This high school senior is ready for take-off. I know him from church and I think it’s safe to say, our whole church family is proud of him. He’s a kind, gifted, and all-around likable guy, so it was fun to meet up for his senior portraits this past fall. We met at SteelGate Studio on the South Side.
I love this studio for it’s natural light (it’s also fully equipped with strobes and tons of gear for studio lighting) and ambiance.
This particular shot is in part of the building that is unfinished and it is a favorite location of mine, so I’m glad it was fitting for this senior session.
We also popped outside the studio for some shots around the Terminal Building—it’s got a great vibe with all of the industrial scenery and unexpected pops of color.
I really like this bright shirt he chose against the dark and rusty fire escape.
As a photographer, one of my chief aims is to capture clients looking their best, but something his mom said after seeing his photos really caught my attention. Her favorite shot of him is one where she said I really captured his personality, and not his smile-for-the-camera smile. Sweet! I’m not even sure I know which images she’s referring to, but I am affirmed in my goal to bring out genuine personality!
It seems so long ago to think back on this gorgeous summer wedding, but it won’t be long until summer breezes are blowing though again and this couple can celebrate their first anniversary. We started our day with their first look in Cranberry Woods.
It was a bright, sunny, sweaty kind of day, so the woods offered some much needed shade. And while they may have felt uncomfortable all dressed up in the heat, don’t they look cozy?
It’s tough for a bride to walk through tall grass with scattered roots and twigs, so this groom was glad to sweep his bride up in his arms and carry her to our location for portraits.
How sweet it is to be in love!
I really like this sweet moment they shared during the first look. I asked them to forget that I was there, and I think they were successful!
The ceremony at Twelve Oaks Mansion was short and sweet.
After the ceremony, we went to the front entrance of the mansion and did the family portrait there in the lovely open shade. And I had to share this one. It was a request from one of the grandparents to get all of their grandchildren in one photo—what a great group of kids!
There is so much to share, but only so much time, so I’ll skip ahead to their first dance. What a warm and friendly crowd to celebrate with!
What better location for some fall portraits to document your baby’s first Halloween than Sorgel Orchards in Wexford? It takes some timing to find the right light and fewer crowds, but it’s worth it! And this little boy has some of the most adoring parents I’ve ever met. Of course, he’s pretty charming so it makes perfect sense that they’re so smitten.
When we arrived, it was still pretty crowded and the sun was harsh, so we ducked into the apple orchards for some shade and the beautiful long lines of the orchard rows.
And this little guy looked so big sitting up in the cart!
They also had rows of sunflowers that we couldn’t resist.
And hay bales!
I love the face he’s making here, just look at those cheeks and lips!
https://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Web-Use.png00kmillerhttps://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Web-Use.pngkmiller2017-01-12 10:53:022017-01-12 10:53:02Sorgels Fall Portraits
I struggled with what to name this post because it is from a session of a lovely lady who wanted to have a newer portrait of her to remember her by. And calling it a senior portrait doesn’t begin to give this session justice. I found myself really enjoying spending time with Helen and her son who organized the session.
In this shot below, she reminds me of the quiet confidence I grew to love in my great grandmother.
She wanted to wear her traditional Korean dress and I brought a backdrop and strobes because the occasion really called for it.
Her motivation for this session was a black-and-white portrait of her own mother, very much like this one below where she’s seated in her traditional dress.
God bless you, Helen! It was wonderful spending time with you and your family!
https://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Web-Use.png00kmillerhttps://www.captivatingimagery.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Web-Use.pngkmiller2017-01-10 12:32:592017-01-05 15:53:38On-Location Portraits for the Wiser Senior
This Shadyside newborn session happened last fall and I still have warm and fuzzy feelings about it! When Nicole contacted me she was looking to capture mostly family photos and I definitely get that. I want to see the whole family too—as moms we’re not often photographed and it’s important to me to be able to see myself with my kids when I look back. Just look at this adorable little family and the cute baby with his head slumped to the side. He really steals the show!
Here’s a close-up of him so you can relish the cuteness.
I remember when my youngest son was born, just how much I wanted a photo of my two boys together, even though my oldest was two and a half and not yet feeling so great about becoming a big brother. And I see this desire in other moms too. We won’t let our toddlers hold the baby without the support of an adult, but we must find a way to capture just the two of them together! And a cozy corner of a couch or lying side-by-side are my safest bets to accomplish this. This big brother was having tons of fun with his baby brother snuggling into him. And I love how this sweet baby looks over at him!
Being photographed with a baby is not easy, but this mama is rocking it!
And we had to capture this little guy’s cuteness! He is going to be such a great big brother!
My favorite shot from the session – everyone is happy and the boys couldn’t be any cuter!
