Tag Archive for: Pittsburgh

Touching Newborn Photos: Baby Lucas

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One of the most satisfying parts about being a portrait photographer is getting to see how families grow. And I was so very excited to get an email from Janelle during her third trimester, inquiring about booking a maternity and newborn session. I was honored to photograph their engagement session while I was still shooting weddings and remembered how much fun we had working together. And little Lucas is no different. He slept most of the session and while we found out that he didn’t like being on the large bean bag, he loved being held in his parents arms, and that’s where the magic happens.

Sweetly Sleeping
 When I arrived at their home just east of Pittsburgh, Lucas had a belly full of milk and was nodding off to sleep, so we started with him in this cozy sweater suit and tucked him into bed.

newborn sleeping

baby feet

Two Weeks and Younger
This session is a great example of why it’s best to schedule newborn sessions within the baby’s first two weeks. Luke was just 8 days old and still in that dreamy state where he can pretty much sleep through anything. At this stage, newborns are less likely to be fussy because their little bodies are still adapting to life outside the womb. So Luke was pretty easy-going. Of course he cried a little here and there, but that’s to be expected. And we found out that he really did not enjoy laying on the large bean bag I use for individual shots. Most babies enjoy sinking in to the soft blankets on the bean bag, but each baby is unique so I’m always on the lookout to find a way to make each baby comfortable. So for the images that are all about Luke, we responded by including his parents in the shots in a way that he felt comforted, but was still the main focus of the image. Here’s a great example of one of those shots. And I kind of love seeing the soft outlines of Janelle and Andre looking over their little bundle.

sound-asleep-newborn

I love seeing the baby and mama’s faces in close proximity. And in this shot, it almost looks like Luke is smiling at Janelle.

mama and baby

Capturing the Wonderful Bond Between Parents and Their Baby
You can usually tell when a baby breastfeeds by how they respond in their mama’s arms. And I think that’s really neat, because in this next shot, you get the feel that he’s nursing even though he’s not and there’s no need to blush. I know from my own experience that it can be embarrassing when your baby does this (especially when you’re out in public) but it’s completely natural and I love it when it happens in front of the camera because breastfeeding can be such a wonderful bonding experience and in my opinion, newborn sessions are all about capturing the wonderful bond between parents and their baby.

new family

First Family Portraits
These last two shots are straight-up family portraits that we shot in their living room. Studio lights were added for this one.

newborn family portrait

And I went with natural light for this one. They’re equally great ways to show off this sweet little family, but there’s something about this natural light portrait that I love. It feels more spontaneous and that’s one of the aspects of lifestyle photography that really sticks with me.

baby's first family portrait

If you like this approach to newborn photography and are expecting a little one, you might want to click here to find out more about what it’s like to work with me.

Pittsburgh Christmas Family Portraits

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Here’s a bit of holiday cheer from a recent family portrait session featuring little Arleigh who is about to turn two. Her mama dressed her in a cute party dress and she really sparkled in front of their tree.

portrait in front of the Christmas tree

Arleigh’s daddy playfully told her not to tip the vase of Christmas bulbs (smart guy!). And she went for it with a sweet and mischievous sense of satisfaction.

portrait by the Christmas tree

It was pretty warm outside for the beginning of December, so we were lucky enough to do some portraits with them in front of their home, all decorated for the holidays.

family posing with a frame

In front of their home

I’m learning a bit about how to keep a toddler’s attention during a photo shoot. Having photographed brides and grooms over the last six years, this was never really a concern of mine. But now, I’m practicing a lot at home with my son and finding out what works and what doesn’t. Some people are naturals at this, but for me, it’s all trial and error. So during this session, I put a stuffed puppy on my head that barks when you snap or clap. And I think it was mildly amusing to Arleigh. Until the puppy slipped off of my head and fell to the floor. That was a very happy mistake. Now, how many shots could I get with this technique before it got old?

mistletoe photo

toddler portrait

children's portrait in front of Christmas tree

And this is probably my favorite shot of the day. We were in Arleigh’s bedroom when her mama and daddy told her to look outside at the blue bird in the tree. She was curious and played along with them for a few minutes and I love opportunities like this to capture these candid moments and her sweet personality. If you’re interested in scheduling a photo shoot like this at your home, I’d love to hear from you!

toddler portrait by the window

What a fun session! Thanks to Kristin and Travis for the opportunity to photograph your darling family! Merry Christmas!

