Pittsburgh at Home Family Photos

Meet this beautiful family of 8!

You may remember this family from their photo session last year... and what is so remarkable to me is that this family has been getting yearly family photos taken for 14 years now! Mom says it's her favorite day of the year, and I would think it just keeps getting more meaningful as her kids keep growing older.

I am truly amazed at the determination of mom (Elizabeth) - this was my first year getting my own family photos scheduled, outfits coordinated, making sure we were on time, etc. - and just with three people it was tough enough! Our own family photo experience has given me a whole new respect for families who set aside the time yearly (or bi-yearly, or really, EVER!) for family photos.

A big thanks to this family for inviting me to their home again for mom's favorite day of the year!

PS - if you aren't sure where to have your photos taken, your home/property is always a great choice! It's meaningful - and it's easier than packing everyone up in the car to drive to a separate location!

Hartwood Acres Mansion Extended Family Photos

We adore this family! You may recognize a few faces from this blog post… this time, the whole extended family was in town and we had a quick mini session to document the occasion!

Hartwood Acres had some lovely fall foliage, as well as the beautiful mansion itself.

Shady Elms Farm Family Photos

If you've been following my account for a while, you might recognize this sweet couple that I've photographed in the past. Well... their family has expanded to include a sweet little girl!

We took some photos to celebrate her upcoming birthday at the beautiful Shady Elms Farm… a beautiful wedding venue in Hickory, PA. They allow photo sessions to take place there for a small fee per hour (pending availability), which ended up working out so well for this family who lives close by!

We did catch a downpour part of the way through our session, but we were still able to get lots of beautiful images to celebrate this little one!

Cierra & Hunter - thank you for the honor of photographing your sweet family!!!

Hartwood Acres Mansion Summer Family Photos

I had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family of three - Freya & her parents - on a lovely summer evening at Hartwood Acres Mansion.

I went to school (middle & high school) with Jourdain (Freya's dad). There is something truly wonderful about getting to see people from your past who are thriving in new seasons of life! It truly brought so much joy to my heart to get to see this family thriving as a family of three!

Lauren (Freya's mom) had such a lovely vision for the session - serene, candid, romantic, joyful - and chose beautiful outfits to match the space we were taking photos in, as well as the vibe of the session as a whole! I just adore how these turned out.

Thank you three for letting me capture these sweet, fleeting moments!

Spring Hartwood Acres Mansion Family Photos

I had the honor of photographing this sweet family mini session a few weeks ago at Hartwood Acres!

We've known (and photographed) Kim & Darren since before they were married... and has been so beautiful to see how God has grown them from two into a family of five! They are some of the kindest people you will meet... and they have some beautiful testimonies of how God has worked in their lives, most recently with the birth of their youngest, Eliza!

Congratulations on your beautiful family of five, Kim & Darren!

Spring Hartwood Acres Engagement Family Photos

Oh my oh my! I am so excited to be sharing these photos of this sweet family of three from our session on a beautiful spring evening at the one and only Hartwood Acres Mansion!

We had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth & Robert a little less than a year ago when they moved to Pittsburgh from Virginia. They were looking for a new church community to be a part of, and started coming to ours! Elizabeth was pregnant at the time with little Abel, and now here he is... just under two months old!

It has been a joy and a privilege to get to know (and photograph) these three!

Pittsburgh Lifestyle Newborn Photos

Meet sweet Miss Eleanor!

I met Megan & Richard quite a few years ago, after they had gotten engaged to be married! I photographed their engagement session and their wedding day (in 2019), and I was super honored when they asked me if I would consider photographing their family as they transitioned to a family of three.

In the past, I've (frankly) turned away newborn sessions. If I'm being honest... it's because they scared me! Before having my own baby, I wasn't much of a "baby person" (as they say ). But after having my own and experiencing the newborn phase for myself... I softened to it. And I recognize that it is such a special, joyful, difficult, and emotionally charged time for families.

After Taylor Elizabeth Photography took our own in home newborn family photos in January of 2023 and recognized the gift those photos were to us, I found myself wanting to be able to do the same for other families.

So, truly - this family was a joy to photograph. They welcomed me into their home and we were able to capture some precious moments while Eleanor was still just a few weeks old!

Of course, the pups wanted to be involved in the photos… and of course we wanted to involve them! They are a part of the family, too ❤️

Besides the adorable onesie and adorable crib sheets, Megan & Richard included a special pillow that they had purchased on their honeymoon, specifically for the purpose of putting in their future child’s nursery. So of course… it had to be in a few photos ❤️

I hope to photograph more in home newborn sessions in 2024, so if you are in need of some, please reach out!

Thank you, Megan, Richard, and Eleanor, for letting me capture these snippets of life for you!

Pittsburgh Family Photos

I had such a great time photographing this family of eight!

Mom chose their new home to be the backdrop for their yearly family photos - a beautiful, personal, and meaningful spot! (Also perfect for a cold day - everyone was able to hop into the house to warm up, then come back outside!).

Because they have all been taking yearly photos for so long, they were all pros and made my job so easy.

Congrats to this sweet family on their new home!

Point State Park Family Photos

Last year, I photographed my last covid reschedule wedding in my third trimester of pregnancy (click here to see it!)

My couple (Jen & Brandon) had already tied the knot the previous year in a small ceremony and had decided to still move forward with their big reception... even after they had found out they were expecting! So I had the joy of photographing one of my couples while they were expecting, while we were also expecting. It was such a sweet connection!

Fast forward to this year. This couple asked me to photograph them with their sweet baby Arabella, who will be one in February! They chose a location that is personal to them - Point State Park. They lived right near there and frequented the park before moving elsewhere.

And even though it was cold... Arabella was SO compliant and we had the best time exploring the park together!

We found the most beautiful red bushes that added a gorgeous pop of color to the winter scene. Although, I’m a firm believer that the city looks beautiful during any and all seasons!

Jen & Brandon - thank you for the honor of getting to photograph your sweet family. So thankful for you three!

FOR MORE RESOURCES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS, SENIORS, AND ENGAGED COUPLES, CLICK ANY OF THE PHOTOS BELOW!

Historic Harmony Family Photos

A few days ago I had my very last session of the year! (For now ;) ) And it was with a really special family in one of my favorite spots!

This family moved a few years ago from Texas - away from their home state and families - up to PA to help plant New Horizon Church. We have had the privilege of getting to do life with them over the past several years and love them dearly! And since their family has grown by a whole member since they first came to PA, it was time for some updated photos!

And even better... Grandma just so happened to be in town, so she got to jump in for a few photos, too!