Laurel Highlands Portrait Session | The Marmo Family|

Up next on the blog is another family from our Laurel Highlands Mini Sessions in Pennsylvania. This adorable family of three took time out of their holiday on Memorial Day to meet up for a quick shoot at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, PA. Meet the Marmo Family!

Could these guys be any cuter? Dad, Mike, is rocking that sleeve, Mama, Angel, has the biggest and brightest smile and their sweet baby girl, Penelope, is full of character. In fact, this little gal had the sniffles on the day of their shoot but still showed up smiling and making kissy faces at Mama and Daddy.

We met at Twin Lakes because I just love the variety of florals that are available there during the Spring. We ran across mountain laurels, rhododendrons and even hibiscus trees during our trek through the park. Spring sessions are all about capturing those sweet moments amongst the gorgeous flora that Pennsylvania has to offer and this session was just that. Angel and Mike took turns making funny faces at Penelope to try and make her laugh. They threw her in the air and gave her a ton of hugs and kisses.

After a short drive to the other side of the lake, Angel pulled out this sweet baby blanket with pretty botanicals on it and we gave Penelope her stuffed mouse toy so I could try to capture a few of just baby girl. I love how the stuffed mouse will forever be in these photos. It not only helps put a timestamp on Penelope’s age but it will forever be a memento of her favorite play toy. Because trust, she was not letting that mouse go once we handed it to her.

We ended the Marmo Session by just letting Mommy and Daddy love on their little girl. Daddy sang some pretty creative songs and Mama tried not to laugh at his version of the lyrics. Though she had a runny nose, Penelope gave us all the smiles she could and was such a trooper throughout the entire shoot. Mommy and Daddy tried their best to get little P to give us her signature “kissy face”. But, no such luck. At just over 30 minutes, baby girl was done and that was a ok with us. As you can tell, we had already captured a ton by then. But…

just to make sure we knew she was done, Penelope stood up in protest and let a few big fat alligator tears roll down her sweet cheeks. Though terribly pitiful and a little heartbreaking, these ended up being my favorites from their session. Why you might ask? Because just look at how cute she is. Even with a frown on her face, this kid just might be the cutest babe ever.

Huge thank you to the Marmo Family for trusting me to capture this sweet memory for you. I hope to see you all again soon. Play dates for Lucy and Penelope soon?

 

To book your unique family portrait session, email therustienailhead@gmail.com. My job is to document your moments, big or small and I aim to hit the nail on the head every time.

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Laurel Highlands Newborn Session | Meet Eliza |

Meet the newest member of the Tetkoski Crew, Eliza! This gang is no stranger to the blog. You might remember them from their first daughter’s (Ellie) Newborn Session or their Family Session with their sweet cousins while they were visiting in Texas. I was so happy to hear that their brand new addition arrived shortly before my arrival in Pennsylvania and that we would get a chance to meet this brand spanking new Family of 4!

At Day 15, Eliza is adjusting well. Like any second child, she is adapting to her new surroundings and all the hugs from her big sister. I arrived at the Tetkoski home and Ellie made sure to introduce me to her new baby and to show me that they would indeed be wearing matching dresses for their first photo shoot as a Family of 4.

While Mama fed Eliza, Daddy, Ellie and I headed out to their big and bright backyard for a few shots of Daddy with his firstborn. They have the most incredible backyard and loads of beautiful landscaping so this location would be a breeze for a backdrop.

One thing I love about coming home for Spring Minis in the Laurel Highlands is just how green everything is and their gorgeous backyard was no exception. Daddy kept joking that we were shooting in front of the weeds but I told him to just trust me. And, I am glad he did because this green against Daddy’s blue shirt, Mama’s glow and her ginger hair mixed in with two adorable babes made for some magical images!

Like any firstborn, Ellie sure does love her baby sister but she might be having a little trouble adjusting to sharing Mama with her new bestie. As we ran around the yard, I made sure to capture a few of Mama with her baby girl to allow Ellie some one on one time with her #1 Mama. They picked dandelions and blew wishes into the wind. Ellie was over the moon!

And, of course we had to get a few of Jesse with his sweet little love, Eliza. She seemed so very comfortable lying in Daddy’s arms. She kept smiling in her sleep and when she grabbed onto his finger, I was more than happy to capture such a sweet image of this baby doll and her Dad.

