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!

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Laurel Highlands Portrait Session: Emily + Baby Liam

GUESS WHAT!?!?!?! My best friend recently welcomed the sweetest, most handsome little baby boy into the world and I finally got the chance to meet him and photograph this little nugget!! Meet Liam Henschel, aka Baby Norris’ best friend for life!

We  met at Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania to shoot this little guy’s photos and it was super special too! Mommy and Daddy were married here and had their Maternity Photos taken here in the fall so I was glad that we had the chance to take this images in the same location.

Little Liam made his way into the world on March 26th and stole all our hearts with his squishy mug and sweet facial expressions! The first photo Mommy sent us was this little guy holding his hands like he was praying and we all about died over how cute it was.

I am especially excited about this little guy coming into the world because I just know that my soon-to-be little love and Liam are going to be besties just like his Mama and I have been all these years. In fact, his Mama and I got engaged within 3 days of each other, got married within 6 weeks of each other and now are having babies 6 months apart and I am just too giddy about it.

Liam, you are so lucky little dude. Your Mama prayed for so long to meet you and now that you are here, she is going to shower you with all her love and affection so get used to it. I also have big plans for loving on you every time I come home so be prepared little man!

Emmy, thanks again for letting me capture this special time in your life and for letting me be an Auntie to your baby boy! I cannot wait for our babes to become best friends!!

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: Meet Rhett Fodor

Guys, I have been dying to photograph this little munchkin!!! I tried once, right after he was born, but unfortunately, it rained throughout the entirety of his session. And, yes it’s true, we waited an hour for the rain to quit this time too. But in the end, I finally had my chance to get this ginger haired cutie pie in front of my lens! Meet Rhett Fodor, heartthrob and future lady charmer!

Rhett is my college roommate’s (Steph) first born and boy does this little guy look like his Mama. He acquired her ginger hair and infectious smile and I fell in love with him the minute I met him!

Rhett just turned one not too long ago and is in the that “drunk walking” baby phase. He stumbles, he falls but he gets right back up and is on to the next thing that captures his attention. He is definitely keeping my sweet friend, Steph and her hubby, Tyler, on their toes!

The Fodor Family drove in from the eastern side of the state to join us in celebrating at my Baby Shower and in turn, I had them stay an extra day so we could take their little guy out for a few photos! We headed to the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania so we could let this little one run lose on the expansive property.

He loved the kids’ play area, the old log cabin, the big red barn and just about everywhere we let him run around. I think he was excited for a little freedom to explore and the result for the pictures was perfect! I got the chance to capture Rhett being the sweet and curious little guy that he is!

I wasn’t letting him get off scot-free though! We did pose Mr. Handsome for a few photos and luckily for us, he totally hammed it up and gave us the biggest smiles! He was just sitting on that step with a smirk that screamed, “I know I’m cute! Go ahead, snap away!”.

I am so glad that I finally had the chance to photograph this little bugger and I  won’t lie, I already miss him! I cannot wait for the chance to introduce this fella to our sweet baby and I am so glad that his Mama and I have stayed in touch after all these years! I am so thankful for my friend, Steph, her patient and loving husband, Tyler, and for their mischievous bundle of joy! Until next time, I am going to keep my fingers crossed that  Baby Norris pops out with that same shade of ginger hair!

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!

PA Mini Sessions: Abbie & Gabby

OK, y’all, it’s about to get sentimental up in here. These are my baby sisters. Yes, I said baby sisters. They don’t look it though, right? I know…because they are so grown up. It’s kind of breaking my heart. I want to go back to the days of Hannah Montana karaoke in the living room and Barbie dream houses. You know, when they were in diapers and they idolized me. Click here for a sneak peek of those days! But, those days are gone. Now, these buttheads are all about making fun of me for wearing skinny jeans and tennis shoes and I kind of hate it.

I blinked and now the both of them are about to make their way to the adult table and I’m just so “shook” by how fast the time has gone. I swear I could’ve cried when I saw them during this last trip home. I just cannot believe they are 11 and 13.

Abbie is all attitude but in the best way possible. No one is going to tell her what to do. She has a mind all her own and she isn’t afraid to let you know how she feels. She is kind and generous, constantly thinking of others. I find myself in awe of her more times than not. During this shoot in particular, I was so proud of how she took charge. She was constantly corralling the younger girls with a patience and grace that I wish I had at her age.

And, then there is Gabby. She is still my wild child of a baby sister. She is constantly climbing trees and barns and about anything she can find. I really hate that she is growing up. All these years, she’s been the baby and now I’ve got to find a way to stop treating her like one because the fact of the matter is, she isn’t one anymore. She’s this ridiculously smart and charismatic kid who is on the brink of the dreaded JUNIOR HIGH! Though life is moving so fast all around her, she still manages to stay grounded, holding on to that unyielding sense of humor and I just love this about her.

