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Pittsburgh Maternity Photography | Brianne

mary — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:05:52 +0000

Although I usually photograph weddings and engagement sessions, I also enjoy shooting other kinds of portrait sessions, including family, newborn, and maternity. This past week I met up with Brianne and her husband Kevin for a maternity session at Frick Park. I think documenting this stage of life is so incredible…it’s such a short time in the big picture of raising a child…but it’s the one where you first get to know your little baby as they develop inside you.

Brianne looked amazing and was unperturbed by the tall grasses and dirt paths. I want to be like her when I’m expecting! I enjoyed getting to spend time with her and Kevin, and I’m looking forward to meeting their first child, a boy, due in October. Maybe he’ll arrive on my birthday?? Here are just a few favorites from their session–the weather, by the way, was perfect!

Beautiful.

Oglebay Park Bridal Portrait | Brianne

mary — Sat, 29 May 2010 12:42:57 +0000

Last week I met up with Brianne for her bridal session, and today I’m allowed to share them because it’s her wedding day! Normally, bridal portraits are usually done a little more ahead of the wedding, but last week was the only time it worked out with her dress being finished, schedules, etc. And although it threatened rain (and sprinkled once or twice), we had a great time taking advantage of Oglebay’s beautiful parks and mansion grounds.

I’m heading out the door in a few minutes to return to Wheeling, West Virginia for their wedding…in the meantime, enjoy! And if you’re a bride who is wondering what on earth a bridal portrait is, I’m planning on sharing more about this fun kind of session in another blog post soon.

Brianne looks gorgeous in her dress…but it’s a lot to carry!

I love her blue shoes!

Now off to the wedding!

Strip District Trash the Dress Photos | Kristen and Brett

mary — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:18:33 +0000

At the end of last month I taught an on-location photography workshop in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Our first amazing couple was Kati and Blake, who did a fantastic job. The second couple who modeled for us was Kristen and Brett, who had only just returned from their honeymoon. Kristen graciously wore her wedding dress, and they were both wonderful sports about the whole thing. So, while maybe “trashing the dress” is a bit of an exaggeration, I think her dress did get a bit dirty…especially at the tire lot.

And for any of my current and former brides and grooms, if you’re interested in having a fun post-wedding session, let me know. You don’t have to immerse your wedding dress (though you can) to have a fun session. Just take a look at Kristen and Brett…(now that they’ve had time to enjoy their wedding photos, I’m sharing these workshop ones with them). Oh, and you can help me achieve goal number 9, which is to shoot two trash the dress sessions…

At the time, Klavon’s ice cream parlor was closed for the evening…but I returned a month later with Jen and Brian.

Kristen, you are gorgeous.

Thanks for being such great models, Kristen and Brett!

Wild Burros, Great Friends, and Beautiful Desert Photos

mary — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:38:23 +0000

Although it was just last week that I was running around Las Vegas attending classes and the tradeshow at WPPI, it feels like it was last year! I know I shared a few photos from the desert shoot that Caryn Azure, Milla Chappell, and I did, but I had a few more photos I wanted to show.

First things first…a big thanks to Caryn for driving us and spotting the burros on the side of the road! But an even bigger thanks to both her and Milla for being such awesome friends and great photographers who both challenge and inspire me to be better. Seriously, if you’re an aspiring photographer, don’t be afraid to meet “the competition”–you can learn and benefit so much from others around you. Don’t try to do it all alone! I’ll be forever indebted to Caryn for organizing the first photographers get together where I met her, Milla, and so many other great local photographers…and if you’re in Pittsburgh and are a photographer, let’s meet up!

Now for some fun Red Rock Canyon photos….remember the cute little burros?

One, or two?

I think he likes getting his picture taken.

The photographer stalks her prey…

Ambushed…

Attack of the iPhone!

NOOoooo!

Now for some more serious photos…

Milla, you could be a model.

Caryn, you are beautiful.

The setting couldn’t have been more perfect for the shoot.

Milla, I love your laugh!

Yay! Thanks for the fun, fun shoot y’all!

Texas A&M Bridal Portrait | Sarah

mary — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:07:54 +0000

We met as freshman in college. I offered her a ride back to campus in my old purple Honda from a Horsemen’s Association meeting–we both liked horses and naively thought the group would have more to do with those lovely animals than it did. And although we never had any classes together and our circles of friends didn’t overlap much, we continued to keep up with each other. Our sophomore year we’d eat breakfast together every Friday in good ol’ Sbisa, that illustrious dining hall. And after she studied abroad one summer in France, we also shared a love for traveling. More than that though, Sarah has always been just a good friend. We may not see each other often these days, but we can always pick up where we left off.

And there’s nothing like a three-hour car ride to College Station, TX for a bridal portrait to do just that! You see, Sarah is getting married this summer in San Antonio, and I’m so excited to be able to photograph her wedding. Naturally, we had to do a bridal portrait while I was in town a week ago. And it had to be at Texas A&M–the place that holds so many great memories and defining moments for her. And for my Pittsburgh brides who aren’t sure what a bridal portrait is, I’ll give a fuller explanation in another post soon. But the short description is that a bridal portrait is all about the bride and showcasing who she is while getting some beautiful portraits she may not have time for on the wedding day. It’s definitely something you don’t want to miss out on!

For Sarah, we managed to capture several of her loves and interests: being an Aggie, horses, biking, and wine. And now for some photos!

Sarah always challenges me to be fit…did I mention she’s run a half-marathon, and she regularly competes in bike races? Show those muscles off, girl!

You are beautiful, Sarah.

