In-Home First Birthday Session – Pittsburgh

First birthday sessions are always a little tricky in the winter — especially this year in Pittsburgh! Even when it’s not a super snowy or freezing season, you really have two great options for indoor first birthday photos.

The first is a studio session. This is a wonderful choice — I photograph a ton of these, and a studio provides a clean, neutral backdrop that keeps all the focus on your little one.

The second option is an in-home first birthday session — and I absolutely love these. They feel cozy and warm, and everyone is instantly more comfortable because we’re in their own space. There’s something so special about documenting this milestone right where life happens.

This was actually the fourth time I’ve been to this family’s home — two newborn sessions and now two first birthday sessions! They have the coolest house with so much natural light (and somehow always manage to get the sunniest Pittsburgh days). Honestly, prepping for their session never feels like work. They are so relaxed and laid back that we just go with the flow and let the lifestyle vibes unfold naturally.

Since I’ve photographed in their home before and knew some of the amazing spots we’ve used in the past, I had a few must-have shots in mind — plus anything the parents wanted to capture. The newly turned one-year-old is just starting to walk, so we made sure to spend some time documenting those wobbly first steps (which are always the sweetest). I swear, by the time I left she was just about ready to run. That’s how much confidence she built in that one hour!

Of course, big brother was right in the mix too. With his silly personality, he definitely stole the show a few times.

We took a couple of snack breaks, read some books, played with toys, did an outfit change, and even squeezed in a “kind of” cake smash — and just like that, our session was complete.

Here’s a little sneak peek of some of my favorite moments from this sweet in-home first birthday session!