MEET MB
Hi, I'm Mary Beth and I hate to have my photo taken.
Seriously. I feel completely awkward on THAT side of the camera. I get crazy eyes and I don't know what to do with my arms.
But I also know the importance of pushing past that awkwardness to exist in photos with my family.
My favorite photos with my family are when I'm engaged with my kids and not looking at the camera. These are the kinds of photos that I love to take for other families.
I still always take some naturally posed "portraits" where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling (perfect for Facebook profiles and Grandma's wall) but the rest of our session will be totally laid back.
No awkwardness, no crazy eyes, no worrying about what to do with your arms. I want you to snuggle your baby or play with your kids and leave the rest up to me.
I know the stress behind preparing for a family photo session so my goal is to keep the process easy and as stress free as possible.
And now, here's a little more about me...
•I'm a Mom to three teen boys (don't believe the rumors, teenagers are actually pretty awesome) But as a Mama to older kids, I know how cruel time can be and how they grow up WAY too fast!
•I'm married to my best friend and we've been together for 25 years! I have no idea how he puts up with me most of the time but we definitely laugh a lot together.
•I'm also a Dog Mom to Lucy, a petite golden retriever.
•My favorite place to be is in the woods and I love the idea of camping but sleeping in a tent makes me super grumpy.
•I love to rewatch seasons of New Girl, The Office & Schitt's Creek (laughter is the BEST medicine)
•Memes and funny animal videos keep me laughing and sane.
•I'm 44 and I still don't know how to put on make up or do my hair but I can change your flat tire. (Thanks Dad)
My family photos are taken by Pamela Anticole and Casey and Her Camera
I'd love to hear more about your family. Get in touch so we can plan your unique session.
Don't put it off any longer because kids have a way of growing up much too fast!
"I am so incredibly happy I found Mary Beth Miller. She is not only talented, but is a sweet and kind person, and seemed truly interested in our little family. She was wonderful on the day of our shoot. I was thrilled to the bone with her work and hope to work with her again some time!" -Mandy Z.
Eight years.
It took me EIGHT YEARS and THREE KIDS to have our first family photo session.
It’s not that I didn’t want to have a photo session, but life happened. I was a busy Mom and I let fear hold me back.
I didn’t love how I looked, my husband didn’t love the idea, and I was afraid my three boys may be more than a photographer could handle!
Excuses. I made excuses for eight years and I still regret it.
I also know you might be thinking about putting your session off until "next year" because [insert 100 excuses here].
However, I speak from personal experience when I say "next year" turns into five years and before you know it, your oldest kid is taller than you.
I regret not doing it sooner.
"not only talented but sweet and kind"
"I am so incredibly happy I found Mary Beth. She's not only talented, but is a sweet and kind person, and seemed truly interested in our little family. She was wonderful on the day of our shoot and I was thrilled to the bone with her work!" -Mandy Z.
Believe me, I get it. I know the stress that can come with planning a family photo session so my goal is to keep the process as easy and as stress-free as possible for you.
My favorite photos with my family are when I'm engaged with my kids and not looking at the camera. These are the kinds of photos that I love to take for other families.
I'll also get some naturally posed "portraits" where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling (perfect for Facebook profiles and Grandma's wall) but the rest of our session will be totally laid back.
No awkwardness, no crazy eyes, no worrying about what to do with your arms. I want you to snuggle your baby or play with your kids and leave the rest up to me.
"she was so great during our photo shoot"
"We loved working with Mary Beth! This was our first experience with professional photos and we can’t say enough good things about her. Booking was easy and she was so great during our photo shoot! Mary Beth is so sweet and we'll definitely use her again!" -Katie M.
My Why...
I lost my Dad when I was only 22 and his death taught me at an early age that life is short and we’re not promised next year, next month or even tomorrow.
I have very few photos of myself with my Dad and the posed ones from Olan Mills are not the ones I truly treasure.
I treasure the photos of...
-my Dad helping me ride my pink bike with the banana seat in our front yard.
-playing with our kitty on the kitchen table together.
-him pushing me on the tire swing in the backyard.
And my very favorite...us snuggling on the couch together probably watching the Steelers game.
Those everyday moments captured on camera will always be my favorite photos from childhood and why I love to capture the same kinds of images of my kids and for other families.
Sure the posed photos of everyone dressed up and smiling at the camera are nice, but they don’t show who we were.
They don't have my first 2 wheeled bike, the tire swing from the first house I lived in, or our old brown couch that holds so many memories from my childhood.
More about me...
•I'm a Mom to three teen boys. Don't believe the rumors, teenagers are pretty awesome. But as a Mama to older kids, I know how cruel time can be and how they grow up WAY too fast!
•I'm married to my best friend and we've been together for 25 years! I have no idea how he puts up with me most of the time but we definitely laugh a lot together.
•I hate to have my photo taken. Seriously. I feel completely awkward on THAT side of the camera. I get crazy eyes and I don't know what to do with my arms.
But I also know the importance of pushing past that awkwardness to exist in photos with my family.
•I was born and raised in Pittsburgh (but I know very little about the Penguins, Steelers or Pirates, #sorrynotsorry)
•My favorite place to be is in the woods and I love the idea of camping but sleeping in a tent makes me super grumpy.
•I love to rewatch seasons of New Girl, The Office & Schitt's Creek (laughter is the BEST medicine)
Photo Credit: Pamela Anticole
I'd love to hear more about your family.
Get in touch so we can plan your unique session.
Don't put it off any longer because the days may be long, but the years...they are so damn short!
"makes everyone feel comfortable"
"Mary Beth has been taking photos of our family for years and I’m continually amazed by her success with navigating anything from toddlers having tantrums to moody teenagers and still somehow she manages to create beautiful photos out of the moment. She truly makes everyone feel comfortable and although I always feel like the posed pictures seem necessary I inevitable end up loving the more natural photos she captures that you weren’t expecting." -Afton P.
Let's chat!
Get in touch for more details
or to book your session!
Mary Beth Miller PHotography