Are you from Pittsburgh? 

We are from Philadelphia. We actually just moved to Pittsburgh in January from Brazil.

When is your due date?

April 17th, 2018

Where will you deliver?

Magee

Who is your OB/GYN?

Dr. Okeefe

What was your first thought when you found out you were pregnant? 

We were both pretty scared because everything happened very fast.

How did you tell the father you were expecting? 

We did everything together, so there was no real reveal that I was pregnant.

How do you manage to look so awesome while you’re pregnant?

I eat healthy (most of the time) and exercise regularly.

Have you chosen a name for your baby? 

We have chosen names for the baby but we are not revealing them until the baby is born since we don't know if it's a girl or boy.

Are you redecorating a room for the baby’s nursery?

Yes! We created an "around the world" themed nursery.

Do you have any family or friends who will be here to help after the baby’s born? 

My husband will be taking a few weeks off from work, so he's going to be the main help. We will also have some family visiting.

While pregnant, have you ever needed help with something that you wouldn't ordinarily need help with? 

Yes and it was quite an adjustment for me because I'm very much a person that likes to handle things herself.

Did you have an idea of what being pregnant would feel like? How has that changed? 

I think I had an idea and it's pretty much what I was expecting.

in your opinion, where's the best place to buy maternity clothes? 

This was a super hard thing for me! I ended up getting most of my things at Target.

Have you had any cravings or food aversions? 

I had different stages of food cravings, the most notable of which was tomatoes!

How did you decide to have a maternity portrait session?

We thought it would be something that would be great to have in the future to remember this phase of our lives.

How did you choose Laura Mares Photography? 

We wanted something simple and easy because we were already at 37 weeks!

Do you have any tips for woman who just found out they are expecting?

Be an advocate for yourself. Everyone will give you opinions, but decide what is best for you and your family and advocate for that decision.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

from Natalie, the Jewelry Lady

Are you overwhelmed about deciding what to wear to your upcoming photoshoot?

I hear that all the time! I enjoy dressing my family for photoshoots but I realize that I am outside the norm! Last week I was at a Premier Designs Jewelry open house where my friend, Natalie gave my mom and I great tips! Natalie is a mama of five, lives in a beautiful farmhouse in the Bethel Park area and likes to help women elevate their look. I asked if she'd share tips with readers on the blog.

Begin with a simple 1-2-3!

1. Start with staples | classic tops, tanks, solid dress, neutral colors.

Great colors for tops: white, ivory, blush, gray, tan, black  Great colors for bottoms: white, denim, gray, tan, navy, black

2. Add fashion |accent with trending colors, prints and textures (jean jacket, scarf, bomber jacket, kimona)

Great accent colors: red, cadet blue, violet, orchid, lime, jade, lavender, peach, chili, yellow

Great accent patterns and textures: polka dots, stripes, plaid and checks, florals, fringe, blazers, bubble sleeves

3. Complete the Look | the right accessories will be game changer for your closet. Your style is in the details, with jewelry.

Six Additional Tips:

1. Create an Impact Zone | Always wear earrings!  They draw attention to your face!  Larger earrings can take #10 pounds off your appearance!

2. Make a Vertical Line |Wear a long necklace to create a slenderizing vertical line!

3. Bangles are Classics! | Wear three quarter length sleeves or push long sleeves up and wear classic bangles. This pulls attention to the thinnest part of your body! Plus bangles are a classic, they never go out of style!

4.  Match Shoes to your Hemline | For instance, if you wear black plants or a black skirt, you should wear black shoes. If you wear a black top and white pants, don't wear black shoes, wear white ones. Shoes should always match the bottom, not the top.

5. Elongate your Neck. | Try wearing a slim V- neck or leave a few open buttons to show off your clavicle to elongate your neck.

6. Appear taller and thiner. | Did you know a V-shaped necklace is the most complimentary? It gives you an hourglass shape and makes you appear taller and thinner.  
 

Did you know that accessories can give your style a name? Popular styles include: classic, natural, boho (bohemian) and dramatic. Your accessories define your personal style!
Do you have an outfit but need the right jewelry to complement it? 
Did you know you can have a FREE closet consult with Natalie, the Jewelry Lady?  Ask how! www.premierdesigns.com/Shiff

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

I'm excited to share highlights from a recent first birthday party that I had the privilege of documenting. The first birthday party was held at the Bethel Park Historical Society. It was built in 1905 as the Bethel Township High School. The room was full of natural light from the large picturesque windows. While I LOVE taking pictures for families, I also LOVE meeting the families that live in the Pittsburgh area! It's truly an honor to be welcomed by so many families to celebrate milestone events and be trusted to capture the moments that turn into memories.

Are you from the Pittsburgh area? 

I’m from Guayaquil, Ecuador. I moved to Pittsburgh in 2011.

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

He was 8 pounds 3 ounces and 20.5 inches long.

What is your baby's current height and weight?

Now he is 23 pounds and 30.5 inches.

Do you have any silly nicknames for your child?

We call him little monkey.

Write 3 things your baby can do.

He walks, can speak some words in Spanish and English and can eat by himself.

How many teeth does your child have?

He has eight teeth.

What words (sounds) does your baby make?

Mama, dada, papa (dad in Spanish), agua (water), toy.

What are your baby's favorite foods?

He loves rice, apples, pasta and salmon. What are your baby's favorite toys?

His favorite toys are cars and anything with sounds he can ”play” music.

What are your baby's favorite games/activities?

His favorite activities are swimming and dancing.

What makes your baby laugh?

When we blow him kisses, and when he plays with bubbles.

How did you celebrate your child's birthday? 

We had a party at the Bethel Park Historical Society. Around 30 guests came to celebrate with us. The theme of the party was Mickey Roadster Racer. The food was from Pasta too (he likes pasta) and the cake was from Bella, Christie & lil Z’s.

How did you chose Laura Mares Photography?

Found the blog and liked her style

What is your favorite photo from your child's 1st birthday party?

When I’m holding him while he sleeps. He is so active now that those moments are rare but perfect.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Are you from the Pittsburgh area?

We've lived in Pittsburgh since 2014, and prior to that we lived in central PA.

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

He was 22 inches and 7lb, 12oz. at birth.

What is your baby's current height and weight?

Today he is 30 inches and about 24 pounds.

What is your favorite photo from your child's 1st birthday photo session?

When he is sitting in the bowl looking down.

Write 3 things your baby can do.

He can walk, chatter, and give lots of hugs and kisses!

How many teeth does your child have?

He has eight teeth (soon to be 9!)

What words (sounds) does your baby make?

He says mama, dada, hey, and he makes car/truck/tractor sounds.

What are your baby's favorite book(s)?

He likes books with noises and books with trucks and construction vehicles.

What are your baby's favorite food(s)?

He likes guacamole, berries and broccoli.

What are your baby's favorite toys?

His loves his fire truck toy and puzzles best.

What are your baby's favorite games/activities?

He likes exploring outside,

What makes your baby laugh?

He laughs at funny faces and when we try to chase him.

How did you celebrate your child's birthday? 

We had our immediate families (grandparents, aunt/uncle and cousins) get together for a Little Blue Truck themed party. Everyone really enjoyed watching Theodore get into smashing his cake!

How did you chose Laura Mares Photography?

We did a Google search, great photos!

What is your favorite photo from your child's 1st birthday photo session?

When he is sitting in the bowl looking down.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

All of his outfits and the banner are from Etsy. The corduroy fox and blanket are from Land of Nod. The balloons and poufs are from Amazon. The cake is from Whole Foods Market.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

On Special Election Day, our family took the chance to travel Pittsburgh in a new perspective...photoshoot style! The kids were weary of running into the middle of this alley to make the perfect shot, but the end results were priceless.

 It was a perfect day-except for the chilly weather! The kids raced to hand over their coats to my husband before each shot.

The traffic was light on the iconic Pittsburgh bridge we were shooting at, so my daughter and I seized the moment to capture some great portraits.

Taking a break from being daredevils, we moved our shoot to the walkway on the bridge. The youngest cherished the opportunity to be the tallest of her siblings!

It then took a couple tries to take the perfect jumping shot...but it was worth it!

As the wind picked up, the trio decided to squish together as much as they could to warm themselves up. The closeness produced some giggles!

 Ella spotted some pigeons and admired their pretty wings from afar.

Ella's silliness produced many smiles from others passing by. The reactions only induced more outrageous faces...

We found it quite ironic that all three of my children were wearing Converse All-Stars during the Pittsburgh shoot. We decided to seize the moment.

Ella shared her idea of having a dance party, which spurred this adorable out come!

The kids then took the chance to take some individual shots with the scenic Pittsburgh backdrop.

Ben posed under a willow tree for his portrait shots, the river in the background produced cool "gangster vibes" in these pictures!

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

When was your baby born?

January 22, 2018

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

20.5 inches 8 lbs 1 oz

Was your baby early, late or on time?

He was six days late.

Are you from Pittsburgh? 

I'm originally from New Bedford, PA. It's just over one hour north of Pittsburgh. I moved here permanently in 2000.

What was your first thought when you found out you were pregnant? 

I felt nervous excitement and joyful.

How did you tell the father you were expecting? 

I told him he needed to get more girls for the softball team because I wouldn't be able to play the whole season.

How did you style the nursery? 

The nursery is focused around a trio of tree prints by Jan Heath that I picked up in Berkeley Springs, WV. The nursery has features an oakleaf mobile and light sage green walls. Overall, it's simple, has calm colors, has a focus on nature.

How did you chose your baby's name? 

Dave's dad's middle name was John and my dad's first name was Charles.  We decided on Jonathan Charles as a tribute to both.

What are you looking forward to doing with your baby? 

We look forward to watching him grow and learn, and watching his personality develop. Down the road, I'm sure both Dave and I are looking forward to playing a little catch. :)

Write 3 adjectives that describe your newborn baby. 

He's a smiley, stubborn, bright eyed baby.

Share a piece of advice to an expecting mom. 

Keep an open mind and be ready to adapt.  Prepare for changes to your plan.

What has been the biggest struggle since coming home from the hospital? 

The witching hour! Getting Jon to sleep in the evening hours.

What was your favorite part of your newborn photo session? 

Watching the process and the extreme patience that is involved with newborn photography! Also, I took away some tips to soothe Jonathan from watching Laura in action!!

Why is newborn photography important to you? 

It's just lovely to have reminders of the first days and weeks together.  Jon is making new sounds and faces each day.  It'll will be so nice to look back at these in the years to come and have something for Jonathan when he is older.  It's also just a beautiful way to share the moment with family and friends.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

A white crocheted hat that I hooked was used.  I had not planned on it, but we had it with us and I love the way the photos turned out.

You are a very talented crocheter! I'd love to hear how you first learned and if you've considered selling baby hats! 

Thank you 🙂.  I first tried to crochet when one of my friends was pregnant with her first child.  That attempt was unsuccessful, but I tried again when my sister was pregnant with her first daughter and was more  determined for success.  I am mostly self taught with some guidance from my aunt.  

I have had a couple of requests for hats, so yes, I am always willing to consider selling them.

Where did you deliver?

West Penn Hospital

Who is your OB/GYN?

Western Penn OB/GYN.  My delivering doctor was Andrew Sword.  He was outstanding and I love the group.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

How many children do you have?

We have one child.

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

8 lbs 4oz 21.25 inches

What is your baby's current height and weight?

Current weight 26lbs, 13oz. Height unknown until next peds app! He’s tall though 😌

Are you from Pittsburgh?

