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.

Advertisement

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: 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!

Greensburg Salem Class of 2018 Graduate: Meet Jessica

Meet Jessica! Recent Greensburg Salem Graduate and future pre-med track University of Pittsburgh Graduate!! I met with this lovely young lady during my last trip home and had the opportunity to get to know a little bit more about her plans for the future.

 

We met at Twin Lakes State Park in Greensburg, Pennsylvania for her Senior Portrait Session. This lacrosse playing, honor roll student came prepared! She brought along a few adorable outfits, a Greensburg Salem Graduate balloon and her sweet Yorkshire Terrier.

 

Mama, Joyce, had won this session during a fundraiser raffle for Cystic Fibrosis Awareness and I was pleased as punch that these ladies had a clear vision as to what they wanted to do during their session.

 

Jessica is an active young woman with a tight grasp on where she wants her college experience to take her. She spoke with me about her interest in medicine and I found myself wishing I had her confidence at that age.  I encouraged her to chase her passion and life would lead her down the right roads.

 

I also learned that she was the middle child and you could tell almost immediately that her siblinghood has given her a bit of the gumption that she carries around. She has an older sister who helped paved a lot of paths and a younger brother to practice all her wisdom on!

 

Did I mention that the weather was absolutely perfect? Oh, man was I thankful for the good weather. I had booked a ton of Portrait Sessions for the upcoming Sunday and it was calling for rain which was a no-can-do. Luckily, most of my sessions offered to switch and at seven months pregnant, I was beyond thankful for their patience and understanding.

 

She is not just sweet though. She’s polite and kind and absolutely adorable. When she donned the white dress, she glowed. In the yellow, she shined but in the black floral off the shoulder, she was truly a vision of herself. You could tell that she was comfortable , calm cool and relaxed, even when I suggested she jump in the water.

The blooms at the park were the perfect backdrop. Both the azaleas, the laurels and the rhododendrons were in rare form that afternoon and we managed to catch them at their best.

 

Our last stop was a shack down by the water for a quick few shots of this lady before she would walk across the stage and enter the big, bad world of adulthood. I have no doubt that she will tackle life and all its’ adventures with the same sense of grace and fearlessness that she brought to her studies!

 

Best of luck to you Miss Jessica and Congratulations! I wish you success in wherever life takes you!!

To book your 2019 Senior Portrait Session, email therustienailhead@gmail.com to to discuss details, prices and packaging!

PA Portrait Session: the Greece Family

Hey guys! We’re back with more of our Portrait Sessions from our Pennsylvania Trip. The wild and crazy Greece Family is no stranger to the blog. In fact, I had the opportunity to photograph these guys twice last year. Our first portrait session took place at Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve in Latrobe, PA.  You can check out all the adorable photos from their summer session here.

This time around, we met at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, PA for a huge family shoot. My Uncle Mark (Elliana and Jake’s Grandpa) had reached out about getting new Family Portraits taken of their whole crew and I was happy to oblige. I will soak up any chance I get to snuggle my precious Goddaughter and her big brother!

I knew this bunch would be a breeze. My Uncle Mark and Aunt Jackie have spent the last 40 some odd years putting their hearts and souls into being the best parents possible and it is such a joy to see them take on the challenge of being Grandparents! Needless to say, they’re naturals. Both Jake and Ellie wouldn’t know what to do without their Mimi and Popop.

We managed to snag a few photos where everyone was looking at the camera but I really fell in love with the one of the whole crew looking at Jake. He just has the biggest smile on his face. It was so wonderful to see them all interacting together and I cannot believe we fit all their BIG HEADS in one shot.

Next up, Uncle Mark and Aunt Jackie. I am always over the moon when Grandma and Grandpa want to jump in on some photos so I made sure to get some of just the two of them together. I had them both giggling when I told them to pose “prom-style”. These were by far my favorite images of the bunch. I even cried a little bit. They’ve been through a lifetime of ups and downs and they’ve still got each other to lean on after all these years.

Aunt Jackie was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get any photos of them with their Grandchildren because Jake and Ellie are movers and shakers. With that in mind, I told them to just play with them instead of posing them and I love the way these turned out. The three images above are a true testament to what a day with their grandparents look like; a whole lotta love and even more laughs!

Last but not least, the best picture, these 2 goofballs. They wanted a photo of them posing like the Stepbrothers DVD cover and how special are they?!? We call this “Real Brothers”! I always have so much fun with these guys! We’ve spent a lifetime growing up together and I love knowing that we will always have each other!

