I am so excited to share the maternity and newborn sessions for the latest addition to the Burger family! I have been lucky enough to photograph this gorgeous family since the maternity photos for their first daughter Avery. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know them over the past few years and I was so excited to hear about the upcoming arrival of their second daughter!! Mom contacted me to share the wonderful news and book the Belly to Baby photography package, which includes both maternity and newborn sessions.

We started planning for their maternity photos and, as it worked out, it had snowed that weekend so we were able to get a beautiful winter background for their photos. It was pretty cold outside that afternoon, so Mom wanted to do part of her session outside at a park near her home as well as indoor for a more casual, lifestyle maternity session. I absolutely loved the relaxed, casual vibe of their in-home maternity photos and I think it really provided a nice balance to their posed winter photos outside. This was also a great opportunity for me to see the space at home where we would be taking photos during the newborn session. I do not often know what sort of home set up, lighting or space I will have to work with during the in-home sessions, so this was such a great way for me to plan my props and colors before little Peyton's arrival and scheduled newborn session.

Once Peyton was born, Mom contacted me to set up a morning for their newborn photos. I already had a look at Petyon's nursery during the maternity photos and we discussed what colors she liked as well as colors she wanted to avoid during the session, which made planning much easier for me! Mom also had a newborn photo of big sister Avery that I took using neutral color tones with lace and a bow headband that she wanted to try to coordinate with one of Peyton's setups. After taking some family photos in various spots around the house, including the living room, nursery and the parent's bedroom, we got started with Peyton's posed newborn photos. Mom selected a mauve color which we incorporated in a couple of different setups. This color looked beautiful against her skin tone and it was such a great color choice to coordinate with other delicate prop choices. Avery and Peyton are such beautiful girls and I am so grateful to be able to capture this special moment in their lives - watching Avery grow into a big sister and see their family welcome sweet baby Peyton into their home!

I am so excited to share from Fallons' first birthday and the Kiefer family's portrait session! I have had the pleasure of photographing their family since big sister Emme's newborn session but since Fallon was born during quarantine last year, I did not have a chance to meet the newest addition to their family. So when mom contacted me to set up a session for Fallons' first birthday, I was super excited to catch up and meet their new baby girl! We ended up with a beautiful March evening with absolutely stunning sunset lighting. Mom wanted to use a location that had an option for shelter in case we had poor weather, which often happens in Pittsburgh's spring season, so we settled on Aspinwall Riverfront Park. This was a new session location for me, but as it sits right along the river and has a really nice covered pavilion, this is definitely going on my list as a recommendation for other portrait sessions!

​The family was ready and jumped right in to taking their photos - it always makes things more fun and easy when families feel comfortable with each other in front of the camera. This is not easy to do! I always encourage families to focus on each other, instead of the camera, as a way to get those natural interactions. This may be while dancing, telling jokes, giving tickles or LOTS of hugs and kisses! The best smiles come from genuine joy while interacting with the ones you love! The Kiefer's were great at playing around and having fun with their children, which allowed me to capture those sweet candid moments of joy!

The girls were wearing a dress and romper set that coordinated beautifully together. After taking some family photos, the girls had an outfit change to get ready for Fallon's individual first birthday photos and her cake smash. In a lilac and lace romper with white lace headband, she looked picture perfect! Mom also came prepared with a pink 1 balloon and a pink and purple cake. Fallon took her time picking off the sprinkles while daintily eating her cake but big sister Emme was ready to dig in as soon as mom and dad gave the go ahead! It was so fun watching these two sisters interact and I absolutely loved watching Emme as a big sister! It was so great to see the family again and I look forward to future sessions with the Kiefer family!!

Welcome to the world, Baby Connor!! When mom, Meghan, contacted me about booking a newborn session for their first child, the excitement about the impending arrival of their baby was very obvious which made me so excited to meet their family! She decided on a Full Newborn package which includes family photos as well as traditional posed newborn photos. When I arrived to their home for the session, both Meghan and Zac were warm, welcoming and excited to get started with their photos!

We started with family photos in their beautiful living room - it was easy to prompt them to cuddle and love on Connor. They were proud parents and I loved seeing how attentive and loving they were with Connor and each other. We then moved on to some photos in Connor's nursery. They decided to wait to find out the gender of their baby until delivery, so the nursery was beautifully neutral but also included some gorgeous design details. Because the nursery was decorated in neutral tones, they decided on using some colors in the posed newborn photos. They opted for grays, blues and greens for the props. The blue wrap we used in Connor's first set up was absolutely perfect with his gorgeous deep blue eyes! Mom was prepared with some props she had available including a gray and white pant/hat set, some hockey props which hold sentimental value for dad and a gifted green sleeper and hat set. We ended the session with the green sleeper outfit which was absolutely adorable on Connor as he slept comfortably in the gray wooden crate we chose. The little tie sleeper was perfect for photographing Connor's little fingers and toes!! And it was a great pop of color with the neutral fur rug and rustic blanket we selected. Neutral tones provide such a great base for posed photos but I love incorporating color to show off the beautiful details of a baby which worked so well in little Connor's posed newborn session!