I am actually from the Beaver County area. I moved to Pittsburgh when Tim and I got together years ago.

Write 3 adjectives that describe your child.

He is a sweet, energetic, loving child.

How many teeth does your child have?

He has 14!

Is your child walking? If yes, at how many months old?

He is almost there! 12 months 🤗

What are your child's favorite book(s)?

He like Hush a Bye Bunny and Peek-a-Who.

What are your child's favorite food(s)?

Pizza, green grapes.

What are your child's favorite toys?

Ball pit, cars.

What are your child's favorite activities?

Going to the park! Down the slide, on the swings!

What makes your baby laugh?

Tickling him and sometimes I can say stuff that makes him laugh.

How did you celebrate your child's birthday? 

We had my son’s first birthday party in Pittsburgh. Forty guests came to celebrate with us. The party had a Steelers football theme. Our baby had a small football smash cake and a piñata that was hard to break. Everyone really enjoyed it!

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc.

The onesie and bow tie are from Amazon.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Please write about how you guys decided to move to Pittsburgh/Mt. Lebanon!

We had looked at a couple of different areas around the U.S. (Seattle, Raleigh) but instantly fell in love with Pittsburgh and Mt. Lebanon when we first visited. The schools are great, the people are friendly, and the homes are so beautiful! We feel like we live in a storybook.

Tell us all about your beautiful home! 

Our home was built in 1941 and  has so many unique items. It has plaster-work on the walls with little hidden reliefs everywhere - griffins, lions, ships, flowers, crests, etc. There is an original winch hardwired in the garage that was used to pull the 1940's cars up the driveway! The basement has a dungeon-like wine cellar with a massive iron gate. We instantly fell in love with the house and our daughter calls it her princess castle.

When was your baby born?

December 30, 2017

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

19 1/4 inches and 6 lbs 2 oz

Was your baby early, late or on time?

About two weeks early.

What was your first thought when you found out you were pregnant? 

Excited and terrified at the same time haha.

How did you tell the father you were expecting? 

I left the positive pregnancy test on top of the faucet in the bathroom and just waited for him to find it and freak out.

How did you style the nursery? 

Eclectic. The walls are wallpapered with dressed up black and white animals, a large oriental rug, a dresser and rocker from craigslist, and some items we had in our daughter's nursery.

How did you chose your baby's name? 

We wanted a name that wasn't too common. Our nickname for our daughter is baby bear and when we came across the name Orson it was the perfect fit. His middle name is a tribute to our street address since he was unexpectedly  born at home!

What are you looking forward to doing with your baby? 

I'm looking forward to all of the toothless smiles and then baby giggles. When he's a little older it will be great to see him and my daughter play.

Write 3 adjectives that describe your newborn baby. 

Serious, determined, and of course adorable.

Share a piece of advice to an expecting mom. 

Don't stress about things too much, especially during the newborn phase. It can be a tough time but in a week or two's time they are on to the next phase and everything has changed.

What has been the biggest struggle since having your second baby? 

Adjusting to life with a newborn and a crazy toddler! Mornings, nights, and weekends are loud and hectic when its all four of us but we're starting to get in a new routine.

What was your favorite part of your newborn photo session? 

Definitely the siblings pictures and Laura's patience. Although he was only five days old he would not cooperate for almost any of the poses but Laura kept pushing on and we got some beautiful pictures.

Why is newborn photography important to you? 

You only have one chance to get these pictures and they change so quickly.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

I got a few items from Etsy and then knit some other myself.

Where did you deliver?

I delivered at home about five or so minutes before the paramedics arrived! We then went on to Magee and the emergency staff there was amazing.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

When did you meet your husband?

We met in elementary school outside of Pittsburgh.

When was your baby born?

Our baby was born on January 4, 2018

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

19.5" and 6lbs 12oz

Was your baby early, late or on time?

Late

What area of Pittsburgh do you call home?

We live in Lawrenceville.

Tell us a little about your home. 

Our home is a renovated townhouse built in 1901. We exposed much of the original brick on the interior, to add extra character to it. There are a lot of cool tones of gray throughout the house with some metal and wood accents. We have traveled abroad quite a bit so all of the pictures and knick knacks tell a story from one of our trips.

What was your first thought when you found out you were pregnant? 

I felt a full range of emotions, from ecstatic and over the moon, to anxious and unprepared. At the end of the day it was the greatest feeling in the world knowing we were going to become parents.

How did you tell the father you were expecting? 

Our dog is considered our first born, so I had to incorporate him somehow! I made a note that said "Dad, you & mom are getting me a human!" and tied it around his neck. Then he ran upstairs and jumped on Chad and he saw the note. I've never seen him smile so big!

How did you style the nursery? 

The nursery is sort of a modern bohemian theme, with rich colors such as a dark teal accent wall, Asian style rug with reds, golds, blues, and mustard curtains. There are hints of travel as well including a globe piggy bank from his grandma, an elephant picture above his crib from his aunt and a unique "Adventure" sign given as a gift from a shop in the city where Chad and I got engaged.

How did you chose your baby's name? 

Girls names came way easier but we struggled to agree on a boys name. Chad was watching the Pens and Predators Stanley Cup game and saw Roman Josi (Predators player) and suggested it. I loved it! He didn't want to tell me where he saw the name in case I didn't want it because I am a big Pens fan!

What are you looking forward to doing with your baby? 

I am looking forward to seeing him turn into the little person he's going to be. I am excited to see his personality and what traits he got from his father and me.

Write 3 adjectives that describe your newborn baby. 

He is a innocent, sweet and perfect baby.

Share a piece of advice to an expecting mom. 

Don't read into too much advice from other people. Your baby is going to hate stuff others loved, and love stuff others hate. It's your own unique journey, don't compare any part of your pregnancy or experience with a newborn to anyone else's. Embrace all the hardships, they are only this small for a period of time. If you're exhausted, sleep deprived and out of patience, try to tell yourself to remember this time with your baby this small will be gone before you know it so just try to enjoy the ride.

What has been the biggest struggle since coming home from the hospital? 

Trying to balance sleep and functioning in the day.

What was your favorite part of your newborn photo session? 

How well Laura incorporated our entire fsmily, dog and all :) She also made our home look like something out of a magazine. The way she was able to capture the right light in every room was impressive.

Why is newborn photography important to you? 

Newborn photography was important to us because we wanted to capture these first moments with our first born. You don't get this time back, so we wanted to preserve as much of it as we could. He has changed so much since even the photo shoot, so I am so glad we got those early days captured in time.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

His "Hello World" outfit was from Etsy. His crib sheet was Carousel Designs. His swaddle was Aden and Anis. His white blanket was compliments of his great grandmother

Where did you deliver?

Magee Women's Hospital

Who is your OB/GYN?

Dr. Carol Chesin

Tell us about your travels!

Oh where to begin! We've lived abroad and worked in Ireland, Spain, Thailand and New Zealand. We've traveled to over 22 countries in Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific, mostly just the 2 of us together. After college we spent the next 4 years traveling, living and working abroad. New Zealand was our favorite country to visit. It has everything you could ever want in 1 place, from the mountains to the beaches, wineries, big cities, small towns, most amazing local people, amazing cuisine, terrific culture, and so much more! Traveling those years was the best experience of my life....until we became parents.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

SHOOT AND SHARE PHOTO CONTEST

Every year, Shoot and Share (a community for photographers) puts together a photo contest. Anyone can submit up to 50 images to see how their work fairs with their peers. It is a daunting task to pick your favorites photos that you hope will do well in the contest! In January photographers submit their favorites into several different categories, some of categories include: lifestyle, maternity, children and kids, family, babies and toddlers, newborns and birth, seniors and teens, wedding, portraits and travel.

412,379 photos were submitted this year. Wow! There are 12 rounds to get to  the finals. We are currently in round 10. 42,543 photos still remain in the contest. That means that we are down to the top 10.3%. So far this year 108,053 people have voted from 125 different countries! 

It’s just as easy to vote as it is to enter! Once you are on the voting page, you see four different photos from one category, you must chose your favorite of the four photos. As soon as you click on your choice another four photos appear on your screen. Be careful, voting can be addicting! This year people have already spent 232,081 hours voting.

Picking your favorite photo can be difficult. I often want to pick more than just one! I seem to like lifestyle, black and white images, and seeing connection between people in the photos. If there’s a photo that you absolutely love, and want to learn more about after the contest is over, you can favorite the image. Actually when an image has been favorited, it receives a heart, which is the only way a photographer can know if one of their photos is moving up through the rounds. 

Keep in mind that voting can become addicting! Sometimes I wake up and think, "I'll just vote on a couple photos, and the next thing I know it's 30 minutes later! It’s inspiring to see beautiful and creative images. And I always hope that I'll have the chance to see my own image, but so far I haven't had the chance. 

I was nervous to enter this year. Last year I entered several travel images from our summer living in Europe. A portrait that I took of a French painter made it to the 11th round. This year I entered a couple images of my own kids in local parks around Pittsburgh, a couple from Norway and mostly family portraits from my photo sessions. While I looked through my images from the past year, I couldn’t help but be humbled with gratitude. Gratitude towards the families that trusted me to document family. Regardless how I do this year, I’ll continue to remember that what I get to do for others is amazing. I get to preserve the special moments in their lives.

While I am super excited to see how I fare this year, I’m even more excited to see if there is improvement from my results last year. I love that as a photographer, I can continue to improve and develop my skills and talents. There’s always room for improvement and growth!

Voting will remain open until March 3. You can vote in the contest too, just click here! I hope you enjoy voting for you favorite images as much as I do!  The results are released a couple weeks after voting has completed. I’ll be sure to the results on my next month!!

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, is an event designed to create an evening to remember for individuals with special needs.   

Night to Shine is described as an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs ages 14 and older.

This event was celebrated in 537 churches on February 9, 2018 around the world. Approximately 90,000 honored guests experienced royal treatment through the support of 175,000 volunteers! 

It was my privilege to serve as a volunteer photographer at the Night to Shine in the South Hills of Pittsburgh at The Bible Chapel in Peters Township.

There were 330 guests and 640 volunteers at this venue alone.

Racks of donated gowns lined the halls of The Bible Chapel in the weeks leading up to the event. 

Local hair salons opened their doors and volunteered their time and talent to help prepare the guests for the event. 

Guests arrive with their family for registration and to be matched with a "buddy" for the evening.

Parents and caregivers gather in the respite area for dinner and a movie.

The evening began with pampering: make-up touch ups and shoe shines, a stop at the photo booth and a ride in a limo.

Guests exit the limo with their buddies and walk down the red carpet together, where they are greeted by "paparazzi"  and cheers.

Guests could chose the amount of energy at their entrance by choosing from three options: "energy," "quiet" or "no pictures."

My daughter volunteered on the red carpet as a member of the welcoming paparazzi crowd. She was amazed to see the red carpet transform to accommodate the preference of each guest. She said the room could be filled with high energy, high fives, and a guest dancing down the red carpet and seconds later the room was nearly silent with respectful smiles and mild applause.

Every guest is crowned king or queen.

The evening activities included a dinner, karaoke, dancing and a video presentation from Tim Tebow.

I was one of several photographers documenting the night. During the course of the day, I visited two hair salons, covered the registration tables, buddy matches and finished the night in the karaoke room.

I was touched to see so many ecstatic guests throughout the day.

I asked many guests if I could take their picture and I was nearly always greeted with a huge smile that light up an entire face! 

I admire the extensive generosity that I saw throughout the day from the gorgeously decorated hair salons to enough delicious donated food to feed an army! 

