Today we’d like to introduce you to Aleah McGuigan (Farkas).
Hi Aleah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I believe every photograph becomes more valuable with time. Today, it’s a beautiful image. Years from now, it’s a memory. Decades from now, it becomes part of a family’s history. Long after were gone, those photographs tell future generations who came before them, how they loved, what they celebrated, and what mattered most. That belief is what inspired me to create Maple Lane Photography.
I’m a photographer & Storyteller nestled in Schuylkill County, Northeast Pennsylvania. I specialize in preserving life’s most meaningful milestones, from engagements and weddings to growing families, high school seniors, anniversaries, and milestone celebrations. Whether I’m photographing a couple celebrating sixty years of marriage or a family gathering for an eightieth birthday, I’m constantly reminded that these aren’t simply events. They are chapters in a family’s story that deserve to be remembered for generations.
Before photography became my profession, I spent years working in healthcare administration. That experience taught me compassion, attention to detail, and the importance of truly caring for people during significant moments in their lives. Today, I bring those same qualities into every session, creating an experience where clients feel comfortable, seen, and genuinely cared for.
Outside of my business, I’m also the proud mother of two incredible daughters, Lorelai & Mallory. They inspire me every day to keep learning, keep growing, and never be afraid to begin something new. Building Maple Lane Photography has been as much about creating a meaningful business as it has been about showing them that it’s never too late to pursue a dream, work hard, and build a life you believe in. We love going to PennState Football Games in the fall, dinners and date -nights at Jack’s Spot-Pitman, or picking local fruits, veggies and grabbing something delicious at Kenny Stehr & Sons Farm both in Pitman, Pa. Another thing is visiting the State Parks of Pennsylvania, Most recently at Bald Eagle State Park. Truly some of my most beautiful images have been taken here in Pennsylvania.
For me, photography has never been about taking pictures. It’s about preserving love, legacy, and the moments that become priceless with time. Knowing that the images I create today may someday be treasured by children, grandchildren, and generations I will never get the chance to meet is both the greatest responsibility and the greatest privilege of my work!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Building Maple Lane Photography has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done, but it has also challenged me in ways I never expected.
Starting a business from the ground up meant stepping into an entirely new world. I had spent years in healthcare administration, where I often joked that I wore hats like the Mad Hatter. That experience gave me a strong foundation, but owning a business meant becoming everything at once. Photographer, editor, marketer, accountant, website designer, customer service representative, and CEO all became my responsibility overnight.
One of my biggest challenges has been learning to believe in myself. Investing in professional equipment, education, insurance, software, and my business before knowing where the next booking would come from required faith. There were moments when I questioned whether I was good enough or whether my dream could really become a successful business.
Balancing entrepreneurship with being a mother has also been one of my greatest challenges and greatest motivations. My daughters have watched me build Maple Lane Photography from the ground up, and I hope they’ve seen that meaningful dreams don’t happen overnight. They take patience, resilience, long hours, and the courage to keep going even when the outcome is uncertain.
Every challenge has made me a better photographer, a stronger business owner, and a more compassionate person. Today, I don’t see obstacles as roadblocks. I see them as opportunities to grow, improve, and better serve those who trust me to preserve their most meaningful memories.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Maple Lane Photography, I believe photography is about far more than creating beautiful images. It’s about preserving the people, relationships, and moments that become a family’s legacy.
I specialize in weddings, engagements, couples, families, children, seniors, milestone celebrations, and special events throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. Every session is thoughtfully planned to reflect each client’s unique personality and story. My goal is to create timeless, authentic images that families will proudly display today and treasure for generations to come.
My photography style blends natural emotion with gently guided posing, allowing clients to feel comfortable while capturing genuine connections. I love working with natural light, warm tones, and meaningful locations that help tell each family’s story. Whether it’s the excitement of a wedding day, the joy of a senior preparing for graduation, a couple celebrating sixty years of marriage, or an eightieth birthday surrounded by generations of loved ones, I approach every session with the same level of care and attention to detail.
