Just reminiscing about this amazing couple. Guess what? He SURPRISED her and bought this maternity session for her! He didn't tell her where they were going, but just to get dressed to go out. Husband of the year up in here! But for real, I love when couples show that they love each other. That's how we get those adorable squishy babies anyway, isn't it? You should like each other and show it off! They were open to all the kissing and laying on the ground/canoodling my little heart could hope for. Sessions like these fill my soul. They spent a gorgeous evening walking, rolling around, and smooching all over this Murrysville park. We even got some gorgeous in studio fine art style maternity photos in our Pittsburgh studio.  I would love if all mommas showed off that bump! You are growing a human person! Bodies are crazy amazing. I can't wait to get out there soon to keep capturing these important life moments for you. And for those of you who did not get a chance to have photos taken during the quarantine, you are beautiful and strong! I feel for you and can't wait to make up for missed time! Stay safe, stay healthy, and grow some more babies! <3

This baby and I are going to be besties, I think. I got to photograph her entrance into the world in a birth session and Fresh 48 and then Momma brought her into the studio for some posed photos. I got to play with lots of color, which I LOVE. Isn't she darling, with the best head of hair? Can't wait to watch you grow, peanut!

So I know I just posted about Miss Ireland, but I just had to share some of her Fresh 48 pictures, too! Did you know that my birth story sessions include a Fresh 48, which is completed within the first 2 days after baby is born before you discharge the hospital. It gives mom a chance to shower (the beeeeest feeling ever post-labor) and feel slightly normal again after the beautiful chaos of having a baby! Plus, siblings usually are more comfortable with their new sibling after a few days of being around the baby! Win win! Let's get your due date on the calendar to book your Fresh 48! Check out my booking form here!

How sweet is she?? I actually met Violet in a local music class and we didn't even realize until her family came in for a mini-session! I said, "I know that baby!" Who could forget such an adorable face? And she has the sweet disposition to match. Plus, isn't her name seriously the cutest? It was so fun getting to photograph Violet for her first birthday session in the studio. Violet LOVED her cake and we had a blast watching her mash it all over the place. And of course who doesn't love some bubbles? Watch the whole thing for some unreal cuteness in video form at the end! <3 Happy happy first birthday, little one and many, many more!

Alexis and I had very similar first birth stories, so I connected immediately with her desire to photograph her second birth. We both had emergency c-sections after inductions with our first babies. Alexis had a pretty traumatic experience, which made it that much more special that she would trust me enough to bring me in this time around. As a photographer, you often aren't allowed back in the surgical room for c-sections, due to hospital policies, which is what we faced for Alexis's scheduled c-section. But, that wasn't going to keep me from documenting the entire experience, beginning with the excited and nervous moments shared with her husband, Matt as the surgery time got pushed back and all that was left was waiting for that sweet baby to come. I even got a chance to grab some shots of their family and first daughter, Olivia boiling with anticipation in the waiting room. Then, of course, we got those first moments of skin to skin. Alexis didn't get to have skin to skin with her first born, so it was even that much more magical to see. C-sections are a bit different than natural births in that the dad is the first one to hold the baby while mom is stitched up and taken to recover a bit. That first moment of holding your baby after everything is literally indescribable. "This time sinks your heartbeats and helps lower the baby's blood sugar", the nurse told her, which is truly an incredible concept. Bodies and instincts are nuts and beautiful and amazing and crazy! And holy cow, THAT HAIR! I was obsessed with Ireland's full head of dark brown locks. It was the first thing everyone who saw her commented on because it was straight up that good! That little peanut made her way to the world and things went swimmingly for momma this time around. Watching Ireland's parents fall in love with her in real time was too special and then I got the chance to photograph Olivia meeting her for the first time. It was filled with a little bit of fear, hope, worry, but most of all, excitement! She even brought her a little knitted hat as a welcome gift. It can be scary to see your mommy in a hospital, but Olivia was so brave and just kept saying how beautiful "Ireland Grace Keane" was. :) Congratulations guys, and I send all the best snuggles and happy wishes for your family!

I can't explain how much I love watching my families grow over the years. I have been photographing Logan's sisters for a few years now and having the chance to watch the newest baby of the family grow up, too, is so heartwarming. I honestly love the families that I work with and become closer friends with them through every session.  Logan is such a sweet little one. She has the brightest eyes and smile. She wasn't the  biggest fan of the cake, (I'm sure that will change) but still gave us so many cute expressions! Isn't she literally just a doll? Plus I got to do one of my favorite themes, Alice in Wonderland. I love it so much. My wedding shower was Mad Hatter tea party themed, so you know I'm biased, but her adorable dress and faces made it perfection. Congrats to her parents for bringing ANOTHER gorgeous little one into the world! You know I'm all about that girl power (4 sisters!!!!). I can't wait to watch Logan continue to learn from those beautiful big sisters and vice versa. Happy first birthday, Logan! <3