Throughout the evening when I looked into the faces in the crowd I was greeted by smiling faces of the many volunteers and the guests as well!

I can tell you that it was truly a night to shine and that the guests and the volunteers alike had an evening that they will never forget!

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

I spend quite a bit of time driving around Pittsburgh. On a long drive in January, I decided it'd be fun to start a new blog series featuring Pittsburgh's neighborhoods as a lifestyle photographer. It's probably no surprise to hear that I spend a lot of time editing photographs at my computer, but you may be surprised to hear how often I also get to explore Pittsburgh's neighborhoods!

Today let's feature Lawrenceville. (and my favorite taco stand in Brookline that I always stop at if I'm anywhere near during lunchtime!)

Las Palmas is located on Brookline Blvd. When you stop for a taco, you'll be asked, "cuantos tacos?" You can order steak, chicken, ground beef, pork and pineapples to name a few of my favorite options. It's $2.50 a taco. You can place your order outside and then head into the Mexican grocery store to pay.

I especially love the fresh salsa and guacamole. 

While it is often busy at lunchtime the line moves quickly!

Since I'm a busy wife and mother of three, I honestly don't have much time to research before I head out. So I love asking my clients for great local suggestions to check out while in their neighborhood. I asked Tara for advice on what shops and restaurants she'd recommend for me to stop by and check out in Lawrenceville.

Shops:

Pavement Is a boutique that support local, indie, and sustainable designers but also offers top American-made brands like Stateside, Chaser and Three Dots. 

Wild Card is a great shop to find unique greeting cards and gifts for the person "who has everything!"

No.14 is a gift shop full of trendy fashion accessories and clothes.

Von Walter & Funk call themselves purveyors of find goods, including home decor, paper items and jewelry.

While I was exploring Lawrenceville, I also came across T's Uphostery Studio. I purchased beautiful fabric samples. My daughter uses a couple of the fabric pieces in her dollhouse for blankets and curtains and I used a couple of the longer pieces to make into runners for our dinning room table.

Coffee:

Espressomano has a relaxed atmosphere and great coffee served in porcelain mugs. I love the exposed brick walls and chalkboard menu.

Lunch: 

Mexican-Round Corner Cantina

Smoke Taqueria 

Industry Public House

The Abbey (or for a drink-the atmosphere is great)

Befor I left Lawrenceville, I stopped in for a beautiful piece of Scotch whiskey caramel chocolate from A519. It reminded me of the Belgium chocolate boutiques we came across in Brussels and Bruges!

What are your favorite places to stop at in Lawrenceville? I'd love to check them out too!

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Story by Anna Mares. Doll by Lenna McGraw. Photography by Laura Mares.

Today Ella and Tutu are taking part in a Unicorn Search Expedition. Together they have traveled from their home to go on safari. Tutu found an article explaining the rumors of Unicorn sightings in Pittsburgh, so the two decided to make a day of it.  Ella has decided to use her special telescope to help them find the fantastic creature. 

Sadly the first exhibit is home to a tiger (not the unicorn), but the girls still enjoy the friendly animal. 

Continuing along the trail, they stumble upon huge rocks and attempt to climb them. Ella's big sister helps boost them up to the top of the pile. 

Ella quickly solves her fear of heights, and enjoys posing on the interesting structure!

The next habitat is home to two ferocious lions. Ella and Tutu giggle as the big cats roar. 

The two friends are slowly becoming more and more disappointed with their lack of success in finding the majestic unicorn. Tutu decides that flying to the next destination will help boost team moral, so Ella pretends to fly as she flings Tutu into the air, faithful their ingenious plan will work. 

At first the plan is successful, and the girls laugh as they receive strange looks from other Zoo visitors. Within seconds however, Tutu's body comes crashing down on top of Ella! 

The silly girls decide that they will stick to walking as their form of transportation. Tutu has another spark of genius however, and decides that they should have a quick dance break before continuing on to the next exhibit. 

Reenergized, they continue on the path, and find the elephant exhibit. But once again, there are no unicorns. 

The girls have one final stop before their adventure is over, the aquarium. Ella loves this part the best, and excitedly searches the tanks for any sign of a Unicorn...

 All they find are some jellyfish, but Ella still enjoys the natural light show. 

The girls are quite depressed as they trudge back home, disappointed that they never met the unicorn! 

Tutu reminds the devastated Ella that they might always run into the unicorn on their way back to the car! The pep talk does the adventurers wonders as they set off to finish their journey. 

Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, Tutu spots a white mystical creature sprint behind the foliage! The two girls excitedly chase the sound....And sure enough they find the most beautiful unicorn ever, Zoe!

Zoe shares that she doesn't have any friends, and is quite lonely living all alone in Pittsburgh. The girls ponder the situation, and decide that they would love Zoe as a fellow friend! The three drive home together, excited for what future adventures may come their way. 

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

We had an extensive water leak that damaged our cabinets and floors. We hired someone to remove the mold and replace the floor, he managed to remove the mold but left us with a  plywood floor. It took us a couple of years to regroup, plan and save for the much needed repairs. On November 1, 2017 we began our  journey toward restoring our kitchen. We needed nearly everything to be replaced. 

I took a couple of photos during the long process of restoring our kitchen. It was hard to feed a family of 5 using just the refrigerator and a countertop microwave. We enjoyed lots of salads, baked potatoes and frozen meatballs over the six weeks that we didn't have a working kitchen. Fortunately, my mom and sister in law also prepared several delicious meals for us and one family had us over for a Czech meal at their home!

It looked pretty ugly in our kitchen for a couple of weeks! 

Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project

Slowly it began to be build back up, with plaster work and a new floor.  Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project

There was a plastic wall to contain most of the dust and dirt from entering the rest of the house. My daughter and I were home the day the plastic wall came down! We were so excited! It was beginning to look like a kitchen again! She brought a couple of toys to play in the new space. I asked her what was her favorite thing so far, she pointed to the squiggle on the wall that marked where I shouldn't paint yet, and stated something like "I just love the wall art!" Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project

Once the walls and floors were ready the cabinets went in and we had a temporary sink. We could finally enjoy great coffee again!  Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project

A few days before Christmas, the countertop was installed! We finally had a fully functioning kitchen! My daughter invited a friend over to make Christmas cookies!  Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project

The last few details were completed in January: the backsplash and an small cabinet on wheels that can become an island when needed, otherwise it can stay tucked in the corner.

While Jason completed nearly all of the kitchen himself, we painted it and did the grout for the backsplash with our talented neighbor, Dylan.  Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project

This is Jason, the friendly and knowledgeable contractor, just minutes before he finished the kitchen. Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photography | Laura Mares Photography Kitchen Project

Take a look at how the kitchen looks today!

We have many friends and family in Europe that happen to have beautiful kitchens! I like the look of the bright and airy European kitchens where the light bounces around the space. Fortunately my new friend Pia, a Norwegian photographer, has fabulous taste in design and shared ideas on Nordic design and showed me her favorite kitchens on her Pinterest page.

Our first two major decisions were deciding on the cabinets and floor. I knew for years that I wanted plain white shaker cabinets, but I wanted affordable, solid wood cabinets. Our neighbors had just finished a kitchen project with gorgeous, solid wood, white shaker cabinets! We used the company that they recommended. I texted a friend that has an eye for interior design and asked for any thoughts about choosing the floor. She said to choose anything that hides dirt! What wonderful advice when you have three children. 

Although it was really difficult to be without a kitchen during the holidays, one advantage was being able to utilize Black Friday specials. Just about everything we needed was on sale, like the rugs, appliances and lights.

I always loved my mom's open cabinet that was in our house when I was growing up. She told me a couple of stories over the years about it, like when she was a child  it held her grandma's favorite items in her kitchen. When I explained to  my mom that I was looking for a small open cabinet, similar to her grandma's, she told me that I could have it! You can see it below with several of my favorite items, Danish gnomes from my mother-in-law, the Dala horse my husband brought back from Sweden, a couple Rae Dunn dishes and our fondue pot.

I'm honestly not sure which was more difficult; surviving without a kitchen for six weeks, living in a house that was an utter disaster or making so many decisions! For example, I spent hours looking at pendant lights on day until I finally found these glass ones (pictured below). One of my best friends graciously spent hours with me searching at endless granite warehouses helping to find the "right" one. It was with her that I decided that I wanted plain medium gray countertops with a matte finish. But in all of our searching we never came one. I thought it must not exist until a few days later the kids and I entered a countertop store in Brentwood and almost immediately found the perfect countertop for us!

We have wonderful German friends that we met while they lived in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago. After a visit back to Germany, Nina brought us an Alessi pepper mill. She said that although it's actually made by an Italian designer many Germans have an item designed by Alessi in their kitchens. Every time I use my pepper mill I think of our dear friends in Cologne.

My older daughter made me a double vase for Christmas this year. I'm excited to keep fresh flowers/trimmings in our kitchen year round.

Since the look of the kitchen had really changed, I thought it'd be a good idea to make a few small changes in the dinning room too! We updated our chandelier and rug, painted our rustic server gray, make new shelves and found a primitive bowl and bread board.

My mom and I traded dinning room chairs. We both laughed about it thinking that we had gotten the best deal!

Every year my dad gives us bulbs to grow during the winter. I enjoy seeing their progress daily. 

Contractor: Jason Stromberg, Four Square Builders

Counter: Artisan Gray Quartz from Giant Stone

Cabinets: Budget Cabinet Solutions

Pendant Lights: Pottery Barn

Chandelier: Birch Lane

Backsplash tiles: 3x6 Subway tile from Home Depot

Floor tiles: 12x24 inch tile from Lowes

Paint Colors: Sherwin Williams (light gray) mindful gray (dark gray) dovetail 

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

This past fall felt like a whirlwind! We started our kitchen restoration project and I was fully booked with portrait sessions. I honestly home we're never that busy again! I'm enjoying this freezing cold winter and am happy to slow down and catch up! Today on the blog you can read an interview with a loving mom about her two beautiful children.  

When was your baby born?

He was born on November 2, 2017.

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

As a newborn, he was 6 pounds 15 ounces, 20 inches.

Was your baby early, late or on time?

He was born right on time.

Are you from Pittsburgh? 

Yes, I am from Pittsburgh.

What was your first thought when you found out you were pregnant? 

He is the baby we had prayed for for a long time.

How did you tell the father you were expecting? 

I sent him a picture of the pregnancy test.

How did you style the nursery? 

We don’t have one yet because we are moving, but his new room will be gray reclaimed wood.

How did you chose your baby's name? 

It was difficult. He did not have a name until 2 days after he was born.

What are you looking forward to doing with your baby? 

Watching him grow into the amazing little man that he will be.

Write 3 adjectives that describe your newborn baby. 

He is a snuggly, calm, and loved newborn baby boy.

Share a piece of advice to an expecting mom. 

Allow yourself to relax and enjoy your baby. Everything else can wait.

What has been the biggest struggle since coming home from the hospital? 

Finding time to sleep.

What was your favorite part of your newborn photo session? 

Watching my daughter interacting with him and being a big sister for the first time.

Why is newborn photography important to you? 

Babies are small for such a short period of time. It is so important to capture those first moments.

Where did you deliver?

I delivered at Magee Hospital.

Who is your OB/GYN?

Women Care Associates of Bethel

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Story by Anna Mares. Doll by Lenna McGraw. Photography by Laura Mares.

