Laurel Highlands Portrait Session |Norah Lucia |

Hands down, one of my favorite sessions, to date! Jaime of Lonigro Photography and her sweet husband, Tony, welcomed a baby girl this spring and because Jaime has been one of my biggest cheerleaders, constantly encouraging and influencing me to chase my dreams, I just knew that I had to gift this sweet couple their first family portrait session. In years past, Jaime has collaborated with me on a few shoots and I couldn’t think of a proper way to thank her so pictures with their new little love seemed like a good way to show my appreciation for all her hard work.

Ya’ll Meet Norah Lucia Lonigro! This gorgeous little babe made her way into the world 2 weeks early with a full head of hair and the prettiest blue eyes you ever did see.  Weighing in at 7 lbs 7 oz, this little angel made her way earthside on April 27th and changed the Lonigros’ hearts forever.

Just shy of her 1 month, Tony, Jaime and little Nori met me at Keystone State Park for a quick photo shoot near the beach area. Unlike our fall minis where everything was vibrant with oranges and reds, the spring in southwestern PA had to offer bright greens and pretty posies as a backdrop for this family session. Though it was midday and the humidity was about to spike, this crew made the most of our short time together.

Because Jaime is in the portrait photography business, she knows how to get the most from a session and trusted me when I directed them to a plethora of locations around the property. These guys are outdoorsy to say the least. In fact, I am kind of hoping we all get to vacation sometime together because we dream alike and love the wild outdoors! Plus, I have a feeling that Lucy and Norah would have a blast together!

Norah slept the entire shoot. Not even once did she give me a glimpse of her baby blues but she peacefully dreamt in the warm weather and both new Mom and Dad were thankful for a little quiet time! That newborn life can be rough but these guys seem to have such a graceful grasp on the hustle that comes with having a third wheel! Jaime looked stunning, rocking that new Mama glow, the most perfect color red dress and her hair was beyond on point. In fact, I had a hard time believing that she hadn’t been to a salon that morning because let me tell you, I did not look that good when Lucy was 4 weeks old. Tony is one lucky guy!

We ended the shoot by letting little miss Nori don an adorable gray turban bow and it was insanely cute. I am just so proud and so happy for this little family. I’ve known Tony since he was a kid playing midget football for my dad. He even brought photo evidence along. Seeing these two become parents and following their journey to parenthood has been nothing short of beautiful. I am so happy for the these guys and I wish you all the most congratulations. Soak it all in because it flys by fast! Kiss Norah for me and let her know that I am already dreaming up play dates!

Advertisement

Laurel Highlands Mommy + Me Session |Tiffany + Isaac|

Gosh, it has been a whirlwind couple of weeks at the Norris household. We just got back from our annual Memorial Day trip to Pennsylvania to visit with our northern family and friends and to say that our trip was a rollercoaster of events and emotion is an understatement! My shoot calendar was full of Spring Mini Sessions and I have been working hard to make sure you get a glimpse at them all! First up, the most adorable Mommy + Me Session! Meet Tiffany and her baby boy, Isaac!

Tiffany’s Mama, Anne, reached out to me a few weeks before Mother’s Day in hopes of gifting a Mommy and Me Session to her sweet daughter and I was happy to oblige. We got the details worked out just in time for my arrival in the Laurel Highlands. Anne had informed me that Tiffany and her husband had spent a long time praying for their sweet boy and had continued to pray over him after his arrival. Baby Isaac arrived nearly 8 weeks before his due date. Weighing in at just a little over 3 pounds, Isaac would spend his first few weeks of life in the NICU.

As you can see, Tiffany was blessed with a blue eyed, spirited baby boy and though he was officially a premie, this little man has really made up for that in the past year! He is a little chunker with an adorable personality to match. After seeing him interact with his Mama, I can adequately guess that he is, in fact, a Mama’s Boy.  He was constantly loving on her throughout the shoot.

We had a few hiccups with timing because of the impending thunderstorms that plague this particular part of the country. In fact, when they showed up, it was pouring down rain so I told them to jump in their car and wait it out. Luckily for us, the storm only lasted 5 minutes and we began shooting right after. I crossed my fingers for a rainbow but alas, we would just have to shoot in the most perfect light instead. I promised Tiffany that the overcast skies would be beautiful and the captured moments reflect that delivery!