When I mention birth photography, most people are amazed and say, "That's a thing??" YES IT IS A THING, and it is amazing. You do not understand what rockstars moms are until you witness a birth. I absolutely love love loved getting to photograph these moments, starting with before baby Claire arrived, soaking in the anticipation, pain, excitement, support, and love in the room. Corrine and Ben were so happy and sweet. I have never seen a more beautiful mom in labor. Like, that's not even fair. My feet were comparable to an elephant's and she was glowing. They were cracking jokes and squeezing hands through the contractions. Ben was giving the perfect amount of support, cheering Corrine on with the promise of a Mad Mex feast post labor. I mean, that's definite motivation in my book. The actual pushing was truly about 3 minutes long, which was incredible. Then, there she was: that sweet, wrinkly, screaming, new, beautiful, tiny human. Claire was perfect the moment she entered the room and there was so much love surrounding her. Being invited into an experience like this requires a lot of trust, grace, and compassion on both ends. I am so thankful to have been given those things and more by Corrine and Ben. Welcome to the world, little one. You have some amazing people around you for this wild ride. Congratulations again to this sweet family! <3

I loved meeting this GORGEOUS family at their Fresh 48 hospital session at Magee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh. I can't get over how beautiful they all are, right? Baby DeAngelo was brought into the world a bit earlier than his original due date, and we were all so thrilled to meet him. I know he and his pup sister, Shiloh, are going to be best buddies. I can't wait to watch you grow! <3

It is always so fun when people you know start having babies and they choose you to photograph those special first days! Little Lexi was such a happy bub and came right in time for Valentine's Day! Her momma wanted to incorporate a special family blanket and Lexi loved snuggling up in it! She even gave us some wide-eyed snaps mixed in with her sleepy images. What a sweetie! Congrats to her parents and enjoy this first crazy year! <3

We did it! We survived the first year and so did Eliza! Huzzah! But really, what a crazy and amazing year it has been. This little bug has brought so many smiles and giggles into our home that it is hard (and weeeeeird) to even remember a time when she wasn't here. In my true fashion, I forgot to share these images, but ya know: Life+2 businesses +baby= brain overload
That's real math. So here are some pics I snapped for her cake smash, which obviously had to be Groundhog's Day themed (that's the day of her birth!), followed by a splash that sends a shout out to her best bud, Elmo and some of her fave toys.  Thanks for following our journey with Eliza Lou the past year, and I apologize in advance for the never ending spam to come. Are you looking to have a specially designed theme for your little one's birthday? Click here to give me a shout and we can create something awesome together! Happy days!

Most people don't consider birth photography if they are having a planned c-section. In thinking back to my c-section, it was honestly a super-fast, crazy, blur after being in labor for twenty hours. I so wish I would have had someone there to document my entire experience, as it was my first baby and mom-brain has made me forget most of it. So I was pumped to be able to document this for a good friend from high school, on the birth of their second child. I was not allowed into the OR and little buddy had to take a quick elevator ride downstairs, as they thought he needed to be in the NICU. However, he changed his mind and decided he wanted mom and dad to hold him for the first time, and I got the chance to capture that with images and video. Any form of birth, be it a natural birth or planned c-section is a monumental and life-changing experience. There is so much that happens in that short amount of time, and it is easy to forget their tiny feet or the feeling that first time you get to have skin to skin. I am so in love with capturing birth stories and can't wait to provide these types of memories for so many new moms this coming year.  Congratulations, Joe and Jenna. He is nothing but perfect. <3

I met Sarah and Doug a few years ago when I got the chance to photograph their sweet baby girl, Harper. Since then, I have been documenting them growing together as a family, so I was honored when they asked me to photograph their wedding. I loved the way they focused the day on their love, while including Harper as a big part of it. It is so important to remember that you are still people who deserve to honor your other relationships, too, when you have children. Their ceremony was in a GORGEOUS church with giant stained glass windows. Holy cow was it pretty. It was a rainy day, but we all know that's lucky and you literally would never even have known based on the fun everyone was having! I mean...Sarah's dad is a pretty sweet dancer! I wish this family all the happiness and joy in the world and can't wait to see where life takes you next! <3<3<3

Blaise's parents reached out to me last minute, as this little man decided to make an early appearance, and I could not be happier to have met this sweet family. Being their first baby, this was a very special experience and I really wanted to capture all the tiny features that made Blaise unique in those first weeks of life. We kept the session very simple with neutral colors as well as some holiday cheer thrown in. I am so happy to have had this chance to photograph this beautiful family and I can't wait to see how Blaise changes and grows!

I loved meeting Ashley and her sweet bump (is that not the cutest, most perfectly shaped bump??). She had never had maternity photos done before and wanted to capture the experience this time. Moving from out of state, with a husband from LONDON (!!), she loved being able to incorporate the fall vibes in her session. I can't wait for this sweet baby's arrival!

I have loved, loved, LOVED having the chance to grow with September and her family over the past year. She is growing into one of the sweetest and happy little girls I have ever seen...and check out the dimple! I had such a blast creating a special girly autumn theme for her, and she loved her cake and bath! I can't wait to continue to capture the growth of this sweet little one. <3

Look at this sweet family and their newest addition, baby Milan! I wanted to try an outdoor newborn session to switch it up a bit and this little man made it so easy for me! I loved watching his big sister love on him the entire session. It made my heart so full! Congratulations, guys! Did we just become best friends?? YEP!

I loved having the chance to capture this family in the last week in their first home before moving. Lifestyle sessions are a great way to capture pure emotion and your family enjoying doing things they love together, rather than just sitting and smiling at the camera. I love the interactions you can capture in these types of sessions. So sweet! Thanks for letting me into your home and wrestling "elbow drops". :)