Times are tough. These days, none of us really know how to navigate the waters but for Pregnant Moms right now, this is scary. We are being told that we may have to deliver alone,… More
DFW Newborn Session: Meet Eleanor
Y’all this little girl is about to steal all your hearts. Meet Eleanor Kate Hamilton! Born on March 15th, I had the great pleasure of meeting this sweet baby girl on Day 11 for her first photo shoot. I am beyond thrilled to share a first look at Brenna and Jeff’s little peanut!
This particular set of photos was my favorite because this family just rocked it. Brenna has the brightest smile on her face and Dad, Jeff, cannot take his eyes off of their first born beauty. They all just seem so relaxed, right at home with their new baby!
I had the great pleasure of meeting this little lady’s Mama a few years ago through a mutual friend and way back then, I photographed her sweet pup, who now is long gone but still very much in Brenna’s heart. In fact, in the years since that shoot, Brenna has added a new pup to the family, Piper and this big sister is just smitten with the Hamilton Family’s new addition!
Weighing in at a solid 8 pounds, this little chunk was born with a full head of hair and what appears to be the prettiest blue eyes. So far, Mom and Dad say that her favorite thing to do is eat! Oh, and sleep! What a life!
Brenna and Jeff (and the new Grandma who was there to help) totally trusted my vision and invited me into their home to capture this lifestyle inspired newborn session. We kept it sweet and simple. I made sure to include lots of Mama loving on her baby girl and a ton from the perspective of little Ella in Daddy’s hands, as well as a few of Piper checking out her new roommate.
We had gorgeous light throughout the entire session and I love that each room in their house flooded with natural light in the afternoon. We managed to time feedings and shoot time perfectly. Not one tear was shed though we didn’t really give her a chance. If Eleanor looked even the bit sad, either Mom, Grandma, Dad or I would pick her up and give her hugs before she had a chance to get upset.
We ended the session by letting Eleanor just chill in her crib in her new nursery. Layered in pink lace ruffles and white bow, Eleanor Kate proved that she is in fact “more precious than rubies” and for that, I am thankful. Not only that this job allows me the pleasure of meeting and documenting such sweet baby’s first days in the world but that I know the joy their presence brings each family, especially the Hamiltons!
For information on how to book an in home newborn session or a Fresh 48 Session, message me, Angelina, at therustienailhead@gmail.com and we can discuss package details, due dates and dreamy baby poses.
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DFW Graduation Portraits: Hannah
It is with the happiest of hearts that I can announce that my sweet friend, Hannah, is officially done with her Bachelors degree in Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington! This Saturday, this gorgeous, semi-genius, kind, world-conscious and wanderlusty lady is going to walk across the stage and we could not be happier for her! Congratulations Hannah! We are so very proud of you. Check out our last session with this southern belle here.
I could not be happier that our sweet baby has someone like Hannah in their life. Hannah is strong and smart and the kind of girl we need more of in the world. I mean it when I say that we are incredibly blessed to have such a strong role model for our sweet Lucy to look up to. Hannah exudes grace and humility while constantly aiming to shatter glass ceilings. So, remember girls, you run the world but don’t forget the little girls out there who are looking at you to change it.
Congratulations to the UTA Graduating Class of 2019!!
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DFW Maternity Session: The Clark Family
This session is just too sweet. Meet Stephen, Elizabeth and soon to be Baby Clark. This sweet couple met with me just weeks before their due date so we could document their last few moments as a twosome.
Having just celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary, these two are still basking in that newlywed glow. Adding a baby to the mix Has just made their smiles brighter.
We were supposed to meet at the Dallas Arboretum for a day of walking around the park but to our dismay, the park was closing early on the day we had chosen. So, we rallied and improvised. I met the Clark Family at the Filter Building on White Rock Lake directly across from the Arboretum.
Though we wouldn’t have as many florals, I promised these guys a variety of backdrops and I am happy to say that we managed to capture a lot of different settings for them. But who cares about the background when Ms Elizabeth was rocking that baby bump?!? Seriously? Could she be more beautiful. I have to admit I was a bit envious when I saw her rocking high heels at 36 weeks!
We worked our way down to the lake and managed to pass this gorgeous tree. I couldn’t not stop for a few photos in front of this massive piece of art. The light shone down on them and these two had no problem posing lovingly beneath its hearth.