It is Ella's 4th birthday and Tutu has decided to treat her to an exciting trip to the Zoo! The family packs themselves into the minivan and begins the trek to the wildlife park. Ella can hardly contain her excitement as they soar upward on the escalator. 

Ella poses before the huge sign and proudly boasts her new age, 4!

The two stumble upon a Rhino, and Tutu is terrified before Ella patiently explains to her that it is just a piece of cardboard. They see how they measure up to the size of a real Rhino, and Ella jumps for joy when she sees that she is older than Tutu is Rhino years. 

The next animal they stumble upon is a ferocious Tiger! The three become fast friends...

Ella and Tutu continue walking, bundled up in their layers of brightly colored coats and winter accessories. Soon Tutu catches sight of a sign informing them that penguins are soon to be parading on the path near the aquarium. The two dash to the scene and excitedly watch the performers. 

After the penguins rush off to their cozy indoor homes, Ella and Tutu begin the treacherous journey down the polar bear ridden path. They gasp in relief when the cage is empty, and sneak inside for some quick shots. 

Next, the two adventurers find a black cat that they can ride!  They imagine a kingdom where they are the rulers and the big cat is the mascot, who goes by the name "Whiskers."

Ella and Tutu escape the relentless wind as they rush to the aquarium. They are quickly captivated by the elegant fish. 

They then round the corner, wondering what could possibly be next.

Tutu finds the beautiful, blooming flower first and leads the way for Ella to discover it.  

The next room frightens Ella extremely when they find themselves in the dark. 

Trembling, they walk along the hall and uncover dancing jellyfish. They realize that it's in the dark that one finds the light.  

Ella's tummy grumbles in hunger just as Mommy announces that it's lunch time. Ella grins from ear to ear!

As they await the foods' arrival, they search to find where they are on the map.

With full tummy's, the two enter the Elephant den, and are shocked at how huge it is! They marvel as the zookeepers feed, shower and manicure the massive creatures. 

As they reach the end of their adventure, they wander the gift store and Ella laughs as she imagines the shark singing Happy Birthday.  

Thanks for joining Ella & Tutu on their birthday zoo adventure! Read more of their adventures here.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Read all about Maddie and see the highlights from her senior portrait session dancing around the South Side.

Are you from Pittsburgh?

Yes

Where is the best place to eat in Pittsburgh and what do you eat there? 

Ida's Place in Lower Burrell. Everything is delicious but my favorite meal is Spaghetti Pie or Steak Parmesan.

What is the best thing about being in high school? 

Being the chair person of the community outreach committee and helping local families in need.

Describe your family with one word.

Supportive

How would your friends describe you? 

Fun, loud, caring, and kind.

If you took a road trip, where would you go?

The beach! (or at least somewhere warm)

What kind of music do you enjoy?

I love all music. My playlists consist of pop, country, alternative, rap, oldies, and everything in between.

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Going to the beach on vacation.

What are your plans for after high school?

I'll be attending college in the fall, not sure what school yet.

How did you decide what to wear to your portrait session? 

After reading the suggested colors, my mom and I picked our favorite outfits from my closet.

How did you chose Laura Mares Photography? 

I loved the pictures that Laura took from my nephew's first birthday party.

What was the best part of your senior portrait session?

Finding cool portraits around South Side!

What was your favorite portrait from your senior portrait session? 

The picture en pointe with the Byron Batch's butterfly mural behind me!

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Newborn sessions are longer than most other sessions, for a couple of reasons, we want your newborn baby to sleep comfortably (while looking adorable) but when baby is hungry we need to stop to feed, and when we take off diapers... there is always the possibility of a small accident! Although newborn sessions tend to be long, they are also quite peaceful It is a nice opportunity to get to know the parents!

When was your baby born? 

Our baby girl was born on October 18, 2017.

What was your baby's height and weight at birth? 

She was 19.5 inches long and 7.4 pounds.

Was your baby early, late or on time? 

She was 4 days early.

What area of Pittsburgh do you call home? 

Just West of Pittsburgh, in Greentree.

How did you style the nursery? 

The nursery is calm and sophisticated with pale pinks, blues, teals with navy accents. There is no specific theme.

How did you chose your baby's name? 

Both Emma and Ann were names of relatives on both my mother and fathers side of the family

What are you looking forward to doing with your baby? 

I'm looking forward to watching her explore and discover new things each day.

How would you describe your newborn baby? 

She is a cuddly and vocal baby.

What has been the biggest struggle since coming home from the hospital? 

Adjusting to the unpredictability!  Just when you think you have a pattern or cue figured out she changes the script!

Why is newborn photography important to you? 

Newborn photography is important for capturing that one moment in time. She’ll never be that same baby again. Already it is hard to remember how small she was.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

The stuffed cardinal is from Land of Nod.

Where did you deliver?

West Penn Hospital

Who is your OB/GYN?

Seasons Obgyn

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

I always enjoy meeting new families! I was happy to be contacted from a family that had recently relocated to Pittsburgh and wanted family photos that featured beautiful fall leaves and colors. We enjoyed walking around Mansion at Hartwood Acres (and getting a little muddy in the process!) 

How did you and your spouse meet? 

We met while attending Ohio State University for our undergrad degrees.

How many children are in your family?

We have four children.

Are you from Pittsburgh? If not, when did you move to Pittsburgh?

We moved to Pittsburgh in August, relocation for work in order to be closer to family.

What are 3 adjectives that describe your family.

Our family is crazy, rowdy, fun!

What are your family's favorite things to do in and around Pittsburgh?

We're pretty new but we're loving the fall colors and rolling hills.

What are your family's favorite movie(s) and/or book(s)?

Harry Potter is our recent obsession but we love Super Heroes too, both DC and Marvel.

What is/are your family's favorite food(s) or restaurant(s)?

Burgers, for sure!  Burgatory might be one of the Pittsburgh favorites!

Share a funny family memory. 

We giggle a lot but many of the funnies are because of the three boys and all the silliness (and inappropriateness) that surrounds A bunch of boys!

What does your family enjoy doing together? 

As a family we enjoy hiking, cooking, reading, listening to music.

Tell us a little about family vacations. Maybe the best vacation you ever had or a favorite vacation destination etc. 

We love vacations at the lake house, also big fans of the beach!

Your family is so much fun and enjoys being together! How did you get so close? 

We lived on top of each in a tiny house in California, no room to not be close 😉

Why did you decide to have your family portraits taken by a professional photographer? 

I (mom) am addicted to pictures, they are everywhere in the house. I like being up to date as the kids grow and change.

How did you decide what to wear to your portrait session? 

I found a darling shirt for the youngest boy and then built around that.

What was your favorite portrait from your family session? 

Group hug! It's our Christmas card.

How did you chose Laura Mares Photography? 

Google search, I liked Laura's portfolio and she was reasonably priced.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

Most clothes were from Target. My scarf is from Gap.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

I am excited to share newborn photos from this family that is new to Pittsburgh. This mom had amazing stories to share about her time in Huston during and after the hurricane this summer and moving to Pittsburgh with a brand new baby. 

When was your baby born?

Our baby was born on September 5, 2017.

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

As a newborn he weighted, 8 pounds 15 ounces and he was 22 inches.

Was your baby early, late or on time?

He was one week early.

What area of Pittsburgh do you call home?

We live in the North Hills, Seven Fields.

What was your first thought when you found out you were pregnant? 

It was an unexpected pregnancy so shock! Once the doctor confirmed the pregnancy it was pure joy!

How did you tell the father you were expecting? 

I couldn’t wait so I called him at work at 7 a.m.!

How did you style the nursery? 

It’s black and white with some sports elements. There’s a picture of PNC Park and Nippert Stadium and we have a basket filled with footballs and baseballs.

How did you chose your baby's name? 

My husband has always wanted to name his son Major. He has two middle names. Both of our dad's names are Scott and my maiden name is Cole so he is Major Scott Cole Taggart.

What are you looking forward to doing with your baby? 

I look forward to getting to know him and watching him learn about everything around him. He already has so much personality and curiosity!

Write 3 adjectives that describe your newborn baby. 

He is a happy, loving and curious newborn baby.

Share a piece of advice to an expecting mom. 

Decide how you plan to track your baby’s growth before he or she gets here! I can’t believe how fast my baby has grown and nothing shows it more than pictures of him in his mamaroo chair or on a specific swaddle at different ages.

What has been the biggest struggle since coming home from the hospital? 

Finding time for me.

What was your favorite part of your newborn photo session? 

My favorite part was watching my husband help with soothing the baby and working to get him to cooperate. His concern was so sweet!

Why is newborn photography important to you? 

I want to have beautiful pictures to remember how he was when we brought him home.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

His hat and name blanket are from Etsy

Where did you deliver?

The Woman’s Hospital of Texas

Who is your OB/GYN?

Dr. Claire Kelly

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

How many children are in your family?

We have one child.

Are you from Pittsburgh? 

I am from China. I came to Pittsburgh for school and met my husband here. I've lived here for 4 years now.

Write 3 adjectives that describe your family.

Our family is loving, honest, mild.

What are your family's favorite things to do in and around Pittsburgh?

Ice skating at Schenley Park.

What are your family's favorite movie(s) and/or book(s)?

We like a couple movies. One of them is The Martian.

What is/are your family's favorite food(s) or restaurant(s)?

A Michelin star Chinese restaurant named Cafe China in midtown New York.

Share a funny family memory. 

I work in New York, so Mark often travels there to visit me. On the Chinese valentine's day of 2015, Mark made a secret trip to New York. He arrived at my apartment while I was at work, had my roommate open the door for him, and waited there for me to finish work. He texted me saying that his friend Todd was going to stop by my apartment building to give me something to take back to Pittsburgh next week, so I needed to tell Todd when I'd get home. I believed that was true. I also didn't expect he'd do anything special for me on that day because it's not a valentine's day in the US. I finished work, told Todd when I'd be home,  and went home as usual, then I saw Mark walking towards me on the street with roses on his hand. What's funny was I wasn't surprised but very confused! The first question I asked him wasn't "Why are you here?", but "What's going on? Where is Todd?"

What does your family enjoy doing together? 

Mark enjoys cooking for me. I like to help him while he cooks.

Tell us a little about family vacations. Maybe the best vacation you ever had or a favorite vacation destination etc. 

We had our wedding in Dominican Republic. My family came all the way from China, then both of our families (19 people) went to DR together and had stayed there for 11 days. The wedding on the beach was beautiful and the 11 days on the beach was so relaxing.

Why did you decide to have your family portraits taken by a professional photographer? 

Claire is our first baby and this is our first family portrait session, so I wanted a professional one.

How did you decide what to wear to your portrait session? 

My husband bought the blue outfit for the baby some time ago not for this photo session. He likes this outfit so decided to have her wear it at the session. We wanted to wear something that would go well with baby's color, so we picked ours based on her outfit.

What was your favorite portrait from your family session? 

The one of daddy and daughter looking at each other (the middle portrait below).

How did you chose Laura Mares Photography? 

Laura was recommended to me by someone on a Facebook group for Mt Lebanon Moms. I checked Laura's website and loved all the pictures. The package she offers is good mix of photo numbers and price, so I chose Laura.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

Our clothes are from J Crew.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Today I'm excited to share an interview with a local Pittsburgh mom that I've had the pleasure of meeting twice. We first met in February when she brought her adorable son into the studio for a newborn photo shoot. I'm honored that she chose to come back for a fall family session. This time we met in Mt. Lebanon Main Park. I love meeting other Pittsburgh families and getting to keep in touch at portrait sessions over the years! I'm looking forward to February to celebrate his 1st birthday! 