This shoot was a little different than most, in that Jaime Lonigro of Lonigro Photography , was along for the ride. She set us up at the most amazing backdrop, her aunt’s farm in Marguerite, PA and brought her camera along so we could take advantage of second shooting for each other. Boy, was I glad she was there. I am always snapping photos of the girls but I never get any of the 3 of us and Jaime made sure to snap a bunch of us three together.

We worked our way up to the field above the farm for some photos in that golden wheat. It wasn’t the prettiest of days but the fall foliage was lighting up the trees and those cloudy skies cut the afternoon light and really created a different mood for the shoot. We told them to dance together and they interpreted that as square dance together. lol That’s Southwestern Pennsylvania for ya!

Before we finished up, I had Gabby pose with the umbrella for a few shots. The result was magic. Though we ended up missing the rain, the umbrella against her blue dress and the overcast sky made for an incredible portrait.

I was so thankful for yet another wonderful shoot with these girls. It is always a blast when I get to let them skip school and have a few photography lessons with me and it really melts my heart that they have taken a liking to portraiture. This year for Christmas, I hooked them up with their very own camera. They have been such a huge help with my shoots every time that I come back home and I just love watching them enjoy the process of posing clients and knowing which lens to use in which situation. I cannot wait to see where their camera takes them!

For information on how to book your unique Portrait Session here in Texas or when I am traveling in Pennsylvania, inquire with Angelina at therustienailhead@gmail.com. I would love to hear what you have in mind!

PA Holiday Portrait Session: Mommy, Daddy & Maggie

Hey guys! I know I have been overwhelming your timelines with adorable babies and gingham but tis the season! I love December. 1 because it’s my Birthday Month (& Jesus’ Birthday too) and 2 because it is Christmas Card Season and I get to catch up with so many wonderful families, including this bunch! Meet Anthony, Sara and their baby girl, Maggie!

 

You may notice this trio from last year’s Blog spotlight on their 2016 Holiday Portrait Session.  They had so much fun frollicking in their backyard last year that they decided to invite me back to their home to snap a few more photos of their lovely family!

 

This bunch lives out in the middle of nowhere and I completely love it. Their home is surrounded by Forbes State Forest and we were lucky enough to capture the trees and the fall foliage in all its’ glory! And, is Maggie’s shirt the cutest or what? Mom told me that Maggie picked out her outfit. Fashionista in the making? I think so.

 

We met at their home but after stopping for a few shots on the wooden bridge that leads to their home, we made out way down to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Powder Mill Nature Reserve. After walking around the property and taking a short stroll in the woods, Miss Maggie found herself a rock with message and the rest of the shoot turned into a treasure hunt of sorts. She was all giggles.

 

The sun was just beginning to seriously set when we decided to head to the Powdermill Avian Research Center near their home. These guys always take me on the best adventures and Anthony is so into his neighborhood. He is always surprising me with new places right in our own backyard. There was a pond and a great dock, lots of trails and bunnies hopping all over the place. Maggie was smitten.

 

The next 3 photos are my favorites of the whole bunch. I told Anthony and Sara to race Maggie to me. Problem being if you know Mags, she’s never really in a race. She goes at her own pace. She is a curious, wandering babe always questing for adventure and I kinda love that about her.

 

Once she “won” the race, we headed to a nearby bench to soak in the last of the sunset. We even managed to catch a glimpse of the moon rising over the tree line. Mags wasn’t quite ready for the adventure to end so we just sat a little while longer.

 

After a few shots of Mom and Dad loving on their baby girl, we decided it was time to hit the hay. As per the usual, this family shoot was a complete joy. I love Anthony and Sara’s adventurous hearts and I adore that they are bringing up a happy, healthy, blue-eyed baby girl with the same zest for life and all its’ journeys.

 

I’ve heard that if you do something twice, it’s a tradition. So, let’s meet back up next year Pologrutos. I am always down for another adventure into the woods and Merry Christmas!

To inquire about booking your unique Portrait Session, email therustienailhead@gmail.com for Packaging and Pricing Details. I would love to meet you and see what kind of vision you have in mind for your families next big moment!

Greensburg Salem Class of 2017: Kiara’s Senior Session

This lady is no stranger to the Blog. Kiara has been featured in family portraits and I have had the great pleasure of helping her build her modeling portfolio on more than one occasion. This go-around in front of the lens would be different. This shoot was all about this baby girl graduating high school in a few short months. Que the tears. She’s my little cousin. As in, she was born when I was already half grown so the fact that she’s graduating high school is kind of a reality check. Holy crap. I’m really 29. She is really 18. What is happening??? I mean, really guys. There is a story about us that gets told at every family function and to this day, still pains me.