We managed to get out to the Aggie Equestrian Team’s barn for a few shots.

One of the things that Sarah picked up while studying in France was an appreciation for wine. So, naturally we had to go to Messina Hof, the local winery for some photos.

This is a giant replica of an Aggie Ring–a very important symbol to Aggies. And I’m guessing Bill Haynes donated a lot of money, so he got his name on it.

Sarah–thanks for being such a great sport and so much fun; can’t wait ’till the wedding in June!

Pittsburgh Newborn Photography | Meet Anna

mary — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:22:32 +0000

Sweet baby Anna’s parents recently adopted her from Texas, and she quickly received a Pittsburgh winter welcome! Despite the snow delaying the photo session, I finally got to meet little Anna on Saturday, as well as her Mom and Dad and darling grandparents. And of course, we can’t forget Kirby, the dog. I don’t think it gets much more precious than this.

Heh, love the dog’s curiosity.

Welcome baby Anna!

My Best Friend

mary — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:22:26 +0000

We met in 9th grade. I was completely new to the school; so was she. I was a nerd; so was she (sigh, it’s true). I needed a friend; so did she. And to top it off, my home room teacher assigned her to “show me around.”

And that’s how my best friend, Kara, and I met. So, we really blame our teacher Mrs. Love for any mischief we may have perpetrated during our four years in high school. It’s her fault, really.

In all seriousness, though, I’m so thankful to have Kara as a friend. She’s the kind of person who sticks with you through good times and bad; she’s trustworthy, kind, thoughtful, and she loves the Lord. And she’s also probably mad I’m writing all this because she’s humble and isn’t big on praising herself.

I’ve never met anyone else with whom I’ve ever laughed so hard so many times (though Jay comes close!). I’m talking about stomach-aching-tears-streaming-mouth-hurting kind of laughter.

I really miss getting to hang out with her these days (Houston, TX is a looong way from Pittsburgh). So, it was especially fun to visit her and her husband, James, over our Christmas trip, and to take some family photos for them. Yay for best friends!

Their cute pup’s name is Ewok.

Yeah, we have a weird sense of humor.

I had half a mind to bring Ewok back with me…

Modern art. Poor James.

Milla and Brad–Great Photographers and Friends

mary — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:12:21 +0000

For those of you blog readers who dream of becoming a photographer yourself one day, I have one really important piece of advice that I only wish I’d taken sooner: get to know other photographers! Seriously, you can learn so much from each other, and you can really grow your business. Some of the great local photographers I’ve gotten to know this year are Milla and her husband Brad of Milla C. Photography.

Milla is not only a talented photographer, she is also a great friend and person. I guess that makes her a friendtographer? OK, lame butchering of the English language. Anyway, I don’t think you could ever be depressed hanging out with Milla–she has this awesome laugh and joyful presence that’s really contagious. Plus, she and Brad are also Pittsburgh transplants from Florida, so they can relate to our adventures of trying to explore Pittsburgh while getting completely lost.

So, when Milla asked me if I could take some photos of her and Brad to use for Christmas/New Year’s cards this weekend, I was definitely excited. It’s a perennial problem for us photographers…we rarely have photos of ourselves! I have to admit, though, that it’s a bit intimidating photographing another photographer, but these two made it so easy and fun. We met up at Frick Park on Saturday and enjoyed the beautiful, if chilly, weather. And of course, they brought along their “kids,” Tuco and Turk.

Ha, this one’s just for laughs…Tuco persisted in standing right in front of the camera, so what else was I to do?

You know what’s really neat about Milla and Brad? They’ve been married for six years–and they’re still totally in love with each other. Awesome.

I love how Turk is looking politely away…

Standing guard.

Milla–you are so BEAUTIFUL. Seriously girl.

Check out Milla’s cute hair piece…I thought it was an Etsy find…but no, it’s from Target my dear friends! I might have to get myself one…

Thanks guys for being such awesome friends!

Pittsburgh Fall Portrait Photos | Lisa and Dan

mary — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:08:12 +0000

I have to start by saying that these next two beautiful people are NOT engaged. They’re brother and sister!

You see, Lisa contacted me awhile back about doing a photo shoot with her brother. They really couldn’t stand looking at the old photo of them at their parent’s house anymore, so they wanted to surprise their parents with a new photo to frame. I hear you on the old photos…reminds me that I need to get my mom some updated photos of me and Jay. I think she might still have up a high school prom photo of me or something. Yikes!

So, can you believe it? Dan drove into Pittsburgh from out of town just to do the shoot with his sister! While we got beautiful sunshine for the shoot, it did turn out to be a rather chilly day. Don’t let their short sleeves deceive you..I’m hoping, Lisa, that you were able to defrost after the shoot!

We ended up starting in West Park on the Northside and then later drove to the Strip District for some urban photos. I definitely had fun hanging out with them…and talking about sibling stuff. Made me miss my siblings, too!

I can’t believe how long these trees have kept their leaves!

Definitely a fave…

Yes, Lisa is balancing along the train tracks in high heels!

And of course we had to get some Steelers and Penguins in the picture.

Pittsburgh Newborn Photography | Baby Ava

mary — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:42:55 +0000

When one of my friends contacted me several months ago about photographing their newborn baby, I was totally honored. And how quickly the months flew by! Finally, beautiful baby Ava arrived last month, and I finally got to meet her. What a precious gift of life she is…major CONGRATULATIONS to her parents!

She was sleeping so peacefully…until I came and woke her up!

I’m sorry, there’s just something awesome about a father holding his little girl in his arms.

Does it get any cuter than this?

Love this…