They made little requests here and there but other than that, these guys were so easy to work with. I should have expected their laidback nature seeing that they have not found out their baby’s gender! Which I love so much! You only get so many surprises in life and these guys have embraced that mindset with an effortless grace. Though you can tell Elizabeth is getting a bit antsy about finding out whether a baby boy or girl is joining their tribe, this couple seems ready to welcome their bundle of joy.
Word on the street is that Baby Clark will be making his or her arrival any day, literally, any day, like today or tomorrow so join me in congratulating this happy duo soon-to-be trio as they navigate the most exhausting and exhilarating journey by bringing their sweet baby into the world. Best Wishes and Baby Bliss to the Clark Family! We will be praying for a healthy and happy delivery!
If you would like to book your unique Maternity Session in either Southwestern Pennsylvania or in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, shoot me (Angelina) an email at therustienailhead@gmail.com.
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Travel Guide: The Perfect Layover in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
Awhile back, Russ and I took a small trip to the North Pole. You may have read about our experience North in our Iceland Travel Guide. On our way there, we managed to stop in Baltimore for an afternoon on the East Coast! So many of us traveling from Texas across the pond have to make a stop somewhere along the coast and the Charm City is a heck of a place to start an epic journey.
Top 5 Things You Should Absolutely Do while Visiting Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
5. Head to the National Aquarium or Ripley’s. Both are out of this world and a super easy way to spend an afternoon killing time. I loved the jellyfish exhibit. Added bonus, options for lunch in every direction of the bay. You name it, they’ve got it. Head down to Fells Point and grab yourself a Crabcake!
2. Head to the last place Edgar Allen Poe was seen alive, The Horse You Came In On Saloon. Legends tells it that ole Eddie died from consumption right on the street outside this infamous saloon. His picture still hangs above the bar alongside about a million Jack Daniels bottles. Grab a Natty Boh (local favorite beer, aka National Bohemian) and listen to the live music from the saddle you sit in.
1. Go get a lobster roll at Thames Street Oyster House. I’m not kidding. This is the #1 thing you should do while visiting the Harbor. It was the best thing I have ever eaten. I dream about it sometimes. I know it’s $25. I don’t care. Spend that moolah and get yourself the best damn sandwich you are ever gonna have. Or get the crab cake, because it’s bomb too.
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Grapevine Lake Maternity Portrait Session
Ya’ll, I have been dying to share this session with you! I was holding out for this sweet girl to become a Mama but her baby boy is proving to be a bit stubborn. To celebrate this little guy’s pending arrival and this Mama hitting her 40 week mark, I am going to share a little behind the scenes from this sweet Maternity Portrait Session.
I met Amanda awhile back through mutual friends and was so excited to hear from her when she reached out about booking this session. In fact, the location we chose for her shoot has a funny background story about our friendship. Grapevine Lake was the sight of Amanda’s first kayaking lesson. After a bout of choppy water and more than a few hours of paddling back to shore, Amanda decided that it would be her last kayak lesson with me. Needless to say, I was pumped that I got to take her back and make a happier memory on the lake!
At 34 weeks pregnant, Amanda, her sweet Mama, Gwen, and her first baby, a pup by the name of Sadie, joined me for a fun portrait session to capture her last few weeks before her Baby Boy makes his arrival.
Amanda had 2 requests….a flower crown and that Sadie be in the photos with her. After all, Sadie was her first baby! I was happy to oblige so I reached out to my sweet friend Brittni Williamson of B. Marie’s Flowers for help with the flower crown. Needless to say, Britt outdid herself as usual and the crown was just perfect! I loved the delphinium and the mix of greenery with the sweetheart white roses and the seeded eucalyptus. The incorporation of this bohemian element was the cherry on the sundae!
This Mama is a rockstar. She waded into murky waters, wandered around the prickly bushes surrounding the lake and even dared to follow me to edge of more than one cliff to find that perfect lighting! Although anxious about the arrival of her baby boy, Amanda was calm, cool and collected during her shoot. She was the picture of grace.
I am so happy that I had the opportunity to photograph this special time in Amanda’s life. Having just become mother myself, I felt more than equipped to capture all those special glances at the bump, those belly rubs and the glow that was exuding from this sweet girl.
