I had such fun working with The M Family on a warm October evening at Hartwood Mansion. The girls were full of personality, and we talked everything from Wicked to Halloween to Spice Girls to Dolly Parton!
Their sweet smiles really shined through. As much as I love Fall colors, I am so drawn to the shots of them in black & white, especially against the stone background of the mansion. Such timeless, fun captures.
It is always an honor when my friends ask me to photograph their families. Brittany and I have been friends for 20 years, and were college roommates. She has always been one of the most solid, supportive people in my life, and I’m so proud of the beautiful family she and Rob have built.
For their session, I’m so grateful that this South Hills family was willing to cross bridges and come up to see me in North Park. We let the kids play around my favorite tree in the area. I absolutely love the outfits they wore. Despite the sunlight, it was a bit chilly, and Lily’s cute coat was the perfect solution! It’s always a great idea to have photo-ready layers on hand.
We stopped by a few more of my favorite spots in the park, and the kids cooperated so well!
We ended the night at Marshall Island for some stunning shots on the bridge. I love this sweet family, and it was so great to spend some time with them!
Nothing could prepare me for the amount of cuteness in this session. Oh my goodness! From the moment I first saw Nora and Benny, I could not stop smiling.
These absolutely precious one-year-old twins were so sweet and smiley for their session!
I just adored them (and their glasses!). I told their parents, you must give them kissies all day, to which they replied, pretty much. I don’t blame them!
Thanks for coming to see me! It was such a pleasure meeting your family!
I met up with the D Family on a crisp Fall morning - one of the first of the season! I was so excited to meet their sweet baby girl Olivia, who immediately gave me some big smiles. She looked so sweet and cuddly in her soft pink knit dress.
This child was in such a happy mood, showing off her sweet little teeth with every giggle. She loved being high up on her daddy’s shoulders, and being tickled in her mommy’s lap. We ended our session with some shots of her peering over her parents shoulders as they walked into the woods. Such an adorable shot!
I can’t wait to see this little one again in a few months for her First Birthday Session!
When my session starts with a running hug and kiss on the cheek from a very smiley three-year-old, I know I’m about to have a fun session. The K Family and I met at Hartwood Mansion on a warm August evening, and they were such a joy!
I love how photogenic this family is. They are very natural in front of the camera, giving me lots of opportunities to capture their joy in images. A game of peek-a-boo behind the flower pot is always sure to get some natural grins, too!
After working our way around the property, we ended our session in the mansion “backyard” where I witnessed little Daniella fly through the air with her daddy, and spin through the garden with her mommy. A magical way to end a beautiful evening.
I really enjoyed meeting The Y Family at Hartwood Acres Mansion for their morning session! They brought along their darling daughters and fur baby Murphy. Sunset sessions may not always work for families with young children, so I’m always willing to meet in the morning as well! The sun is similarly lower in the sky, and with locations like Hartwood, we can find many shady nooks in which to create a little magic.
I had to laugh to myself at the dynamic of these two sisters. The oldest was calm, quiet, and sweet, while the youngest was active, funny, and equally as sweet! Little Eliza loved playing “Wheres Eliza?” with me, which made for some precious shots of her little teeth! Darling Molly was such a great listener, and I loved capturing her playing in the garden with the morning light shining through her sweet curls.
I love a golden hour session at Hartwood Mansion. The property is so magical, with no shortage of nooks and crannies to explore. Families who choose this location will get a variety of backgrounds in one locations, which is great for gallery variety.
The summer flowers were in full bloom, making the gardens absolute magic for The K Family. Their girls, especially sweet 3-year-old Ryleigh, felt like princesses inside a story book.
What a special session this was. As our nation celebrated it’s 250th birthday, The P Family welcomed their dear parents/grandparents visiting from Taiwan. Natasha’s sweet parents were clearly so proud of their daughter and the life she and her husband have built here in the United States. It is truly an honor to capture these images of family being together.
It was wonderful to meet the J Family for an early October session in North Park. I chose this spot, as I’m currently obsessing over this strong, magnificent tree, but also because of it’s symbolism for an extended family session. The branches may sprawl out in different directions, but in the end they come from the same sturdy trunk, and are nourished through the same strong roots. A great metaphor for family.
As it turns out, this corner of North Park is one the family drives past regularly. An ordinary part of their day, which will now remind them of this time spent together.
As a mom of young kids myself, I get so excited when a family nails their session. I know how hard it is to get everyone dressed, out the door, and cooperating. Everything seemed to come together for The M Family on their picture day, and I’m so happy it did!
The sun was shining through the white clouds, the temperature was perfect, and the kids were all smiles! I loved capturing their personalities, and the little things that make them happy - like Charlotte’s special locket…
…and William’s fierce love for his mommy! He reminded me of my second-born; a mama’s boy who loves hard! It’s always a joy to work with The M Family - what a sweet family they are!
