I don’t really want to say that anyone had a great pandemic, but Shannon and Jason came as close as it gets when they purchased their amazing downtown Raleigh condo and adopted their sweet pup Frasier. Their patio view is just incredible and they’re within walking distance to everything, but maybe the icing on the cake is that they can hear all of the Red Hat concerts and have the best seat for fireworks. BUT if they didn’t want to hang out on their own patio, they can also go up to their condo building’s patio, which is equally incredible. They enjoy everything that the city has to offer and love walking to restaurants and around the little neighborhoods downtown. And the best part is that Frasier enjoys every bit of this. Frasier is their tiny pup who is SO adorable and very smol and sweet. Frasier is obsessed with Shannon and Jason. He follows them everywhere. He gives them non-stop adoring stares. He panicked for the two seconds that they went into a room without him. He climbs on top of them and looks super pleased with himself. Frasier is living his absolute best life, and so are Shannon and Jason. I’m so happy for them and their newfound home in the city! Thank you guys for having me out to documenting your life and love.

Ohhh, friends of the blog will remember Jessie and Dan’s wedding at the Pittsburgh Aviary in 2018 where I met a really lovely little penguin named Disco who pooped on my shoe and it was the best cocktail hour ever. I also met a very small adorable owl. It was the best. Anyway, it was also the best because Jessie and Dan were there and they are absolutely two of the kindest, sweetest people in the universe. I like them a lot. I’m sad that we’re far away from each other, especially since I developed a strong, undeliable, and presumably lifelong bond with their cat Lola in the 1.5 hours I was at their house. Lola is an *extremely friendly!* cat. I’d like to assume that she only loves me, but I don’t think this is the case since she seems to also really love Jessie, Dan, their dog Charlie (also very sweet!) and their lovely little toddler Lilli (also VERY sweet!). Lilli is extremely close with Lola and Charlie. She hugs Lola a lot, and Lola is totally cool with it. Charlie also accidentally hits Lola in the face with his wagging tail a lot, and Lola is totally cool with it. Lola recently went to the groomer and came away looking like a small little tortie lion, and she is totally cool with it. Lola is cool with a lot of things and I am totally cool with Lola.

I love toddlers who love animals and treat them gently and lovingly and I know that Lilli will grow up to be a sweet and kind person like her parents. She offered both of her parents her crackers. She offered both of her parents her ice cream (!!). She even offered Charlie and Lola her ice cream (we intervened). I can’t say that I’ve voluntarily offered anyone my ice cream ever, and maybe I think I should take some notes on sharing from Lilli. It was so much fun to see this family all together – cats and dogs getting along together, toddlers and cats getting along together, world peace and harmony. I’m so happy to have gotten to work with Jessie and Dan again and to meet their amazing little crew!

toddler sitting on couch holding a book
parents sitting next to toddler on couch reading a book
parents reading a book to a toddler in front of fireplace
parents holding toddler in living room with black dog
portrait of a toddler holding a book
toddler walking through a babygate
toddler standing in a hardwood floor and smiling
mom holding laughing toddler upside down
toddler feeding a dog treats and cat with lion haircut
family portrait with pets at home
dad tickling toddler and laughing
dad and daughter at home with black dog
smiling toddler on couch
mom handing juice to her daughter
toddler standing in a kitchen
cat doll on fireplace
parents helping toddler walk on the couch
mom and daughter sitting on a chair
girl hugging baby bunny doll
girl carrying around bunny doll and black dog
girl carrying around bunny doll
parents playing blocks with young girl
dog photobomb
girl laughing as blocks fall
girl stacking blocks in living room
dad crawling after baby girl
toddler photobomb
family portrait with pets
mom reading book to daughter
parents reading a picture book with toddler
toddler climbing to look out window
toddler looking out window in pittsburgh
pittsburgh family photographers
little hands on windowsill looking out window
mom and daughter looking out window in pittsburgh
toddler running around house
mom laughing with daughter
parents trying to get little girl to dance
smiling toddler reading book in a chair
mom reading a book to her daughter
mom reading a book to her daughter
parents reading book to little girl in chair
parents reading book to little girl in chair
parents reading book to little girl in chair
dad reading a book to his daughter
dad reading a book to his daughter
little girl carrying book around house
little girl and bunny doll
toddler meltdown
toddler meltdown during family photos
toddler smiling during family photos
toddler looking at stained glass in house
mother carrying daughter down the stairs
little girl eating crackers
little girl eating crackers
little girl eating crackers
little girl eating crackers
toddler hugging cat
toddler and cat with lion cut
toddler and cat with lion cut
parents coloring with daughter
parents coloring with daughter
parents coloring with daughter
black dog and tortie cat with lion cut
girl holding ice cream cone
girl offering ice cream cone to dad
toddler gets cold while eating ice cream
toddler eating ice cream next to cat while holding cat doll
toddler eating ice cream next to cat while holding cat doll
toddler offering ice cream to dog
black dog smiling