How has your baby changed in his/her first 9 months of life?

My goodness, how could you explain? My child has grown to a receptive, silly, entertaining, energetic, loving, sweetest little boy imaginable!

How have you changed in your child's first 9 months of life?

I have absolutely become more organized and a person of routine, it helps me feel in control.

Is your baby a good sleeper? Or are you sleep deprived?

He's ok!

What are your favorite activities as a family?

Any seasonal activities!

What are your child’s favorite foods?

Any "REAL" people food!

What are your child’s favorite toys and activities?

HIs favorite toys are anything that lights up. sings, or makes noises. Oh, or anything he should not be playing with!

How would you describe your baby in three adjectives?

Loving, rambunctious, kind.

What is your favorite portrait from your child's nine month old baby session?

The solo one of him smiling so wide you can see his dimples!

With nine months of experience, what advice would you give mother’s of newborns?

Leave the cleaning alone, enjoy the down time with your lovely baby!

What do you recommend as the essential, must have, newborn baby product?

Halo Swaddles! MUST HAVE!

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

It's still October but many families around Pittsburgh are already planing their Christmas gifs and cards for their family. Here are Laura Mares Photography, we are busy photographing beautiful outdoor fall sessions around Pittsburgh and beginning to capture Christmas themed child and family portraits. The other day a six month old baby was enjoying modeling many of this year's Christmas props! (When I say enjoying, I really mean tolerating!) He looks adorable and festive in the Santa hat his mom brought along.

Typically during Christmas sessions, the studio is filled with Christmas music and balsam scented candles or essential oil. Sometimes my daughter bakes cookies and shares them with our photo clients and their family.

Over the years we have collected many unique Christmas items to enhance our holiday portraits. Isn't it true that sometimes the simplest things make the most impact? - like these battery operated Christmas lights that this baby boy's mom brought in for him to play with during his photo session.

I was thrilled to find one of my favorite Christmas books, The Night Before Christmas, in a box filled with many of my childhood possessions. Not only can I read it to my own children, but you can read it to your children during a family photo shoot! I can't understand why it looks vintage, the 80s weren't that long ago! 

I'm glad Christmas trolls are popular in Pittsburgh now. I saw one in an airport in Finland a few years ago and thought he'd look great in photos. Since my suitcase was already a little too full to bring him home with me, I was thrilled to find this one right around the corner from my house!

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Lifestyle Newborn Interview | Real Pittsburgh Family

When was your baby born?

Our baby was born on August 25, 2017.

What was your newborn's height and weight at birth?

Our baby was 20 inches long and weighed 7lbs 14.5 oz

Was your baby early, late or on time?

He was exactly a week late.

What area of Pittsburgh do you call home?

We live in West View, in the North Hills of Pittsburgh.

What was your first thought when you found out you were pregnant? 

It felt pretty surreal. I was extremely excited.

How did you tell the father you were expecting? 

We were driving to NY to spend Christmas with my family and told him I had a "gift" for him before we got there, and told him the good news as we were traveling.  Needed to make sure he could keep the secret with me as everyone else would be celebrating the holiday with some drinks!

How did you style the nursery? 

We didn't know if we were having a boy or a girl so we went with neutral calm colors and added in a little "safari" theme.

How did you chose your baby's name? 

We had to decide on both a boy and girl name, we thought we had a boy name but changed our minds and started from scratch.  We kept the beginning letter and my husband suggested Connor, I liked it, and read the "meaning" ... which was "wise" as the primary meaning... and then kept reading and a secondary meaning is "hound lover" and I laughed thinking it was perfect  since we have a hound dog that is a pretty big part of our life! (I didn't tell my husband that part of the meaning until after we agreed that would be the name)

What are you looking forward to doing with your baby? 

Creating new family memories and traditions...and hopefully introducing him to tennis!

Write 3 adjectives that describe your newborn baby. 

He is alert, sweet and curious.

Share a piece of advice to an expecting mom. 

Be prepared to be flexible and go with the flow!  The newborn is in charge now, from delivery to now being at home!

What has been the biggest struggle since coming home from the hospital? 

Trying to get anything done with a baby who is super alert and doesn't want to nap!

What was your favorite part of your newborn photo session? 

Spending the time together as a family and knowing we'd have these memories captured in great photos.  Really liked the "lifestyle" session as it felt so much more natural to us.

Why is newborn photography important to you? 

The baby grows and changes so fast I wanted to make sure we were able to capture the newborn stage with really nice photos.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

All of the prints, signs, wall decor was from Etsy.

Where did you deliver?

Magee

Who is your OB/GYN?

Upmc/magee Womancare associates

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

I always enjoy collaborating with other small businesses, especially other Pittsburgh based small businesses! Today's guest blog post is from Pittsburgh Limousine Bus. I've been in many limousines over the years, I often ride along when I'm photographing weddings. But one of my most memorable rides was going to the Snow Ball my senior year of high school. We were still hungry after the dance so someone suggested going to Taco Bell's drive thru.  I thought it was funny that a limousine was even at a drive thru. Since the limo was so long we had to basically yell our order up to the driver for him to hear us and place our order. He was so patient dealing with all of our indecisive ordering! You can imagine how difficult it was for him to make those tight turns around the restaurant!  Looking back, I think it was wise for us to share the cost of the limo with other high school seniors because we traveled around town safely while having fun with our friends. Perhaps your children will be wanting to hire a limousine in the future.

Watching your children grow up into adulthood is something of a roller coaster when it comes to your emotions! Seeing your son or daughter and their group of friends dressed to the nines ready to head to their prom or homecoming dance is a solid test for these emotions. There's a lot of preparation that goes into getting ready for a dance in this day and age, and it seems a bit more involved than when you yourself were a teenager. There's more pressure to find the perfect dress or tuxedo, get a date and ticket, find a spot to take pictures, and arrange transportation.

While you might think it's a great plan to have your child and their friends hop in the back of your trusted mini van, that's often the last thing they want to do. Reserving a form of transportation not only brings you peace of mind as far as safety is concerned, but it also adds an element of style and convenience to their experience that makes it completely memorable for years to come. Teenagers can't get enough of the features on board such as multi colored neon lighting and stream-ready stereo systems with sub woofers. They'll have a great time socializing on board and showing off their ride to Snapchat and Instagram.

With professional transportation such as a Pittsburgh Charter Bus Company, there's no question about the safety of your child and their friends, and that's what it's all about. In fact, you can even decide to pre approve an itinerary so you know exactly where they're at before, during, and after the dance. Most parents are definitely sick of shelling out money for dance related needs by the end of the school year, but you'll be glad to know that splitting the cost among all of the passengers on board makes it an affordable investment for everybody involved. When you consider the convenience and quality of transportation, you'll see that it was money well spent! Reserving a party bus or limousine for the next dance experience is sure to make you the hippest parent in the school. 

Pittsburgh Limousine Bus
232 Taylor Street #2
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 
(412) 385-4412

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

When was your baby born?

Our baby was born on August 20, 2017.

lifestyle newborn baby stretch

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

As a newborn he was 7 pounds 7 ounces and 20 inches.

Was your baby early, late or on time?

He was 3 days late (due 8/17/17)

What area of Pittsburgh do you call home?

We live in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

What was your first thought when you found out you were pregnant? 

My heart was filled with so much joy, and I could not wait to share the news with my husband.

How did you tell the father you were expecting? 

My husband was out of town when I found out I was expecting. The night he was due home I wrote him a little note that he would find when he walked in the door. He immediately ran to wake me with excitement when he got home.

How did you style the nursery? 

The style of the nursery is simple and neutral with many handmade pieces incorporated. I drew a sketch of what I wanted the nursery to look like and my husband handmade many of the pieces.

How did you chose your baby's name? 

Our baby's name Hendrix Charles was derived from my husbands family name Henry Charles.

What are you looking forward to doing with your baby? 

I'm looking forward to getting to know him and watching him grow.

Write 3 adjectives that describe your newborn baby. 

He's a snuggly, alert, handsome newborn baby.

Share a piece of advice to an expecting mom. 

You will find that you are stronger than you ever knew!

What has been the biggest struggle since coming home from the hospital? 

Definitely lack of sleep.

What was your favorite part of your newborn photo session? 

My favorite part of our photo session was seeing Laura's creativity in our photos and the way she made them tell our story. She featured many of the pieces my husband custom built for our home.

Why is newborn photography important to you? 

I wanted to capture the bond between us and the baby, as well as our every day lifestyle. This was important to capture because babies grow so quickly, and I would love to share these moments with him again some day.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

Etsy-knit swaddle and hat
Personalizedfabric2-Gray Hendrix Name Blanket
Amazon-All other swaddles
Hobby Lobby-faux fur rug 
Joel Phoebe-Wooden Wall Art

Where did you deliver?

Magee Women's Hospital

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

This month was my second time to attend the Flourish Academy's Camera Club. My first camera club was in July - we practiced photographing newborns. This month we photographed a beautiful girl's senior portrait session. Our senior model took direction well, was confident and was willing to try a variety of looks and poses. I'm excited to share several of the photos I shot from that evening.

The Flourish Academy's Camera Club meets once a month in Beaver County and is open to photographers of all skill and experience levels from the Pittsburgh area. Every month focuses on different aspects of photography and allows photographers a chance to meet other Pittsburgh photographers. Heather hosts the Camera Club on her gorgeous property. She is extremely knowledgable, welcoming and friendly. This month Soozie, from Photography by Soozie lead the meeting by sharing tips and her style of directing senior models.

Please read on for tips on planning for your senior portrait session.

When choosing your outfits, consider not being "too trendy" so your photos won't look out dated in the future. I speak from personal experience, one of the outfits I wore included American Eagle hunter green corduroy overalls!

Think about what items to include that would best describe your personal style. Love your chuck taylors? Bring them along!

Bring clothes and personal items that reflect your interests. 

When choosing your clothing, keep in mind that layers typically photograph well. 

Think about how you would spend a "perfect" Saturday. Maybe we could reenact your ideal day and capture your senior portraits while doing what you love.

Chose a location that reflects your personality: urban Pittsburgh, a green field or park, countryside, etc.

I want to know about your favorite features, so I can focus on capturing them. Love your dimples? I want to know!

Think about what you want to remember from this time in your life. Let's find a way to incorporate it into your senior photo session.

I have a variety of props that are available to you, including a variety of blankets: Mexican, sari, lace, and plaid wool, quilts, black or gray stools, a red velvet chair, wooden folding chairs. You are also welcome to bring along your own.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

When was your newborn baby born?

Our baby girl was born on August 2, 2017.

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

She was 20 inches and 7 pounds 9 ounces.

Was your baby early, late or on time?

She was 16 days early.

What area of Pittsburgh do you call home?

We live in Shadyside. We recently moved to Pittsburgh from the west coast.

What was your first thought when you found out you were pregnant? 

I was so excited and couldn't wait to meet her!

How did you tell the father you were expecting? 

He was home when I took the pregnancy test and we waited for the results together :)

How did you style the nursery? 

Simple white/neutral tones, with pink accents - pink peony paintings, pink sheets, and pillows.

How did you chose your baby's name? 

My husband and I each had a list of names and we went through them together then waited and revisted the list and decided on Avery - it was on my list, but Jamie liked it from the beginning.

What are you looking forward to doing with your baby? 

Teaching her how to cook and my husbands looking forward to teaching her all about his favorite movies :)

Write 3 adjectives that describe your newborn baby. 

beautiful, easy, and fun!