Congratulations Amanda! I cannot wait to meet your sweet boy! Let him know that we are all anxiously awaiting his arrival and now that you are 40 weeks, he can feel free to join us whenever he’s ready!
To book your Maternity Portrait Session, email therustienailhead@gmail.com to discuss pricing, packaging and details! And for all your floral needs, head to www.bmariesflowers.com and let my girl Britt know who sent ya! I promise Britt will bring your vision to life!
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DFW Portrait Session: The Lane Family
Y’all, Meet the Lane Trio! During our Holiday Mini Season, Mama, Hannah, reached out to book their first ever family portrait session and I was too happy to help them out.
We met at Bear Creek Park in Keller, Texas on a beautiful, but chilly, fall day. I was so glad that December was still offering the deep, rich fall colors. The trees were were vibrant yet the grass was towing the winter line and the contrast would prove to be the perfect back drop.
Mama and Daddy showed up with their sweet baby girl, Brielle. I was happy to learn that their little love was only a month older than our sweet Lucy. I immediately felt like Hannah and I were in a special club for having our babes in the same time frame.
Side note: How funny is it that we do that? All my pregnancy books talked about having a correlation with a celebrity who is pregnant and last year Kate Middleton, Kate Hudson, Cardi B, Joanna Gaines, Hannah and I all got to be pregnant at the same time. I assure you we didn’t plan it this way but 2018 produced some hardcore cuties.
Anyways…the shoot started off so good. Brielle was rocking her little red toboggan and Mama and Daddy were more than happy to wrap up and cuddle her to protect her from the chilly winds. Even with the dropping temperature, their little lady was a perfect angel. She didn’t make one peep throughout the shoot.
I made sure to snap a bunch of Mommy & Daddy loving on their little girl but also to capture a few sweet moments between each parent with Brielle. I found that the posed pictures were adorable but the candies were some of my favorites. New parents always crack me up because in an attempt to make their little love smile, they always make the goofiest faces and the result is simply magic!
I really enjoyed meeting this trio. They were sweet and kind, joking with me about how crazy it is to be new parents. They even sent us a Christmas card! Honestly, it was refreshing to meet people in the same stage of life as we are and I am thankful for their sage advice. Here’s hoping that Lucy and Brielle have a play date soon!
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Laurel Highland Portrait Sessions: The Foley Family
Meet the Foley Sisters! Seriously, could they be any cuter? This session was super special to me because these gorgeous gals are my baby cousins and I was so happy that our little Lucy got a chance to meet these babes when we were back in PA!
Mama, Meaghan, is an avid lover of all things fall so when planning this session, I wanted to make sure we got some gorgeous fall colors in the backdrop of their photos. To ensure a vibrant autumn photo shoot, we headed to the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve. I knew that this location would not disappoint!
The girls came dressed perfectly in matching dusters and coordinating shirts and pants. I love that their Mama chose to add a pop of the popular mustard yellow and that deep rich cranberry to their outfits. They both had so much fun twirling around in their dusters and the colors popped so perfectly against the autumn landscape.
As usual, Kaylee and Ryan kept me busy during our shoot. They were full of ideas and they both have no problem getting in front of the camera. They perfected the hand-on-the-hip and the sweet smiles and we ended their shoot with promises to meet their newest little love, their cousin and our baby, Lucy! We ate and laughed the night away at Rizzo’s while these little girls affectionately passed Baby Lucy around the table! We look forward to many many more play dates!
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Engagement Session: Katie + Mike
Hands down, my favorite session of the year! Why, you might ask. Well, because the gorgeous gal in these photos is my bestest friend and that hottie on her arm is her FIANCÉ!!! Yep, my bestie is getting hitched and I got to photograph their engagement portraits! So, ya, I am a tad excited about these pictures!
Though they have been engaged for close to a year now, these lovebirds haven’t really had the time for pictures which is kinda why I forced them into it! Boy, am I glad I did though. We met at Linn Run State Park near the Adams Falls entrance during the peak of the fall foliage. The backdrop for their shoot was simply awe-inspiring.
I can’t lie. This session was a piece of cake! I got to just hang out with Kayte & her soon-to-be hubs, Mike/Gomez. We cracked jokes, made awkward faces and I even made them dance a little. These two were all smiles, especially for each other and I could not be happier for the two of them!