Pittsburgh Senior Portrait
/by kmillerThis high school senior is ready for take-off. I know him from church and I think it’s safe to say, our whole church family is proud of him. He’s a kind, gifted, and all-around likable guy, so it was fun to meet up for his senior portraits this past fall. We met at SteelGate Studio on the South Side.
I love this studio for it’s natural light (it’s also fully equipped with strobes and tons of gear for studio lighting) and ambiance.
This particular shot is in part of the building that is unfinished and it is a favorite location of mine, so I’m glad it was fitting for this senior session.
We also popped outside the studio for some shots around the Terminal Building—it’s got a great vibe with all of the industrial scenery and unexpected pops of color.
I really like this bright shirt he chose against the dark and rusty fire escape.
As a photographer, one of my chief aims is to capture clients looking their best, but something his mom said after seeing his photos really caught my attention. Her favorite shot of him is one where she said I really captured his personality, and not his smile-for-the-camera smile. Sweet! I’m not even sure I know which images she’s referring to, but I am affirmed in my goal to bring out genuine personality!
Pittsburgh Wedding: Twelve Oaks Mansion
/by kmillerIt seems so long ago to think back on this gorgeous summer wedding, but it won’t be long until summer breezes are blowing though again and this couple can celebrate their first anniversary. We started our day with their first look in Cranberry Woods.
It was a bright, sunny, sweaty kind of day, so the woods offered some much needed shade. And while they may have felt uncomfortable all dressed up in the heat, don’t they look cozy?
It’s tough for a bride to walk through tall grass with scattered roots and twigs, so this groom was glad to sweep his bride up in his arms and carry her to our location for portraits.
How sweet it is to be in love!
I really like this sweet moment they shared during the first look. I asked them to forget that I was there, and I think they were successful!
The ceremony at Twelve Oaks Mansion was short and sweet.
After the ceremony, we went to the front entrance of the mansion and did the family portrait there in the lovely open shade. And I had to share this one. It was a request from one of the grandparents to get all of their grandchildren in one photo—what a great group of kids!
There is so much to share, but only so much time, so I’ll skip ahead to their first dance. What a warm and friendly crowd to celebrate with!
Sorgels Fall Portraits
/by kmillerWhat better location for some fall portraits to document your baby’s first Halloween than Sorgel Orchards in Wexford? It takes some timing to find the right light and fewer crowds, but it’s worth it! And this little boy has some of the most adoring parents I’ve ever met. Of course, he’s pretty charming so it makes perfect sense that they’re so smitten.
When we arrived, it was still pretty crowded and the sun was harsh, so we ducked into the apple orchards for some shade and the beautiful long lines of the orchard rows.
And this little guy looked so big sitting up in the cart!
They also had rows of sunflowers that we couldn’t resist.
And hay bales!
I love the face he’s making here, just look at those cheeks and lips!
On-Location Portraits for the Wiser Senior
/by kmillerI struggled with what to name this post because it is from a session of a lovely lady who wanted to have a newer portrait of her to remember her by. And calling it a senior portrait doesn’t begin to give this session justice. I found myself really enjoying spending time with Helen and her son who organized the session.
In this shot below, she reminds me of the quiet confidence I grew to love in my great grandmother.
She wanted to wear her traditional Korean dress and I brought a backdrop and strobes because the occasion really called for it.
Her motivation for this session was a black-and-white portrait of her own mother, very much like this one below where she’s seated in her traditional dress.
God bless you, Helen! It was wonderful spending time with you and your family!
Pittsburgh Newborn Session – Shadyside
/by kmillerThis Shadyside newborn session happened last fall and I still have warm and fuzzy feelings about it! When Nicole contacted me she was looking to capture mostly family photos and I definitely get that. I want to see the whole family too—as moms we’re not often photographed and it’s important to me to be able to see myself with my kids when I look back. Just look at this adorable little family and the cute baby with his head slumped to the side. He really steals the show!
Here’s a close-up of him so you can relish the cuteness.
I remember when my youngest son was born, just how much I wanted a photo of my two boys together, even though my oldest was two and a half and not yet feeling so great about becoming a big brother. And I see this desire in other moms too. We won’t let our toddlers hold the baby without the support of an adult, but we must find a way to capture just the two of them together! And a cozy corner of a couch or lying side-by-side are my safest bets to accomplish this. This big brother was having tons of fun with his baby brother snuggling into him. And I love how this sweet baby looks over at him!
Being photographed with a baby is not easy, but this mama is rocking it!
And we had to capture this little guy’s cuteness! He is going to be such a great big brother!
My favorite shot from the session – everyone is happy and the boys couldn’t be any cuter!
Blessings to you, sweet family!