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Pittsburgh Engagement Photos | Samantha and Danny

mary — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:08:24 +0000

The beautiful fall weather continued for Samantha and Danny’s engagement session around the University of Pittsburgh campus. Since Samantha and Danny actually first met their last year at Pitt, we thought it would be perfect for their engagement photos.

When I first met with Samantha and Danny, they told me about their engagement story, and I had to laugh because it was so cute and creative. Instead of going for something loud and glamorous, Danny devised a simple plan, using something he knew Samantha couldn’t resist: trail mix (I must admit, I love it too). He hid the ring inside a bag of trail mix, and when Samantha finished getting ready to go out, she slipped her hand into the bag to grab a tasty bite. Instead of peanuts and raisins, though, she pulled out a diamond ring!

I had a great time getting to spend some more time with them on their session around Oakland, and I loved how Danny makes Samantha laugh, and vice versa. I’m looking forward to their wedding next May at Heinz Chapel and the University Club.

It’s kind of tricky trying to kiss on a carousel!

EDIT: And I forgot (again)! It was also Samantha’s birthday! Happy belated birthday to her!

Downtown Pittsburgh Engagement Photography | Ali and Shailen

mary — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:12:13 +0000

Where can I begin? Ali and Shailen are two incredibly fun, smart, beautiful, and sweet people. And, did I mention this…they are completely in love with each other. Seriously. They have a really sweet, caring kind of love that you just can’t help but see.

It goes without saying, then, that I had a lot of fun shooting their engagement session in downtown Pittsburgh about a week ago. We were still having our warm spell, so everything turned out perfectly. I also loved how they were up for anything…even shooting inside a coffee shop. I’m definitely looking forward to their wedding next year!

Love this.

Shailen, you are one handsome guy (and I’m sure Ali would concur).

Speaking of which, Alison, you are beautiful.

Ha, this is great. P.S. I’m envying your dress, Ali. Pockets. I love dresses with pockets.

We ran into Macy’s for a few shots…I love the cute onlookers.

Try as I might not to, sometimes I show up in the photos.

OK, this was the craziest thing. We came to this plaza and were going to take some pictures, when this huge flock of pigeons descended upon us.

It was like a scene out of Hitchcock’s “The Birds.”

Can’t wait to see you both in March!

I Won First Place! | I ♥ Faces Week 45: “Autumn Beauty”

mary — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:55:45 +0000

I love Google reader…it’s a great tool for keeping up with my favorite blogs, including those of many photographers I admire and respect. Of course, I don’t usually expect to see my photo show up in my reader inbox, so I was totally floored when this week’s I ♥ Faces winning blog post began to load my photo…FIRST! Wow…I was definitely jumping up and down yelling to Jay to come see that I’d won.

But really, I have to say that I only composed and snapped the frame…the beautiful tree was already there, and Heather and Dave were such an awesome couple to photograph…so, really, I can’t take much credit!

Here’s the winning photo once again:

Downtown Pittsburgh Engagement Pictures | Brooke and Jon

mary — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:27:53 +0000

Who would have thought we’d have BEAUTIFUL weather in the middle of November? But we did, which made for some awesome, fun engagement shoots. One of those was Brooke’s and Jon’s last Saturday. These two are actually getting married in North Carolina, but since Jon proposed to Brooke on Mt. Washington, they really wanted to get some engagement photos taken in Pittsburgh. I’m all about that, too!

Now, I must preface this first photo by saying that Brooke grew up in Maryland…and (whispering) she’s a Raven’s fan (boo, hiss). But, somehow, amazingly, Jon (a Pittsburgh native and of course a Steeler’s fan) has been able to overlook this minor flaw… However, come game time…things might look a lot more like this around Brooke and Jon:

OK, I’m mostly kidding. I think they’ve managed to work out this little difference.

Love this.

Cool. Some random chairs…

Love this cobblestone street…

This is the very bench where Jon proposed. I’m sure it looked just like this.

Congratulations you two!

Pittsburgh Engagement Photos | Sarah and Chris

mary — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:02:02 +0000

When I first discussed Sarah and Chris’ engagement photos session, they told me they wanted to go down near the Carnegie Science Center where they had gotten engaged. I love that walk along Pittsburgh’s north shore because it’s a great view of the downtown…plus it’s close to West Park and the Mexican War streets.

And, after a slight reschedule due to rain, we got some really beautiful weather!

They wanted to “reenact” the proposal…I’m sure it happened just like this…

So, there was this huge flock of geese…and we thought it’d be fun to make them fly away. But, it didn’t quite work–the geese were completely unperturbed.

Yes, this is definitely my kind of couple!

Love this…

After walking along the river, we headed over to West Park (sorry–I think I told them it was West View Park

Part of the story of how Sarah and Chris met has to do with swimming…hopefully not in ponds like this, though!

This has to be one of my favorite shots…the ducks lined up perfectly, a boy and a girl. Sweet! Thanks ducks!

Lastly, we strolled around the Mexican War Streets briefly…

Thanks guys for being so fun!

Mexican War Streets Engagement Photos | Jeni and Pete

mary — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:56:08 +0000

Tucked away on Pittsburgh’s Northside, the Mexican War Streets blend late 19th-century charm with modern living. Recently, the area has undergone tremendous renovation while still maintaining its original character. With beautiful colors and cobblestone streets, it makes for a perfect location for engagement pictures. Naturally, I had a great time exploring the area with Jeni and Pete last week when we had some gorgeous fall weather.

Jeni and Pete go back a long way…past grad school and college and all the way to high school. And I think that’s pretty neat! So, I’m sure all their family and friends are very excited for their wedding next July. And, I would be, too, except that I was already booked for their date. Drat! Well, I sure appreciated shooting their engagement photos, and I hope they have a wonderful wedding.

Hellllooo cute pink shoes!

Sorry, had to have another look at them.

We visited a local bar they’re fans of for some fun shots (photos, that is!).

Yeah, the buildings in Pittsburgh really are that funky looking.

Too cute.

Ha, check out this awesome building…the work of a local artist.

Jeni particularly wanted some photos with these awesome trees.

I love this…

Jeni, your photo has be to next to the definition of cute in the dictionary. Seriously. You are too CUTE.

Yes, check out the random cat that joined in the photo!

Thanks so much for a fun time!

Julie and Darryl’s Engagement Photos at Chatham University

mary — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:22:41 +0000

I really enjoy getting to explore new places for engagement photos in Pittsburgh, so when Julie told me she wanted to do her engagement session at Chatham University, I was pumped! As an alumnus of Chatham, Julie knew the ins and outs of the place, and I had fun hanging out with her and Darryl for their shoot. These two are totally cute together…and were up for any ideas I had. That’s my kind of couple!

I would definitely recommend Chatham’s campus for future engagement sessions.

Julie, you’ve got some gorgeous blue eyes!

We sneaked into this sun room…part of Mellon’s former home. Oh how I’d love to have a room like that to read in!

We took a little break in a nearby coffee shop.

I loved their “save-the-date” card idea (this is not the final photo–but I don’t want to spoil the surprise!)

See you two next August!