2025 – A Year of Storytelling as a Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photographer
Storyteller was my word of the year. It meant paying attention, noticing what was happening as it happened, and letting moments be imperfect and meaningful. This year wasn’t about doing more. It was about seeing more.
January
The year started in Spain. My daughter and I traveled to Seville to visit her boyfriend and his family, and from the start it felt like being welcomed into a family. Together we visited the white villages, explored the Alcázar, and cheered during the Three Kings parade. (We got hit in the head with flying candy and couldn’t stop laughing.) It was joyful and chaotic. From there, we continued on to Lisbon, soaking in the fado, the hills, and enjoying pastel de nata.
February
February brought some unexpected recognition. I received several awards through Click Magazine’s Voice Competition, including first place for a portrait of a 99-year-old artist in Hidden Details. The category felt right for the year of storytelling. Details often live in the small moments we might miss. I also received second place in the Peach Fuzz category for a landscape image from Positano, along with two honorable mentions.
March
In March, we headed to Washington DC for my youngest daughter’s artistic swimming competition. Watching her compete was one of this year’s most meaningful moments . She did beautifully and came home with several awards. More than that, I loved seeing her confidence and focus. It felt like watching her write her own story as an athlete.
April
April was quieter. I spent time reading Man’s Search for Meaning, a book about purpose, resilience, and understanding. Sometimes a single book can shape a whole season.
May
In May, we picked up Anna from college, and stopped at Tulip Time in Michigan on the way back to Pittsburgh. Rows and rows of flowers, fresh air, and time together felt simple and sweet before the busyness of summer.
June
June was a beautifully full month of travel through Czechia, Spain, and Ireland. We began our journey in Czechia, which provided a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and spend meaningful time with family. We cherished the chance to celebrate everyone’s recent milestones together, from high school graduations to the completion of advanced degrees, and it was a joy to see everyone thriving in their various endeavors.
Czechia
Between the celebrations, we enjoyed the natural beauty of the Bohemian countryside with long walks through barley fields and visits to local landmarks, including the family factory and a charming milk farm. Sharing plenty of amazing ice cream and local treats along the way made the experience even sweeter. We are so grateful for the hospitality and the many special moments we shared with the whole family before continuing our travels to Spain and Ireland.
Spain
From there, we traveled to Spain, where we spent time in Grazalema with our daughter’s boyfriend’s family. We hiked up a mountain together and shared a picnic at the summit. In a truly unforgettable moment (just after taking our family portraits), he proposed! His family had created an intentional, joy-filled setting for the proposal—a moment none of us will ever forget. We are so grateful for these special memories before continuing our journey on to Ireland.
Ireland
We concluded our travels in Ireland, where we explored Dublin before heading west to listen to live music in a Galway pub and stand in awe at the Cliffs of Moher. While there, I took my son’s senior photos along the cliffs; it was a windy, emotional, and deeply meaningful experience to capture that chapter of his life. This leg of the trip was particularly nostalgic, as I revisited the Burren College of Art where I had studied photography one summer. It was a month defined by family, celebration, and memories we will hold onto for a lifetime.
July
July slowed things down again. I balanced photoshoots with lazy pool days and gardening with my son. There was nothing flashy about this month, and that’s what made it good—just being home, together. We celebrated my son’s 18th birthday with a delicious meal at Apteka, making the day fun, relaxed, and memorable.
August
August included celebrating my daughter’s 21st birthday. We spent a joyful, artistic day making bouquets at Armful of Flowers and sharing mojitos nearby to mark the milestone. Later in the month, I dropped her off at Wheaton for her senior year. On our way, we stopped in Chicago to enjoy live jazz at Andy’s, stretching the moment just a little longer before saying goodbye.
September
In September, I turned my attention to home. I updated the wall along our staircase with family photos from our travels; walking up and down the stairs now feels like flipping through a visual journal of our life. As the season swung into full motion, my own photography work picked up pace, keeping me happily immersed in capturing moments for others.
October
October brought a surge of creative energy and marked my biggest year in business to date! My photography schedule was full, featuring sessions for families and seniors alongside several branding shoots. One highlight was a branding session at Pusadés Garden—my favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh—which made the creative process feel especially meaningful.
Later in the month, my focus shifted back to family when our daughter’s fiancé arrived for his very first visit to the United States and Pittsburgh. To celebrate his arrival, we hosted a small fall engagement party. Watching everyone connect and get to know one another felt like the beautiful and lasting beginning of a whole new chapter.
November
November was full of gratitude—and a little exhaustion in the best way. We hosted our first Thanksgiving in our home, and it took all five of us to prepare the meal for our extended family. Every moment in the kitchen and every dish on the table felt like a small act of care, and it felt completely right to have everyone gathered together.
The month also brought exciting news: our son committed to Wheaton College, a proud milestone that reminds me how quickly time moves. Between these big moments, we enjoyed our first visit to the Historic Harmony Christmas Market, wandering among handmade treasures and picking out thoughtful gifts crafted by local artisans. Savoring those quiet, simple joys was the perfect way to transition into the holiday season.
December
December felt like a warm ending to the year. We had a full house—my daughter and her fiancé returned home for Christmas, filling the house with laughter and energy. His “sí a todos” mindset became the theme of the visit—he said yes to ice skating, skiing, sledding, snow angels, and building a snowman, fully embracing his first experience with snow and freezing cold temperatures. We also took the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC, and Frederick, MD.
In the midst of the holiday cheer, we’ve cherished the chance to watch our son wrestle in matches and tournaments for the final time during his senior year—a bittersweet but proud highlight of the season. On the professional side, the month included a unique project for a national BBQ sauce company; I’m excited to see those updated labels roll out to grocery stores this spring! My final photoshoot of the year was with an extended family on their farm, where a few shots even featured their herd of cows. The entire session felt incredibly grounding and peaceful—the perfect way to wrap up 2025.
This year reminded me that joy isn’t about the big events. It’s about being present, noticing what matters, and holding onto the moments that make life feel full.
If you’re looking for a photographer to help tell your story, I’d love to connect.
You can follow along on Instagram to see my recent work:
www.instagram.com/lauramaresphoto