I had so much fun meeting this couple and their sweet boy and I hope to see them again soon. It is these families and their blessings that create the joy in what I do as a photographer and I am so happy that they thought of me to capture such a beautiful milestone! Oh and last, but certainly not least, If you see Isaac this weekend, make sure to wish him a Happy 1st Birthday! Maybe give him a hug from me too!

 

To book your unique Mommy + Me Session, email therustienailhead@gmail.com! I would love to help document your miracles and the revolution of Mamas out there living that candid motherhood rising life!

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!

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!

Laurel Highlands Holiday Portrait Sessions: The Bolish Family

I am SOOOO excited to finally be able to share the good news! The Bolish Family is officially adding another little one to their gang! It’s been a hard secret to keep but boy am I glad that I finally can yell it from the rooftops!

This wild and crazy bunch are no strangers to the #Blog. In fact, they aren’t strangers at all. These guys are more like family. Daddy, Kendrick, and I have known each other pretty much our whole lives and Mama, Kelly, and I became fast friends shortly after meeting. And as for Kaison, their adorable 2 year old munchkin, well, I would kidnap him if they would let me. He is a polite, kind and all around wild little man and I love him to pieces.

I could not be happier for this family. When they told me the big news, I could literally hear their smiles over the phone! While visiting in PA, I brought Lucy, my daughter, over to meet Mr. Kaison and you could tell right away that he is so ready for a younger sibling. He was just loving on her. I know he is going to be the best little helper!

Though he may have had mixed emotions during the shoot, this guy is so pumped to be a big brother and I am just over the moon with joy about it! Mama and Daddy recently did a gender reveal and they found out that they are a expecting a baby…

GIRL!!! Get ready boys because this summer a true heartbreaker is going to enter the world! I cannot wait to the meet Baby Bolish #2! Congratulations!

Laurel Highlands Portrait Session: Abrey + Anthony

It’s past time I introduce you to Abrey and her little guy, Anthony! I got connected with these two through a mutual friend back in Pennsylvania and after a few chats, Abrey set up a session!

We met at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on a particularly hot and humid day. Luckily for me, these guys were my last session for the day so we had plenty of time to let Mr. Anthony run around!

Mom, Abrey, was so good about dressing her little man. I love a timeless, classic outfit and this Mama hit the nail on the head. I even fell in love with their accessories. That red, white and blue ball cap was just too cute! And, Mom’s chambray dress was perfect for the occasion.

After running around in the woods for a bit, we made our way to the rhododendron bushes near the front of the park. These guys were in full bloom and I knew they would be the perfect backdrop for a few Mommy and Me photos!

As little boys tend to do, Anthony began to wander around a bit. Mom informed me that he was very much on the move these days! He was climbing stumps and picking up just about every stick he could find.

As the sun began to set, I made sure that we got this little guy wound down. Mom hd brought along a light blue and white striped blanket that coordinated ever so perfectly with their outfits and I directed this girl to just love on her little guy. Abrey snuggled Anthony and he snuggled his teddy bear!

Having just began to walk, I wanted to make sure that we captured a few of this little man while he was on the move. Under normal circumstances, the babes run/slowly/drunkenly walk to me but not this little guy, he has mastered putting one foot in front of the other and honestly, I cannot wait to see where he goes next!

Huge thanks to Abrey and Anthony for a wonderful afternoon of exploring the park. I look forward to seeing you both again!!

To book your unique Portrait Session, email therustienailhead@gmail.com for packages and pricing details! I cannot wait to see what you have in mind!

Laurel Highlands Portrait Session: The Grasmick Boys

The Grasmick Boys are back on the Blog! These cuties were featured last summer when little man, Dean, was just learning how to walk.  You can check out last year’s session here. Well, it’s no surprise here that Dean isn’t just walking. He is a running, tumbling wild man, just like his Daddy and his big brother, Miles!

 

We met on a warm day at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, Pennsylvania for an evening of playing on the swings and climbing a few trees. As usual, these little guys kept me on my toes!

 

I don’t know how but Miles definitely got more handsome in the last year! It was so good to see his smile, even with that front tooth missing!! He was happily helping his little brother climb rock formations and showing Dean which way he should sit for the photos! I was so impressed!