This is what Golden Hour dreams are made of. The perfect setting sun, filtered through the tree line, with an adorable family at the center of it all. My evening with The W Family was just that.
How lucky is this little man to have, not one, but two big sissies to care for him!?
Even though the Fall Foliage has been slow so far this year, I love all the warm tones that the setting autumn sun highlights. This glow can make even a cut field look magical.
I love this shot of the kids running to Mom and Dad for a hug. It was a great way to end our time together.
It was wonderful to see The N Family again to update their family portraits. I had first met them last year when little Lennon was born. She has changed so much in 11 months, but one thing that has remained the same is her adorable, sweet face!
We met at Hartwood Acres Mansion near their home. I love this location for it’s beauty and the array of backgrounds. We got so many different looks, simply by walking around the gorgeous historic property.
I was happy to take a few shot with their pups, Axel and Moose, at the end of our time together, too.
I was so excited to see The N Family again to commemorate their new home in Zelienople! Their move also coincides with Nico turning 18 months, so a double milestone was being celebrated.
We were sure to hit all the landmarks of Main Street Zelie; The Kaufman Tavern, The butterfly outside Curio, and of course The Strand - Zelie’s famous theater featuring both stage performances and movies. Being a Seneca Valley grad myself, I’ve always loved Zelie. It’s a perfect mix of nostalgia, hometown pride, and in more recent years, modern shops and restaurants. The sweet Main Street honors the history of the past while welcoming the future.
We had to end the night with a sweet treat from Ice Box Creamery to celebrate Nico’s half birthday. Nico was so cute with his ice cream cheers! Congrats to The N Family on their new home!
One of my favorite parts of photography is connecting with the families I photograph, and in many cases, it’s reconnecting. I hadn’t seen The D Family since my oldest was in the same pre-k as their oldest. That school year abruptly ended (2020), and so many of the happy faces from our sweet early learning school became memories. So when this lovely family reached out for a session, I was thrilled to see them.
Not only are their daughters beautiful, but they are also full of love and light. It was fun to watch their three distinct personalities shine through, just as brightly as the late September sunset.
Sweet baby sister Evie was the centerpiece of many of our photos. I can see just how much her older sisters adore her.
I have been so blessed to have this lovely couple as my landlords at the studio, and was absolutely thrilled when they asked me to photograph their gorgeous family over Labor Day weekend. The family was gathering to celebrate a milestone family birthday in the backyard of their beautiful home, and the lighting was just perfect for a glowing golden hour session.
It was such a delight to photograph this beautiful extended family - they were so much fun!
An extended family portrait session, like this one, includes both photos of the big group as well as the smaller groupings that make up the family. I absolutely love the color scheme this family chose, and I’m continuing to adore the willow tree backdrop this summer.
At the heart of the family are these three ladies - holding it all together.
They are beautiful inside and out!
When I first posed The L Family under this big willow tree, I had no idea that is where Mom and Dad had gotten engaged years prior - not this specific tree, but a tree like it. Willow trees are always favorites of mine, not only for the shade, but also the whimsical blowing of the branches through the summer breeze. They offer a perfect natural backdrop.
The L Family also brought along their grandparents and uncles and aunt for an extended family session. I could tell how close they all are, and how family love and support runs deep, just like the roots of a big willow tree.
The most gorgeous evening, the loveliest family, the sweetest new home. All of the ingredients were just right to have a fun, memorable session with The A Family. I was so happy to help them commemorate their recent move closer to their parents/grandparents. They found the most adorable house in the greatest neighborhood, and are ready to put down their roots.
We used their new home as the backdrop for the session, complete with the coolest tree swing. I could see these boys enjoying it for their entire childhood.
Little brother preferred his tricycle in the driveway. It was so fun to capture candid images of these sweet little guys enjoying their boyhood on a warm summer night.
I loved how their family shots truly embrace this stage in their lives with two little boys and two active dogs. They also incorporated a prayer candle to represent the sweet baby boy who is waiting for them in heaven. His presence is certainly with them at their new home, and in their hearts forever.
I truly enjoyed meeting this special family, and welcome them to their new neighborhood!
Summer is a time to reunite with family. The T family came together from all over the region and out of state, to have fun together for a whole week! It was my honor to capture their portraits.
I love the color scheme they chose, which looked so nice against the background of Hartwood Acres Mansion.
It was evident that there is a lot of love between this group.
It was a sweltering evening, but we found some shade behind the mansion on the beautiful patio steps leading down into the pavilion area.
As the sun was setting, we made our way into the gated garden area to capture each sibling group within the grandchildren.
I hope these images are treasured for years to come.
Summer is a time for travel and reuniting with family. When family comes together, especially from two different sides of the country, it’s so important to capture those moments. A photograph is a ticket back to a moment that is otherwise lost, and I hope The B Family cherishes these images for generations to come.
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