Baby Anderson {Pittsburgh In-Home Newborn Session}

It’s official - I’ve absolutely fallen in love with newborn photography! I have had the privilege of meeting so many sweet babies in recent months, and they’re all so precious! I think my favorite part about lifestyle newborn photography is that I get to come into a family’s home and capture life as it is in that moment - perhaps exhausting or chaotic but always full of so much love and joy.

Karin and Steve invited me into their Pittsburgh home when Anderson was about 4 weeks old. The awesome thing about having a slightly older newborn is that they have a greater ability to really connect - they might look at mom or dad or even the camera! It’s a lot of fun. Big brothers Nathan and Lincoln were game for photos, and enjoyed kissing their baby brother and smiling big for the camera. The H Family is such a sweet group! Now for a few of my favorite photos…

Newborn baby boy looks up at his mother in their Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania home during a lifestyle newborn photography session.

Black and white image of a baby boy’s feet. The infant’s father holds his feet up.

A naked newborn baby yawns big while being held in his dad’s lap during a lifestyle newborn session.

Big brothers Nathan and Lincoln peak into their baby brother’s crib as he sleeps peacefully in their Bridgeville Pittsburgh PA home.

The newborn’s siblings look at each other, grinning, as they lean on the crib to take a peak at their new baby brother.

A sweet newborn sleeps soundly in his crib, wrapped in a white swaddle. The scene is illuminated by natural window light in the nursery of this Pittsburgh home.

Black and white image of a new dad holding his sleeping baby boy while leaning his back on the infant’s crib in the nursery of their Pittsburgh home.

Mom, Karin, holds her sleeping baby boy while standing near a window in her home in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

Mom and Dad sit on the bad in their master bedroom, holding their newborn son, Anderson, as he sleeps peacefully. The father looks down at the baby as the mother looks lovingly at her husband.

Older siblings pile onto the bed, tackling mom with a big hug. Dad holds the newborn baby as he laughs at the scene.

Toddler smiles big, his blue eyes just gleaming as his mother wraps her arm around him while sitting on the couch in their Bridgeville home.

Young child stares up at the camera, blue eyes gleaming, while standing near a window in his house.

Parents and siblings snuggle on the couch, holding newborn baby, Anderson. Everyone looks sweetly at the infant, while the brothers reach up to try to hold him.

Kelsey Cunningham 4/30/19 Kelsey Cunningham 4/30/19

Great Gifts for Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is right around the corner! If you haven’t figured out a plan for your mom this year, here are some ideas for all ages!

For Young Children:

Give the kids some construction paper and crayons. If you’re feeling fancy, maybe add some pieces of colored tissue paper, glitter, and glue. If you’re willing to get a little messy, try out some crayola paint to incorporate the child’s hand print. To top it off, take a photo of each child and tape it to their card for mom!
Plan a special breakfast to make with the kids’ and surprise their mom on Sunday morning. Get young children involved by having them wash fruit or pluck grapes off of their stems for a fruit bowl. Get older children involved by cracking/scrambling eggs, buttering toast, or pouring a glass of orange juice for mom! If you have any fresh flowers near your home, pick one and place it in a small glass. Put it all on a tray and deliver to mom with hugs and kisses!
Print off one of these adorable questionnaires to fill out with your child: https://lilluna.com/free-mothers-day-questionnaire/
Consider jewelry! (ok maybe this one is more from dad, but…) https://www.etsy.com/listing/202963354/two-names-ring-children-name-rings-for
Buy mom a gift certificate for a family photo session. Present it in a card with a note or picture drawn by each child. Kids grow up fast - show mom you care about capturing those memories.

For Any Age:

Buy one of these awesome little books to fill out: https://www.amazon.com/Knock-What-Love-About-Journal/dp/1601064934/ It’ll take a little time, but your mom will LOVE it!
Or try one of these blank books and start from scratch: https://www.amazon.com/Studio-Blank-Peter-Pauper-Press/dp/1441317368/ Fill it with family pictures and little notes about why you’re thankful for your mom! If you’re feeling a little stuck, dig through old photos for inspiration. For example: a picture of your parents dropping you off at college paired with a note about how thankful you were for the cookies mom mailed to your dorm that first week!
Print a photo onto a card, magnet, mug, or canvas using Shutterfly or Snapfish! In a hurry? Check out what photo gifts CVS or Walgreens can print in store same-day!
Pick out a shirt or pair of earrings you think she’ll love! Always pair it with a heart-felt card and a picture of the two of you.
Buy a gift certificate for a family photo session. I know, I know…I already mentioned this one. But it’s just such a great gift for mom! 9 out of 10 times, moms book photo sessions. Oftentimes, kids (and dads!) take some convincing to get on board. Show mom that you care by setting aside some time for photos.

And now…a picture of my beautiful mother <3

My beautiful mom wearing a necklace I bought her for Mother’s Day a couple years ago. My brother had passed away the year prior, and I wanted to do something special for her. I asked my dad to find cards my brother had given my mom and send me pictu… — My beautiful mom wearing a necklace I bought her for Mother’s Day a couple years ago. My brother had passed away the year prior, and I wanted to do something special for her. I asked my dad to find cards my brother had given my mom and send me pictures of the insides of the cards. I bought a personalized necklace from Centime Gifts with my brother’s writing engraved on it. One side says “love ya!!” and the other side says “Mark”. <3

Kelsey Cunningham 4/17/19 Kelsey Cunningham 4/17/19

City Session with the M Family

The magnolia trees are blooming all over Pittsburgh, and I am falling in love with spring! The weather is a bit fickle, but a warm breeze feels especially sweet when you’ve gotten so used to brisk temperatures. The M Family booked a session at the end of March, and we really lucked out with a beautiful 70 degree day! Sure, it was 30 degrees the following day, but that’s Pittsburgh for you!

The M Family is my favorite kind of family in that they were up for an adventure! I had found the sweetest ivy wall a few blocks from the park we were at, and they agreed to go on a little walk with me. I love the urban feel of their family photo session! Scroll down to see a few of my favorite photos.

Baby boy sits on his father’s shoulders as this Pittsburgh family snuggles up close for a family photo in front of a wall of ivy.

Mother looks at her son lovingly, as a family stands in front of a historic brick wall in the Mexican war Streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Baby boy smiles at the camera as his parents kiss his forehead, standing below a tree in Pittsburgh, PA.

Son sits on his father’s shoulders in an urban city outdoor environment in Pittsburgh

Family laughs during their urban city family photo shoot in the Mexican War Streets of Pittsburgh, PA.

Mom sweetly kisses her son’s cheek as the baby boy smiles at the camera

Parents hold their son’s hands, an image of just the boy and his parents’ feet. They stand on an old brick sidewalk in front of a wall of ivy in Pittsburgh, PA.

Mom and dad smile at each other as their 6 month old son smiles at the camera. They are in an urban city location outside in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Baby boy smiles big, light in his eyes, as his mommy and daddy hold his hands.