Blog - Page 4 of 19 - Pittsburgh Photographer

7 Family Friendly Activities in Pittsburgh

Post author:Laura
Post published:January 21, 2021
Post category:Family

7 Fun Things to do with Your Family in Pittsburgh (safely even during COVID) Below, I’ve included some of my family’s favorite activities to do in Pittsburgh, even during COVID. During the shut down, we’ve been able to spend a lot of quality time together. These are some of the things we’ve done as a family before and during the pandemic. 1. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Our family purchased a membership for Phipps as it was one of the only places we could visit with the COVID-19 restrictions in place. I love how diligent they have been about being safe and following guidelines. My family also enjoys visiting all the different exhibits. It feels different every time we visit! Some of our favorites include the Winter Flower Show, Van Gogh exhibit, and Tropical Forest Cuba. Taking your family to Phipps is a beneficial, educational experience that’s great to teach your kids…

Essential Newborn Photos to Take at the Hospital

Post author:Laura
Post published:January 13, 2021
Post category:Newborn

Looking back, I wish I had created a list of photographs for my husband to capture during our hospital stay with each of our newborns. With so much to think about while preparing for each of our baby's arrivals, I never managed to capture it fully. Through photographing other families and their precious newborns, I've created a list of all the must-have newborn shots. I hope that these ideas benefit you in documenting your newborn's arrival. I'm sharing photographs I captured during a Fresh 48 session early last year for one of my closest friends. I loved photographing this time with Lenna, her newborn daughter and her whole family. Fresh 48s are a great way to capture the real and raw moments during your newborn's first few days. Newborn lifestyle sessions are another great option for capturing newborns. Lifestyle sessions focus on capturing your newborn during his/her the first few weeks…

Family Interview | Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photographer

Post author:Laura
Post published:January 4, 2021
Post category:Family

Pittsburgh is a beautiful city with amazing families! Last summer, I received a call from a then Pittsburgh mom asking to schedule a golden hour family lifestyle session featuring their backyard tree deck built around two hundred-year-old sycamore trees. Honestly, I could have pinched myself. I think being a photographer must be the best job in the world! Together we spent two hours laughing and participating in fun activities like dancing, snuggling and even climbing on dad to keep the children engaged. How did you and your spouse meet? Through friends in Miami, Florida where we were both living at the time. What do you enjoy about living in the Pittsburgh area? Snow in May. lol j/k.... Safe, family-friendly, great schools, and the cost of living is low. Write 3 adjectives that describe your family. Energetic, silly, and curious. Describe your children. Emily is 8 and is sweet, caring, shy, and…

Family Interview | Pittsburgh Child Photographer

Post author:Laura
Post published:December 21, 2020
Post category:Children

It's a joy to watch children grow from year to year between their photo sessions. Check out a couple of my favorites from past photo sessions at the end of the interview. What kind of Christmas traditions does your family enjoy? We have started elf on the shelf (snowflake) and watch lots of Christmas movies all December. This year we watched Christmas Vacation, The Polar Express, Elf, Frosty, Rudolph, and Charlie Browns Christmas! What kind of toys would your children like to receive as gifts? We enjoy giving our children educational gifts or experiences. What kinds of decorations do you put up your home? This year I decided to buy a 12 foot artificial tree. Which wouldn’t have been a big deal except I failed to anticipate how heavy it would be to put up. So Neil has to help on that one! What kind of ornaments do you put on…

Senior Pictures Interview – Pittsburgh Portrait Photographer

Post author:Laura
Post published:December 18, 2020
Post category:Senior Pictures

I'm so excited to share my latest interview with a high school senior! I have grown particularly fond of senior photo sessions these past years as I love that senior girls enjoy contributing ideas and concepts to the process. Makenna had so many creative photo ideas and I loved making those visions a reality. High school seniors are generally open to letting the photographer be creative and artistic, which allows me to push myself creatively. My ultimate goal is to boost my client's confidence, provide meaningful images for the parents and family, and make memories! What do you enjoy about living in the Pittsburgh area? There’s always something to do. The mall, stores and restaurants are close by and convenient to drive to. In your opinion, where is the best place to eat in Pittsburgh and what do you order there? I love sushi, so one of my favorite places to…

