Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

September 24, 2019 by Lexi Shapiro in session

I love donating portrait packages to auctions that benefit charities and other good causes. For the past several years, this has included an annual donation to Gemini Children’s Theater’s Royal Ball, which supports their ability to provide performing arts opportunities to children and their families in Pittsburgh. Fostering children’s passions and arts education is SO important. I’ve loved the art of photography ever since I was teeny tiny, and I’m so fortunate that I was surrounded with the support and resources to follow that passion.

This year, my tiny client via this auction win was (newly) 2-year old Magnolia, or Maggie for short. Maggie’s mom was just about to have a younger sibling (how exciting!), so this portrait session was this cutie’s last hurrah as an only child and a fun, special day for her to remember. Because of this, I decided that we would photograph the session on a bright pink background, her favorite color. Maggie is utterly full of personality, impish and upbeat, but simultaneously sweet and gentle. She also likes some pretty rad music, such as Lizzo, Brandi Carlile, and Paul Simon. Coming from a family that loves and plays music, Maggie also enjoys playing all of the various musical instruments in her house.

I have SO enjoyed getting to know this lovely family, and I can’t wait to watch Miss Maggie grow up. A couple of days after I delivered their prints, Mom delivered a healthy, beautiful baby girl. So, a HUGE “congratulations” to all of them, including Maggie, who is going to be a fabulous big sister!

Three words to describe the session: Cute, Simple, Fun

(All of my portrait clients choose three words from a list of how they'd like to describe their finished images. You can click on any of the three words at the bottom of this post by the little tag icon to see past sessions that chose the same word. You can also see how different combinations of words leads to the creation of different images.)

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The Muppet Show, Starring... Koraleigh! // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

POSE PGH

December 21, 2018 by Lexi Shapiro in session

One of the best parts of being a photographer is really getting to know the families that I work with, building a relationship with them, and watching the kiddos grow up and the families grow in number. I had the honor of photographing Kellan for his first birthday last year, and now, it was his little sister, Koraleigh’s turn for her 1-year portrait session.

This Mama comes up with the MOST FUN birthday party themes that really get my creative juices flowing. When she told me that Kora’s party theme was going to be classic 70s Muppet Show, I was over the moon and instantly started brainstorming as to how to incorporate that in a modern, sophisticated way. The first thing that came to my mind was the “Mahna Mahna” song and The Snowths, so I decided to make them out of paper and put the baby right in between them to recreate the skit. And, of course, the most iconic imagery from The Muppet Show is Kermit doing his opening monologue on stage, in front of the luxe, red curtain. I snagged some gorgeous velvet fabric to make a tiny version for Kora to sit in front of, and we put her in fuzzy, green pants. (I shifted the color of them to be more “Kermit green” while retouching the images.) It was as if she knew her role, and while I was photographing this set, she kept doing her “SO BIG” arms, and it looked like she was most definitely hosting the show and excitedly introducing a guest.

I’m so grateful for the relationship that I’ve built with this family, and I cannot wait for the next party theme and creative challenge!!!

Three words to describe the session: Cute, Simple, Colorful

(We left this one in, because it was just too funny + adorable!)

Sienna, The Little(st) Princess // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

POSE PGH

October 02, 2018 by Lexi Shapiro in session

“Now presenting: Contestant Sienna Capri!”

This was my introduction to newly 3-year old Sienna, as she strutted through her living room, serving us her best pageant walk and smile. Accolades? She already has those in spades: pageant titles (Natural Elite PA Tiny Miss, Mars PA Wee Toddler Miss, East Coast USA Toddler Supreme Queen, + more!), brand repping for several fashion brands, being published in magazines, and a large, ever-growing Instagram following. Mom is one of the most adept, savvy mom-agers that I’ve had the pleasure of working with, and I am so impressed by the accomplishments, drive, and hustle of this entire family.

Sienna is simply adorable and a born performer. Between wanting to practice her pageant entrance and showing off the new tumbling exercise she had learned in class that day, she gave me a dissertation on her favorite Disney princesses and what makes each one of her dolls unique. Sienna’s favorite color is pink, and being that she is one of the most outgoing children that I’ve worked with to date, I decided to photograph the session on the most vibrant, hot pink backdrop possible. On top of this, the family’s living room decor is all neutral tones, and I knew that the pink would make for some gorgeous, statement piece wall art in the sunny space. We ended up creating a beautiful display of three 24x36 canvas gallery wraps that were almost life-size to little Sienna. Additionally, we assembled her first real comp card for her to use at various castings, as she is just beginning to dip her tiny toes into the world of modeling and acting, as well.

I love how these images turned out and how much of Sienna’s personality + sass I was able to capture. She really lights up in front of the camera, and I can’t wait to see this teeny diva grow up and continue to shine.

Three words to describe the session: Cute, Modern, Pretty

This is what Sienna’s finished comp cards looked like. I think that the hot pink will really make a statement about who this little one is at castings.