Geoff and I photographed Chelsea and Austin’s wedding a few years ago down in North Carolina, but now they live in our hometown of Pittsburgh, PA! They absolutely love it and are even recruiting their NC family and friends to join them up north. They know I’m from there, so on a recent trip to my native city, I had the pleasure of reuniting with Chelsea and Austin in their home and taking family photos of them with their son Fox. Fox is an amazing kid with the best head of hair in the entire world and an extremely enthusiastic disposition to match. He is *high energy!* and likes *vacuuming!* and *unloading the dishwasher!* and *umbrellas!*. He is very excited about the fact that Chelsea is pregnant and that he’s about to become a big brother, and I know he’ll do an amazing job. Everyone deserves a sibling who is so excited, and Fox is the best.

You know who else will be a fantastic big brother in this household? VIRGIL. Virgil is an orange and white tabby cat and my hero. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cat who more closely resembles a cartoon version of a cat more in my entire life. We locked eyes and I fell in love with him instantly and he knew it, so then he proceeded to follow me around and presumably ask me for food, which I did not give him. But I did pet him. I love Virgil a whole lot. I also love this whole family a whole lot and am so excited for their family adventures with their new little girl. Congratulations friends, and thank you for having me!

Woman petting orange tabby cat
Woman petting orange and white tabby cat
Orange and white tabby cat
Family portrait with cat in home
Family portrait with cat in home where boy is hugging cat
Mom playing with kid's hair
Mom putting a scarf on boy's head
Boy and mom smiling at camera
Portrait of a toddler
Toddler portrait funny
Kids acting like dinosaurs
Kids acting like dinosaurs
Kids acting like dinosaurs
Orange and white tabby cat sitting on kitchen counter
Orange and white tabby cat standing on kitchen counter
Kid laughing with his dad
Kid playing with car keys
Toddler unloading dishwasher
Toddler unloading dishwasher
Toddler unloading dishwasher and helping to hand dishes to his parents while tabby cat stands on counter
Toddler putting a spoon away in a kitchen drawer
Toddler unloading dishwasher
Toddler jumping on chair
Toddler jumping on chair while parents hold his hands
Toddler jumping on chair
Toddler jumping on chair
Orange and white tabby cat sitting on chair
Kid talking to his cat
Toddler giving his cat a hug
Orange and white tabby cat
Toddler playing with bookbag
Toddler putting a bookbag on
At home documentary family portraits
Toddler eating cereal
Family portrait with toddler and pregnant mom
Family portrait with toddler and pregnant mom
Maternity couple portrait
Photobooth pictures hung on door
Toddler smiling
Parents smiling at toddler as he cleans room
Dad laughing at toddler
Toddler shrieking
Toddler shrieking
Toddler laughing
Toddler vacuuming his room
Toddler meltdown lying on floor
Parents building blanket fort with kid
Kids and parents in blanket fort
Kids and parents in blanket fort
Toddler meltdown
Mom handing son a polkadot umbrella in the rain
Toddler holding polkadot umbrella
Toddler walking around with umbrella in the rain
Toddler smiling at umbrella
Toddler walking around with umbrella in the rain
Toddler walking around with umbrella in the rain
Toddler walking around with umbrella in the rain
Toddler putting on his jacket
Parents taking a rainy day walk with toddler down the street
Parents taking a rainy day walk with toddler down the street
Parents taking a rainy day walk with toddler down the street
Parents taking a rainy day walk with toddler down the street
Parents taking a rainy day walk with toddler down the street
Mom getting snack for toddler
Dad getting pregnant wife cheese from the fridge
Parents eating snack with kid in the kitchen
Toddler unloading dishwasher
Toddler unloading dishwasher
Toddler unloading dishwasher
Orange and white tabby cat
Orange and white tabby cat
Toddler playing in ballpit
Toddler playing in ballpit
Toddler playing in ballpit
Toddler playing in ballpit
Toddler playing in ballpit
Toddler climbing slide
8 month maternity photo
8 month maternity photo with skeleton
8 month maternity photo
8 month maternity photo