Captivating Imagery: Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer and Professional Photography Services

Marie and Dan said, “I do!” at Heinz Chapel this past Saturday. Here’s a sneak peek of their wedding.

The chapel is a stunning setting inside and out.

I really enjoyed seeing this couple light up in their first moments as Mr. and Mrs.

I don’t know if I love this photo so much because I was there in the moment or because I have a sister, but to me, this photo represents the tenderness in sisterhood.

More of this sweet ceremony to come!

I mentioned a couple of posts ago, that Sarah and John were married in Texas in the fall of last year. For family and friends who were not able to make it to their wedding, they held a second reception in Butler on Valentine’s Day. It was a Sunday evening reception and it made for a special way to celebrate the holiday with their friends and family.

Sarah carried a simple and elegant bouquet of red and white roses.

Their cookie table did not disappoint. There were plenty of scrupmtious treats and it was tough to choose!

This sweet flower girl is signing their “guest plate,” a more functional alternative to the usual book.

Here’s the happy couple in between welcoming their guests to the reception.

It’s easy to see how Sarah and her little girl adore one another.

Sarah’s a natural beauty and looks stunning in her white fur stole.

They had all of the traditional elements of a wedding reception and were announced into the room, toasted by several loved ones, and shared a first dance and father/daughter and mother/son dances.

Did I mention that Sarah’s from Texas? Check out the cowgirl boots she’s rocking under her dress.

Their cup cakes were delicious. I usually don’t get a chance to eat cake, but when my job was done at the close of the reception, I couldn’t resist helping myself.

Thanks again Sarah and John! It was so much fun to photograph your Pa. reception!

On the snowy Friday before Valentine’s Day, I met up with April and Anil for a mini photo session a top the West End/Elliot Overlook before they said “I do” in a ceremony with the Justice of the Peace. They were anxious to tie the knot and planned wait for warmer weather for their wedding reception. So we made the most of this special Friday morning despite the challenges from two feet of snowfall earlier in the week.

It was a pleasure to spend the morning with them and this experience reminded me that it’s the simplest of moments that can be the most intimate and sweet.

We headed to the courthouse after about 30 minutes of shooting in the snow.

We even had a few moments to joke around. I like how Anil is framing April’s face in this one. Actually, I just noticed that there are lots of sepia photos in this post. I like to send clients a mix of color, black and white and other variations. About three quarters of the way into my editing process, I select photos that stand out as good candidates for this and duplicate them so that I have options when designing the album.

It’s refreshing to see where romance can bloom. Congratulations April and Anil! Many blessings to you and your marriage.

Sarah and John were married earlier in 2009 in Texas. For the family who could not travel to their wedding, they held a reception in Butler on Valentine’s Day. Here’s a glimpse of two favorites from this beautiful couple’s Valentine’s Day reception:

Sarah is such a beautiful bride and there’s more to come. Blessings to you and John!

Have you heard of the new University Center in Oakland?  Ok, this isn’t an ad, but this beautiful new venue prompted me to post a Oakland venue review as part of my Bride’s Guide.  Oakland is a popular setting for many Pittsburgh weddings, with the surrounding college campuses, beautiful churches and parks.  For a long time, this college town was more limited in reception venues, but the University Club is definitely a stand-out in my opinion.  I photographed a corporate event there in the fall.  However, I don’t have any photos that really show the beauty of this venue, because my assignment was mainly what we photographers call “grip and grins” or informal group shots of guests at the event.  So you’ll have to check out their site to get a sense of what this place looks like.

It seems that lots of brides and grooms nowadays are planning for their ceremony and reception to be close-by to save time in their busy day and also to keep it simpler for guests.

Now there are a lot of gorgeous churches in this neighborhood: Heinz Chapel (photographed above), St. Paul’s Cathedral, Bellefield Presbyterian Church, just to name a few.  Other reception venues include: The Twentieth Century Club, the Concordia Club, the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, or St. Nick’s Cathedral Room, as well as the local hotels.  These venues have the catering covered from linens through glassware.  Other unique venues include Soilders and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum, Carnegie Museum or Carnegie Music Hall, and Phipps Conservatory.  These venues might require more planning, for instance, renting chairs and collaborating with outside caterers, etc.

Whew!  There are more Oakland reception venues than I thought.  And that’s just off the top of my head from my experience in photographing events at these locations.

One last consideration if you’re planning for an Oakland wedding: there are plenty of great locations for the photography within walking distance.  Can you tell I’m a fan of Oakland weddings?  Check out a few of the great Oakland locations in the photos below.