Share a piece of advice to an expecting mom. 

In the moments when your newborn is crying or screaming at the top of her lungs - always remember that your baby loves you so much & needs you. They just don't have a way of communicating it to you yet.

What has been the biggest struggle since coming home from the hospital? 

Getting back into shape, like I was pre-baby.

What was your favorite part of your newborn photo session? 

Watching Laura pose Avery and how precious she looked in every shot.

Why is newborn photography important to you? 

It was important to us to capture her at this age and get professional photos of the three of us together.

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

We brought a couple headbands from Etsy and Amazon.

Where did you deliver?

Forbes Hospital

Who is your OB/GYN?

East Suburban OBGYN

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

I'm so excited to share photos from my own family photo session in Bergen, Norway. My husband and I get along so well, but we think very differently! As soon as we decided to travel to Norway this summer, he began making all the necessary plans, he rented a car, booked an Airbnb, started researching where to go, etc. While my planning consisted of wondering if we could find discounted Dale of Norway sweaters, watching "Vikings" and booking a family photographer! I quickly found the Dale Outlet is close to Bergen. But I searched for hours on Google to find the right photographer with a similar style. I had almost given up but tried one last search "fotograf Bergen" on Facebook. That's when I found Pia Rothmann!

Please read the interview with Pia below. Find out about her life as a photographer and learn more about Norway, while seeing the beautiful photos she took of our family in Bergen, Norway.

Tell us all about you. About growing up in Norway. About what you do now.

My full name is Pia Nelly Rothmann- Christensen, but it can be a mouthful, so I usually shorten it down. I'm half Norwegian and half Danish. I was born in 1981, and I am so thankful that I grew up without cellphones, social media and all the pressure I think a lot of children and young adults grow up with today. I love animals, so I spent a lot of time on my uncles dairy and sheep farm growing up. He also had a Norwegian fjord horse, that was beautiful and stubborn. I groomed her and took care of her from when I was 9 to 15 years old. Then she got sick and we had to let her go. That was the first time my heart broke. I grew up in a very small village, about 500 inhabitants, on a good day! It's a place called Vikebygd and is a beautiful place with mountains and fjords. They say all Norwegian's are born with skis on their feet, well I can tell you that I definitely didn't!! I prefer my feet without any sort of ski on them!! At age 16, I moved out from my parents place to go to school and study art and design. I really wanted to be a photographer, but I got sick from the chemicals used to develop film. No digital photography yet!! So I studied design, art history, architecture and media design. During my last year studying, I met the love of my life. And we've been together for 17 years now! We have a adorable Golden Retriever who makes us smile everyday!

How did you decide to become a professional photographer? 

In 2009, I decided to take a chance. Photography was now digital and I still had my dream. I started an internship with a professional portrait photographer and studied on my own after work. In 2012, I moved on to a photography firm called Frost Wedding Photography. And besides weddings I did portraits, and family photography. But I specialized in Boudoir photography. I love to be creative and I love the freedom photography gives me. It's a lot of hard work, but it makes it so worth it when I see how happy my clients get!

Tell us about your photography business. 

In 2015, I felt the need to do something for myself, and I started my photography business: Pia Rothmann Portrait Photography. I photograph portraits, couples, families, newborn/children/kids, maternity, seniors, pets and  boudoir. I still freelance for Frost as a wedding photographer too. My style is creative, lively and timeless. My goal is for you to have a wonderful and stress free experience. I don't have a studio, I'm a natural light photographer and I use the outdoors: woods, mountains, sea or the city of Bergen.

What is a typical week like for you? 

Since I have a home office, my days are filled with photo shoots, editing, managing my company, house chores, meeting clients, having fun with our dog and going to the gym to lift weights. Oh and EVERY FRIDAY IS TACO FRIDAY!!!

What is unique about Norway and/or Norwegians? 

Oh this is a difficult question. I hope I'm right by saying we are friendly, but maybe a bit cautious and quiet (although I do not put myself in the quite section...!!) We are probably a bit peculiar and I would advise you all to google "The social guidebook to Norway" and I think there are some videos on YouTube as well!! I don't think I'm a typical Norwegian, but that's probably the Danish in me speaking. We love our fresh air and being outdoorsy. Our country is long and we have different customs and ways of living from the north to the south and from the east to the west.

American children typically like Disney characters, many girls love Elsa and Anna! What characters/cartoons do Norwegian children like? 

I think Norwegian children like the same things as American children. We have had our epidemic of Frosen and Elsa here as well;-)!! Disney is big in Norway. We do have our own kids shows and cartoons here, but since we don't have children I'm not that familiar with what's popular with kids today.

In your opinion, who is the best Norwegian singer/band? 

Hmm..,I like Aurora, Astrid S and Highasakite to mention some.

Best Norwegian movie? 

Hahaha...not sure that exists!!
Maybe "Bølgen"? It's based on a true scenario about a mountain slide in a narrow fjord and the tsunami that strikes the village at the end of the fjord. This mountain is under strict observation because one day this will happen.

Best Norwegian food? 

I'm a sucker for good old farm food, so I'll list a few of them:

• Raspeball (potato dumpling)
• Kjøttkaker (meat cakes)
• Fårikål (sheep and cabbage)
• Pinnekjøtt (what we eat at Christmas) this is a custom to the west coast of Norway. (ribs of sheep, rutabaga puree with potatoes)
• Ribbe (pork ribs)

Would you share a traditional Norwegian recipe with us?

I'm gonna cheat on this one and link to a page with the recipe to Raspeball.

Could you talk a little about typical Norwegian homes? Both the construction and the decor. 

Most Norwegian's live in wooden houses. But city life is like any other city in Scandinavia/ Europe. Except for old parts in some cities, like we have in Bergen. Wooden houses so tight together that you get these narrow and cozy streets(A firefighter worst nightmare). How Norwegian's decorate their homes is very different from one person to another. But I think many homes are "less is more"styled. I myself like flea market finds or old junk as my fiancé would say. A vintage country style. It is said that Norwegian's love to re-do or re-decorate their homes and spend a lot of money on it (don't quote me on this though;-)!)

Tell us about all about Norwegian traditions. How do you celebrate Christmas, New Year's and birthdays. Also is there a unique Norwegian holiday? 

We celebrate Christmas on the eve of the 24th of December. Families get together to share a traditional Christmas dinner and after way too much good food we open the presents!!! In my family we eat Pinnekjøtt, which is slow cooked lamb, served with potatoes and kohlrabi(?) mash. For dessert we have Riskrem, which is a cold ,sweet porridge served with strawberry or raspberrie sauce.

New Years's it's party time! Either with friends or family. 

Birthdays are probably not that different from America.

The 17th of May is Norway's national celebration and Independence Day. A really big day for Norway! But to understand it you'll have to google 17. Mai Norway's National day, read about it and look at all the wonderful pictures.

When we drove on Snow Road, we saw lots of rock piles. My imagination was running wild with possible explanations as to way people created them. Could you shed some light on that? 

After some Googling I've come to the conclusion that these rock piles are a kind of human need to say "I was here," a friendlier form of graffiti. Not popular with the locals! In old times they used large versions of these rock piles to show the way over the mountain. But the ones you saw along the road is made for "fun."

If an American family was going on vacation to Norway, where would you suggest they visit? 

Norway has much diversity, The east has warmer and more stable weather, it's "flatter" and you find the capital of Norway there, Oslo. 

The south is coastal land and you get quaint costal villages. 

The west coast has a bit unstable weather, remember to bring your raincoat!! We have mountains and fjords. 

In the north you get midnight sun(or complete darkness in the winter), fishing villages and amazing mountain views. And in the winter, the northern lights!! 

It's almost impossible for me to mention or recommend just one place in Norway, each part of our wonderful country has its own specialty and diversity. My best recommendation is to study a bit and find out what you want to see!

If you come to Bergen I would recommend:

• Take a fjord cruise.
• Bryggen , the old warf a world heritage site.
• Take a trip to Mt. Fløyen and Mt. Ulriken.
• Bergen Aquarium.
• Try the local food.
• Day trips to: Voss, Hardanger, Gudvangen, Flåm, Folgefonna.
• Old town Bergen.

Norway is far north! It's cold up there!! My husband was impressed with how you dressed, he made the comment, "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!" When would you suggest is the best time to visit? 

Norwegian's actually use that exact saying!!! If you want to visit in summer, I'd say from May till August is nice. If you want winter and skiing, December to March.

What are good products or souvenirs for visitors to buy? 

I'm not a souvenir kinda person, so my best advice is to eat your way through Norway! Taste the local foods and if you like some of it, take some with you home. But if you really want a souvenir, go for a troll or something that's local to where you are visiting.

If you were to visit the United States of America for three weeks, where would you go? 

I would love to visit the United States of America, but I wouldn't know where to start, you have such a big and beautiful country, with lots of diversity!! But I'd want to visit you guys in Pittsburgh and I also have friends in Portland and Miami.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

What area(s) of Pittsburgh do you call home?

We live south of Pittsburgh, in the south hills.

How did you two meet? 

We were both cashiers at Shop N Save. At the time we were both in school and working nights. A lot of the time I would work until eleven and he would work until midnight. Fortunately there's not a lot of people shopping that late at night so we had time to talk. Also a fellow coworker would tell me that he thought Andrew and I would get along based on our personalities and he was saying the same to him. Lots of people at work knew we were into each other. We aren't the only couple that has come out of that store!

Tell us about your engagement.

We got engaged on June 10th, 2017. We were in Baltimore for a few days when he proposed to me at the zoo in front of the Penguins exhibit.

What are your favorite things to do in and around Pittsburgh?

We enjoy going to museums, musicals, going out to eat and walking in South Park.

Did your relationship change when you got engaged? If so, how? 

Before we got engaged we had talked about getting married but not like it was actually going to happen. Now, I don't have to worry about finding a roomie and I'm looking forward to looking for an apartment with my new fiancé!

What wedding plans have you made? 

We're planning our wedding for July 6, 2019.  Our reception is booked for the Castle Shannon Fire Hall. We don't have many definite plans but we want a moose cake and we will go to the Bahamas for our honeymoon.

How will you display your engagement portraits? 

We plan to display our engagement photos in our homes, at my desk at work and we will probably give some to our parents and other relatives.

How did you decide what to wear to your portrait session? 

For our photo session I wanted to wear a sleeveless dress because it was summer.

How did you chose Laura Mares Photography? 

Laura's studio is near where I live. Plus she has reasonable prices and experience taking engagement pictures.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

The Complete Guide to Having Children at Your Wedding

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, and, of course, you want to make it as special as possible. This includes inviting the people who matter the most to you. Some of those people have kids, and it is understandable to want them to join your marvelous celebration too. However, wedding celebrations with kids are a bit risky. Their short attention spans and the need for supervision can make the whole thing more complicated. So, if you want to have a stress-free wedding that includes kids, here are a few ways to do that.

Talk it through with the parents

The truth is that there are many parents who don’t plan to bring their kids to the wedding, as they would like to have that one party without them. It is important to ask them thoughtfully if they would like to bring their little ones. Also, it is obvious that most of the time, the parents are the ones who will be preoccupied with the kids, so you should let them know that it is ok to leave the ceremony for a couple of minutes if the kids are bored or have to go to the toilet or take a nap.

Plan some kid-friendly entertainment

Cocktails and DJs might be fun for adults, but for kids, they are immensely boring (or inappropriate). That is why it is important to plan some kid-friendly entertainment options that will keep them occupied while you are having a blast on the dance floor. There are many ways to do that, including giving them coloring books, small toys or hiring a professional entertainer (e.g. a clown).