Because we had captured Ellie’s Newborn Portraits at their home as well, I made sure to recreate a few of the photos from that session. Above, that’s Carly’s Spring baby, Eliza, on the left and her Fall baby, Ellie, on the right. How sweet is that???

The humidity was getting the best of all of us and we decided so head indoors to Eliza could have the spotlight for a bit. At 15 days young, this sweet baby girl didn’t make a peep throughout her session. She just laid on her favorite blanket and gazed at the natural light streaming through their back door. It was the perfect spot to capture those blue eyes and keep little missy nice and warm! We captured her toes and her “guns” and even a few sweet moments with her big sister.

I have always said that my favorite part of this job is watching these little beans grow up and seeing this family expand brings my heart so much joy. Congratulations to the Tetkoski’s on their bundle of joy! I hope to see you guys for play dates soon!!

 

If you would like to book your unique Lifestyle Newborn Session or even a Fresh 48 contact Angelina at therustienailhead@gmail.com. I love capturing those first raw and real moments for families that reflect the miracle that is bringing a new baby home!

 

 

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!

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!!

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!

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 Session: The Yetter Family

 

Gosh, I am just loving all these sessions and I have just been dying to share some sneak peeks of this crew! I met the Yetter Family at Linn Run State Park in Rector, Pennsylvania during the peak of the fall foliage and it was pure magic!

Mama, Jess, had reached out about booking her session and mentioned how important it would be to bring their pup, Duke, along for their shoot. I knew right away that Linn Run would be the perfect place to let her little guy, Grayson and his sweet pup play!

As I expected, this gang showed up in the most perfectly coordinated outfits. Burgundy has really been the “in” color and I am not complaining. I may or may not have used this session as a little inspiration for my own family shoot. I couldn’t resist using a splash of that wine color in our baby girl’s headband. It looked so good on Jess and her little guy looked too cute in his flannel!

Truth be told, I was a little worried that this area would be past the fall foliage peak but when I arrived I was over the moon! As you can see in the photos, the colors were so vibrant. I quickly scoped out the best places to set up shop and anxiously awaited the Yetters arrival. The backdrop for their photos had me a bit giddy!

We spent the majority of their shoot just walking the trails and offering Duke the pup treats that his Mama brought for bribes! It was a beautiful fall day with lots of sunshine and even more smiles! Heck, even Duke was on his best behavior!

The Yetter Family was a blast to hang with and I am so glad I had the opportunity to shoot their holiday portraits this year. This crew has been living out of state for quite some time now but this will be their first Pennsylvania Christmas with their little guy, Grayson so let’s hope they have the happiest holiday!

Laurel Highland Holiday Portrait Sessions: The Dlugos Family

The Dlugos gang is back on the blog! Last time we photographed with these kiddos, we met at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, PA for their Spring Portrait Session. Needless to say, they killed it and now they are back for a little fun in the fall foliage!

This time around, we met at Keystone State Park for a stroll through the woods and a little fun on the beach area! All of them have grown quite a bit since their last session but I was most shocked by the fact that little Addie is walking!!! Actually, if I am being honest, she is running!

I just love seeing how much the kids change in such a short amount of time. It is so crazy! I asked each of the kids to bring along one of their favorite toys and It really made my day to see how each of them lit up when they got to show theirs off. Addie had a baby doll, Max & Mason brought hockey sticks and little Jackson brought along  the sweetest stuffed puppy dog!

As usual, the Dlugos Gang were polite and kind and most of all, they listened to their Mama. They were helpful to one another and followed every direction I gave them. I know I shouldn’t be but I am always amazed by this family. I mean, 4 kids, a Wolfpack of kiddos and they all are so well behaved!

This tree stump photo ended up being my favorite out of the bunch. This tree was seriously massive and the kids really enjoyed climbing all over it. I seriously love Addie’s little Mary Janes and I am so glad they snuck their way into a few of the photos!

As for this picture, we just had to recreate it! During their last session, we had all the kids lie on a family heirloom blanket for a similar photo. This time, each kiddo brought their hand made (by Grandma) baby blankets and we laid them down together so they could each lie on their own blanket.

We ended their shoot by laying down their blankets in the sand and letting Mama join in for a few photos! We just missed the fall colors in southwestern PA but this group more than made up for it with their colorful personalities! I love getting to hang with this wild bunch and I cannot wait for our next chance to get together!

Stay tuned for more behind the scenes looks into our Holiday Portrait Sessions in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania! We’ve got lots of cuties on the way!

 

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!