I have enjoyed an amazing photographic journey that lasted over a year with this beautiful little girl and her incredibly beautiful parents.  Hailey is a Princess in our Baby Milestones Program.  The result is a collection of images showcasing the evolution of Hailey’s growth, her smiles, her adorableness and her mobile mastery from before she was born to confident walker all in the span of about 1 year.  It amazes me all the time to witness such drastic changes that occur that 1st year.  And to have the great honor of being able to photograph it along the way makes me feel more like Aunt Gracie than just the Photographer.

As I have grown so fond of Hailey I adore her parents just as much.  They have gone from wonderful Clients to practically an extension of Family.  Frank instills more than his gorgeous eyes to Hailey but also an amazing sense of confidence and strength which all little girls need to grow up feeling.  Leslie is the bomb!  She makes me feel like a superstar with her avid support of my work.  It is truly exhilarating & humbling as like so many artists out there, more times than not, I feel unsure.  This is why I know how awesome of a Mom she is and will be.  Hailey is the luckiest to be surrounded by such love, adoration and positivity.  And I am so lucky to have had the honor of being inspired by all of their inner & outer beauty.

For more Hailey sweetness, please click on the image below.

Mechanicsburg Baby & Family Photographer | Grace Lightner Photography

It is a pleasure to introduce the Richardson Family.  They are a beautifully gentle & loving blended family of 5.  And let me tell you about this little guy Mason, he has this amazing head of hair and he is only 3 months old.  Mom told me the nurses at the hospital would give him a little James Dean curl in the front whenever they would bring him back to her from the nursery. 

Mason’s older sisters were so fun, much like lovely bursts of fireworks flitting around playing, singing iCarly songs, giggling and running around on their stick horses waving their cowboy hats around.  And what great big Sisters too, so gentle and loving to their baby brother.

Dad is the strong silent type but his face would easily melt into soft smiles watching the kids play and be silly with each other.  I asked Mom about his interests and she mentioned his old Ford pick up truck which is his pride & joy.  He owned it as a young man and sold it but ended up finding it again many years later as an adult and so bought it back and probably will keep it forever.  It makes for a good story.  I suggested that they bring it so we could use it for some photographs.  And with much pride Dad took effort into sprucing it up just for the photos which was awesome.

Mom works for the PA Game Commission and helps to edit and produce their magazine Game News.  She enjoys photography and has had many of her photos published in Game News.  Mom is also amazingly gentle and very nurturing, there is a kind softness that radiates from her beautiful smile and a tender love that comes across especially when she talks about and dotes on her baby boy.  Mason has Down Syndrome and Mom was candid with me about that.  And although the family is aware there will be challenges that they may be faced with in the future, this beautiful Baby Boy will always be surrounded with love and adoration. 

A very big thanks goes out to Ashley Foster for assisting at this session.

Harrisburg Family Photographer | Grace Lightner Photography

This handsome little guy was born with a mane that would make James Dean jealous =)

Harrisburg Childrens Photographer | Grace Lightner Photography

This is Gabriel, this sweet & tiny little bundle arrived 4 weeks early to surprise Mom & Dad.  One of the best little newborns I have ever worked with, he slept like a champ. 

For more images of this handsome little pea, please click on the image below!

Oh and I love it when I get a little smile =)

Harrisburg Newborn Baby Photographer | Grace Lightner Photography

(If you are interested in purchasing any of the prints shown here, please contact us.)

The Preservation Society of Newport County owns and cares for this beautiful mansion named The Breakers for the waves that break into the cliff it is built on.  The Breakers is renown for being the most opulent mansion in Newport’s History.  The public can take tours here and it is so worth touring.  Even if you snub your nose at over-the -top wealth in it’s showiest form, the art, detail and work going into every square inch of this architectural masterpiece is undeniably mind boggling and awe inspiring.  And as impressive as the exterior of this mansion is, it is really quite modest compared to the decadence that lies inside.  Unfortunately no interior photos were allowed which burst my bubble.  However I respected that, they sell books inside that have beautiful photos of the stunning interior and maybe the rule was set in place so that those sales were not harmed.  That and their fear of the millions of fabric fading flashes of light that would over time take it’s toll.  I can only imagine a fortune must be had to keep such a piece of art restored to it’s full glory.

If you look closely you can see the tiny grooves that texture & shape the rock walls.

Front views of the Mansion.  The front entrance is boarded up, unsure if that is temporary or permanent.  It does seem that great effort was taken to reduce the amount of fabric fading sunlight that enters.

Side view of the Mansion which faces a modest garden.

Rear view of the mansion which faces the water.  The rich blue sky was created with a circular polarizing filter on the camera lens.

 And a shot by my Scott of us girls.

And a small history lesson (I really hated History in school but I love it now!  Especially from this era.).