Family Interview | Pittsburgh Family Photographer

Post author:Laura
Post published:December 16, 2020
Post category:Family

As soon as I met this gorgeous and outgoing family I knew it was going to be a blast! The black and white color scheme was such a classic but the best part about this family was their collective sense of humor! We spent the majority of the photo session laughing and smiling....(at one point Luke was dangling upside down followed soon after by his sister!) The weather and sunset were absolutely gorgeous and coupled with the amazing location, it was a session to remember. How did you and your spouse meet? We met at work. Tell us about your family. We moved to Pittsburgh from Minneapolis in January. We have loved having family visit and showing them around Pittsburgh. We have a bernedoodle dog named Bruce. What do you enjoy about living in the Pittsburgh area? It has been almost a year since we moved so we still love exploring…

Maternity + Newborn Lifestyle Interview

Post author:Laura
Post published:November 6, 2020
Post category:Maternity Newborn

Everyday seems to be a holiday when you are a photographer! One perk of the job is celebrating milestones with families. I met this kind, friendly, and creative family a couple of years ago. Every session feels like I'm invited to a play date in their beautiful home. It's possible that I tell them every time I'm in their home that they have the best windows! I love being there to watch this family celebrate a first birthday, bake and decorate cookies, trim their Christmas tree, read books, make music and play in the back yard. Most recently I was there to document the arrival of their second daughter. How did you and your spouse meet? My husband and I met at Carnegie Mellon when I was an editor for the newspaper as an undergrad and he was a master's student working on layout design. Describe how your life changed once…

Senior Pictures Interview – Pittsburgh Portrait Photographer

Post author:Laura
Post published:November 2, 2020
Post category:Senior Pictures

Sarah chose Hartwood Acres as her location for senior photos and the sunset compounded with gorgeous flowers made for an unforgettable portrait session! I recommend Hartwood Acres for Seniors with an appreciation for European architecture, grassy fields, and gorgeous gardens. Sara's bohemian dancer aesthetic met urban fashion and the results were drop-dead gorgeous. I loved the opportunity to photograph my long-time neighbor. I've known her since she was in pre-school! It's been a pleasure to watch her grow into a young lady and I'm excited so hear about all she'll accomplish in college and beyond. Now, on with the interview! What do you enjoy about living in the Pittsburgh area? I’ve lived here my whole life that now every time I turn a corner it feels I have a memory associated with every place in the city. In your opinion, where is the best place to get coffee in Pittsburgh and…

Family Session Interview – Pittsburgh Family Photographer

Post author:Laura
Post published:October 23, 2020
Post category:Family

This family is everything you hope for as a family portrait photographer. They are kind, natural and adventurous! We met during golden hour on a beautiful evening, in a beautiful park near Sewickley. Evan recommended the park and I'm so glad he did. It has a convenient parking lot and varied options for natural/wooded backdrops. The light has stunning light during golden hour. In addition to the beautiful light, weather and location, it was also a special treat to celebrate Raphael's first birthday with the family during our portrait session! I hope you enjoy "meeting" this family through their interview and portraits below. How did you and your spouse meet? We met at work, which was at Nordstrom (Ross Park Mall) back in 2008 and started dating in 2009. We married in 2014 and welcomed Raphael in 2019. What do you enjoy about living in the Pittsburgh area? The distinctive Pittsburgh…

Laura Mares Photography Awarded Best Portrait Photographer in Pittsburgh

Post author:Laura
Post published:October 21, 2020
Post category:Awarded | Published | Featured Portrait Studio

Laura Mares Photography Awarded Best Portrait Photographer in Pittsburgh It's an honor to share that Expertise has included me on the 2020 list of the 22 best portrait photographers in Pittsburgh, PA. Many thanks to Expertise for including Laura Mares Photography on their list in an artsy city with so such talent! I strive to make my clients feel at ease and confident during our time together. I love capturing portraits, but I also love photographing each aspect of what makes an individual uniquely beautiful: A senior girl picking flowers, a child snuggling with her parents, a business owner looking to update his/her profile/instagram images. An experience - that's what I strive to provide my clients. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a high school senior, a family with a newborn or excited kiddos and a dog or two in need of timeless, heirloom portraits - I promise to give you a fun…