Emily Novak Photography

10/23/2026

Santa Minis are officially SOLD OUT! 🎅🏻✨

I am so incredibly grateful—and so excited to welcome all of the families who will be joining Santa Bryan and me in the studio!

If you missed out on Santa Minis but still need Christmas photos, there are a few opportunities left:

🎄 **Christmas Tree Farm Minis**
Sunday, November 8
**Only 3 spots left!**

✨ **Historic Harmony Christmas Minis**
Sunday, November 22
**Only 1 spot left!**

Swipe through for a peek at each experience!
https://emilynovakphotography.com/mini-sessions-2026

And one more possibility: If you’re hoping for a **studio Christmas mini without Santa**, send me a DM! We may be able to squeeze in a few sessions during November while the Christmas backdrop and décor are set up. ❤️

10/18/2026

These sisters! 🥹💕

Their whole world is about to change (and get just a little more chaotic 😂) when their baby brother arrives in about six months!

There will be a new little face to love, another tiny hand to hold, and a whole new dynamic to their family.

But one thing I hope never changes? This sweet bond between the two of them. ❤️

The hand-holding, the giggles, the running through the grass together… I hope they'll always have a little bit of this.

10/13/2026

You know that feeling when you take a photo and just KNOW you nailed it?! 😍📸

Sometimes, when I'm sorting through hundreds of images from a session, I'll come across one that makes me stop scrolling and say, "YESSSSS! THAT'S THE ONE!" 🙌

This is one of those images. ❤️

Seriously, there's a little piece of my heart that wants to print this BIG, frame it, and hang it on my wall.

AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN MY KIDS! 😂

The sweet smiles, the sibling snuggles, those little arms wrapped around each other… I just can't. 🥹

Maybe the studio needs some new artwork because this one is WAY too precious to live on a computer screen!

10/09/2026

🎅🏻 ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT! 🎅🏻

We’re getting everything ready to welcome to the studio—and I cannot wait to watch this beautiful Christmas set come to life! ✨

These short-and-sweet Santa Minis give your little ones time to interact with Santa and capture all that Christmas magic without the long lines and chaos of the mall.

If Santa photos are on your Christmas wish list, don’t wait to grab one of the final two sessions! ❤️

Book here:
https://book.usesession.com/s/DK3ishuYf3

10/08/2026

When the littlest family member realizes the photographer isn't coming with them… 😂❤️

I love a good family walking shot—whether they're walking toward me or away from me!

But there's something extra adorable about those walking-away shots when the littlest family member can't help but look back with a little curiosity. 🥹

Like, *"Wait a minute…where did that lady go? And why isn't she coming with us?!"* 😂

It's those sweet, unscripted little moments that always make me smile. ❤️📸

10/06/2026

Ever wonder what photographers are doing when we say we’re “location scouting”? 👀📸

Hanging out at The Point this morning because an upcoming client requested some extra Pittsburgh-y city vibes for their session. 🖤💛

So naturally, I’m wandering around looking at backgrounds, checking the light, figuring out where the sun will be, and mentally planning all the spots I want to use before they ever step in front of my camera.

And now I’m thinking… would you guys be interested in Pittsburgh City Minis?! 👀

Think bridges, skyline, city streets, Point State Park—the perfect mix of family portraits + a little love letter to Pittsburgh.

Because I might need to make this happen. 😍

Would you book one? Tell me below! ⬇️

09/24/2026

If you’ve ever left a family photo session thinking, “Well…that felt a little chaotic,” this is your reminder that what it felt like and what I captured through my camera can be two completely different things. 😉

Kids are kids. They rarely do exactly what we expect them to—and that’s completely okay! We’ll play, move, snuggle and follow their lead, capturing them exactly as the perfect little people they already are. Somehow, in the middle of all that real-life family chaos, the magic happens. ✨

Messages like this absolutely make my day. Thank you for trusting me with your family’s memories! ❤️

09/21/2026

Hey Mama! You deserve portraits with your babies, too. 🤍

Fall family sessions are officially in full swing—even if this Pittsburgh rain is doing its very best to put a damper on our plans lately. 😅☔🍂

And while I'm capturing all those frame-worthy family portraits, I'm also making sure to pull you in close with your kiddos.

Because I know how easy it is for moms to be the ones taking the pictures. Your camera roll is probably filled with adorable photos of your kids, photos of them with Dad, and all the everyday moments you thought to document...but how many have you in them?

You deserve to exist in your family's photographs. Not just for you, but for them. 💕

So hug them. Snuggle them. Let them climb all over you. Breathe in that little-kid smell and laugh when they do something ridiculous.

I'll take care of preserving what it feels like to be their mama in this season. 🥹🤍

And yes—we'll get the beautiful everyone-looking-at-the-camera portrait for the wall, too. 😉📸

09/19/2026

My calendar is certainly filling up between now and mid-November with family sessions and holiday minis, but I'm intentionally saving a few openings for last-minute newborn inquiries. 🤍

Because I hear this more often than you might think:

"We didn't think we wanted newborn photos...and then the baby got here."

And suddenly you realize just how tiny they are. How quickly they're changing. How those curled-up little legs are already stretching out and those impossibly tiny fingers won't stay that way for long. 🥹

In so many ways, I think newborn portraits are every bit as important as wedding photos. They're documenting one of the biggest, most life-changing chapters of your story—and unlike family portraits that can be updated next year, you can never go back and photograph your baby at 10 days old again.

So if your little one is already here and you're suddenly wishing you'd planned newborn photos, please don't assume you've missed your chance. Reach out. 💕

And whether you choose me or another photographer, find someone you trust to preserve this incredibly fleeting season in a way you'll still love decades from now.

They're only this little once. Let's make sure you remember it. 🤍👶

09/18/2026

The secret is officially out! 🎅🏻✨

We are SO excited to welcome Santa Bryan to the Emily Novak Photography studio for a very special—and very unexpected—addition to this year’s Christmas mini-session lineup!

A few families snagged their sessions during last night’s email-list early access, which means we now have just **7 spots remaining!**

Check out Santa Bryan’s post below for all the magical details and the link to reserve your spot. ❤️

🎅 Gibsonia & North Hills Families… Santa is coming back! 🎄📸

I know many families in the Gibsonia area have made visiting me for Christmas photos part of their holiday tradition over the years, and I’m excited to let you know that I’ll be back again this year!

On Sunday, November 1st, I’ll be joining Emily Novak Photography for a special day of Santa Mini Sessions. Emily creates beautiful, bright and colorful images, and I’m really looking forward to working with her this Christmas season.

And these aren’t just quick pictures with Santa. ❤️

We’ll have time for the smiles, the wish lists, a little North Pole conversation, and those wonderfully unpredictable moments that make visiting Santa magical. After all, sometimes the best Christmas photo isn’t the one where everyone is looking at the camera. 🎅

Returning families: I’d especially love to see you again this year! If visiting Santa has become part of your family’s Christmas tradition, come continue that tradition with me.

📅 Sunday, November 1, 2026
📍 Gibsonia area
📸 Photography by Emily Novak Photography

Booking is now open:
Reserve your Santa Mini Session here⁠

Sessions are limited, so don’t wait too long to choose your time.

I can’t wait to see some familiar faces, meet some new families, and hear what everyone has been up to since last Christmas. 🎄❤️

Magic forever, and always believe!
🎅 Santa

🎅 Reserve your Santa Mini Session here:
https://book.usesession.com/s/DK3ishuYf3