The Breakers as it is now is actually the 2nd mansion built, the 1st which was made of wood burned down due to a fire.  No expense was spared to make sure the new Breakers was fireproof and instead of wood, the building was made of stone.  Cornelius Vanderbilt II (a wealthy industrialist) hired Architect Richard Morris Hunt to create this grand 70 room summer home for his family.  (Imagine this just being your SUMMER home?)  It was designed to resemble an Italian Seaside Palace with Beaux Arts & Victorian elements and decorated in French & Italian styles.  The rooms were actually designed and assembled in Europe then shipped here to be reassembled in the mansion.  High society modular homes right?  =)

If you ever visit with me, I will gladly show you the photo book we picked up that showcases the rooms inside.

For More on The Breakers.

Newport Rhode Island Travel Photographer – Harrisburg Photographer – Grace Lightner Photography

(If you are interested in purchasing any of the prints shown here, please contact us.)

Here is the 2nd installment of our Newport Rhode Island Photo Tour.  I am donning the hat of the unofficial “Visit Rhode Island” Liason.

A classic sailboat docked at Bowen’s Wharf is a common site here.  Sailing is definitely a huge part of Newport’s identity.  You see sailboats and referencing to sailing at every turn.  We even got a chance to watch the local sailing school in action with teeny tiny sailboats (so cute!).

We stayed at the Newport Beach Hotel & Suites which was AWESOME!  (Scott always plans the most awesome trips with stays at really nice hotels & suites).  And one of the best features of this beautiful hotel was their rooftop deck with firepit and hot tub!  We didn’t use the hot tub but we did use the deck and fireplace every night!  Our room had direct access to the rooftop and we were often the only ones there so I would plug the ipod radio up outside and blast our playlist while we hung out.  We made smores, danced, colored, had drinks, got silly, and relaxed while watching the sun sets and loving every minute of our family time together.

Rooftop views of the sunset over Newport Pond…

This is The Marble House.  Arguably Newport’s 2nd most extravagant mansion right behind The Breakers.  Although I imagine both would be strong runners to the title of Amerca’s most extravagant mansions.  This was the 2nd and last mansion we toured.  Both were built in the late 1800′s during the ”Gilded Age”.  Both are now owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County which has done such a spectacular job in preserving and restoring these dazzling and priceless diamonds from ruin and then allowing the public to enjoy them too.  Again no interior photography was allowed (bummer).  But the rooms and furnishings were opulent & breathtaking to say the least, the exterior of the mansion looks very drab and boring in comparison.  Way too rich for my blood but the setting is perfect for a gal to imagine herself as Cinderella.

A little history on The Marble House.  It was a gift from William K Vanderbilt to his wife Alva who was at the time a leader in the Woman’s Suffrage movement.  Alva soon divorced her husband and remarried a Belmont but kept the house even though she did not live in it.  Architect Richard Morris Hunt who also designed The Breakers was commissioned to create The Marble House and although smaller, I think personally the interiors are even more grand.  The mansion back in 1888 cost $11 million to build. 

More on The Marble House.

The Japanese Tea House is also a part of the The Marble House and was built for the original owner Alva Vanderbilt.  During the summer you can apparently have tea here.

A view of Narragansett Bay, off in the distance you can see The Claiborne Pell Bridge aka Newport Bridge.  I was able to cut some of the reflections of the water out with a polarizing filter.

Several of these images were taken with a super wide angle lens which had a lens hood on it.  Adding a vignette post processing I know is a common tactic many photographers use (often times way over used in odd or unflattering ways).  However vignettes do occur naturally when shooting frames usually at the widest zoom and capturing part of the lens hood.

Newport Rhode Island Travel Photographer – Harrisburg Photographer – Grace Lightner Photography

(If you are interested in purchasing any of the prints shown here, please contact us.)

So I am finally getting around to going through our photos from our Newport, RI trip last May.  There were so many beautiful things about this town and although I can offer only a pinch of some of the visual, there was so much more.  The pride this town has in it’s history & it’s art & it’s ties to the ocean is seen everywhere and so inspirational.  As you interact more and more you feel a distinct air of wholesomeness & friendliness that resonates in the delightful personalities of the locals.  And although this town generates quite a large bit of tourism, it feels so far from touristy.  This is a gem that is worth a visit.  Thanks honey for finding it and all your planning you did to take us there. 

Newport, I love you and I cannot wait to come back year after year after year to explore all of your lovely layers…

On the drive up we passed by these unused overpasses that nature reclaimed back into it’s arms, before NYC, maybe in NJ.  Reminds me of the documentary Life After People. 

Leilani letting the breeze into our beautiful room at Newport Beach Hotel & Suites.  We booked in the off season and got an amazing room for a fraction of the cost.  It was AWESOME!

