Pittsburgh Newborn Photography | Baby Ava

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!
pittsburgh newborn photos

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

Does it get any cuter than this?

Love this…

pittsburgh newborn photo

Susanne - Beautiful pictures! I love your work!

Sweet Dreams–I ♥ Faces Week 48 » Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers | Birchtree Photography Blog - […] aspect of the photo. As I was trying to decide which photo to use, I did think of the beautiful newborn session I did a few weeks ago and knew some photos from that would be perfect…but…I think […]

Milla - So cute Mary! I love love love the 5th photo of the baby in the pink blanket. Adorable.

Connie and Sean’s Wedding in Hermitage, PA

One of the great things about referrals from former clients is the chance to get to see them again. I was particularly excited to shoot Connie and Sean’s wedding a couple of weeks ago in Hermitage, PA, as Connie is the cousin of one of my past brides (pre-blog days, unfortunately!). But that’s a story for another post…

What can I say? Connie and Sean have the sweetest love for each other…and it completely showed throughout their wedding day. Despite the cloudy weather and a couple of raindrops, we did manage to get some beautiful photos outside. But enough talking…let’s see some photos!


I love starting the day at the salon…

Meanwhile, Sean helped his guys get ready.

I think the bridesmaid’s look says it all–Connie looked beautiful in her dress.

Jay got this great shot…

First moment alone after exiting the church…so sweet.

We went to a local park in Hermitage for some fun bridal party shots. I love this one of Connie walking as the wind catches her veil.

And you can see I’m a very cruel photographer…instead of helping her, I snap a photo. But hey, Sean’s not helping, either!

I loved, loved, loved the bridesmaids’ dresses…p.s. the bridesmaid to the left of Connie’s was my former bride Erica.

The MEN.

Connie’s flower color was perfect…just beautiful.

Then it was off to the reception for dancing and celebrating. Check out Connie’s amazing cake.

Mother, son dance…

Father, daughter…

At the end of the night, they had karaoke with their guests…

Congratulations, Connie and Sean!

Rose - I love these pictures. They really do capture the beauty of a fall wedding and the love that Connie and Sean share.

Connie - That picture is my favorite too! I love them all!

Lindsay - The colors they chose for this wedding were gorgeous! Mary, again, beautiful work capturing special moments from their day. These made me tear up~ I think my favorite picture was of Sean kissing Connie’s teeth 😀 Soo Cute!

What to Wear?

As I’m sure all my friends can attest, I’m just a naturally fashionable person. I always know exactly what to wear for every occasion, and my shoes always coordinate perfectly with my accessories.

Not.

Actually, for most of my life, I’ve been seriously UNfashionable…to the point of hiding all my childhood…jr. high…and yes, high school photos. I blame part of that on my mom (sorry mom)–why did you have to dress us all alike for the family photos??? Well, really, she can’t be blamed. That was just the thing to do. You know what I’m talking about: everyone from little baby to mom and dad dressed in khaki pants and denim shirts.

Run. Run away. Now.

OK. Getting to the point–my clients often ask me what they should wear for photo shoots. I must admit I haven’t been very good at giving helpful advice; I usually say something like “stick with solid colors that go well together.” But, that’s really vague and could mean anything. So, I will try to be more specific–with the help of my fabulous clients.

Tip #1: Choose colors that compliment each other and the season.
Maybe you remember looking at a color wheel in art class. Here’s one I found online:

Remember that opposite colors compliment each other, and cooler colors (don’t forget browns and grays!) look nice in the fall and winter, while warmer ones suit spring and summer. For example:


This green and white were perfect for summer.

And I loved how these colors brought out the fall foliage.

And I know I just posted this photo, but I love how her purple sweater compliments the yellow leaves (opposites on the color wheel).

Tip #2: Solid colors are your friends. Stripes and patterns are just acquaintances.
Let’s face it, overly patterned clothes can distract from your beautiful face–which is the main focus in a portrait shoot. That doesn’t mean you have to completely rule patterns and stripes out, but use them in moderation. For example, this is a nice use of stripes…and it works well because she is wearing a solid color.


And here is a great example of bringing some pattern into the picture (pun intended) that really enhances the solid colors.

Tip #3: Don’t forget the details!
I’m usually pretty bad about wearing details…they’re often the last thing I think of, but they can really complete your outfit.


These red shoes spice up a simple black and white scheme.

Me likes.

And it’s not just your shoes…her necklace and earrings dress up a simple white blouse.

While her belt really makes the dress.



More than anything, of course, wear something that makes you feel comfortable and beautiful, and you will look gorgeous.

Pittsburgh’s Best Engagement Session Locations » Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers | Birchtree Photography Blog - […] if you’re wondering what to wear for your e-session, be sure to check out my post regarding engagement session clothing. Posted in For Brides | Tags: best engagement session locations, engagement session planning, […]

Working Hard…

…Or hardly working. Yes, while some of us are just trying to catch up from a very busy October, others are sleeping in and napping all day.

Pathetic.

Really.


dog sleeping in bed

P.S. I really like how he has one black whisker amongst all the white ones…

Heather - He couldnt be cuter.

David Dunton - Hilarious! And a lovely shot, too.

Rachel - I love this picture!