Tag Archive for: portrait

South Park—Pittsburgh Winter Portrait Session

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Last week, I found unexpected joy in photographing Gabi and David at South Park. They’ve been married for a few years and wanted some updated photos, but I was surprised when they were looking to schedule an outdoor session in December. They love the outdoors and a studio session was not what they were looking for, so we scheduled and hoped for no rain.

couple kissing portrait

I was worried about them being cold and miserable spending an hour outside in 40 degree weather (I tend to hibernate like a bear during the winter), but they didn’t seem to mind the cold and actually had fun with it! Maybe I should shake up my habits and get outside more during the winter?!

Winter-portrait-couple

I had so much fun photographing this session and realized how silly I was to suggest waiting until spring. I was thinking that everything is cold and grey during the winter and that they probably wouldn’t like it if their noses and cheeks were rosy in the photos. But can anyone deny their charm in these photos?

couple kissing at South Park

The first three images in this post are in color, and I’m so pleased that the scenery at South Park offered lots of beauty and Gabi did a great job coordinating their wardrobe to compliment the winter hues. But some of my favorites form this session are black and whites.

Winter portrait photography

These two started out a little shy—it takes a while to get fully comfortable with a camera pointed at you. But as they warmed up, the flirtation was so much fun to capture!

South Park Pittsburgh

I will never tire of this set-up: updside down on the ground. Everyone looks stunning in it and the light is just right on an overcast day.

Upside down on the ground

Gabi and David, thank you so much for the opportunity to document this chapter in your journey. And for opening my eyes to the joy of photographing portraits outdoors in the cold! Blessings to you!

Backyard Family Portraits

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This summer, I’ve had the pleasure of photographing several families in their backyards and it’s been so much fun to capture the sweetness in a space that is special to the family. It leaves me with two thoughts: I hope more families will opt to be photographed in their backyards. And it makes me want to work on my own backyard so that my family can do the same! With beautiful morning light and an adorable family, this latest session was a real treat!

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I should mention that these cutie pies are smiling in unison at their grandma and grandpa who were ever so helpful at coaxing some smiles.

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And while I say that this session inspired me to want to work on my own backyard, I should also point out that you don’t have to have a perfectly manicured lawn or landscaping for a great space for portraits. Although, this yard had some spectacular spots for photos!

Backyard-portrait

Childrens-portrait

These two in this treehouse. Goodness!

Family-photography

And this little guy’s mama knew that he’d need a blanket for photos on the grass because he was ready to eat it the moment they laid him down. I’m not sure if he was excited about the grass or all of the hullabaloo behind the camera! Just kidding, it was his family, of course!

On-location-baby-photography

Pittsburgh Family Portrait

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Here’s a fun backyard session from a few weeks back. And by backyard, what I should really say is gorgeous nature walk through the woods. And it actually is the backyard of this awesome nature-loving family!

But let me start with the kids, they are real charmers, even asking if I wanted to be in one of the photos. How sweet!?!

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And here’s the whole family. Doesn’t it look like they were having fun? We kept the shoot light and low on the fuss factor. And for families with younger children, I think that’s really important. As soon as an adult on the shoot (photographer included) gets fussy and frets about stray hairs or posing, the kids disconnect and it becomes challenging for everyone. With that being said, props to this mom who had everyone ready to go, so the moments leading up to the shoot were low-stress and the kids were in a great mood.

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They spend a lot of time down by the creek and we shifted into more of a lifestyle photography approach.

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I really love lifestyle photography because it combines portraiture with everyday life – carefully planned to highlight our memories in the best possible light. As a photographer and a mom, that’s what I feel will be most precious to my family in years to come.

Sentimental Maternity Session: Megan and Rick

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I’m always pleased to received referrals from past clients and when Megan and Rick called, it was clear I was in for a special treat. They recently bought a farm and are in the middle of restoring it and then some! And they wanted their maternity photos to take place in the space that’s most special to them, where they are making plans to raise their son.

Here’s a belly shot that we did by the window in their bedroom.

Maternity belly shot -

We scheduled for June, about five- to six-weeks before Megan’s due date. The majority of the session took place outdoors and Megan was a trooper, navigating the terrain in the heat. And Rick was so attentive, driving us from location to location and helping us in and out of the SUV. They had some locations in mind and we went for it. Here are a few favorites from their session.

husband and wife maternity portrait

This next image was my idea, we were driving from one location to the next and I was struck by the beauty of the woods. Plus, I love walking shots!

outdoor maternity session

And here they are in their rye field. How cool will it be for them to look back at this someday? I love how snuggly they are with each other.

expectant parents portrait

More to come from their newborn session in the future!

If you or someone you know is interested in maternity or newborn photography, please contact me. I’d love to hear from you!

Custom Newborn Photography

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Having a baby is one of the most wonderful events we can experience in this life. I remember feeling like my life had really just begun when I first held my son in my arms. I also remember feeling a lot of pressure to make sure I captured all of the wonderful details of my newborn son and how exhausted I felt. And it all happens so quickly, so it’s really important to have a plan in place before your baby arrives so that you can be sure to capture this special time in your family. And once you do have your newborn session booked, it is a major weight off of your shoulders, which is a particular relief by the time you get to that third trimester!  If you’re expecting or in the process of adopting and looking for a photographer, check out some of my recent posts to see what custom newborn photography by Captivating Imagery is all about.

Newborn Sessions in the Convenience of Your Own Home

father and newborn son portrait

Capturing Relationships and the Essence of Everyday Life

newborn portrait with parents
Revealing Personality Through Lifestyle Photography

baby close-up
First Family Portraits to Treasure Forever
first family portrait

 

Hiring a photographer to capture your baby’s first year is one of the best investments you can make. As time goes by, your photos will become more and more precious to you and your family.

Check out this video below to get a glimpse at a custom newborn session from start to finish:


During the post-session consultation, I like to introduce clients to some of the products I recommend for preserving their memories, like framed prints, custom-designed albums, and image boxes.

image box from a newborn session

Image boxes are a great way to display your favorite images, especially when you’re low on wall space. And they’re perfect for holding images from multiple sessions, like the newborn session, sit-up session, and baby’s first birthday. I’ll be sharing more products that are available for custom newborn photography in the coming months.

If you’re interested in booking a session with me, please check out my contact page and give me a call or send me an email. In order to ensure my clients have the best service possible, I limit the number of sessions I accept each month, so it’s best to contact me during your second trimester.