St. Louis family celebrates baby milestones with monthly local food-themed photos

A Southampton family has shined a light on St. Louis’ culinary scene by celebrating their children’s milestones through monthly themed photo shoots featuring local brands.

When Shannon and Matt Lesko had their son Luca in 2019, it sparked the idea for a creative family tradition. Inspired by a social media trend, the couple decided to feature a different St. Louis pizza place each month for Luca’s growing milestone photos. “We’ve always joked there’s too much good pizza around here, so it was the perfect way to showcase some of our favorites, like Black Thorn and Felix’s, while trying new ones like Eni’s and Pizza-A-Go-Go,” Shannon said. “It became a fun way to celebrate Luca’s growth and the diverse pizza culture in our city.”

When their second son George was born in 2021, the couple chose doughnuts as their new theme to celebrate George’s milestones. “Again, St. Louis is home to so many amazing doughnut shops,” Shannon said. “Luca loved the idea of celebrating George with something sweet.” Local favorites like Old Town Donuts, St. Louis Hills Donut Shop, and Pharoah’s made it into the mix for their creative shoots.

Their daughter Greta was born in January 2024. “The pressure was on – everyone was asking what we’d do next,” Shannon said, so they decided to spotlight their favorite local spots in and around South City.

“We wanted to showcase our ‘go-to’ places, the ones we return to time and time again. It felt like the perfect way to wrap up this tradition,” she said. “We love the St. Louis food scene. It’s been such a fun and rewarding way to celebrate our kids while also supporting small, local businesses.”

Check out the slideshow below to see the adorable baby pictures in all their glory.