schedule her session and absolutely gorgeous! When I arrived to their home, we began the session with family photos in Avelin's nursery. Her parents created a beautiful space for their baby girl, complete with vintage floral prints and shabby chic details. The light fixture was absolutely stunning! Big brother Elliot was very excited and was more than happy to snuggle up with his mama, daddy and baby sister. Elliot was so sweet with little Avie and I loved how gentle he was as he cuddled up with her and held her hands. After taking some family photos and individual photos of Avie with her mom, dad and big brother, I then took some lifestyle images of Avelin in her nursery. She was awake by this time so I was able to capture some images of her in her crib while she was more alert and interactive. 

After a quick feeding and snuggle time with mama, we were ready to set up for Avelin's posed newborn photos. Noona shared that she wanted to use neutral tones and various shades of pinks in the set ups, which would coordinate with her nursery decor. She also had a white and pink floral wrap and headband that she wanted to use so we started with Avelin wrapped in the swaddle lying on a soft fur blanket. This is where I captured a beautiful little smile as she settled into the wrap and furry blanket. Little Avelin appeared to be most comfortable when she was swaddled and cozy, so we kept her wrapped or covered throughout the session. Her full head of thick, dark hair stood out and looked beautiful against the neutral and light colored blankets we selected for her photos. And I loved how her little toes and fingers showed with each wrap, displaying those tiny little features and details that we love so much about newborns. I thoroughly enjoyed photographing sweet Avelin and getting to know her kind, friendly and funny family!

When I first met the Wiersma family, their oldest daughter Lucy was only 6 months old and I have had several wonderful opportunities to photograph their growing family over the years! With brother Isaac's newborn photos and now the maternity, family photos and newborn session for their third child, little Maisie, I have absolutely loved being able to photograph their family change and grow! Mom and Dad, Carrie and Nathan, are very laid back and relaxed so when it was time for their maternity and family session, we chose a location that would allow the kids space to play and explore as I captured more lifestyle and candid moments of their family together. Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve was the perfect locations for them to roam and it offered a wide range of beautiful backdrops for their playful photos! There are so many lovely spots all throughout Beechwood Farms, from wooded trails to open fields with tall grass, blooming trees and a pond to check out the frogs and ducks! Carrie and Nathan also came prepared with Lucy and Isaac's favorite stuffies and some bubbles to keep the kids having fun and laughing. It was so much fun following them around as they explored the park, played chase, tickled each other and giggled and laughed the entire time!

When little Maisie arrived, I was excited to not only meet the newest member of the Wiersma family, but also observe big sister Lucy and now big brother Isaac were doing with a new baby in the house. As per my usual routine, we started with family photos and we chose a room in their house that had tons of beautiful natural light. I asked the family to sit together on the couch, cuddle and play around so that I could capture some of those truly candid moments of mom, dad and their three children. I was able to capture some snuggles, kisses and little touches from the older siblings and their new baby sister. As the family were preparing to move to another state soon, we also went outside for a few photos of them all together in front of the first home they lived in as a family. What a bittersweet image for the family as they move on from their first home and on to another amazing adventure together!

Lucy and Isaac were soon ready for a snack and playtime so we moved on to Maisie's posed newborn photos. In the pre-session questionnaire, Carrie stated that she did not have any specific color or prop preference and that she trusted my judgement in the set ups. But she did mention that the nursery colors were grey and mint, so I brought several options including complimentary colors and props, like pink and neutral tones. Maisie slept so well, with only a few breaks for feeding and snuggles, that we were able to work through several set ups. She was so snuggly and posed well for a variety of looks to their final gallery!

I am so happy that I was able to photograph the Wiersma family to celebrate their newest addition to the family and before their big move! I am always sad when such an amazing family moves away because I know I will not get the same chance to catch up with them, but I am really excited for the Wiersma's newest adventure!

It is always so much fun for me to photograph families each year. It gives me a chance to catch up with the family, learn about their lives since I last saw them but to also watch their children grow each year. It is probably my favorite part of being a photographer!! The Licastro family is one of those families. I have had the pleasure to photograph Callie's newborn photos, first birthday and now her 2nd birthday session. And to see that huge, infectious smile each year is just the absolute best!! 

We met up at the always beautiful Hartwood Acres Mansion for their portrait session. Two year olds can sometimes be tricky to photograph as they do not want to just sit down and smile. I often encourage lots of interaction in my sessions, with tons of kisses, tickles and silliness but especially when there are toddlers involved! Callie was having so much fun playing with her parents and we were able to capture some of the best reactions and facial expressions! She danced, giggled, and gave lots of hugs which created the best photos for their family to enjoy. It was so much fun following her around the mansion and garden to photograph this happy, fun-loving girl!! 

