Snow Day! Documenting My Boys At Play

A few weeks back we had a snow day, one where it wasn’t so cold that my boys could actually play in it for a while. The conditions were gorgeous and my boys were chomping at the bit to get out there and play, and my one condition was that they had to wait for me to run and grab my camera! As a mom photographer, you’d think I document everyday like this, but it’s too easy to shoot more than you have time to edit, so when a gorgeous snow day comes along like this, I can’t resist—even if I have two-years worth of our own family’s photos to print!

playing in the snow

I started with my youngest who is still not certain if he likes playing in the snow.

watching snowflakes fall

I think he is starting to realize that this is more fun for me than it is for him.

close-up

But not so for my oldest, he loves playing in the snow.

walking downhill

playing with his snowman

And when my little asked to go inside, he lingered by the door to watch his big brother at play.

little brother is torn about playing in the snow

snowman games

smiling for mom

He’s thinking, “Ok, enough with the photos already!” Good sport, though and one of my two sweetest, most mischievous, lovable little guys.

being silly for the camera

Pittsburgh Newborn Session: Photos with a Full Belly

This little sweetheart was just two weeks old when I got to photograph him and his is darling parents. And he started out the session a little fussy – his mama had an unplanned guest visit the hour before the session and she didn’t get the time to feed him beforehand like she had planned. And I can really identify with her, not wanting to turn someone away and hoping that everything would work out. Well, this little sweetie just wasn’t having it, so she took a break to feed him and what a turnaround once he had a full belly! He was so content and it was a breeze documenting this angel and his sweet family.

brand new baby

bright eyes

Look at how content this little guy is.

what I like to call a baby sandwich

father and son

mama and baby

This one of my favorite ways to photograph a baby. I love seeing babies in their mother’s arms, they’re happy that way and what a beautiful representation of this special time.

babe in arms

family portrait on the bed

Just look at those bright eyes! And this little guy is so content, he doesn’t even fuss at being in his crib.

newborn portrait in crib

I also love the simplicity of swaddling a baby.

baby swaddled

And then there are these sweet baby feet! My baby fix has been met and I’m excited for all that’s ahead for this sweet family!

baby feet!

Thank You for a Great Year: The Best of 2017

2017 has been a blessed year for my family and my business and I’m so thankful to my clients for the opportunity to document so many wonderful memories from weddings, to babies, to high school seniors. Thank you so much for reviewing my business on Google, for referring your friends and family, and for liking my posts on Instagram and Facebook! I’m so grateful to get to work for people like you! I’m proud to share this recap of my work over this past year and blessed to note that I’ve been able to run this business from home on a part-time basis. Which compels me to say, God is good! Just wanted to give the Lord credit for all that is good in my life: my husband and children, my extended family, and friends. Thank you all for your support. Ok, onto the photos.

As we prepare for a new year with new beginnings, what better place to start than some brand new babies!

newborn portrait from above

baby and siblings

newborn and parents

mom and dad kissing and embracing baby

mama kissing her baby

baby in onsie

sleeping baby

mommy and baby snuggles

baby sandwich

daddy and baby looking into each other's eyes

And it goes so fast…
Read more

McConnells Mill Engagement Session: Choosing a Location to Match Your Style

Earlier this month, I enjoyed getting in a quick trip to McConnells Mill State Park for an engagement session. I have loved coming to this park since I was a child, but when my clients choose it as their location, I do a little happy dance. I feel so blessed to be only a 30-minute drive from this lovely park. Now as I was getting to know this couple over the course of a phone call and a few emails. I offered some options for locations ranging from a park with a mansion to a main street in quaint town nearby. And with this couple’s plans to wed in a beautiful log cabin lodge in the fall of next year, McConnells Mill fit their style best.

kissing engagement photo

One of the great things about coming to McConnells Mill in December is that there is no shortage of color with the evergreen trees and mossy boulders. Meanwhile all of my other favorite spots are grey and brown unless it happens to snow.

Sitting on an old log

This covered bridge over the stream is lovely and so is this couple!

kissing by the covered bridge

This calls for a straight-up portrait. In my experience with photographing weddings, the parents always appreciate a traditional portrait like this.

engagement portrait

And modern brides and grooms usually prefer something like this:

whispering sweet nothings

One of the fun things about photographing sessions at this park is the getting to walk on this lovely trail through the woods.

a walk in the woods

And these next few images just feature more of the loveliness of this engagement session.

embrace by the white waters

walking between huge boulders

amidst the mossy boulders

I really love this last shot of them laughing amidst the evergreens. It really sums this session up.

in between the evergreens

Congratulations to this happy couple!

Merry Christmas from the Millers: Lifestyle Photography for Holiday Traditions

Christmas time is special for families because there are lots of wonderful traditions to be passed down. And I love these traditions and enjoy documenting them so that I can look back on them with with happy tears when my sons are grown. Each year I think to myself, “it’d be great to create a whole album of photos telling the story of our Christmas traditions.” And then I remember that I have two-years worth of photos to print (that’s my New Years resolution). So maybe next year I can get around to making a Christmas album? But for now, I’d like to share some of the traditions we’ve documented this year.

going to get our Christmas tree

Our traditions start right after Thanksgiving with the search for the perfect tree, which in our family, is one that’s not too wide or tall. Something like this:

we found the perfect tree!

This is the first year we cut our own tree and I’m so glad my husband suggested it, because my boys loved watching their daddy “chop down the tree.”

daddy cutting it down

It is so sweet to see my boys want to help their dad.

going to get our Christmas tree

Then comes the family portrait. You might think this is a breeze for me being a photographer, but I have to be honest—self portraits with my family generally make me grumble under my breath. I set the camera on a tripod and use a remote shutter. The running back and forth to check my settings and forced smiles alternated by frantically coaxing our children to look at the camera, should be enough for me to plan ahead and hire a photographer next year before the busy season kicks in. After all of my grunting and fussing, I’m glad to have this shot. And I’m totally fine with the smirk on my youngest. His day was not going the way he wanted it.

Christmas-traditions-photography-7

Now that my oldest is learning to write, I will definitely be taking annual photos of letters to Santa. I’m so proud of his new skills and someday I will love looking back on what he was requesting.

Letter to Santa

We are very blessed to have Santa visit our new neighborhood and I prefer this image over a photo with Santa at the mall any day. What a sweet moment!

Santa's visit

And when you’re the mom and photographer, sometimes your camera gets messy. With our cookie baking tradition, my camera had a light dusting with flour…

making Christmas cookies

I love this shot of me with my son. I handed my husband the camera and he captured this sweet moment and I don’t mind if its a little out of focus.

mommy and son cutting out cookies

These cookies still aren’t iced as I type this post, but that’s ok, we’ll get to it tomorrow.

Christmas cookies

Wishing those who celebrate a very merry Christmas!