It was my first time changing a baby’s diaper. Her grandmother had told me to lay a blanket down on the table and lay her down on her back, grab the wipes, blah blah. I was 11. I wanted to show her that I knew what I was doing. Everything was going fine. Until, I forgot to grab the diaper. So, I placed my hand on her belly to prevent her from rolling off the table and reached with my other hand for the diaper.

In those 2 seconds, this sweet little baby reached her tiny little hand around and grabbed the closest thing…a steaming hot cup of coffee. It spilled all over the table and down her teeny tiny back. I did my best to clean her up and calm her down but she kept screaming. I felt like I had burns all over my body. That’s how bad I felt. It was killing me to see her in pain. I was cursed. I was never going to touch another baby again.

After rushing her to the ER, they confirmed she was gonna make it. Or at least that’s how it felt to me that the time. Within a week or so, her baby soft skin had healed itself. We all forget how resilient kids are. We drill into them to get back on the horse. So they do. And they come back bigger and stronger every time. The reason I am telling you all this is because this girl right here is a fighter. Even as a toddler, she was sassy. She seems real quiet at first, minds her Ps &Qs, but just give her the chance to say what’s on her mind, and you all are gonna see the world a little bit differently. She is strong, kind and probably the biggest klutz I know but she has very bright future ahead of her. Congrats Kiara. I cannot wait to see where this journey takes you. And, I am officially stating how sorry I am for traumatizing you as a little one. Think of it this way, you’re still cute so we’re square. Love you Kiki!

Do you have a Senior graduating in 2017? Are YOU graduating this year? We offer Graduation Portrait Packages for every price point because we know how hard you’ve worked and that should be documented. I wanna hear your vision. Shoot me some ideas at therustienailhead@gmail.com because I’d love to hear what you’ve got in mind. Let’s start off the last half of your Senior Year with a photo shoot to highlight your achievements and get onto those Senior Week Trips and College Applications!!

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SIDENOTE: Yes, we did go down the humongous slide and it ended up being soaking wet. Still fun though. This huge slide is located at Mammoth Park near Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. Words of advice: Bring wax paper and a little Pam and maybe, a pillow to land on at the bottom. 🙂

Laurel Highlands Portrait Session

These 2 goofballs are back up on the Blog! Their first official photo shoot took place at a waterslide at Linn Run State Park in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Today, we are not going to talk about the shoot. You guys know the speal, We took pictures in a park and it was super awesome. Instead, we’re gonna chat a little about having these buttheads for baby sisters and the wild ride it was been.

The first thing you should know is, my sisters are 18 and 16 years younger than me.  I’ve been out doing the whole college-marriage-adult thing while they have been dancing on stage at the Palace and learning to play the saxophone. In the past, the girls would talk about my brother and I to their elementary school teachers and they’d laugh and think “How long have I been teaching?“, knowing very well it had been more than over a decade since a Greece had last sat in their class. It’s amazing how kids can do that to you. Abbie actually asked me one time what Saved by the Bell was and Gabbie has no idea how truly awesome NSYNC’s Christmas album is. They have no sense of 90s culture and it breaks my heart. But, they have taught me about Vine, Snapchat, Instagram, Ed Sheeran, Zac Efron, Ruth B and about a million other things.

My sisters have also taught me that life is this huge circle and and we just keep going round. It’s true what they say. Time flies. It feels like just yesterday that they were swimming in the baby pool with Reyna (my pup) at my old house on Tollgate. They loved that little pool. We pretended Reyna was the shark and she was gonna get them and we ate popsicles and pretended the Barbies were mermaids. And, then I blinked. Now it’s all Twenty One Pilots and Harry Potter, Selfies and Makeup. The world was much simpler back then.

 Truth be told, getting to be there for all their stages of life has been one of the greatest joys of mine. It’s all in the little things. Like, how they love to sing old Stevie Nicks jams in the car or how they are in constant search of their Troll dolls and how they always wanna go to the Skate Hop. I mean…deja vu much? Guys, this is stuff we all did, 20 years ago!

It is crazy to think that I used to worry about our age gap. Schmage Gap! I’m hip. I’m cool. Or, at least I’m gonna try to be because I always want these girls to know that they can come to me with anything that is weighing on their mind or peaking their interest. That’s what it’s all about, right? Being their role model is something that I was never prepared for but somewhere along the way, I found a rhythm that worked. Abriana and Gabriella have taught me to look at the world with a different set of eyes and I am thankful for them. In a way, they have always kept me grounded yet always looking towards the future.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON’T KNOW ME: My name is Angelina Norris. I am natural light photographer based in Dallas-Fort Worth, with roots in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. I specialize in family and lifestyle portraiture with an emphasis on real moments. I believe that the best portraits are a combination of  genuine intimacy and playful experience. I live for the opportunity to test out the waters of new shoot locations and discover new places all around the globe. If you would like to book your unique portrait session, shoot me an email at therustienailhead@gmail.com.