These are some quick snapshots I took at Sienna’s home when I was delivering her print order. These canvas gallery wraps are SO impressive, and I’m really excited to see them all hung up on the wall. (I think that Sienna is excited, as well. ;) )

UPDATE!: They’re hung and look ahhhmazing!!!

Born to Run with Zoey // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

POSE PGH

September 20, 2018 by Lexi Shapiro in session

I really, truly love meeting the families and important people in the lives of the kiddos that I work with. Before photographing Zoey, I had the pleasure of meeting a whole bunch of her family, and let me tell you… afterwards, it was easy to understand why she’s so loving, kind, and warm. I want to so humbly thank them for being so welcoming and appreciative and gracious to me in the time that we spent together.

Mom is a fan of both vintage/mid-century and city loft/metropolitan aesthetics, and I wanted to combine those for her in this portrait session. Through lighting, wardrobe selection, and retouching/color-grading I took this session back to the seventies (still with a modern edge), but I also decided that we should go outside and create some images in the urban area surrounding my studio. (Whoa! - Miss Lexi leaving the studio is not something that happens often anymore!)

Zoey, newly 5 years old, is a gentle soul, talkative and sweet, and a bit sassy when the occasion calls for it. She also has the most amazing taste in music. What other 5-year old has a penchant for Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder?! We had several things that we wanted to capture in this portrait session, including her adorable personality. Firstly, it was nonnegotiable that I create a portrait of Zoey and her beloved Uggie, a giraffe blanket that has loyally served as her lovey and BFF. I decided to have her also wear her favorite dress in this image - this image in particular was alll for Zoey. (She was sure to tell me that this dress was her favorite when I went over for their Styling and Planning Consultation and to correct me when I referred to is as turquoise - “It’s Tiffany blue!”) Zoey has a few other treasured friends: a set of vintage-looking rag dolls that they call “The Sisters.” They fit right in with the seventies vibes of the session. Mom also found some amazing temporary tattoos that helped yield some of my favorite images ever.

The session, of course, wouldn’t have been the same without incredible hair and makeup by Tori Bivins. When it’s time for your session, I so highly recommend adding on styling services!

Three words to describe the session: Cute, Fun, Retro/Mod

Morgan is the Sweetest! // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

POSE PGH

June 14, 2018 by Lexi Shapiro in session

The old nursery rhyme that girls are made of "sugar, spice, and everything nice" was most definitely written about Morgan. This little one holds such a special place in our hearts after her session. She is so genuinely sweet and effervescent and we loved spending time with her!

Morgan is your average little girl in many ways: she loves singing, dancing, and princesses. And, don't get her started on Sidney Crosby! However, Morgan is unique and special in many, many more. She has an incredibly creative imagination and warm, pure soul. (She told Miss Lisa and I that we were her new girlfriends and that we would all go on a friend date to Target together soon - I just might hold her to that!) Morgan is also an incredibly strong girl. She was born with developmental delays and overcame everything to become a charming, independent, gorgeous young lady. She even has a yearly lemonade stand to help raise money for The Early Learning Institute and give back - what a HUGE heart this kiddo has!

I wanted Morgan's images to be very soft and pretty, creating a "princess vibe" through wardrobe, color palette, and retouching without being overly literal. I wanted her to feel and to look like a million bucks, and a fan blowing that lovely long, blonde hair around was the perfect addition. As you can see from the images, we had a day full of laughter and smiles, and looking at them takes me right back. I didn't realize when I selected that cupcake shirt from her wardrobe that it would be quite so fitting to her personality and the day we had together. Morgan is, undoubtedly, the sweetest.

Three words to describe the session: Cute, Whimsical, Pretty

Lynzee Fights Like A Girl // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

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May 01, 2018 by Lexi Shapiro in session, ambassador

In trying to come up with a way to describe Lynzee, 6, the word "powerhouse" kept coming to mind. This pint-sized diva is the reigning USA National Miss Ohio Junior Princess, signed by multiple modeling + talent agencies, a brand rep, and an incredibly talented competitive dancer with quite the Instagram following. (Seriously, I curtsied when I met her - she IS royalty, after all!) And, as of not long ago, she can add "wonderful big sister" to her resume. I was lucky enough to meet so many members of Lynzee's family throughout our time together, and it was truly heartwarming to see a family that is so tight-knit and supportive. Congratulations to all of you on your beautiful new addition!