How to Get Fabulous Christmas Cards Without Going Crazy

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I love everything about sending Christmas cards. It’s something I’ve enjoyed since my husband and I were first married. Every year, we’d plan a custom photo card and up until recently, our dog Brownie has graced the front of our cards (he was overlooked last year with the birth of our son, and this year, you can find him on the back of our cards…poor guy, but that’s how it goes). Anyway, I love coming up with the idea for the design and photos, all the way down to the details of the envelopes and stamps.

Mind you, I skimp on other holiday joys like baking cookies, but Christmas cards are kind of my thing. And there is a lot of work involved from beginning to end. And if you’ve ever created your own cards, I think you know what I’m talking about. I’ve seen the wearied faces of parents at the photo kiosk in Target trying to select images off of their thumb drive with those painfully slow Kodak machines. And even though there are lots of options with custom cards available online these days, it’s tough to beat having fun family portraits by a pro! So this year, I offered a set of 25 custom cards with my holiday mini sessions to make it easier for everyone to have fabulous Christmas cards with stunning photos! And I’d love to share Amanda and Chris’ card because I really love how they styled their wardrobe for this holiday mini session.

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Aren’t they cute with their fun winter wear (and Chris’ hunting cap and jacket)? It’s the details like this that personalize a session. And what better attire for a photo session amidst fresh cut Christmas trees at Reilly’s Summer Seat Farm? We also used the greenhouse there for part of the session because it was a great place to warm up and it was brimming with poinsettias.

So just by booking a mini session, planning their attire, and coming out for a 30-minute photo shoot, Amanda and Chris made their Christmas cards to do list a breeze. After their session, they selected their three favorite images and the card design was emailed for their approval the next day and delivered the following week. And they had an online gallery of images to order prints from as Christmas gifts for their family! Check and check!

And I guess I’ll share our cards too for some variety since we didn’t want to take our son out in the cold with a cold. I set up a backdrop and some lights in our family room and lowered my expectations because it’s always tricky photographing your own family. But I was thrilled to find that Brennan actually enjoyed it (for the most part)! We spent maybe 10 minutes in front of the camera. Sweet!

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And I think I’ll also offer on-location sessions like this next year so clients with young kids have the option of checking the session off of their list without having to leave the comfort of their home. If you’d like to be kept in the loop about opportunities like this holiday mini session and custom cards, please let me know so I can add you to our email list.

Captivating Imagery Photo Op!

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I’m getting all ready for our first-ever holiday mini sessions and as part of my preparations, I’d like to do a test shoot. So, I’m looking for a family who would like to be my model so that I can create an image to use in my marketing that will give everyone an idea of what to expect with our mini sessions.

Here’s how I’ll choose this family: please write a short essay (300 words or less) on what family portraits mean to you and send me a snapshot of you and your family. By doing this, you’re giving me permission to share your story and photo on my site and Facebook page. I’m planning on doing this test shoot on November 19th at 4 p.m. So your family will need to be available at that time. The winning family for this Photo Op will be selected next Wednesday, on November 13th. So time is ticking!

Get Your Holiday Mini Session On!

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I’m so excited to be offering holiday mini sessions (for the first time ever!) at Reilly’s Summer Seat Farm on November 23rd and 24th! We’ll be shooting by the Christmas trees and I’ll have some fun props to add some color. The sessions are 30 minutes long and include 25 custom-designed, flat holiday cards (5×7, 5×5, or snowflake-shaped 3×3 inserts (great if you already have your cards, and they make awesome ornaments!) You’ll be emailed an online proofing gallery on November 25th, which will remain active for one month. If you make your image selections for your holiday card by the 26th, we’ll have your cards ready for you by the first week of December! The session fee is $150. Sessions are limited!