Interview with a Pittsburgh Family | Pittsburgh Newborn Lifestyle Photographer

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.