I knew that I wanted Lynzee's Editorial Session to be as vibrant and sassy as her personality, so I decided to make this one really colorful. I worked together with Lynzee's family to come up with a theme, and we settled on the concept of loving yourself and being enough, with a dash of "girl power." For the former, I handmade oversized conversation hearts with encouraging phrases, and totally covered my living room in tiny styrofoam bits (whoops!). For the latter, I saw this image of Lynzee in my head where she was wearing a white babydoll dress, hair in high pigtails, on a purple backdrop, wearing pink boxing gloves with her tiny arms flexed. (That's usually how my creative process works: I see flashes of finished images and work backwards to create them.) Unbeknownst to me, someone close to Lynzee had survived cancer, and several members of her family even have tattoos of pink boxing gloves, a la Fight Like A Girl. It was really serendipitous! That image is my favorite of the session, especially since it holds a deeper meaning to her family.

We also had the amazing Tori Bivins with us that day, who styled Lynzee to perfection. I loved the gorgeous volume of Lynzee's hair when it was all crimped.

I had such a wonderful time working with her and her family that I decided to ask Lynzee to be a 2018 POSE PGH Brand Ambassador, and to my delight, this multi-talented cutie is now *officially* on Team POSE! I look SO forward to working with her again later in the year!

Three words to describe the session: Cute, Artistic, Fun

Georgia on My Mind // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

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January 15, 2018 by Lexi Shapiro in session

While we have tons of fun during every session, I will say that this one, in particular, was such a blast! Georgia, 1 1/2 years old, is this tiny bundle of joy and exuberance, with beyond infectious laughter, adorably chubby cheeks, and dazzling blue eyes. She's a real character and she had us all cracking up for almost the full hour that we spent together.

Georgia's mama loves crossfit and takes Georgia with her. As a result, Georgia loves to work out just like Mommy, often alongside her, mimicking the different exercises. She has her own miniaturized workout equipment and can do squats and planks like a pro!

I decided to photograph the session on a white backdrop, use more contrasty lighting, and style Georgia in super vibrant clothing to emphasize the bright colors and let her personality shine. Once I saw the mini-workout equipment in their home, I knew that we HAD TO use that, and styled her a "workout outfit" with poppy neons to match. One of the outfits that I pulled had some intentional 90s flair to it. (I really can't help myself, guys. There's usually at least one every session.) When she was on set, it was as if she knew, and she popped into this corresponding pose that just screams "Whasssssup, boyyyeeeee?!"

We had the images printed on metallic photographic paper, including one that was used in an acrylic block portrait, and it was STUNNING. If your session is on the more vibrant side, metallic + acrylic is definitely the way to go!

I love every one of these images so dearly, and I can't wait to watch this little one grow!

Three words to describe the session: Cute, Fun, Natural

K is for Kellan // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

April 12, 2017 by Lexi Shapiro in session

I LOVE when I get to photograph the littlest of the little, and Kellan's one-year session was no exception! Sir Kellan was having a classic Disney Robin Hood-themed first birthday shindig, so we planned out some imagery and props that would match the theme and could be displayed at his party. (Mom made and styled the props, and did such a wonderful job!) I love the aesthetic of photographing white-on-white, and I knew that doing so would really emphasize his beautiful brown eyes and adorable little rolls. Then, when we added in the more colorful wardrobe and props, it really made everything *POP*.

It's funny how a child's unique personality shines through, even at such a young age. Kellan is very serious little man, but I did manage to capture some smiles and giggles, too. (He definitely has his "Blue Steel" face perfected, though. Watch out, ladies!) And, like most almost-one-year-olds, everythinggg goes into the mouth for a trial run, including the lovely, and apparently delicious, orange "K" prop Mom picked up for the session. It couldn't have gotten any cuter!

Three words to describe the session: Cute, Simple, Colorful

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Naina + Mina) // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

December 08, 2016 by Lexi Shapiro in session

When I had the opportunity to photograph little ladies as fun and spunky as Naina and Mina, it reminded me precisely why I chose to be a children's photographer. By the time we were finished, my cheeks hurt a bit from smiling for so long, and I felt energized by the amount of tiny giggles that had bounced around in the air at the studio that day (seriously - it's like filling up my gas tank).

Naina is creative, artistic 9-year old with a huge imagination and sweet disposition. Mina, 7 years old, is an entertainer: outgoing, playful, and in Mom's words, "just a ham in general." I knew that I had to give these ladies an Editorial Session to match their vibrant, spirited personalities, and was overjoyed when Mom chose the word "colorful" as one of her three words to describe her ideal session. There was only one option, really. We NEEDED to throw a PAR-TAY - a big, colorful one. And, what party is complete without decorations?! To help decorate for Naina and Mina's party, I enlisted the help of Leigh-Anne from Airheads Balloon Art, who made the most ahhh-mazing balloon doggies to tie everything together and really bring my creative vision to life. (If you'd like to step up your decoration game for your kiddo's birthday party, or any other event in the future, definitely get in touch with them - they are spectacular to work with!) Last but not least, what party is complete without glitter? EVERYTHING is better with glitter.

SO MUCH FUN in the studio with Naina + Mina this morning. Everything is better with glitter! ✨

A video posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Oct 2, 2016 at 10:08am PDT

And, now, on to the images...