Newborn Lifestyle Spotlight – Pittsburgh Newborn Photographer
Meet Thomas and Kaitlynn, an interesting couple, who recently welcomed a adorable newborn girl into their lovely family. After spending time with these new parents while photographing them in their beautifully decorated home full of antique maps from their world travels one feels welcomed and connected with the family. I can only imagine how their home will evolve soon to include newborn and family portraits to the walls of their Pittsburgh home.
How did you and your spouse meet?
We met at a toga party! It was far tamer than what you’re imaging. Two women who Kaitlynn went to college with, and whom Thomas worked with, threw a toga-themed apartment warming party in 2010. Boy wearing toga met girl wearing toga, and the rest was history!
Describe how your life changed once you brought home your newborn baby.
Welcoming a newborn baby into our lives has changed everything – in the best way possible! To our already blessed lives, Julia has added new happiness and meaning. In these blurry newborn days, we’re focused on the present – keeping her safe, happy and fed – but also enjoying thinking about the future of our family, and all the milestones and experiences we’ll get to have together.
Describe your newborn baby.
Julia is a beautiful baby who loves being in her mom’s and dad’s arms. She is just starting to smile and engage with the world. She loves going on walks and really enjoys eating!
What do you enjoy about living in the Pittsburgh area?
Although neither of us grew up in Pittsburgh, we’ve made this our home for more than a decade, and we’ve grown fond of Pittsburgh’s small-town vibe and big-city attractions, including its beautiful parks, vibrant theater scene and excellent restaurants.
What are your family’s favorite things to do in and around Pittsburgh?
We enjoy spending time outside, running, walking and kayaking. Prior to Julia’s arrival, we were avid restaurant-goers, and we hope to resume that activity again once she gets a bit older.
Describe a typical day in your life as a new mother with a newborn baby.
Julia wakes me up bright and early, and then I feed her while I drink my coffee. We try to go on a walk every morning, which Julia really enjoys. The rest of the day is usually a blur of feeding, sleeping and playing, until Julia’s father comes home from work. We have dinner as a family, then go for another walk before getting ready for bed.
What is your family’s favorite meal to cook at home?
One of our favorite meals is also one of our easiest recipes: avocado toast. We put mashed avocado, with lemon, salt and pepper, on toasted bread, then top it with an egg and serve it with a side of sliced cherry tomatoes. Tasty and healthy!
How did you prepare for your newborn lifestyle session?
We perused Laura’s website and looked on Pinterest to get ideas for what photos we wanted to get during our session. The day of the session, I fed Julia shortly before Laura arrived so she would be calm and happy while taking photos.
How did you decide what to wear for your in home lifestyle session?
We followed Laura’s advice about color choices, settling on a white onesie for Julia, a white blouse and dark pants for me and a green button-down shirt and dark pants for Thomas.
What is your favorite portrait from your lifestyle session? Explain why it’s your favorite.
We love the picture of the two of us looking down at Julia, who is looking up at us. It’s a beautiful family portrait, and Laura did a nice job capturing the natural light that was coming into our bedroom.
How did you decide to schedule a newborn lifestyle session with Laura Mares Photography?
A few months before my due date, I started searching online for Pittsburgh-based newborn photographers. I knew I wanted someone who specialized in newborn photography, and who would come to our house. I liked the natural look over the posed style, and I was impressed by Laura’s portfolio. We’ve gotten many compliments on the photos she did for us, so it was a good decision!