Have a space dedicated for play

The clown may be great for the kids, but they won’t look that nice on your elegant documentary-style wedding photos. Also, the kids have much better time when they are in a space designed only for them. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a wedding venue in Sydney which has a separate space for kid-friendly entertainment, and many of them even have parks with swings, trampolines and similar entertainment options.

Include the kids in the ceremony

There is nothing cuter than a suited-up ring bearer or charming flower girls. Give kids a role in the wedding ceremony, and they will feel a sense of responsibility and be very proud of their contribution. Also, it is a win-win situation, since the wedding photographs will be amazing. If there are many kids invited to the ceremony, make sure you find a task for them, no matter how small and seemingly irrelevant it is.

Conjure your inner child

Kids are fun, and we were all kids at some point. Remember how that was, and try to have as much fun as you can while planning some small details that will spark their imagination and keep them entertained. That can be a food station dedicated to kids alone with cupcakes, colorful snacks, hot dogs, mini pizzas, etc. You’ll see that soon, even the adults won’t be able to resist it.

It’s not the end of the world

Weddings are unpredictable. When kids are around, the unpredictability is even more certain. Maybe they will say something they shouldn’t or start crying in the middle of the ceremony. They might even knock down the food station. But you know what? These things happen, and you shouldn’t stress about them. Think about them if or when they happen. Until then, enjoy your day, and in such situations ‒ do the same. Because there is nothing the kids could do that could ruin your perfect day if you don’t allow yourself to get stressed out.

Having kids at the wedding means that things will probably not go as planned. However, things hardly ever do go exactly as planned. If you make some small adaptations, you can make sure that the best day of your life still stays stress-free and unique. 

Special thanks to Olivia for sharing her thoughts and for the great tips on having children at your wedding! 
Read more by Olivia Jones on her website.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

I am excited to introduce a really sweet family to you. I recently meet this family in Mellon Park for their daughter's first birthday portraits and their first professional family portraits. While it's no secret that I love photographing children and families, I have to say that Ia huge perk of being a photographer is having the opportunity to meet a new family at a photoshoot and get to know them a little during our time together and through our communication before and after the photo session! You can see highlights from their portrait session as well as read the interview. I hope you enjoy "meeting" this beautiful family as much as I did!

How many children do you have?

We have one child.

What was your baby's height and weight at birth?

She was 7 pounds 8 ounces and 21 inches at birth.

What is your baby's current height and weight?

Now, she's 21 pounds and tall!

What area of Pittsburgh do you call home?

We live in Squirrel Hill (but still pretty new to the neighborhood).

Write 3 adjectives that describe your child.

Our daughter is sweet, silly, curious.

How many teeth does your child have?

She has 5, almost 6 teeth.

Is your child walking? If yes, at how many months old?

She walks only if she holds on to a hand or wall for support.

What are your child's favorite book(s)?

Our child's favorite books are Hop on Pop, I Love Cats, anything that has extra flaps to open or pages she can turn.

What are your child's favorite food(s)?

Her favorite foods include cheese, bananas, avocados, yogurt and cheerios. She loves to eat.

What are your child's favorite toys?

Things that make music, stacking cups, wooden animal puzzle, the TV remote

What are your child's favorite activities?

She keeps busy chasing her cat Pepper, scooting and climbing on everything, taking walks outside, pointing at everything she is curious about

What makes your baby laugh?

Blowing raspberries on her belly, making funny faces, her cousins or other big kids

How did you celebrate your child's birthday? 

We had a small cookout on our deck with her grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins. She at an entire PB&J flavored cupcake and loved it. She got a Fisher Price slide as a present - which she was scared of at first, but now loves!

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc. 

We brought her picnic basket and other toys from Ikea.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Behind the Scenes at Laura Mares Photography:
Meet the Talented Newborn Prop Maker

In newborn photography simple props are often the key to timeless newborn portraits. I have been blessed with a skilled mother who has provided me with most of the crocheted and knitted "outfits" and handmade backgrounds used in many of my newborn photos. From hats to rompers, she has been able to create a wide variety of textures, styles and colors for the families that come into the studio to choose from.

My mom comes from a very creative family. My granddad didn't always have enough money to buy the equipment he needed for his coal mine so he'd make what he need himself. He was an inventor out of necessity. My grandma knit and sewed doll clothes for my mother, clothes for the family and quilts. She grew up during the great depression which made her very practical. She created simply what was needed for her family and home. Both of my uncles can think outside the box. While in high school shop class one of my mom's brother's decided to build a canoe instead of a shoe shine box like everyone else in the class. Her other brother built a radio by himself. 

My mom learned to knit when she was a 12 year old child. She was taught to knit at girl scouts but didn't really learn until her aunt showed her after the meeting. Her first project was a black sweater. Years later, when my mom got married she decided she wanted to crochet an afghan. She walked over to her next door neighbor, Mrs. Chesnut, to ask her to teach her how to make a granny square afghan. Her next project was a baby present for her dear friend. My mom taught me to crochet as a child and to knit as an adult. I have only mastered squares and scarves! 

A couple months ago when she was cleaning up her blanket closet she offered me her old granny square afghan to offer for families that would like to sit on a retro blanket for their photo session. I'm truly blessed to have a creative and talented mother to create many of the beautiful one of a kind props that I have available for my clients.

My mother has also passed on her foundness for beautiful antiques. It's our hobby to go exploring for "new" antiques that would look incredible in newborn, baby or family photos.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Children in Mellon Park, Pittsburgh

I photographed an adorable young family in Mellon Park, while my husband took our kids to play in the playground across the street. On our way out the door I asked the kids to grab something to wear in case we had time to snap a few photos of them. Their outfit choices reflect their personality. My son grabbed his favorite Cat and Jack jeans. My daughters grabbed a Matilda Jane dress and a rose gold toile dress. I try to have one pair of shoes that are photogenic for each of them to wear each year. Today they wore sandals, clogs and tennis shoes. We had a lot of fun and I thought I'd share some with you.

Mellon Park is becoming one of my favorite locations to have photo sessions. I love the cobblestone, gates, walls, fountain and flowers.

My children and I called out ideas for the photos. It was fun seeing them direct each other! My children gave each other clever ideas for fun poses and called out silly nonsense to get each other to laugh! 

I can't remember who's idea it was for our youngest child to do "the dab," but I think she pulled it off perfectly! (spoken like a true mother!)

This was in response to "Hey, you should curtsey like a royal princess!"

After our time on the cobblestone way, we stopped to rest and cool off at the beautiful fountain in the center of the walled garden.

When photographing bigger kids I love to offer them a stage and give them their own creative leeway. 

After I felt we nailed the photo session, my children continued to come up with more and more ideas! What a treat for a mother that's a photographer!

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

This year we want to document our family's summer vacation! We enjoy living each day to it's fullest. We love traveling, trying new foods and spending time together. Our goal is to photograph a highlight from each day. While most of our time is spent around Pittsburgh we jump at any opportunity to travel! This post includes photos from July.

7.3.17

Glamping!

7.4.17

Celebrating America's birthday with a parade, backyard picnic and fireworks.

7.5.17

My children set up a sidewalk cafe with fresh squeezed lemonade and homemade cupcakes.

7.6.17

Mustache fun!

7.8.17

While the "big kids" are singing with the VBS worship team, our youngest child enjoys having the toys to herself.

7.13.17

Today included summer reading fun at the library.

7.14.17

The girls decide on a watermelon inspired nail polish design.

7.16.17

My oldest child decided to get her ears pierced!

7.18.17

We started doing our back to school shopping in July because we can find everything we need in one store! We also beat the crowds and find everything on our list quickly.

7.19.17

Lunch at First Watch with our besties! We all enjoyed the great food and loved the modern rustic decor.

7.23.17

A couple days ago we sampled Starbucks s'moress bars and decided we should to try making them ourselves. We were surprised how easy and delicous they are!

7.25.17

Enjoying our short road trip to YM Camera in Boardman, Ohio. We exchanged old camera lenses for new GoPro accessories! While in Ohio we stopped by The Cafe Witternauer's for a delicious lunch!

7.26.17

Enjoying a boys night in.

7.27.17

Crepes on the porch.

7.28.17

Red Robin's for burgers and 

7.30.17

Paleo Pancakes and birthday presents for my birthday.

We love celebrating our birthdays with our German birthday ring, a souvenir from our trip last summer.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

As soon as I heard about Whole30 plan from Holly, one of my oldest friends, I decided I needed to try it! I began in May because I needed to "push the reset button" on my health and my habbits. 

Benefits

Honestly, I just wanted to lose weight but Whole30 did so much more! Not only did I lose over 20 pounds in 2 months, but I also increased my quality of life! I sleep more soundly and am more rested while needing 2 hours less sleep a night! My nails, hair and skin are stronger and healthier. I feel younger because I no longer have aches in my joints. The dark circles under my eyes have decreased. I think my favorite benefit is having more defined muscle tone (this is without exercising). I could go on and on. I am overall healthier today!

Rules

There are 8 rules. Five of the rules are as follows: No added sugars, No alchol, No grains, No legumes, No dairy.

To complete the Whole30 you need to commit to 30 days of following the rules. If you break one rule you need to begin again. It's as simple as following a few rules! But can you image? You can't really eat out. There is sugar in everything, even bacon!

Food/Meals

About three times a month I cook several pounds of ground beef and boneless skinless chicken breasts. I keep a couple pounds in the refrigerator and freeze the rest. That way I can cook a healthy meal in around 30 minutes (because I precooked the meat). We've been eating taco salad, chicken salad, chicken curry with riced cauliflower,  inside out egg rolls, shepherd's pie with baked potatoes, ground beef with riced cauliflower, zucchini pasta with tuscano marinara sauce, ratatouille, lettuce wraps, omelettes and egg bakes. New staples in our kitchen include,

• Coconut aminos (a soy sauce alternative)
• Sugarless ketchup
• Homemade mayonnaise 
• RXBAR and Lara Bars (I've found Target has the best prices)
• Guacamole
• Sugarless salsa
• Sugarless bacon
• Cashew and almond butter
• Organic coconut milk
• Ghee
• Homemade kale chips

Family

My family has been very supportive of my journey and I'm thrilled I don't have to cook a separate meal for my husband or children! Although my family isn't officially eating a whole30 diet, everyone eats what I prepare. However, they will add whatever they'd like to the meal, maybe a glass of milk, a slice of cheese or add a dessert at the end of the meal, etc.

Conclusion

It was not always easy. Holly and I texted often in the beginning. I needed advice and encouragement. It's really helpful to have a mentor. There are Facebook groups like Keep Calm and Whole30 On. I feel so good that I want to continue, but I don't want the stress of never making a mistake so I've continued after 30 days of an 80% Whole30 diet. I continue to avoid all dairy, I didn't know I was lactose intolarant (how is that even possible?) until now! Most days I still avoid grains and added sugars. It's empowering to overcome food/sugar addictions. If you decide to try the Whole30, I reccomend buying the book "The Whole30." I bought it on Amazon. 

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

When my children are grown, I want us to remember what our life was like. I want to show them photos of us intereacting and having fun! I love that lifestyle sessions capture the beauty of a regular day.

All too often we lose focus on what is important. Think about what is truly important to you. What does your family love doing together? Let's capture the real you during your photo session! I think when our children grow up they will appreciate having these types of photos and memories of a great day with their family.