 

We stopped by the Veteran Memorial to pay our respects and these little guys raced their way around the flags. There wasn’t a better way to spend our Memorial Day Weekend.

 

I am so glad this group came out for our Spring Minis. It is always so nice to catch up with their Mama, Colby, and my longtime pal and their Dad, Doobie. They were asking about Baby Norris and wanted to know if we were having a boy or a girl and when I told them I didn’t know, they both grinned. Mom and Dad had waited to find out what Baby Grasmick would be and they both seem pretty pleased that their blue eyed baby, Dean, was the result!

 

These boys are wild and crazy and soooooo very sweet. Miles is the helpful, loving big brother and Dean is the adventurous little guy practicing his “Cheese” face 24/7! I was so glad that I had the chance to run around with these guys for a bit and I hope I get the chance to do it again soon!

 

To book your unique Portrait Session, email therustienailhead@gmail.com for pricing and packaging details! I cannot wait to see what you have in mind!

Laurel Highlands Portrait Session: Brit + Izzy

I have been waiting quite a long time to get this little peanut in front of my camera and I am so glad that I finally had the opportunity over Memorial Day Weekend! Ya’ll, Meet Izzy and her Mama, Brit!

You would never know it by looking at her now, but this little pumpkin came into the world when her Mama was only 32 weeks along. After spending close to 50 days in the NICU, Isabella Nicole came home and has been thriving ever since! She just turned 1 back in January and has been walking and running ever since!

Brit reached out when she heard about our Memorial Day Weekend Minis and booked a Mommy + Me session with her sweet little lady! She had the cutest vision in mind too! She wanted to dress Izzy in a tulle maxi skirt and flower crown. Talk about a dream come true session!

We met at Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania shortly after a storm hit the area and the lighting was just perfect! Izzy’s curls wrapped ever so tenderly around her sweetheart rose crown and Mama’s lavender and pink dress was the perfect compliment to her baby girl’s mauve colored lace top!

Did I mention that Isabella brought her A-game?! Seriously, she is the happiest baby ever and had so many perfect smiles for our session! It was hard to choose which ones to put in their gallery!

Once the humidity kicked into high gear, I suggested we all take a short break in the air conditioned cars.  I am a big believer in not pushing the little ones and I was so glad that Brit followed my lead on this. Once they start to show signs of being “done”, I listen and usually, the little ones calm down, Mom can check her make-up and hair and then we’re back at it like we never even took the break. Once we got a little water and some cool air, Mama, Baby + the super preggo photographer were all smiles!

I had so much fun at this session and I am so thankful that Brit trusted me to photograph this sweet memory for her family! This was just Part One though! Stay tuned for a behind the scenes look at Part Two, when my bestie, Emily, and her newborn babe, Liam, joined these lovely gals for a few family photos!

If you would like to book your unique Portrait Session with me, email therustienailhead@gmail.com to discuss pricing, packaging and to book! I cannot wait to see what you have in mind!

 

Laurel Highlands Portrait Session: The Dlugos Family

I just love family portrait sessions! There is something so raw and real about the dynamic between kiddos and their parents! I love how each session is uniquely different yet each and every family has their own inside jokes and a certain kind of secret language they use with each other. This gang would prove to be no different. Meet the Dlugos!

Mama, Laura, and I go way back. Like, I knew her long before she became a Dlugos, before she became a Mom of four adorable kiddos! Back in the day, Laura Healey and I roamed the halls of Greater Latrobe High School not knowing that 10 years later, we would both be embracing motherhood! Though we are embracing this new lifestyle in very different stages, I was so glad to see her again and beyond excited that she had thought of me to capture this special time for her family!

Did I mention that Laura and her husband have FOUR KIDS!! You caught that, huh? I won’t lie, I was a little scared going into this session. How was I going to rally 4 kids, 6 people total, into looking at the camera all at the same time? It was daunting at first. But, luckily for me, these kids get lots of practice because their Mama has done a great job of capturing memories, both big and small!

I always ask families to bring along a blanket for sessions just in case we need to take a break and let everyone unwind and Laura made sure to bring along an heirloom quilt for their session. The result was magic. After a few of the whole family sitting together, we piled the kids together and let their individual personalities shine through! I love that Mason was sticking his tongue out!

