Stole a sunny afternoon for these engagement portraits with Anne & Nilesh. More coming very soon as we just shot their wedding, and it was beautiful. I can’t wait to show you.
Sharing some beautiful, late-fall engagement shots today. :) Jess & Steve & their adorable puppy Gus (so much attitude in that one, oh my goodness. He came with outfit changes and everything. The best.) I had such a great time working with them all- it was a beautiful day, and we got to take our time and find the light. They’ll be getting married later this year at the Pittsburgh Aviary, and it’s going to be wonderful.
I love shooting winter engagement sessions, even though it’s not as popular to schedule your portraits in the cold. It is a little different from the way I shoot during the warmer months. For one, it’s hard to have outfit changes when you’re stuck wearing winter coats. Secondly, I tend to shoot a lot faster, more like I do on a wedding day. For this engagement session with Samantha & Michael, it was all of fourteen degrees and windy so, on days like that, I work as quickly as possible- pink cheeks are fine, but nobody wants to go long enough to get the runny-nosed look. Still, there’s just something wonderful about it. The light is softer and warmer, the rich blue of the hills underneath the bare trees, the brightness of the snow surrounding. Shooting in the winter just has a quality that you don’t see other times of the year. I’m always excited when I get the chance to shoot in the snow.
Samantha & Michael chose to shoot in Oakmont, right near where they will be getting married in just a few short months. Next time we’ll be here, leaves will be on the trees and everything will be green again. It’s going to be beautiful.
I’ve been shooting a lot of portraits in Oakland this year! It’s always a popular location for couples who attended college or grad school in the area. In this case, it was a natural choice for Amanda and Lee, who are Pitt alumni. Amanda even gave campus tours during her time there, so of course they know a lot of the pretty corners of Oakland.
My favorite spot, though? Was when they suggested the Carnegie Library. I’ve been going to that library since I was a child and, as a bookworm, it was naturally a place of magic for me. Pausing in the stairwells, creeping through the stacks, all these places that have have been a dream for me to shoot in- and Amanda & Lee were just as excited as I was. Literary engagement sessions! I can’t tell you how excited I get about things like that. :)
My personal geekiness aside- I don’t think it’s possible to take a bad picture of Amanda & Lee. Their smiles are bright and easy and they are every bit as kind as they seem. They’re getting married next month at Heinz Chapel and the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, I’m so looking forward to heir lovely fall wedding.
Another summery engagement session! We shot down on the North Shore to combine Adam’s love of baseball at PNC Park and Breanna’s family ties with the Duquesne Incline. While we were shooting, Breanna told me about their wedding next year- including having all of the guests make their way from the Heinz Chapel ceremony to the reception at the LeMont by riding the incline. I just love little details like that. :) On top of that, Adam has a wonderfully goofy sense of humor, and Breanna has an amazing sense of style and an adorable style. Totally looking forward to working with them more next year.
Absolutely loved shooting these engagement portraits of Rachel & John at Phipps Conservatory and Schenley Park in Oakland. It may look serene, but they gracefully waded through the crowds, the crazy heat, the children’s festival, and at least one dance recital (what can I say- taking photographs in Pittsburgh is never boring.) & through all that, they kept smiling and teasing each other and looked amazing. There may have even been pushing each other off of benches (but I won’t say who won that battle.) Love their sweetness & humor and I’m so looking forward to their fall wedding.
Happy New Year! And many, many congratulations to everyone newly engaged over the holidays!
I’ve been wrapping up the last bits of business from 2012 and just feeling really blessed. Last year had so many amazing weddings and unexpected good moments, and I woke up today to several emails to new opportunities. You know, this is probably silly, but even after several years of business, I still get really excited anytime when people get in touch with me about photography. Really excited. Every single time. I can’t say this any more simply- it’s what I love to do. Taking pictures of people in love just never gets old. So I would just send a huge, heartfelt thank-you to all of the couples who helped make 2012 so fantastic. You’re the best. :D
2013 is going to rock. So is 2014. I’m so excited to work with the wonderful couples I’ve already met and can’t wait to meet the ones I haven’t. :D I do still have dates available for 2013, & am just starting to book into 2014- please contact me if you’re planning your wedding for this year! I’d love to hear from you.
I’ve been waiting for this one for a while. I may not know a whole lot about cars, but I very much appreciate them, and when Virginia & Chris told me what their plans were for the engagement session, I couldn’t wait.
Virginia & Chris met because of these cars, & were so excited to include them. Two classics- a Challenger and a Cuda- rumbling through the park, drowning out the graduation parties. We would park and pose and you could watch the fathers kind of sneak away from the parties to come stare at the cars until we drove away. :) Despite the occasional audience, it wasn’t hard to get good shots. Virginia & Chris are just so happy together it’s adorable.
And tomorrow’s their wedding day…!
A beautiful little girl… we’re wishing her all the best in the world.
I’m happy to present a much-expected arrival. She’s a beautiful addition to Steph and Zak‘s family: little Grace! I honestly haven’t had much opportunity to work with newborns in the past, so I was thrilled when they asked me to take her one-week portraits. We took a couple hours just to document this crazy, exciting time for them & to admire this sweet little girl.
