The Salimeno’s Fall Mini Session at McKay Lake

Fall Mini family session at McKay Lake captured by Theresa Pelser Photography, Erie family photographer

Ilia, working with you and your family is one of the highlights of my year! We’ve done this for… what, nearly 10 years now? And it just keeps getting better and better.

The first time was at Yaya Farms, when you were still a family of four. Kegan, poor guy, had a reaction to the hay. Luckily that wasn’t till after he and Chloe had picked their apples. And we had already taken the “kissing photo” of the family. Remember that? It’s still one of my favorites.

Fast forward a decade or so and you’ve blossomed into a family of five— with a teen, a tween, and a toddler. Are almost-4-year-olds still considered a toddler? Probably not. Oh well.

Getting Chloe and Emilia together for a loving sibling photo is the easy part–they’re like two adorable peas in a pod, hugging and loving on each other. Adding in the big brother who’d rather be anywhere else… that’s where it gets tricky. But we did it! I’m giving Kirt bonus points for doing his dad thing and hamming it up. Whatever he had going on behind my back worked like a charm.

You wanted happy family photos and I’m thrilled to say, you’ve got them in spades! I can’t wait to see which ones will grace the walls in your home and make it into your Holiday card this year.

Thank you for once again choosing me to be your family photographer and capture these fleeting moments in time. I love being a part of your family’s story and I look forward to doing it all again next year.

Below are just a handful of my favorite photos from your family’s mini session at McKay Lake. Enjoy!

Best, Theresa

Sibling love during a mini family session at McKay Lake with Theresa Pelser Photography, your Erie family photographer
Sibling love during a mini family session at McKay Lake with Theresa Pelser Photography, your Erie family photographer
Family of five at McKay Lake, taken by Erie family photographer Theresa Pelser during their mini family session
Fall Mini family session at McKay Lake captured by Theresa Pelser Photography, Erie family photographer
Fall Mini family session at McKay Lake captured by Theresa Pelser Photography, Erie family photographer
Sibling love during a mini family session at McKay Lake with Theresa Pelser Photography, your Erie family photographer
Family of five at McKay Lake, taken by Erie family photographer Theresa Pelser during their mini family session

P.S. For a quick trip down Memory Lane, pop over here to see how much the kids have grown in two short years.

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Hello and welcome!

Theresa Pelser standing with hands in her pockets, smiling warmly in front of a neutral urban background—used in the welcome message on her homepage to reflect her laid-back, professional approach as an Erie family photographer.

I’m Theresa—a family photographer, mom of four, and big believer that the best things in life aren’t things.

Looking for inspiration? Curious what a session actually feels like? Hoping to see families just like yours having fun in front of the camera? I’ve got you covered. Go ahead, take a look around.

You’ll also find my best tips for making photography feel relaxed and easy—for you and your family.

And if you’re planning a family photo shoot near Erie, feel free to reach out. You might even see yourself here one day.

More helpful ideas and heartwarming stories.

Whether you’re getting ready for your own session or just love seeing real families through my lens, you’ll find something here to spark ideas and calm nerves.