And, because this Mama waited a long time to finally welcome a girl into her tribe, I made sure that we captured a bunch of my sweet friend and her adorable baby girl. Adalee is a doll baby and was definitely putting on a show for us but I wasn’t complaining. She was all smiles once we got her in front of those blooming rhododendrons!

Daddy even jumped in for a few with his two favorite girls!

And then, those adorable Dlugos boys made a move to tackle their Dad and it was just too cute not to capture. Don’t let their sweet smiles and blond crew cuts fool you. These boys have a wild side and I definitely got a glimpse behind the curtain when they got the chance to test Daddy’s strength! Jake was a total sport about it and even tried to put all 3 of them on his shoulders!

These kids were so cool. I wish I lived closer so our baby could play with them because they are polite, kind and super active in sports! I think they could be a good influence on Baby Norris! I even enjoyed just watching these boys love on their baby sister! You could tell that they needed a girl around just as much as Mommy did!

They each brought along toys to show off during their session and each was a perfect display of their own personality. Max brought his baseball glove. Jackson brought a toy tractor. Mason brought a T-Rex and baby girl, Addy, brought a toy to chew on and I was thankful for that because she is definitely at that stage where the grass, the rocks, pretty much everything seems edible!

I had so much fun photographing these guys! We got their formal poses knocked out early so that last half of the session involved me just playing on the see-saw with them! I really enjoyed seeing these guys just be kids and play at the park! I am so glad that I finally had the chance to get these guys in front of my lens and I hope I get to do it again soon!

Laurel Highlands Portrait Session: The Shipley Family

Look who’s back on the Blog!! Andrew Shipley graced the pages of the blog just a little over six months ago when his Mama wanted to capture his 2nd Birthday Portraits! At 9 months pregnant with their second child, Mama, Emily, helped me chase her little guy all over Linn Run State Park in Rector, PA. Little did we know, all that running would push her into labor. Not 2 days later, Olivia made her world debut and turned this crew into a Family of Four!

Though I was sad that I missed the opportunity to see their newest addition make their way into the world, I was elated to find out that this Mama Bear wanted to have new portraits taken of the kiddos during our Spring Mini Sessions in the Laurel Highlands! This little lady was well worth the wait. Just LOOK AT HER!! Isn’t she the sweetest little thing?

 Andrew was acting his usual self, wild and a little bit crazy.  He was climbing trees and running around the reserve. Speaking of, the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College was so perfect for this little man. He was definitely in his element when we let him just run and explore this kid-friendly and interactive property!

Though he wasn’t necessarily her biggest fan at first, Andrew has come to love his baby sister. He was all about giving her hugs and tickling her belly. She, on the other hand, wasn’t feeling it. We didn’t manage to get many of them together though I kind of love that we got this display of real life brotherly-sisterly love! Sometimes you just don’t want to be hugged!

His Mama used to tell me that she could not get him to sit still for a photo to save her life. I am now under the impression that he may be saving all those great smiles for my camera and I am totally fine with it. Andrew is my favorite kind of kid. He is busy and keeps me on my toes throughout the entirety of the session!

We made our way to a swing near the entrance to the property and thanks to a little help from Grandma, we managed to get a bunch of images of these guys just enjoying the May sunshine! Props to Grandma by the way! She was a trooper throughout the shoot and we couldn’t have wrangled the both of them without her!

Grandma took Andrew for a short walk and I made sure to get a few of this sweet Mama and her baby girl enjoying some one on one time together. Emily had mentioned that her little lady hadn’t been feeling well lately so I made it a point to take a minute to stop and let these girls enjoy the breeze in the shade so Mom could love on her sweet baby girl.

And then, out of nowhere, came Andrew again! He came running up to me and gave me the biggest smile, as if to say, “Someone mentioned Dairy Queen for Good Behavior.”

It was getting hot outside and I wanted to wrap this up before we ended up with 2 cranky babies on our hands. We put a small pink blanket on the ground and Olivia put on a show. Her little curl was sticking straight up and I kinda love it. Add in that adorable yawn as if to say “It’s a Wrap” and we were finished.

I was so glad to meet this little lady finally, to see her wild big brother and I look forward to documenting these kiddos as they grow and prosper! Thanks for another wonderful day at the park Shipley Family!!

To book your unique portrait session, email therustienailhead@gmail.com to discuss your vision and Pricing and Packaging options!