A view of the beginning of Easton Beach.  What the photo does not reveal is that this particular part of the beach is rather stinky due to the decaying organic matter in the seaweed below.

Starting our stroll along the beautiful Cliff Walk which is famous for it’s views of not only the bay, ocean & cliffs but also of some of the famous historial mansions and houses that border the walk.

Tall hedges & fences keep the public from venturing or peeping in on some of the private residences that also are along Cliff Walk.  If you did not know any better you would wrongfully assume all the really magnificent historic looking homes are accessible to the public.  You will find many gated & fenced properties all over Newport which specifies their private status right at the gates.

My sweethearts, Leilani & Scott walking down the famed Forty Steps which “During Newport’s Golden Age, the Forty Steps were a gathering place for the servants and workers from the nearby mansions.”

View at the bottom of The Forty Steps.

View at the bottom of The Forty Steps.

This is one of the first spectactular pieces of historic architecture you can easily see and simply walk right up to from Cliff Walk (no fence!).  I at first assumed it was The Breakers but after walking all around it was suprised to find that this was owned and used by The Salve Regina University.  The impressive structure is called Ochre Court and had we not had our jogging stroller in tow, we could probably have walked right in. 

Giant trees like this oak are very common.  Some showcasing branches that are as thick as large mature trees.  Many had heavy chains installed that were used to hold up some of the larger branches.   There were a lot of “WOW” moments just in tree size appreciation during the trip.

The Breakers by far one of the most opulent creations from the Gilded Age.  We did tour the mansion (which is rather hard to do with a 3 year old) but it was mind blowing!  It is incomprehensible how something like this was created.  Unfortunately no interior photography was allowed but every square inch of the inside of the mansion is lavished with detail and extravagance.  You just cannot help but to awe at the art that surrounds you and imagine in wonder at the amount of time, effort, and money that must have went into creating each spectacular room.

Gates like this is typical for most of the larger properties.

So are Gatehouses which sometimes are impressive all on their own.  This huge gothic light is from the Gatehouse for McAuley Hall.

More to come soon…

Newport, RI Photographer – Grace Lightner Photography

I have to show off the page spreads from The Thomas Family Book!   Because:

• A.  The Thomas Family is SO AWESOME and GOOD LOOKING!  
• B.  I am just so thrilled with out the final layout of the book evolved!

This Book included a custom metallic cover & each page spread is lovingly designed & laid out based on how the images speak to me.  I design every page spread from scratch myself and this is one of my favorite custom products to make due to how unique each set of images are and therefore how unique each book will become.  The final product is also so exceptional in quality and cannot be compared to the photo books you would buy from popular photo sharing & buying sites.

It is such a perfect way to take home all the favorite images from a session in a captivatingly beautifully story-telling way. 

The photos were taken at the gorgeous Boyer House of Central Pennsylvania College.

For more Book views please click on the thumbnails below!

Mechanicsburg Family Photographer – Grace Lightner Photography

Okay so I am finding myself repeating this over and over again but Hailey is THE HAPPIEST BABY I have ever met!  She should be on the cover of “Happiest Baby on the Block”.  Her smile is like pure sunshine!

Hailey is a VIP member of our Baby Milestones Program and it is amazing how much she changes from each session.  Since her 6 month session, she couldn’t sit up by herself and was not mobile…  But woah, at 9 months she is not only sitting up, but she is a fast crawler, pulls herself up and can stand if she is holding onto something.  And she has grown a LOT!  I think some of her clothes were 18 months =) 

Well enough blabbing, check out this doll!  She has done it to me again, I have fallen in love over and over…

For more sweetness click on the image below!

And a behind the scenes story on trying to shoot Hailey with her Mom & Dad.  It was hilarious, Hailey was interested in everything else but posing with Mom & Dad.  Finally she focused on wrestling with Dad.  She grabbed & pulled his hair & patting him with glee until he couldn’t take it anymore.  Oh how foretelling these sweet little moments can be =)

Mechanicsburg Baby Photographer – Grace Lightner Photography

Erin is an Artist & very laid back, her husband Kevin is more business and brings the goofiness to the relationship.  Wyatt is their oldest son and so full of energy, he was so fun to play with!  Declan the youngest seriously has the best “pout” and his smiles are even better, with big bro’s help we sneaked a bunch of smiles out of him.

When it comes to busy families with young children it is easy to forget that once upon a time it started out as a couple who were simply head over heels with each other in love.  So taking a few moments to just shoot the parents is always so important to me.  Especially Mom, since more often than not she is the picture taker of the family and in looking through photo albums, it will often be asked, “Where is Mom?”.

And this is why I love shooting outdoors in natural light!!!  More, more, more!!!

Click on the image below for more sneak peeks from their Session.

Dauphin & Harrisburg Area’s Family Portrait Photographer – Grace Lightner Photography