I'm Dreaming of a White Picket : The Picket Fence Holiday 2017 Lookbook // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

The past few months have FLOWN BY, and in the process I fell behind on blogging. (Oops!) I hope that all of you had a wonderful autumn and Thanksgiving with your loved ones!!! I'm looking very forward to catching up and sharing everything that I've been working on with you!

As always, it was an honor to collaborate with The Picket Fence on their seasonal lookbook! We switched things up a bit this time around and focused on the upcoming season with a holiday lookbook, full of sparkles and candy canes and adorably tiny ensembles that are perfect for special occasions. Huge hugs and gratitude to everyone that collaborated on this with us, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes!

If you want to shop any of these looks for your own littles, head over to The Picket Fence's website and search for "LOOKBOOK."

And now, appropriate props given to:

Our precious models: Victoria Podheiser, Lorenzo Garrett, Olivia Keane, and Patti Szabo
Our fabulous makeup artist: Susan Staley

Little + Big Things with Meera + Arjun // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

One of my favorite parts about what I do is really getting to know the families and the kiddos that I work with. I think that it's essential in creating custom portraiture that's expressive of someone's true self (even if that someone is only two years old). Each little one's personality is so different, and when given the opportunity to shine through in their images, you can really create some magic.

This was my second time having the privilege of working with this family. The first time, we photographed a modeling Comp Card/mini-portfolio for 6-year old Arjun (more on that later in this blog!). This time, though, it was his 2-year old little sister Meera's turn. And turn, and turn, and turn she did! Meera just could not stop her tiny, happy feet during her session. You can see her adorably dizzying dance on the second slide of the Instagram post below.

A post shared by Children's Portrait Studio (@posepgh) on Jul 18, 2017 at 8:57am PDT

For Meera's session, we decided to keep things pretty consistent with the session we had recently photographed for her brother - same background color and lighting. This gave their family the opportunity to display all of the images together in their home. We also had Arjun join near the end so that we could photograph some lovely portraits of them together. While Meera is an all-around joy of a kiddo to be around, my favorite thing about her was the mischievous, little twinkle that she got in her eye before she was ready to really ramp up the spinning and dancing, again. So happy that I managed to capture a few images with that sparkle!

Meera also just had a birthday a few days ago, and is now the big THREE.
Everyone be sure to wish her the happiest of years ahead!

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

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Now that I've talked about some adorable, little things, I'm SO excited to share the great, big things that have been happening, as well! Arjun has had some excellent opportunities since our session together and I'm super excited for this fella. In the same month, he was featured in Fashion Kids' Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful Issue AND chosen by Child Model Magazine as their FACE of the Day. Holy cow, Arjun! This merits many, many snaps.

**SNAPS FOR ARJUN!**

It's all about FACE! Winner receives $500 and invitation to shoot for our magazine, for feature in an upcoming issue! Enter your photo at childmodelmagazine.com​ FACE of the Day Arjun Arya Photography | Lexi Shapiro . . . #childmodelmagazine #childmodel #kidmodel #modelstatus #faceoftheday #photocontest #winner

A post shared by Child Model Magazine (@childmodelmagofficial) on Jul 19, 2017 at 1:12pm PDT

Ambassadors 2: PGH Boogaloo // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

In my free time recently, I revisited my 2017 POSE PGH Ambassador sessions and chose two more images from each to retouch and share with you all. (They're just too adorable not to!)

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Over the Rainbow with Gianna + Arianna + Isabella // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

I am so incredibly fortunate that I get to work with kiddos as precious and loving as Gianna, Arianna, and Isabella. From the moment I walked into their house for their consultation, these little ones made me feel like I was their new best friend, and I couldn't get enough of their personalities or their hugs (my favorite!). Gianna, 7, was a miniature professional. She spent the whole session popping into her own poses and making us laugh hysterically. She's a spitfire and a comedian. Arianna, while on the shy side, is incredibly sweet. She is thoughtful, considerate, and, dare I say, "detail-oriented" at 6 years old? (She insisted that we be able to see her beautiful pink shoes in her images, and adjusted her dress accordingly.) Isabella, the baby of the family at 3 years old, is the most affectionate, snuggly little lady, with a twinkle in her eye and just a touch of mischievousness. 

On my "getting to know you" questionnaire, every client chooses three words that they would like to describe their finished images. After reading mom's selections of "artistic, whimsical, and colorful," and seeing the colorful decor in their home, I knew that this would be the PERFECT session to bring to life my vision of a super vibrant rain + rainbow-themed spring session. Of course, I enlisted my good friends at Airheads Balloon Art to work their magic and create this seriously awe-inspiring 7-foot balloon rainbow. It made for such a magical day for both the girls and myself!

A portrait session at POSE PGH is all about creating statement pieces and works of art for your home. Check out this gorgeous image wall that the girls' mama created with her prints! (She was kind enough to send me a snapshot.) The white frames perfectly offset the rich, luster prints and the darker brick wall. I am so pleased to see it all come together so beautifully, from a vision in my head all the way to cherished artwork.

On to the images!...

Three words to describe the session: Artistic, Whimsical, Colorful

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Arjun is Signed! // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

When I first saw Arjun, I was so incredibly excited to photograph his Comp Card Session and work with him towards the goal of getting signed by an agency. He is such a handsome little boy, takes direction wonderfully, and he photographs like a dream. From the start, I just knew that Arjun would find himself signed sooner or later - I didn't realize, however, just how SOON that "sooner" would be! It happened so quickly and I couldn't be more thrilled for him and his family! 

With that, I'm happy to share and celebrate the news that Arjun has been officially signed by The Docherty Agency!
I can't wait to see what's in store for this little fella.

**SNAPS FOR ARJUN!**
 

Tori is Published AGAIN! // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

Quick, little blog today to celebrate - my image of Tori was published in Fashion Kids Magazine June 100 Most Beautiful Models edition. If this kiddo keeps on keepin' on like this, I'm going to run out of space in my blog to talk about all of her successes.

**SNAPS FOR TORI**

Thank you so much @fashionkids.magazine for featuring my image of Tori in your June 100 Most Beautiful Models edition! And, congrats to Miss Tori for her SECOND time making it into this lovely magazine! 😘

A post shared by Children's Portrait Studio (@posepgh) on Jul 3, 2017 at 2:32pm PDT

A Match Made in Pittsburgh: The Picket Fence + POSE PGH Loyalty Program // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

We are SO excited to announce our brand new collaboration!

Starting today, visit The Picket Fence in Shadyside to pick up your loyalty card. For every $50 you spend at the best children + women's boutique in Pittsburgh, you'll earn a punch. Fill your card and you can redeem it at POSE PGH for a complimentary Basic Portrait Session in the studio for your children.

Check out The Picket Fence's website HERE to browse their selection.
Then, stop in to snag your card and start earning punches:
The Picket Fence
5425 Walnut Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

You can also learn more about the POSE PGH Basic Portrait Session HERE. 

Happy shopping!

Arjun on That Beat // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

I love meeting kiddos like Arjun. He's 6-years old and full of all that being six entails (abundant energy, sweetness, and innocence), yet incredibly intelligent, focused, and one of the BEST little listeners that I've had the pleasure to work with. Arjun LOVES to get his groove on, particularly playing Just Dance. All that he needs is a good beat and it's game time! ("Beat It" and "Juju on That Beat" are particular favorites.) Arjun is also learning Tae Kwon Do, so for some of our more "fun" images, he got to show off his impressive high-kicks.

In addition to generally wanting beautiful images of their little one, Arjun's family came to me to photograph a Comp Card Session to get Arjun's modeling portfolio started. He did such a spectacular job during our session together, and I know that his future is incredibly bright, whether that means modeling or med school. ;)

I definitely wanted to highlight Arjun's lovely warm skin tone and shiny black hair, and decided to photograph the session on gray to accomplish both. During our Styling and Planning Consultation, I saw this stunning white kurta and knew that it would photograph like a dream and be the perfect way to celebrate Arjun's heritage in his images. My personal favorites, though, are the images where he is dressed in his fancy-pants-iest suit and tie. He told us that he was a businessman and that he'd be going to the office. (Don't be in too much of a hurry for that, Arjun!)

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

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2017 Ambassador Preview: Coleton + Hadlee // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

Choosing Coleton + Hadlee to represent POSE PGH as 2017 ambassadors was pretty much a no-brainer. Not only are these kiddos GORGEOUS, but they are also full of personality (and full of energy, as I'd come to find ;) ). Coleton is a very athletic 5-year old and plays many sports. Mom told me that Coleton has "a smile that lights up the room," and I couldn't agree more - it was seriously contagious, made more adorable by his missing teeth! Hadlee, age 3, gentle and sweet, is a tiny fashionista who even has her own signature style, and she will seldom be seen without a matching bow in her hair. (The bigger, the better.)

Mom owns a dance studio (check it out here) and these kids loooove to dance, so I decided that we'd spend the session celebrating that. We paid homage to many classic dance scenes in cinema (below, you'll see Singin' in the Rain and Risky Business) and I created a custom dance step backdrop for some more freestyle shaking-of-groove-things. I finished the images off with a light vintage toning to match the color palette of Mom's home decor.

Here's a little preview of Coleton + Hadlee dancing the day away!

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

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K is for Kellan // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

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

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2017 Ambassador Preview: Ariana + Valentina + Maria // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

When I received Ariana + Valentina + Maria's ambassador application, I was totally floored by how gorgeous these sisters were. Ariana, 13, Valentina, 5, and Maria, 3, share a beautiful bond as sisters, but are each so unique and special in their own ways. Ariana has a warm, compassionate spirit and volunteers her time to help children with special needs learn how to dance. Valentina is fiery and vivacious, and can pose herself like a little professional. Maria is a firecracker, silly, sassy, and hilarious.

I wanted to give these pretty ladies a chic, feminine session, and with spring on the horizon (finally!!!), settled on a floral theme. We incorporated flower petals, a lovely sheer vine backdrop, and the beautiful flower wall that Paper Petals of Pittsburgh created for the studio.

Good things really do come in threes.
Here's a sneak peek of Ariana + Valentina + Maria's flowery Ambassador Session!

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

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2017 Ambassador Preview: Lucy // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

There is a an old Latin phrase that I love: "multum in parvo," meaning, "much in little" or "much in a little space." Lucy most definitely personifies "multum in parvo." There is SO MUCH character, imagination, and intelligence stuffed into this teeny-tiny, little package. You see, Lucy isn't your average newly-3-year old. (What other 3-year old do you know that knows EVERY word to Elton John's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" and makes you imaginary sushi rolls when she's playing make-believe with her kitchen set?)

Lucy has already been to 22 different countries, some many times! I knew that I wanted to give her Editorial Session a travel theme to celebrate her miniature wandering spirit. 

You can follow her adventures on Instagram.
(Her feed is seriously adorable!)
I'm so happy to have Lucy and her lovely family representing POSE PGH as 2017 Ambassadors!

Three words to describe the session: Artistic, Innovative, Natural

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Tori is Signed! // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

Few things make me happier than seeing the kiddos I work with grow and succeed, and I'm always ready to do whatever I can to help get them there. So, imagine my delight when I heard that the past year's photographic endeavors had paid off and that Miss Tori has been officially signed by Docherty Agency! I am over the moon and so proud of this girl!

Now that Tori had been signed, she needed a portfolio of more recent images for the agency to use, and I couldn't have been more excited to photograph it! (I SO love working with this little lady and her family!) Tori is the best of both worlds: she takes direction like a champ, but can also intuitively pose herself like a pro. I think that the two of us make a great team, together.

I enlisted the fabulous Deanna Machi to style Tori's hair throughout the session. We continually changed her hair and styling to add as much variety as possible, photographing images that ranged from more editorial to more commercial. I am so pleased with how all of the looks and images turned out!

(Having a strong portfolio/comp card is so important, but having an advisor throughout the process is even better. If you've been thinking about trying to get your kiddo involved with modeling, I'd love to be that advisor and help set them up for success, too!)

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2017 Ambassador Preview: Jaxen // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

I was so incredibly excited to meet 3-year old little Miss Jaxen and her mama after reading their Ambassador application and seeing photos of her adorable face.

Mom described Jaxen as a "firecracker in a tiny package," and that description could not be more accurate.  Jaxen is a born performer (if she sees a camera, she instantly starts posing), and I really wanted to capture that and all of the pint-sized sass that goes along with it in her Editorial Session. When I pitched the concept to Mom, I told her that the best way that I could describe the vibe I was going for was "late 1990s VH1 Divas Live."

So, step aside Mariah, Celine, and Whitney, and say hello to your replacement (who also only needs one name): Jaxen. 

Here's a sneak peek of Jaxen's diva-inspired Ambassador Session!

Three words to describe the session: Bold, Artistic, Innovative

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2017 Ambassador Preview: Sydney + Claire // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

I knew long before meeting 10-year old Sydney and 3-year old Claire that we were in for a lot of fun together. These girls exude so much life and joy from every image taken of them, and I couldn't WAIT to get them in front of my own camera.

With a seven-year age gap between the sisters, I wanted to ensure that their Editorial session was not only enjoyable for all involved, but also that the concept suited both of them equally. After learning that the girls bond over their love of pretending to be kitty-cats together and that it's a favorite game in their household, I knew that would be a purrrrfect motif!

Shortly before the girls' session, I received a call from a reporter, Anya Sostek, with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She was interested in the unique way in which I photograph children and celebrate what makes them special, and she wanted to come observe a session at the studio. I said "yes," of course, and I chose this session because I just knew that she would have a good time with these two effervescent littles.

The article was featured in print in yesterday's Sunday Magazine.
You can read it online HERE.

Here's a sneak peek of Sydney + Claire's kitty-themed ambassador session!

Three words to describe the session: Fun, Innovative, Sophisticated

2017 Ambassador Preview: Kassidy // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

I finally had the opportunity to meet and photograph the first of my 2017 POSE PGH Ambassadors, 3-year old Kassidy, last week. I had such a wonderful time with this tiny, adorable bundle of energy! I am SO EXCITED for all the rest to come, especially after how much fun we had playing with and photographing Kassidy!

Kassidy loves the color red and taking photos with her mama's camera.
(That's how I first started to fall in love with photography. Who knows - maybe she'll grow up to be a photographer herself, someday?)

Here's a sneak peek of Kassidy's seventies-themed ambassador session!

Three words to describe the session: Vintage, Pretty, Unconventional

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Paint it Blue with Rodolfo + Mariana // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

When I first met 9-year old Rodolfo and 7-year old Mariana, I was struck with just how spirited and independent they both were. Like most brothers and sisters, while they are similar in many ways, their differences abound. Rodolfo loves sports, particularly football and soccer, and has a penchant for superheroes and Star Wars. Mariana is the exact opposite: if it involves dance, American Girls, or princesses - count her in! I really wanted to ensure the Editorial session was customized to suit both of their individual personalities and was fun for everyone. I focused a great deal on posing with this session to do so: Rodolfo was my handsome Ralph Lauren model, photographed mostly from a lower angle to make him appear more elevated and dignified. Mariana was an adorable princess for the day, fan in her hair, twirling, posed to emphasize her joyful energy. I knew that going with a mostly blue color palette would be mutually pleasing and I was inspired by the fact that Dad works with paint to create a fun, Jackson Pollock-esque custom paint splatter backdrop. I had such a wonderful time working with these great kids, and I even got to brush up a bit on my (minimal) Spanish: 
Mariana es preciosa y Rodolfo es gracioso! 
Muchos gracias por venir a verme!
(How'd I do? Was that way off? Haha.)

Three words to describe the session: Modern, Artistic, Simple

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Why "Couture?" // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

"POSE PGH is modern, couture portraiture with a fashionable twist."

