Milestone Photos

Parents often ask me if I offer sessions for milestone photos. The answer is yes! I love capturing your milestones in photos, and unlike many photographers, I WANT you to get in some of the shots. I look at milestone sessions as family sessions with a focus. Young kids often need some time to warm up to the camera, so this is the perfect opportunity to take snuggly family shots!

Another question I frequently get asked is if we can take pictures of a cake smash. The answer, again, is YES! As a lifestyle photographer, I don’t provide backdrops, smash cakes, or props, but I’m happy to photograph whatever you’d like to bring. My only request is that you let me know if you plan to do a cake smash, so I make sure we allow time for it.

Now let’s skip to the good part!

Kit - 1 Year Milestone

A baby celebrating a 1 year milestone birthday, stands in a field of tall grasses. He smiles and looks away. His hair is curly and red.

A little boy covers his mouth as he giggles. The image is black and white.

A baby giggles as his parents hold him close, tickling him and kissing him.

A mom and son sit in a field of grasses as the sun sets behind them. The one year old boy looks at the camera as the mom snuggles her little one.

Tatum - 1 Year Milestone

A little girl kneels beside a birthday smash cake sitting on a crate with the word "one".

Mom holds her 1 year old daughter and smiles as the toddler daughter hugs her daddy's leg.

A baby sits on the ground, covered in pink cake icing. She's wearing a pink dress and headband.

A family of 4 sit on a blanket, looking at the camera and smiling.

Axton - 2 Year Milestone

Black and white image of a two year old standing, holding a beloved stuffed animal. Sunlight shines on his head

A boy celebrating his 2nd birthday smiles at the camera.

Sunlight shines brightly on a father and his son. The little boy smiles at the camera as sunbeams shine across his face.

A family lovingly looks at their son, celebrating the milestone of a second birthday.

Kelsey Cunningham 2/14/22 Kelsey Cunningham 2/14/22

Robert & Kaylee {Pittsburgh Engagement Photos}

Kaylee was dreaming of engagement pictures in the snow, so when we had a beautiful snowfall in Pittsburgh, Kaylee reached out with a last-minute photo session request. I was so excited to take photos in the snow! In honor of Valentine’s Day - enjoy some beautiful photos of this newly engaged couple!

Newly engaged couple stands in a wooded area covered in snow as they hold hands and look at each other

A man picks up his fiance as they kiss. They're surrounded by snow

Man and woman kiss the head of their pit bull dog who wears a bandana that reads "my humans are getting married"

Snow flies in the air as a newly engaged couple brush their noses against one another

A couple embrace as they smile at the camera. They are standing in a snowy area in the woods

A man surprises his fiance with a hug. They both smile and laugh.

Man and woman kiss under branches in the woods

Beautiful man and woman laugh as their dog licks them. They're bundled up in the snowy woods of Pittsburgh.

Kelsey Cunningham 1/25/22 Kelsey Cunningham 1/25/22

Some Thoughts on Feeding Babies

At many of my newborn photo sessions, the newborn needs to eat once (or more!). So we pause the photos, and I ensure the parents that we’re in no rush. Some moms nurse and some parents grab a bottle. I’d like you to know 2 things:

I am placing no judgements. I don’t care if you breastfeed or give your little one a bottle. I don’t mind sitting in the hallway to give you privacy, I don’t mind chatting with you while you nurse, and I don’t mind waiting for a bottle to heat up.
I will happily take a few photos of you feeding your newborn (in whatever manner you choose), but I will always ask first, and I’m not upset if you say no. If you say yes, I won’t post those photos anywhere, unless you tell me explicitly that you are comfortable with that. I go with the assumption that you don’t want those shared.

I’m a firm believer that fed is best. In the last 2 years, I have witnessed and also personally experienced the guilt that comes along with feeding your baby. And in fact, if you ever need someone to vent to about those big emotions, feel free to email, DM or text me about it (regardless of whether you’ve hired me for newborn photos). I’m here to listen!

I applaud the mommas who nurse their babies. I applaud the mommas who feed their babies formula. I applaud the mommas who do some combination of both. That was me, and I didn’t always feel applauded. So please know that whatever corner you’re in, I’m cheering you on! Because it’s hard, no matter what you choose. And I want to support you.

New mom walks through fields of colorful flowers while carrying her newborn in a ring sling — In one of our few family outings with a newborn, we visited Simmons Farm for flower picking when Thatcher was just a few weeks old!