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Magical Train Station Portrait by Photographer for Mars

By: Cranberry Township, Mars and Butler County Photographer

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A Whistle in the Distance: Capturing a Magical Farewell Moment

This Fine Art Children’s Portrait was created in the quaint, historic town of Harmony, PA, just outside Mars and near Cranberry Township, on a quiet evening just before sunset. For this session, I had captured this sweet little girl posing safely near the edge of the tracks, vintage suitcase in hand, making it look as though she were waiting for a train. (For safety, children and clients are are never placed on the tracks.)

Picture of a little girl in a blue dress hiding a vintage suitcase by a set of railroad tracks during a photo session near Mars, Pa

After finishing our session and loading the cars to leave, a distant whistle drifted through the trees. A train was approaching! I rushed down to the tracks to capture a quick image—but I wasn’t fast enough, so the train photo was taken from the opposite side of the track.

 

Using my years of Fine Art education, I later blended her portrait with the train, placing it where it would have naturally appeared and building the cars behind it piece by piece. It was almost finished.

Little girl with suitcase near train tracks as train passes, composite fine art portrait by child photographer near Mars and Cranberry Township

The image still felt like it needed something more. That’s when I added the old train station—not part of the original scene, but the perfect final touch. It brought the feeling I was chasing: a quiet goodbye.

This portrait wasn’t just captured—it was created. The only element added later was the station, a small imagined detail that helped bring the whole story to life.

These two images (my proofs) —captured at the same location, just minutes apart—became the foundation for the final storytelling portrait. 

The first image tells the story that appeared in my mind.
The train was an unexpected surprise.
Whichever one you’re drawn to—know this:
Both began with a girl, a suitcase, and a spark of imagination.
And sometimes, that’s all a story needs.

If you enjoyed this little peek behind the scenes and love seeing how imagination and real moments come together, you’re in for a treat. I’ve just launched a six-part blog series that dives into the heart of what makes my Fine Art Children’s Photography so magical.

✨ Start with Part One: How to Plan a Storytelling Photo Session for Children and follow along over the coming weeks as I explore the role of props, wardrobe, location, and more.

 

If you're a parent near Mars or Cranberry Township, PA dreaming of a portrait session for your child, I hope you will CONTACT ME or visit my Fine Art Children Photography Page.

 

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Marsha Lonchena, Master Photographer and Photographic Artist
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