Sweet baby Hudson is now a 1 year old! I have had the pleasure of getting to know the Morgan family over the past year and as they welcomed their first child into the world! I first met them for their in-home maternity session, then again for Hudson's newborn photos and how his first birthday photos. And it was exciting to photograph each of these sessions at their home and in his nursery. We were able to document the changes to their family starting with their anticipation of bringing home their first born to celebrating his first year of life! 

Hudson was a total charmer right from the beginning of our session. He has the biggest and best smile and was so playful with mom and dad, we were able to capture his adorable facial expressions and interactions. We started with photos in his nursery, surrounded by some of his favorite books and toys. I absolutely LOVE incorporating their favorite items in the first birthday session - this time goes by so quickly, they will be developing and moving on to other favorites so fast, it's fun to document their favorite 'baby' toys. After we finished in his nursery, we moved on to the living room where he had free rein to play on the couch, cuddle with his mom and dad and show off his walking skills! In-home, lifestyle photography sessions are such a great way to photograph the family in their true form. They tend to be much more comfortable in their home, and with an unposed style of photography, this is such a great way to capture those candid moments in a more relaxed space. 

Once we finished up the family photos, it was time for Hudson's cake smash! Mom had ordered a cake and some props to go along with his Clubhouse birthday theme. He loved removing the fondant polka dots from the cake and needed a little help digging into the cake, but once he got started, he was ready to go!! He got in some good practice before the cake smash at his family birthday celebration! I am so excited that I got the chance to photograph the Morgan family over the past year and was able to document Hudson's first year milestones!!

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!

Oh, sweet Evelyn - I cannot believe you're already a one year old!! From maternity photos and her newborn session to celebrating her first birthday, it has been so amazing watching this beautiful baby girl grow in her first year. I feel so lucky to have this business - to get to meet and build relationships with so many sweet families and capture images that they can cherish for a lifetime! Mom and Dad decided they wanted to take their photos at North Park and I had the perfect hidden treasure location for their sunset fall session. It's a great mix of large fields with tall grass, trees with changing leaves and gorgeous sunset light!

Mom had an adorable custom, monogrammed dress made for the occasion and fit perfectly with her fall themed birthday session. And the little baby pumpkins she brought along were the perfect props to match! We started with some family photos while we allowed Evelyn to get used to the camera. This is the absolute best way to help kids ease into a session - let them stay close to their parents, engage in play while they snuggle together and I slowly get closer as I photograph little details of the family interacting. After Evelyn warmed up a little more, we had her stand or sit on her own for some solo birthday photos. I always love hearing moms and dads behind me trying to get smiles and laughs from their kiddos....the sounds, songs, and silly dances make the best entertainment! And they knew exactly what to do to get beautiful smiles from their sweet baby girl!

In sticking with the pumpkin and fall theme, mom brought a light orange icing smash cake with a pumpkin ONE cake topper in sparkly gold. Evelyn also changed into a pink and gold sparkly tutu, totally fitting for her cake smash! At first she was not too sure about touching or eating the cake, but after some help from mom and dad, she got her hands in to the cake and took a few bites. Sometimes kids need a little help with their cake smash, we never know how they are going to react to this new experience. Most babies have never had cake or this sort of treat before or maybe they are not a fan of soft texture foods, so it's important to stay flexible and understanding that every child is going to respond differently. Luckily, once Evelyn got her hand into the cake, she started to get the hang of it and she had fun with it! Smashing and eating cake is such a fun way to celebrate that first year milestone!!

For baby Bruno's in-home lifestyle newborn session, I was actually contacted by mom's sister who wanted to book the session as a gift for the new family. I could tell how close the sisters are and just how special their relationship is so this gift was incredibly important to the family! When little Bruno arrived, we set up a day for their session and I was so excited to meet this sweet baby boy! Mom and Dad were both so warm and inviting. And they were so excited for their photography session! It was so obvious just how much in love they both were with their new son and was wonderful to capture this in their images. 

We took photos in various spots around their house including the living room, Bruno's nursery and even the stairwell! Living in an older home in the city, there were some really great architectural details that I wanted to capture and the stairs offered a great backdrop with beautiful lighting! During my lifestyle newborn sessions, I encourage a lot of cuddles and kisses with their new baby. Mom and Dad were both so natural in front of the camera and happily snuggled their baby boy which allowed for some really sweet, intimate and candid images! I loved photographing this adorable family and am so happy to capture these images of their new baby!

