Captivating Imagery: Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer and Professional Photography Services

Today is the first day of spring and I can not hide my enthusiasm about this.  Each time I hear mention of this on the news, I do a little dance.  And here are some photos to commemorate this long-awaited day.

This is the first photo I took at Mellon Park yesterday afternoon and it was a gift from God, I’m sure. I love photographing nature and often get caught in a trance, waiting for just the right moment when the bumblebee hovers over the flowers. This moment was within seconds of finding this hillside of blooms. I couldn’t believe that the bee stayed just long enough for me to compose, focus and adjust the exposure. Sweet!

This is the newly renovated walled garden at Mellon Park. I went there yesterday to scout the location for an upcoming engagement session for a bride and groom who are getting married this summer. It looks as though the garden renovation is complete and a dedication is planned for the spring – not sure of a date, though.

This is a beautiful park for on-location photography. It’s one of my favorites because I have a sweet spot for formal gardens. I loved The Secret Garden (movie and musical) growing up, but had never seen a formal garden in person until the summer I spent in London in my early 20s. And Mellon Park in Pittsburgh, captures some of the whimsy and romance that I grew to love about the gardens in London.

Even the gates have beautiful floral details.

This is the other walled garden at Mellon Park. The walls are falling apart, so I hope it will be a future renovation project. For now, it has more of a rustic charm.

This is from the daylily and daffodil garden. The little daylilies look so triumphant with the sun illuminating their form. I can’t wait until the daffodils bloom. They are my favorite flower – I carried a bouquet of daffodils for my wedding, just like I dreamt about as a little girl.

This bird was curious about me and my camera. I think the noise of my shutter clicking is what interested him.

Happy spring!

I met up with Sara and Luke in Bedford for an engagement session in the posh Omni Bedford Springs Resort. We were both en route from holiday family gatherings and the resort happened to be a terrific place for an indoor engagement session, out of the snowy cold. I highly recommend staying there if you’re traveling across Pennsylvania. It is a beautiful 200 year-old resort that was recently renovated with respect for it’s original design and a nod to the luxurious. Anyhow, Sara, Luke and I were happy to spend a couple of hours there. And this couple was a complete delight. Below are a few favorites from our shoot:

At one point through the shoot, a man walked by in just a bathrobe. Sara and Luke were trying to keep from cracking up for their photos, but they couldn’t hold it for long.

I really liked photographing them in this lounge. It had tons of natural light and wicker chaise lounges lined up all along the windows for guests to stop and enjoy the view.

I love sequencing moments and this adorable couple can pull it off.

Their wedding will take place at Green Gables in Jennerstown this summer. Sara and Luke, I’m looking forward to working with you again at your wedding!

Samantha and Chris are getting married in July at Betsy’s Barn in Portersville, Pa.  It’s a great venue that’s really close to McConnells Mill, which is where we started our engagement session.  We met early in the early morning on a Friday at the end of October and the foliage there was beautiful.  You’ll see that the leaves were falling as they sat for a photo in front of the mill.  We had so much fun with this setting.

I had a great time with this couple.  They didn’t mind trekking through the woods and around the boulders there to get the perfect shot!  Thanks Samantha and Chris for a great session.  Looking forward to your wedding!

I recently had the pleasure of spending an evening with Kristie and Matt at Hartwood Acres, in the North Hills of Pittsburgh.  We met there for their engagement session and this couple really shines in front of the camera.  What was their trick?  They had fun!  They are so easy-going and thoroughly enjoyed one another’s company, so they made my job easy.

Here are a few favorites from their shoot:

It was a gorgeous fall evening and there were several photographer’s there taking family portraits on the mansion grounds. It’s no wonder that Hartwood Acres is a hot spot for photographers.  For this portrait, we were on the terrace at the back of the mansion.

I like this take on photographing the engagement ring.  The repetition of their shadow completes the form, although I’m really focusing on her sparkling diamond!

I love their playfulness.

Kristie’s eyes are so endearing.

Blowing kisses in the wind.

Kristie and Matt’s wedding is coming up next fall and you can just feel their excitement when they talk about it.

Natalie and Chuck are getting married in August and the excitement about their upcoming wedding is plain to see. This lovely couple was so easy to photograph. They chose North Park as the location for their photo shoot and it offered plenty of great scenery especially with the early morning lighting. And thank God for good weather! We had scheduled another early morning session that was rained out, so this was “take two.” Here are some of my favorites: