newborn and family photography in pittsburgh, pa
hello! I’m Rachel.
I’m a wife, mama, puppy-wrangler and family photographer based in Pittsburgh, PA. I love pale ales and hot coffee, and using every pot and pan in the house when I make dinner (mangia!)
Gratitude for life and family is the driving force behind my work. Motherhood refocused my life and my lens and brings me more joy than I could have ever imagined. Sure, my days are chaotic and busy and I spend a significant amount of time picking up cheerios off the floor, but--oh! This life is mine, and it is perfect.
In my images you will see real life celebrated. You will see gratitude realized. You will see real people loving each other through real moments. My photography honors the beauty of motherhood, the wonder and joy of childhood, the enduring bond of family and the quiet, insignificant, extraordinary moments happening in your life everyday.
“There are only two ways to live your life. As though nothing is a miracle. Or as though
everything is a miracle.”
I looked all around at different photographers before choosing to go with Rachel. It's hard to find a good mix of a photographer who has a beautiful, natural photography style, while also being a friendly, laid-back person so you don't feel exhausted during the photo shoot. I was worried that our little baby was going to be tired, have a blow-out, a melt-down, or be super grumpy (posing for photos can be painful even for an adult, right?), but instead Rachel made us feel so comfortable, it felt like my little family was just out for a fun, special walk in a beautiful spot and our best friend just happened to be taking photos of us. And because she made us so comfortable, nothing felt staged or unnatural. She was capturing our real authentic moments, and now we treasure these photos from when our baby was little, and we have them all over our house!
- Eliza C, Family Session
Rachel is the best at capturing those moments you DREAM of having pictures of. She is very good at coaching if you need that extra help on what to do but you'll feel comfortable, natural, and your time will fly because she's so very talented. I was a little nervous that my babies wouldn't cooperate and the session would not go well. And yes, there was some crying and a meltdown but Rachel was still able to get amazing pictures—she has a special talent for keeping the attention of little ones. I felt like I had a friend behind the camera, someone who actually cares about my family and I. I think it's rare to have that sort of connection with a photographer and is so important to have. I fell in love with every single picture she took and you'll wish she lived with you so she could capture every moment of every day!
- Lindsay R, Newborn + Family Sessions
Before having my first baby, I was so worried about finding a photographer who would give us gorgeous newborn photos to treasure. Our past experience with photographers was good, but never "I-am-in-love-with-all-of-these-photos” amazing. But then we met Rachel! The first time we met, I was so overwhelmed and flustered, trying to get ready and taking care of a newborn, and I started trying to tell her exactly what shots I wanted, what I didn't like, and not only did she listen to me, but she calmed me and assured me that she understood my vision. I was blown away with the beauty of the photos she was able to capture! She surpassed all of my expectations times a million, and every time she takes photos for us they seem to get even more beautiful. She truly captures those "little moments" and really freezes time in those special unplanned seconds where the most beautiful things happen!
- Cassandra C, Newborn + Family Sessions
When searching for photographers for a newborn shoot, I saw some of Rachel's photos on instagram and thought there was something special about them. Little did I know that the person behind those photos would be so very special – the kind of person that is so genuine and filled with light, that she finds the light in you and reminds you of it (even when you're going off of very few hours of sleep and just gave birth recently). It's rare that you meet someone like this, let alone receive photos of your family that are absolutely stunning. Rachel came in with a calmness that was needed and she knew how to make us feel comfortable. She was great with our baby boy and did not rush the shoot at all and gave us time that day, which resulted in photos that we will cherish forever. It's a day that will always remain a memorable special day for us, and to me, it was really a much needed boost of mom-confidence/friendship and love as we navigate life after our first child's birth. I love that she captured sweet candid moments of my husband and I with our little boy. Rachel's photos truly speak for themselves and we look forward to more photo shoots with her as we journey on this path together!
- Lauren P, Newborn Session