Sunny Days in Pittsburgh??

If you’re a Pittsburgher, you know that sunny days are not always to be expected! But oh my goodness, my last 2 sessions had the most gorgeous lighting! Just had to share…

A mom and her daughter sit in a garden of orange flowers as the sun shines down on them. The mom looks at her daughter, smiling

A family runs through a garden, sun at their backs. The kids are running the family race. Having so much fun at Hartwood Acres Mansion for family photos in Pittsburgh!

A Pittsburgh family sits in the Hartwood Acres Mansion gardens and smiles for a photo as the sun shines down on them. The mom is wearing a navy dress, and the kids snuggle close to their parents.

A family dances in a garden at sunset for their mini family photo session.

A young boy kisses his mom's cheek. She smiles.

Parents hold each other close as their 5 kids look at them lovingly. They stand beneath the trees and sun at Allegheny Commons Park in Pittsburgh.

5 kids run to their mom in a big hug. They all smile and laugh. They're standing near Lake Elizabeth in Pittsburgh, PA.

A young boy joyfully laughs. The footbridges at Allegheny Commons Park can be seen behind him. The sun shines down on him.

The 4 girls of the family, walk together and smile. They are holding hands. The sun shines behind them.

A husband and wife walk together, hand in hand. They smile at each other as they walk through Allegheny Commons Park for their family photos.

Kelsey Cunningham 9/9/25 Kelsey Cunningham 9/9/25

Preparing for Your Mini Session

Just book a mini session? Awesome! Here are some things you should know:

Show up early! Mini sessions are booked back-to-back, so if you’re not ready to start at your scheduled start time, you may lose out on valuable photo taking minutes. Allow plenty of time to park, find the meeting spot, and get everyone looking their best after the car ride. I’m usually running right on time during mini session events, because I can’t lose daylight!
Text me when you arrive! I include my cell number in my emails to clients. Many photo locations will have other photographers present, so don’t assume the first photographer you see is me! Just head to the meeting spot and shoot me a text to tell me you’ve arrived. When I finish photographing the family before you, I’ll come find you.
Consider leaving your pup at home. I LOVE dogs, and I think they add so much cuteness to photos! If your dog is a member of your family, you may want to bring them! If that’s the case, try to bring along a friend or family member who can help hold the leash for some no-dog photos. Alternatively, if you’re already juggling the chaos of 1 or more little ones (babies and toddlers especially), consider leaving your dog at home. You’ll likely end up with a slightly larger photo gallery where I can give more attention to getting your kids to smile. Also, make sure to note that not all locations (like the Christmas tree farm and studio) are dog friendly.
Dress for the weather. Little kids have a hard time just “sucking it up for 15 minutes of being cold.” You may have thought it would be warmer, but then a cold wave came through. You may have put so much thought and effort into picking the perfect outfits for a 65 degree fall day. But asking your kids to smile through it because you don’t want sweaters in photos may bite you in the rear. What you risk for nixing the proper attire is goose bumps, chattering teeth, tense smiles, and red noses. Instead, consider layering up. Not all layers are visibile - like putting your daughter in 2 pairs of tights instead of 1 or putting your son in a long sleeve shirt with a button up over top. Some families opt for sweaters, vests, and jackets as well, if it’s cold enough. So keep your kids’ cold-weather tolerance in mind when picking outfits!
Prioritize naps and snacks. People don’t photograph well when they are hungry or sleepy (adults and children alike!). If possible, please make sure everyone has food in their bellies and no one has missed any naps.
I advise making this photo session today’s big event. Make it feel special and exciting for your kids. Perhaps there will be ice cream afterwards?! Regardless, if the day has been full of soccer games, running errands, and other big activities, there may not be much energy left for photos. So try not to pack photo-day with too many exhausting activities.
Check out my Tips for Picking Outfits. I actually have an entire blog about this! But in short…
1. Wear clothes that fit well and give you confidence.
2. Let *mom* pick her outfit first
3. Aim for color coordination over matching
4. Put biker shorts on any young girls wearing skirts or dresses
5. Consider avoiding bright red or pink (especially those super saturated shades) - these shades can cast colored shadows on the faces of those nearby.
What if it rains? If rain is in the forecast, I’ll text or email you the day before your session with a plan. We always hope the forecast will clear! But sessions do sometimes need to be moved.
Have fun :) I know that prepping your family for a 15 minute photo session can be a lot! But once you’re all there, just try to have fun with your kids (and share this with your spouse too). The parents who show up ready to play and have fun with their kids will ALWAYS get the best photos. I try to make magic with EVERY family, but you just can’t beat a session where the parents show up ready to enjoy their family. I’ll bring the poses, the prompts, and the silliness. You guys can just show up and have fun together.

A family of 5 sits on the steps of Mellon Park and giggles as they play telephone together.

Kelsey Cunningham 4/2/25 Kelsey Cunningham 4/2/25

Creative Photo Session Ideas

Listen, I’m 100% here for a lifestyle family photo session at a local Pittsburgh park. But what if the park vibe just isn’t for you? Or maybe you love that look but you’ve already done it year after year? Here are some creative photo session ideas. (Translation: please book me for one of these, because they all sound super fun, and I want to capture those dreamy photos for you…)

1) Get Messy with Paint

Pick your favorite paint colors and some white or neutral clothing that can get dirty. (PSA: Crayola paints are insanely washable…like more so than any marker or crayon.) We hang up a white sheet behind you. Paint the sheet, paint on an easel and canvas, or paint each other! Snuggle your toddler, kiss your spouse, let the breeze blow your hair. Let’s listen to your favorite songs and have fun! I think this could be such a fun family session but would also work great for a couple (engagement? anniversary? just because?). This is one of my Pinterest dreams, so here’s an example from another photographer!

*The photo below was shot by Laura Ingebrand in Des Moines*

Image shot by Laura Ingebrand of kids and mom painting each other

2) Floral Crowns and Pretty Dresses

Hire an incredible florist (like Field & Hand or The Farmer’s Daughter) or make a DIY flower crown out of Trader Joe’s flowers or artificial flowers (see how HERE). Make this a fun mommy & me session for girls of any age! Or maybe a maternity session with all the floral goodness?! Pair the florals with flowy dresses (perhaps you all need a 2nd occasion to wear your Easter attire?). Bring dad if you want, and we’ll get some full family shots too. Or skip that and just let it be a girls session. (Or heck, my 4 year old son would probably love this too!) We can take photos at one of my favorite go-to spots or maybe head to Simmons for summer flower picking.

A family walks hand in hand through a field

3) Do What You Love Doing as a Family

The world is your oyster! Having an activity can make photos more interesting and authentic. The real questions is - what do you guys love doing?

-Love feeding your chickens? Let’s do a coop session!

-Is bath time your absolute favorite time with your baby? Let’s capture that!

-Enjoy family walks and picnics? Let me be your paparazzi!

-Can’t wait for Pirates season? Get dressed in your game gear, and we’ll snap some city shots before the next game.

-Love making homemade pizza together? 100%, let’s do it.

These types of photo shoots are perfect for families who feel stuck in a rut. It’s also great for families who feel stiff and uncomfortable in front of the camera. I’m always here to help you look and feel natural and beautiful, but sometimes adding an activity can make all the difference. Click HERE to reach out, and we can start planning out your next family photo shoot in the Pittsburgh area!

A young boy runs along a very colorful brick pathway. His parents watch him from behind — The M Family requested photos at Randyland!

2 kids jump on their living room sofa — The B Family books a yearly session each spring at their home!

Book Your Next Session!