The Cummings family contacted me about a portrait session for their family and baby daughter Claire. Not only would this be a milestone, sitter session for Claire, but also updated family photos for this new family of three! Mom, Meredith, decided that Claire would be happier and more playful in the morning so we settled on a sunrise session in the Mellon Park Walled Garden. This is such a beautiful location and always showcases the best light for both sunrise and sunset sessions! It is one of my favorite parks within Pittsburgh for portrait sessions!

We ended up scheduling our session on Father's Day, so after a 'Happy First Father's Day!' to dad, Steve, we began with some family photos near the brick wall and walkway at the entrance of the garden. We took our time walking around the garden, looking for the best spots to use the morning sunlight but also capture the beauty of the garden and blooming flowers. Claire was able to sit comfortably and steady enough on her own that we were able to capture some adorable photos of her sitting tall and playing on the blanket. After some time warming up in front of the camera and LOTS of peek-a-boo, Claire gave some really big smiles! It was a perfect morning for this adorable family's portrait session!

I am so excited to welcome baby Mia and the Pappacena family to the blog! When mom contacted me to book a session for their family, she had originally booked the Belly to Baby package which includes maternity and newborn photos. But then a world health pandemic struck which changed our plans for their photos. We were unable to capture their maternity photos due to the shutdown and I was not able to meet the family for their newborn photos until Mia was already 3 1/2 weeks. But one thing I have learned during this pandemic and subsequent shutdown of my photography business is that I need to be flexible and quickly adaptable. So while I typically plan for newborn sessions within the first 2 weeks of life, I have learned with all of my newborn clients born during the shutdown, that older newborn sessions are doable and so much fun! 

Mom and Dad completed the newborn session questionnaire and shared that they had decorated her nursery in a beautiful floral theme with pint and mint colors. So, mom asked that I bring various shades of pink, mint and neutrals with fur textured blankets and floral accents. These would be the perfect way to coordinate with their nursery decor and style. We started with their family photos and posed in Mia's beautiful nursery. Mom and Dad were both so snuggly with Mia that we were able to capture such cuddly, lifestyle images of the new family of three. 

After we finished their family photos and individual photos of both parents with Mia, we then started on her posed newborn photos. She was very comfortable being swaddled in the soft wraps that I brought, so we kept her wrapped and snuggly for her first posed set on the pink fur blanket. Mom had specifically requested a pose with Mia on a fur blanket, and the beautiful pink color balanced out her gorgeous dark hair. We then moved on to different sets incorporating mint tones. A soft mint blanket with floral wrap and then a mint wooden bowl with a pink and mint floral headband were a great way to combine the pink and mint tones that mom had requested for her posed photos. Mia slept so well that we were able to work through several set ups and poses which provided a wide range of looks for the Pappacena's final gallery. 

When I first met the Collard family, their son Easton was just a baby for their holiday mini session. So when mom Jessica contacted me about scheduling a maternity session for their growing family, I was excited to see them again! I absolutely love seeing how much a child grows between our sessions and it was so much fun to see Easton as an active, smiley toddler with such a full personality! This session was also special as the family would soon be moving from Pittsburgh and they wanted to capture updated family photos and celebrate this time of the upcoming birth of their baby before they moved. 

We settled on Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve for the family's session. This is a beautiful park that offers a variety of backdrops for photos and it's always a gorgeous location regardless of season! Spring is full of blooming, green trees and early wildflowers and we took full advantage of the landscape throughout the park. This is also a great park for children to walk around and explore the various trails, rocks, and fields. Easton had so much fun exploring the grounds with his family which gave me the opportunity to photograph some really adorable candid interactions! 

Along with their family photos, we focused on Jessica for some maternity photos as well. She looked stunning in her blue and white striped dress which completely complimented the blue tones in Dan and Easton's outfits. I love when pregnant mamas wear flowy dresses in their maternity photos as it provides movement to the photograph and is flattering in showing off her baby bump. Comfortable and flattering clothes are key when planning your outfits for a photo session and Jessica totally nailed it with her beautiful off-the-shoulder maternity dress!

The Collard family was so much fun to work with and I am so excited to have had the opportunity to capture this important moment in their lives as they prepare for baby number two as well as a big move from the town where they started their family!