Pittsburgh Christmas Family Portraits

Here’s a bit of holiday cheer from a recent family portrait session featuring little Arleigh who is about to turn two. Her mama dressed her in a cute party dress and she really sparkled in front of their tree.

Arleigh’s daddy playfully told her not to tip the vase of Christmas bulbs (smart guy!). And she went for it with a sweet and mischievous sense of satisfaction.

It was pretty warm outside for the beginning of December, so we were lucky enough to do some portraits with them in front of their home, all decorated for the holidays.

I’m learning a bit about how to keep a toddler’s attention during a photo shoot. Having photographed brides and grooms over the last six years, this was never really a concern of mine. But now, I’m practicing a lot at home with my son and finding out what works and what doesn’t. Some people are naturals at this, but for me, it’s all trial and error. So during this session, I put a stuffed puppy on my head that barks when you snap or clap. And I think it was mildly amusing to Arleigh. Until the puppy slipped off of my head and fell to the floor. That was a very happy mistake. Now, how many shots could I get with this technique before it got old?

And this is probably my favorite shot of the day. We were in Arleigh’s bedroom when her mama and daddy told her to look outside at the blue bird in the tree. She was curious and played along with them for a few minutes and I love opportunities like this to capture these candid moments and her sweet personality. If you’re interested in scheduling a photo shoot like this at your home, I’d love to hear from you!

What a fun session! Thanks to Kristin and Travis for the opportunity to photograph your darling family! Merry Christmas!