It's always really exciting for me to work with repeat families and watch their family grow over the years. I feel so honored that families will have me come back and capture the special moments in their life, like welcoming the newest addition to their family! I met this adorable family for a fall mini session a few years ago and was really excited to hear from mom after the birth of their sweet baby girl. They wanted to book a lifestyle newborn session to capture the sweet moments between big brother, big sister and their new little baby. 

It had been over a year since I saw them, but as soon as I walked into the door, I felt so welcome and big brother gave me a huge hug! They are just the sweetest!! We started with some photos of the siblings together and then let the older kids take a break while I captured some photos of the baby. I find it is usually easier to start with photos of the baby with the older siblings, especially if they are younger. Young children tend to lose interest and excitement, so we get those cute, snuggly pictures first and then let them go take a break and play. Then if they want to come back and take some more with their baby brother or sister, we can do that! So we posed baby sister with each of the older kids and I just love the proud expressions they both have while holding their baby sister! They are both going to be such amazing older siblings!

Happy 1st Birthday sweet Luca!! I first met Luca and his parents this past summer for his 6 month sitter photo session. I fell in love with this little guy immediately - his smile is just the cutest!! And his parents are just the sweetest people, I was really excited when mom booked Luca's first birthday session with me!

Having winter birthdays in Pittsburgh can be hard for setting up a cake smash. Because I choose to travel to client's homes or other public locations, sometimes we need to get creative on where we do an indoor cake smash photo session. Luckily, the family belongs to a local country club and were given permission to do Luca's photos in their clubhouse. It really lucked out because it was snowy and freezing cold that morning, so there was no way we could attempt an outdoor session with little Luca. The room Mom chose was bright and full of big, beautiful windows so I first captured some photos of Luca walking around the room. His little bowtie outfit was simply adorable and perfect for a little man's birthday photos! Mom and I then set up for the cake smash some some of the props Mom brought with her. Luca was a little hesitant about the cake at first, but once he realized what the cake was, he dove in for the icing! Of course he was covered in icing by the end and absolutely adorable!!

Meet Baby Luca...he is the first baby for this sweet family and so stinkin' adorable! I met them at their home on a cold, snowy day and loved spending my morning with Luca and his parents. Mom and Dad wanted to take some family photos in his nursery, plus some lifestyle photos of Luca in his crib. He had the most adorable little nursery with a nautical theme! I love taking photos of newborn babies in their crib. They are just so tiny and look so cute in this big bed. It's amazing that one day, sooner than they think, Luca will be jumping up and down in that crib and calling out to them in the morning, ready to start the day! 

After their family photos, we moved on to his posed photos. Mom's only request was to use a custom hat she purchased for his photos. It was an adorable, hand made hat from Ireland! He slept so well for his posed photos and we were able to capture several little set ups and poses. He was a rock star in his session! I especially loved photographing his little details - fingers, toes, lips and his full head of hair! It always amazes me how quickly babies grow and change so those tiny little fingernails will never be that tiny again, so it's so sweet to look back on those amazing details! 

Meet the sweetest new addition to the Faust Family!! I first met this family in the fall for big brother Charlie's 2nd birthday and family photo session. When I first met them this past fall, Charlie was a bit slow to warm up to me but by the end of the session, he was running around, playing in the leaves, and checking out his photos on the back of my camera. When I came back for their newborn session, he was pretty much ready to go! After a snack and episode of Elmo while I was setting up and wrapping baby sister, he was ready for family photos! And then it was time for him to hold her for their sibling pose. With toddlers, we have to be extra careful because they're not always aware of their space and may jump up all of the sudden, moving the baby quickly out of the way. But Charlie was not like that at all! He was super careful with her and did really well lying there to get his picture taken. He's already such a good big brother!! 

After family photos, Mom and I headed upstairs to set up for the newborn posed photos. She was definitely a fan of being wrapped and was easily more settled if I had her wrapped up for the different poses. So, we made sure to keep her wrapped up and contained but could get a bit of variety out of the set ups. I absolutely loved using the purple lace backdrop with her and I think it's a beautiful compliment for her gorgeous skin tone and dark hair! 

Meet sweet baby Iris! Born on New Year's Day, she was the first baby born at the local hospital and I was so excited to capture a Fresh 48 photo session before they embarked home to begin their life as a new family of three! It was clear from the moment I walked into their hospital room just how in love her parents are with her. Mom and Dad were both so doting and excited to show her off! We captured some sweet moments of them together and a few of baby Iris in her adorable going home outfit! 

A few days later, I came to their home and we took their official newborn photos. We made sure to include their Greyhound fur babies in some of the family photos. They were both such gentle, sweet dogs and loved snuggling on the couch with Mom, Dad and their new baby sister! Baby Iris was such a good sleeper in her session! And I'm always so amazed at how scrunched up they can be when I pose them...it really shows how they were in the womb!! Mom chose some light and airy colors to photograph baby Iris in and I think it showed off her light complexion really well. She was so dainty and small, the little headbands and airy set ups really highlighted how perfect she was! 

As my first session to photograph this year, I love that it was a newborn session because starting off with a newborn is a great way to start the year! I look forward to many more babies and families to photograph in 2018 and I'm super excited to get started!!