Lifestyle sessions are relaxed, authentic and natural. These sessions provide an oppertunity for you and your family to slow down and enjoy your time together as a family. It's about seizing the day, creating new memories to be able to look back at and remember your life.

I recently had the opportunity to photograph my friend, an amazing photographer, and her two amazing boys. They enjoy cooking, wrestling, playing board games and building legos together. So that's exactly what we did! We followed the boys lead and had a fun morning!

I may make occasional posing suggestions like, could you put your hands on your lap or could you switch places to have more light on your face.

The children enjoy playing and often think of ideas of what we should do next! I love that!! 

Please watch a 70 second video from our two hour mom and me lifestyle session below.

I want to slow down and treasure the simple moments in my day with my children and family. I'd love to capture the everyday beauty of your family too! Please contact me about booking a lifestyle session.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Flourish Academy's Camera Club. The Camera Club is open to photographers of all skill and experience levels from around Pittsburgh. It was a wonderful time of photographing a beautiful newborn baby girl and her loving mother while meeting other Pittsburgh photographers. Heather hosts the Camera Club on her gorgeous property. She is extremely knowledgable, welcoming and friendly. 

When I first began my photography journey I felt isolated from other creative spirits. After I graduated from college, I didn't know of any organizations to meet like-minded, creative individuals, which is difficult when you enjoy working with others! 

Today, Pittsburgh has become such a welcoming community for photographers, creatives and small business owners! In addition to the Camera Club, the local chapter of the Rising Tide Society, TuesdaysTogether - Pittsburgh PA is another organization for creative entrepreneurs to network, share ideas and learn from each other. The current movement is community over competition. Tuesdays Together occurs around the Pittsburgh area, often in different locations, the 2nd Tuesday of every month. It is free and open to all creative entrepreneurs from business coaches to graphic designers, and of course photographers too!

It's really fun to match a face to the names of people you've seen photos from on the web and Instagram.

Another perk about the camera club was having the opportunity to have my first experience photographing a newborn outside. I'd love to begin offering outdoor newborn sessions during the summer. 

It was a new experience to see other photographers photographing the same subjects but from different angles and perspectives. It was such a unique and enjoyable opportunity to watch other photographers at work.

The Flourish Academy's Camera Club is the 3rd Tuesday of every month! It is free and open to all photographers, professional and hobbyist.

If you are pregnant and would like to book an outdoor sunset newborn session, please call or email to book a session! We'd need to schedule for a dry and warm evening.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Story by Anna Mares. Doll by Lenna McGraw. Photography by Laura Mares.

Today, Ella and Tutu are embarking on a new adventure!

Quickly, they stumble upon a book exchange. Ella spots what appears to be the perfect adventure book.

She askes her big sister to help her reach the large book with the vintage binding.

Ella flips open the book and is transfixed. It's not just an adventure book, it contains a treasure map!

She skims it over and realizes that the first task is to search for the lake.

So the duo pick out the perfect walking stick and begin their treacherous journey.

Soon enough, they find the lake of glimmering green, so Ella searches for the next clue while Tutu examines the treasure map... they decide they must walk 100 paces to the east.

Glancing across the lake, Ella sees a huge tree, roughly 100 paces to the east!

So then, they march!

Ella is really confused when they seem to be lost! She can find the tree anywhere.

Tutu scrambles up a small tree, trying to catch a glimpse... and she does!

Not far ahead, they find the silly tree!

Ella reads the next clue aloud for Tutu, "Follow the chirps until you find a wooden home the birds have found."

They know exactly were the final clue can be uncovered, and begin to speedily walk to their destination.

Ta da! The bird house! The next clue reveals that the treasure is nearby.

Within two chirps, the child and her doll point wordlessly to the winged treasure... it winks once before flying away in a flurry of red.

They share a smile and return home but not before returning the book for the next young adventurous child.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Today's blog post is from a guest blogger, Angela Berry. Angela is from Sydney, Austrailia, and is a big advocate of healthy life, wedding, travel, lifestyle, which her articles demonstrate the best. Angela loves to read interesting articles, because every new experience broadens her horizons. That's how she found me.  She contacted me with the following message, "I love your style! I am here to share my experiences with others, and to help them open their eyes for the advantages of healthy lifestyle. I do that by blogging about it in my spare time. I would like to collaborate with you, as a guest blogger."  I read several of her acticles and was impressed. I decided to collaborate with Angela and am happy to post her article on vintage inspired weddings in it's entirety. Although I generally focus on newborn children and famiy photography, I began my photography career as a wedding photographer and love scheduling a few weddings each year.

Guest blog post by Angela Berry from Ripped.me

So, you met the right one, fell in love and decided to get married. Congratulations! But planning a wedding can be tiresome, especially if you don’t have a specific idea (or if you are too much in love and don’t care if you get married in the middle of a field). What next?

Well, Sydney, being the metropolis that it is, offers great opportunities for you to make your wedding the most memorable event of your life. How about a vintage wedding? It never goes out of date, plus it is not every day you get married, so you can afford to do things in a grand manner. Here is some advice we can offer:

Vintage wedding invitations

Is there a better way to kick things off?  Let everyone know from the start what to expect.  They are elegant, artistic, charming and some designs are simply stunning. In addition, they convey a message that your upcoming nuptials are special and add a touch of romance. Besides, your guests might keep them as a reminder of your joyous day.

Lace and then some more lace

Lace is a must-have as it can be used for anything from dresses to decorations. And let’s face it – what girl does not like lace? It is not something you would normally wear, but for a vintage wedding, this is an indispensable item. It can be a part of the invitations and even flower decorations. But, its main use would be the dresses – any bride or bridesmaid would be thrilled to wear it. Also, it can be used as a delicate hair accessory. Is there a material better suited for elegant weddings?

Consider renting a modern luxurious “carriage”

Well, we must not forget the groom. What man does not admire cars? What about a Rolls Royce? He will not notice the flower decorations, but this will catch his eye. And not just his - everyone’s. You are bound to draw attention wherever you go. Believe it or not, you can find these eye-catching luxurious wedding cars in Sydney with ease. They also have two more qualities that cannot be omitted – they are extremely comfortable and they offer an experience you don’t get to go through every day. What girl does not wish to walk out of an awe-inspiring car and then walk down the aisle? Almost like a fairytale - a modern, vintage fairytale.

Eating and drinking with style

Ok, we have already talked about lace and agreed to make it a part of some decorations but there are other things we need to consider. People need to eat and drink and therefore all they use would have to be vintage as not to ruin the overall atmosphere. Therefore, let us ask you this – have you considered serving tea? Using those tiny beautiful tea cups and a matching teapot to completely leave your guests spellbound is the way to go. You can also serve little cupcakes on a tray, the old-fashioned English way, and make sure that your wedding will be the talk of the year!

Choose music that will match the atmosphere

It would be nice to have music that matches this mood but as some people might not like it, feel free to find a more subdued alternative. Sydney has a lot of less-known bands that play any type of music so you can easily find the one that would be able to please most musical tastes. However, please keep in mind that the more classical the music is - the more authentic your wedding will be.

Ladies and gentlemen…

Do not forget that, in order to pull this type of wedding off, you will need your guests’ full cooperation. You can always remind them about the proper etiquette for this sort of thing, but it is best to show an example of the “proper” behavior and they will follow suit.

We hope that these tips helped steer you in the right direction. Keep in mind that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience which means you deserve this kind of a modern fairy tale experience. Best of luck! 

You can read more from Angela on her site, ripped me.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Being a photographer comes with many perks, at the top of the list is meeting new familes from around Pittsburgh and getting to photograph them! I love capturing and preserving people's story on camera. Please read this great family's story that I recently met at the walled garden at Mellon Park.

How did your mom and dad meet?

My Mom worked at a pool that my Dad frequented and they were eventually introduced by a mutual friend.

How many children are in your family?

There are three children in our family.

What area of Pittsburgh do you call home?

Squirrel Hill

Write 3 adjectives that describe your family.

Our family is funny, crazy and close.

What are your family's favorite things to do in and around Pittsburgh?

We take walks around town, head to new bars and restaurants, hang at home and endlessly make fun of each other.

What is your family's favorite movie?

The Blues Brothers is our all time favorite.

What is your family's favorite food?

We love Mexican food.

What does your family enjoy doing together?

We enjoy going to the beach, taking walks through town, going to bars/restaurants to hang out and just hanging on the porch

Share a funny family memory.

We've had some crazy family trips with some long drives to places like Disney World and to the beach. Car trips with this family never have a dull moment.

Tell us a little more about family vacations.

They are always rambunctious and crazy. never a dull moment, and never a relaxing moment for mom and dad. Everyone is always trying to get into something that pushes the envelope.

Your family is so much fun and enjoys being together! How did you get so close?

Just through tons of family trips and us sharing a lot of the same humor and interests

Why did you decide to have your family portraits taken by a professional photographer?

It was a Mothers Day gift since we haven't done family photos in so long

How did you decide what to wear to your portrait session?

It was a long tedious process with days and days of group texting but we finally came to a mutual agreement.

What was your favorite portrait from your family session?

Either the rope pull or one where our dad photo bombs a great family picture. It just shows how we are spontaneous and usually know how to ruin the moment.

How did you chose Laura Mares Photography?

Great reviews online and a great looking portfolio!

If any of your personal items were used during the portrait session, where were they from? Target, Pottery Barn, Etsy, etc.

We always do a kids sunglasses picture.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Story by Anna Mares. Doll by Lenna McGraw. Photography by Laura Mares.

Today is Ella’s 3 1/2 birthday party, and it is a surprise! Ella has no idea that Tutu has been inviting all of her closest friends to the pool party. While Ella is napping, Tutu begins to set everything up.

Tutu has arranged Ella’s favorite foods and decides on using a boho theme for the party decorations.

She has also set up a lot of cute decorations! 

When Ella wakes up, she finds her friends and family down at the pool! She can’t believe her eyes! 

After swimming, Ella and Tutu wander the yard to admire all of the decorations. They spin under the dream catchers. 

They then practice some somersaults! 

Ella tries some stylish, new french hairstyles on Tutu.

Soon it starts to rain, so everyone runs inside seeking cover! They decide to dine together in the living room. 

As soon as the rain relents, the party goers rush to the sunny sky. Ella needs some help from Daddy to blow out the candles on her strawberry lemonade shortcake. 

Ella LOVES the cake, and gobbles it up quick! 

She then skips over to try the watermelon, cucumber, mint water.  

All of the guests admire the fresh-cut wild flowers. 

Everyone gathers together to watch Ella gleefully open her presents.

Ella loves all of her gifts, she can't wait to play with the watermellon sticker and notebook pack!

Mama turns on the chocolate fountain, so Ella and Tutu mosey on down to sample the superb, sweet substance.

All of the children make quite a mess!

Ella sadly bids her guests goodbye, and promises to get together soon.

Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

This year we want to document our family's summer vacation! We enjoy living each day to it's fullest. We love traveling, trying new foods and spending time together. Our goal is to photograph a highlight from each day. While most of our time is spent around Pittsburgh we jump at any opportunity to travel! This post includes photos from June.

6.3.17 

While downtown, under the shade of neon floating umbrellas, our ears listen closely to the upbeat Irish music. 

6.4.17

We enjoy an afternoon at Pleasant Kingdom, while the children fantasize the possibility of a Midieval time, and the eldest child simply lost in a book.

6.10.17

At Round Hill Farm, Ella and Tutu investigate the snorts of a pink pig, peering through the old wooden boards to catch a glimpse.