As Maple Lane Photography continues to grow, I’m excited to introduce creative experiences that bring people together in new ways. One project currently in development is a Stranger Session Series, where two people who have never met share a professionally photographed experience designed to capture authentic conversation, connection, and emotion. I’m also developing friendship editions that celebrate lifelong best friends and the unique bonds they share. My hope is to create experiences that are not only beautiful to photograph but also meaningful to participate in and inspiring to watch unfold.
The experience I provide is just as important as the photographs themselves. I believe communication, preparation, kindness, and professionalism allow people to relax and simply enjoy being together. Those authentic moments often become the photographs families cherish most.
Photography allows me to witness some of life’s most meaningful celebrations, and I never take that privilege for granted. Every time someone chooses Maple Lane Photography, they are trusting me with memories that can never be recreated. That responsibility inspires me to continually learn, grow, and create images that become part of a family’s story for generations.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I believe the best photographs begin with trust. Long before I pick up my camera, my goal is to help people feel comfortable, valued, and genuinely seen. Whether I’m photographing a wedding, welcoming a new family, celebrating a milestone birthday, or capturing a senior’s final year of high school, I want every client to feel like they’re spending time with a friend who truly cares about preserving their story.
Compassion, authenticity, and attention to detail are qualities I bring to every session. I take the time to learn what matters most to each family because no two stories are ever the same. Every laugh, happy tear, embrace, and quiet moment deserves to be remembered just as it happened.
I’m naturally organized, dependable, and continually striving to improve my craft. I believe learning never stops, and I’m always looking for ways to better serve my clients while creating an experience that’s as meaningful as the photographs themselves.
Above all, I hope people remember me not only for the images I create, but for how I made them feel. If my clients leave a session feeling more connected, more confident, and with memories they’ll cherish for generations, then I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
~ Jillian & Avi | June 16, 2026 | PSU Couples Graduation Session:
“She was super sweet and made sure to capture exactly what we were looking for and
more! We fell in love with every single one of the photos that she gave us. One of my
favorite things was how much she cared about capturing the memories. Before the
photoshoot she got to know us personally, which made the moments extra special.”
Pricing:
- Wedding Photography | $375–$2,555+ From intimate ceremonies and elopements to full wedding day celebrations, Maple Lane Photography captures every meaningful moment through a timeless, storytelling approach. Each collection preserves the emotion, laughter, quiet moments, and unforgettable memories that couples, families, and future generations will cherish for a lifetime.
- Family & Lifestyle Portraits | $275–$725+ Family, maternity, newborn, couples, engagement, and lifestyle sessions centered on authentic connection and genuine emotion. Every session encourages clients to laugh, embrace one another, and simply enjoy being together while beautiful moments naturally unfold, resulting in photographs that feel as real as the memories themselves.
- Senior & Graduate Portraits | $255–$675+ Personalized senior and graduation sessions that celebrate each student’s unique journey. Whether showcasing athletics, music, agriculture, hobbies, vehicles, pets, or future career aspirations, every session is thoughtfully designed to reflect the individual behind the accomplishment.
- Children, Milestones & Portrait Sessions | $255–$455+ Children’s portraits, milestone birthdays, cake smashes, seasonal sessions, professional headshots, and individual portraits created with patience, creativity, and genuine joy. These sessions preserve the little moments that often become a family’s most treasured memories years later.
- Celebrations, Events & Signature Experiences | $225–$2,575+ Anniversary celebrations, milestone birthdays, reunions, retirement celebrations, corporate events, community gatherings, and signature Maple Lane Photography experiences, including the upcoming Stranger Sessions and Best Friend Sessions. Every event is photographed with a heartfelt storytelling approach that celebrates human connection, preserves family legacies, and creates unforgettable memories that extend far beyond a traditional photo session.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maplelanephoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maplelane_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Maple-Lane-Photography/61583985264908/
- Other: https://fash.com/pa/reading/portrait-photographers/aleah-d–photography–JHSXCZHe_