When looking at my images, it's easy to discern that they're modern and fashionable, but you might be thinking to yourself, "Lexi, what on Earth do you mean by 'couture???' "

Typically, the use of the word "couture" is reserved for clothing. But, couture clothing isn't just any clothing:
It's handmade, tailored to fit an individual. It's a labor of love, as a couture gown can often take hundreds of hours to complete. Couture is admired for its craftsmanship, its attention to detail, and its luxe, beautiful quality.

My favorite quote about couture is from Cristobal Balenciaga:

"A couturier must be an architect for design, a sculptor for shape, a painter for color, a musician for harmony, and a philosopher for temperance." 

When you bring your little ones into POSE PGH for a session, I become your photographic couturier, as I'm using my aesthetic, style, and knowledge to plan a fully-tailored session for each individual family.

There are SO MANY factors I'm considering when planning the session: What colors do your children love that will also look wonderful with their skin tones? What wardrobe colors will complement the background and prop colors? What creative concept can I dream up? How can I create props and/or custom backdrops for that concept? What poses will flatter this child? How can I merge the child's interests with Mom and Dad's style/aesthetic? How can I make it all match their decor to become beautiful wall art? Whew... and the list goes on and on!

The "couture" nature of POSE PGH doesn't stop with planning the session itself, though: I'm making custom music playlists for your time spent at the studio. I'm preparing your child's favorite snacks. I'm hand-making most of the props and backdrops we use. I'm retouching all of your images by hand (no presets or shortcuts).

Backdrop is all painted and ready for some cuties on Sunday! 💙 (I guess this is my "blue period?")

A photo posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Dec 2, 2016 at 1:27pm PST

All of these little details add up to epitomize what I feel is befitting to refer to as  a "couture portrait session," much like a luxurious gown is composed of many, individual tiny hand-sewn sequins.  

I can't wait to meet you and your children and get to work on your custom, couture experience!

Favorites of 2016 // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

Okay, I'll admit it: 2016 definitely had its ups and downs. However, I've noticed that people are so quick to focus on the negatives of this year and overlook all of the wonderful positives. While 2016 had personal trials and tribulations, it was also one of my favorite years to date. This year, I began focusing on my work with children and transformed POSE PGH into what it is today. I had a year full of tiny smiles, giggles, and high-fives (my favorites) that made me eternally grateful for the opportunity to serve my clients and do what I love as my profession.
Thank you all SO MUCH, from the bottom of my heart!

Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year and fabulous 2017!

Here are some of my favorite images that I photographed in the past year.

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Listen to the Music // Pittsburgh Children's Photographer

Music is such an essential part of my process, inspiration, and what makes your session at POSE PGH special that I decided to devote a little blog to it today.

I've always felt a deep connection to music. My roots as an artist/writer were in music photojournalism. I spent many of my formative photographic years shooting concerts and interviewing musicians for an online music magazine. Once I transitioned into the commercial side of the industry (and beyond to portraiture), music continued to be an essential fountain of influence and creativity. I will sometimes conceive and envision a full session just from listening to a specific song or album. When I'm retouching, I definitely need the right music to set the mood, and I'll end up artistically retouching differently based on what I'm listening to. Lastly, upon completion, an image will sometimes represent a song for me. I may not have noticed or felt it while I was photographing or retouching it, but afterwards it will shout the perfect lyric to epitomize it. This is why on social media SO many of my images are captioned with song titles or lyrics - to me, they are a fundamental component of the viewing experience.

My personal genre of choice/inspiration is typically mid-60s through early 70s rock and roll, so you'll notice a lot of those lyrics popping up...

He ain't heavy, he's my brother. 💪🏻👶🏻

A photo posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Dec 20, 2016 at 3:56pm PST

You and I travel to the beat of a different drum. 💕

A photo posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Jul 29, 2016 at 4:58pm PDT

And, Windy has wings to fly above the clouds...☁️

A photo posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Sep 10, 2016 at 8:44am PDT

✨ Blue jean baby queen ✨

A photo posted by POSE PGH (@posepgh) on Aug 1, 2016 at 9:21am PDT