Their engagement was simple but sweet. On Kate’s birthday last year, Mike had planned to pop the question. When the day came, nothing went as planned. Mike had a terrible cold and felt like crap. To boot, a blizzard hit southwestern Pennsylvania that brought Kate’s birthday festivities to a halt. But, even with all the hiccups, Mike was determined to surprise his soon to be bride. In their home, on a cold winter night, he dropped to one knee with his family heirloom, a diamond ring and Kayte happily agreed to be his forever New Years Eve date.
To Mike and Kate, I wish you nothing but joy and happiness forever and ever. Congratulations. Now, please, pick a date so I can start planning this girl’s bachelorette party!!
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PA Holiday Portrait Session: The Powder Mill Village
This sweet family is back on the blog and I could not be happier about it. They recently welcomed a baby girl and I was so excited to get a glimpse at their new addition!
For the third year in a row, I had the opportunity to shoot their session right in their backyard. These guys live in a cozy little corner of the Powder Mill Village area and I just love shooting at this location. Each year, they surprise me with a different backdrop and each year, it just gets more beautiful. I can totally see why they chose to set up camp in the mountains!
Their eldest baby girl has grown so much and watching her grow over the years is one of the best parts of my job. Somehow, she gets more adorable year after year. This time, I got to see her in a brand new role, big sister! She was definitely a fan of her mini-me!
In the past, we have shot at night time and ended up with some amazingly moody winter shots (check out that session here) but this time, we chose to shoot in the morning and we got a completely different look and feel for their session. It was vibrant and bright and simply gorgeous out!
Their first request of the day blew me away. Their neighbor, a close friend, had recently passed away and they wanted to get photos taken on his front porch with a teddy bear that was made from one of his flannel shirts. I could have cried it was so sweet. And the house was the absolute perfect place to start our shoot. It was a small, white cottage tucked away in a quaint corner of the village.
We spent the better part of the morning walking around their property before taking off for the Powder Mill Village Nature Reserve. As usual, this sweet family blew me away with their appreciation for Mother Nature! I am thinking play dates for their sweet girls and our little Lucy ASAP!
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Laurel Highlands Holiday Portrait Session: The Jackson Family
Where do I even start? The Jackson Family is seriously tots adorbs! I met Mama, Jess, what seems like ages ago now, when we were in high school. By the time college rolled around, I ran into her again at Seton Hill University and we picked up right where we left off. Wildly enough, she met her hubby, Shane, at Seton Hill and the rest is history. In the past five years, they got engaged, married and welcomed a sweet baby girl, Jess’s Mini-Me, Lilly!
When Jess reached out to book her family’s holiday portrait session, I literally did a little happy dance. Not only was I dying to photograph her little munchkin, I was so excited that I was going to have the chance to catch up with Jess! Since I moved to Texas, visits with old friends are few and far between so I was pumped to have a little one on one time with her and her sweet family!
We met at Keystone State Park Beach area and surprisingly enough, it was bright and sunny! Though a little chilly, the beach area definitely had more of a summer vibe than a fall day! In fact, I scrambled a bit at first because it was so bright that I was having a hard time finding a shady area to shoot their portraits. After a short hike around the property, we found a few places to snap away!
Lilly arrived ready to go. She was dressed perfectly and made sure to give me her best smiles throughout the whole shoot. You never know how kids are going to react to having a camera in their face but I should of known that Jess’s little girl would be a total ham! She was all about putting her hand on her hip and batting those eyelashes!
By the time we made it to the beach, it only felt right to give Lilly a little time one on one time with her Daddy! Little did I know, this duo had an awesome trick up their sleeves. Daddy held out his hand and their little acrobat stood straight up on her tippy toes. It was the cutest moment. They both explained in their own Daddy-Daughter lingo that they has been perfecting this move for years!
We ended the Jackson’s photo shoot by writing their family name in the sand and sharing a few quick snuggles on a blanket on the beach! Lilly was just as adorable in person as I had imagined and it was so nice to see Jess and Shane again! I loved seeing the joy of being a family in their eyes and I wish them the happiest holiday season!
Stay tuned because we have a ton more to share from our Holiday Portrait Sessions in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. These are some of my favorite sessions that we offer throughout the year and they sell out fast! If you would like to get on our Mailing List for early access booking, just shoot me an email at therustienailhead@gmail.com!
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