What types of photography sessions do you offer?

We specialize in fine art children's portraits, including studio sessions, outdoor sessions, fairy tale themes, and seasonal offerings like Magical Santa Sessions.

Where are you located, and which areas do you serve?

Our studio is located in Evans City, PA. We serve clients throughout the greater Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania areas, including Cranberry Township, Mars, and Fox Chapel, PA

How can I book a session?

Our session fees vary depending on the type and length of the session. For detailed pricing information, please visit our Investment Page.

Do you offer seasonal or themed sessions?

Yes, we offer seasonal sessions such as the Magical Santa Sessions. These are limited-time offerings, and details can be found on our Magical Santa Sessions Page

What should my child wear for the session?

We recommend classic, timeless outfits that complement the fine art style of our photography. Upon booking, we provide a detailed guide to help you choose the best attire for your child.

How long does a typical session last?

Session lengths vary: standard sessions typically last about an hour, while themed or seasonal sessions may be shorter or longer. We'll provide specific timing details when you book.

When will we receive our photos?

You can expect to receive your edited images within 2-3 weeks after the session. We'll notify you when your gallery is ready for viewing.

Do you offer prints and albums?

Yes, we offer a range of high-quality prints, albums, and wall art. Details and samples are available during your consultation and on our Investment Page.

What is your cancellation policy?

We understand that plans can change. Please notify us at least 48 hours in advance to reschedule. For full details, refer to our policies outlined during the booking process.

Santa’s Elf Academy Near Pittsburgh: Our First Little Visitors

Our First Little Visitors: Santa’s Elf Academy Comes to Life Near Pittsburgh

A Christmas Journal

Dear Journal,

Today I got to stop looking at the to-do list and look at children instead.

This was our rehearsal, a chance to welcome our first little visitors, practice with Santa, and see how everything worked together before our November sessions begin. There is still plenty to do, especially outside. But for a little while, I set that list down and just enjoyed the magic.

After months of building, painting, moving furniture, and hunting for just the right little treasures, it was a lovely thing to see.

For so long, Julie Jingles, Daniel and I have walked through these rooms and seen the work that still need to be done for our Magical Santa Sessions. A shelf that needed something. Furniture that needed moving. One more detail to finish.

Then two little girls stood beside Santa’s desk, and suddenly I had something much better to look at.

They leaned over that long Nice List together, studying it with Santa. A magnifying glass helped with the search, and a well-loved teddy bear came along for moral support.

I had imagined this moment so many times while arranging every little detail. And now, here they were. The story finally had its children.

Of course, a magnifying glass deserves a little investigating beyond the Nice List.

This is the photograph I keep returning to, because it feels so much like childhood. Santa is busy at his desk, and right beside him is a boy finding his own fun in the middle of the adventure.

We can plan activities and prepare every room, but we also have to leave space for moments like this one. They are what make each child’s visit their own.

Over in the Elf Academy, it was time to tackle Santa’s mail.

Letters went into baskets marked with hearts, stockings, and snowflakes. Santa had help, and judging by that smile, sorting Christmas mail may be considerably more fun than sorting the mail at my house.

This was the activity I had been most eager to see with a child at the table. We’d pictured it so many times while putting the workshop together. Watching it actually happen, with laughter in the middle of it, made every hour of work worth it.

The rehearsal also gave us a fresh list of things to adjust, which is exactly what it was supposed to do. We practiced, we learned, and we found details that still need our attention.

But it also gave us these moments.

Looking through them afterward, I kept coming back to the children’s faces. I had been so busy thinking about how everything would work that I’d almost forgotten the point: a child, a little wonder, and Santa.

And now I get to begin the artwork that will become the pages of this little boy's Storybook Album, or the Wall Art that becomes a cherished Christmas decoration year after year for these little girls.

There is still outdoor work waiting for us, along with finishing touches inside. November feels awfully close when I think about everything left to do.

But tonight, I’m glad we stopped to enjoy this.

With a very happy heart,
Marsha

Want to see how it all began? Follow our Christmas Journal from the beginning to see the work, little surprises, and heart that brought Santa’s Elf Academy to life.