​All images by Becca Baker Photography
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania newborn, maternity, child & family photographer
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*Becca Baker Photography specializes in newborn, infant/child, maternity and family photography in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas.*
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I first met the Schaming family for their older daughter's first birthday session and have had the pleasure of photographing their family for the past few years. When mom contacted me to book a newborn session for their second daughter, I was excited to see them again and photograph their growing family! It is always so much fun to build a relationship with a family and capture such special moments in their lives! This session was also fun because grandparents were visiting and were able to participate in the session. Sometimes when I arrive for a session, there is a visiting family member - an aunt, grandparent - to help the family during the early days after delivery. When I see that family is present, I like to encourage them to take a few photos with the baby as this is a special time for them as well! So it was really great that Caroline and Emily's grandparents were there and ready for photos! 

Mom and Dad decided on taking family photos in their bedroom, as well as some lifestyle images in Emily's nursery. I loved the moment of Caroline reaching in to hold Emily's hand while she was lying in her crib. Such a sweet little moment!! After capturing some family photos, we got started with Emily's posed newborn photos. Mom had purchased a wrap and headband set that matched Caroline's dress, so we made sure to incorporate this special wrap into her photos. Mom chose to use neutral tones, pinks and some teal in the posed set ups. We chose several shades of pink and teal as pops of color on the neutral backdrops. I love working with the parents on selecting our final props for their session, but I really love when the older siblings get involved in making choices as well. It's such a fun way to keep the family involved in the process and it always helps to customize their session to their own preferences. I want to ensure the family is happy with the final images and allowing them input in what props are chosen is extremely important! 

I met the Moore family at beautiful Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve for their fall family portrait session. We ended up with a perfect fall evening for their session and the fall foliage was just gorgeous! It's such a beautiful park and great hidden gem for family hikes and nature exploration - I recommend it to so many families!! Mom and Dad had requested not only some posed family photos, but mostly lifestyle and candid shots. She expressed that they really wanted to capture images of their two kids playing in the leaves and the exploring the park. We lucked out with a large tree that just had a ton of gorgeous golden leaves fall to the ground, so the kids were able to sit in, throw and play in the fall leaves.

We took our time walking around the park and trails to find the best spots for their photos. The kids easily warmed up to taking photos, especially as we encouraged them to play and interact with each other and their parents. We got some of THE BEST laughs and smiles from them both!! After walking around the trails and pond, we ended up at the natural playground, equipped with a playhouse, tree stumps, underground tunnel and boulders to climb. It was such a great spot to let the kids run loose, run around, play and have fun. This is always my favorite part of the session - the kids are usually totally goofy, wound up and ready to run which is when I can capture some truly amazing reactions and expressions! They may not always be Christmas card worthy, but they are a great representation of the kids and their personality at this stage in their childhood!

What a beautiful weekend for fall minis! This year I offered three different locations in and around the Pittsburgh area for fall mini sessions and each offered such a gorgeous backdrop for these family portraits! The first evening of mini sessions were held at Succop Nature Park in Butler PA. This park is stunning and offers a wide variety of locations within the park for beautiful photos. We were able to use a field of tall grass including trees with changing colors in the leaves, wooden fencing and a hill of big orange leaves, perfect for throwing in the air! This is one of my favorite parks to use for photo sessions!

For the next morning, we met at the Walled Garden in Mellon Park. This is another favorite location for photos and it works well for sunset photo sessions but also early morning portraits. The fall foliage within the garden and the fallen leaves were picture perfect for these mini sessions. It was so much fun walking around the park with each family, exploring the garden and using the amazing brick walls, stone paths and iron gates as backdrops for each photo!

Finally, the third location we used for fall minis was in Sewickley Heights Boro park. The wide path with tall trees and a field of tall grass is the perfect backdrop for sunset photos! And in the golden light of a fall evening is truly stunning in this gorgeous park. Two of the families also brought their dogs and it was so much fun including these fur babies in the family photos! I absolutely love when families bring their dogs to their session - it's so important to include all members of the family!

What I love about fall family photos is not only capturing those beautiful posed family portraits, perfect for their upcoming holiday cards, but also photographing families and children having fun in the fall landscape! Playing in the leaves, holding pumpkins, exploring trails and grassy fields with that gorgeous golden sunset light - it truly makes me happy to capture these special images for each family! Each of the families who joined me for fall minis this year were previous clients so it was a lot of fun to catch up with them and see how much their kids had grown up! Especially after the wild year we have all been in this year, it was so good to see how well everyone was doing with the recent events of the pandemic, closures, virtual learning and working from home. It was great to hear how well the kids were taking everything in stride and how each family has embraced the extra quality time they have had together over the past seven months. I loved hearing everyone's story and capturing their beautiful fall family photos!

SUCCOP NATURE PARK, BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA

MELLON PARK WALLED GARDEN, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

SEWICKLEY HEIGHTS BORO PARK, SEWICKLY, PENNSYLVANIA