Pennsylvania Holiday Mini Sessions: Ricky, Hanna & Grandpa

Ya’ll!!!!! Meet Hanna! This is my beautiful ginger haired baby cousin! I have been wanting to photograph this little lady for the longest time and we finally made it happen when I was last visiting back home in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania.

Back story, real quick. Hanna is my 2nd cousin. Her dad, Ricky, is my first cousin and his Dad, my Uncle Rick, is also my Godfather so I think it’s fair to say that my heart just exploded when I got the chance to look through these images. For as long as I can remember, my whole family has been telling me that Hanna is my mini-me. See, when I was a little lass, this girl and I could have been twins. Yep, I had that red hair, those big blue eyes and the same wild and crazy personality!

We met at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, Pennsylvania for a huge gathering of family photos but more on all that goodness later. Hanna and her Dad followed me down to the lake for a few quick shots of just them together. These are my favorite images because they look so natural and relaxed. Ricky is even giving her “the claw” in one of the photos. If you don’t know what the “claw” is, trust me, you don’t want to.

Soon after, the oldest and wisest of the Greece clan (9 kids in all) made his way down for a few photos with his son and granddaughter. My Uncle Rick was a surprise that day and man am I glad he came! I hadn’t seen him in so long and it was so good to see him and chat him up. He’s the same, smart and kind, just a little more gray than the last time I saw him. It really isn’t fair. All the men in this family just get more handsome with time.

I remember being a kid and looking through boxes of old photos that all those before me had taken. I loved it. I still do and it’s such a neat idea to think that Hanna and my sisters and all the younger cousins will get a chance to look through these one day and talk about how we all met at the park for photos and then we all went out to dinner at The Red Brick for pizza and then we laughed until we cried. That’s what I love most about this shoot, that I got to share it with so many of the people I love, especially these 3 looney tunes.

I had the best time catching up with my family during this shoot. I always tell everyone that it is so hard to see all of them when we come back to visit but man am I thankful that I have a family who will rearrange all their schedules in an instant just to have one afternoon being together. This family is wild and crazy, that’s for sure, but they are a group of people who love fiercely and uplift one another always and I am so thankful to be a part of it! Love you guys!

For more information on when and where The Rustie Nail will be heading to in 2018, follow along on Instagram @therustienail. We’ll be back in PA, Canada and up next, Arizona so keep an eye out for travel updates!

Laurel Highlands Holiday Mini Sessions: Kaison

Hey guys! We’re back with yet another adorable baby. He is wild and crazy like his Mama and tough and bull-headed like his Daddy. Ya’ll Meet Kaison Bolish! I had the pleasure of snuggling on this goofy little guy while I was back home visiting in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania! With that devilish smirk and his sweet dimples, this little charmer is about to drop a CUTE bomb!

This little stinker was featured on our Blog last year for his first ever Holiday Mini Session. I met with his Mama and Papa at Grandpa’s farm for a bunch of maternal family portraits! We had the whole gang out for a fun day on the farm. You can check it all out here. Grandma and Grandpa Stickle even got caught sneaking a few kisses during the shoot!

This shoot would be a little different than the last. My longtime buddy, Kendrick aka Kaison’s daddy, was out hunting deer so Mama would be bringing baby boy by Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, PA for a quick and easy shoot while all the leaves were  still changing colors.

Kelly showed up early with her little guy looking handsome as ever. Seeing that he had a slight case of the sniffles, we chose to keep his session short and sweet. Babies run out of fuel after about 30 pictures anyway so we just let Kaison run around the park while I snapped away! And yes I did say run. The last time I saw this little ham he was just learning how to crawl! How is this child running?!?!?

In all seriousness, I need time to slow down. Kaison is already a year and a half old!! And, I swear he gets more handsome daily.  I love watching his Mama’s Snapchats and seeing what this little butthead is up to all the time. Thank God for FaceTime and SnapChat and all the wonderful technology that allows me to still be apart of Kaison’s life even when I am 1800 miles away.

What’s left to day? He is the cutest. You know it. I know it. Everybody knows it. Heck, even HE knows it! Now let’s just hope Mommy and Daddy give this handsome fella a baby sister sometime soon so I can photograph her too! 🙂

 If you would like to inquire about booking a session when I am visiting in Pennsylvania, follow along on Instagram @therustienail for Travel Updates or email me at therustienailhead@gmail.com!