Tag Archive for: Oakland

family picnic with Oakland viewCaptivating Imagery

Pittsburgh Family Portraits: Spring in Schenley Park

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Despite the fluctuating weather, signs of spring in Pittsburgh are popping up everywhere. Ushering in a new season is an opportunity to grow and approach my work bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (I couldn’t resist bunny imagery this close to Easter). At the same time, as I’ve shared this before, I love looking back on my past work to reflect on the moments I’ve captured and the families I’ve worked with. At this Pittsburgh family portrait session from last spring, I photographed the sweet family pictured here at Schenley Park.

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Oakland Family Portraits: Walking Between Locations Gives Kids a Break

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When I used to think of photographing in Oakland, engagement sessions or weddings come to mind. But after this recent family session there, I really love this area by the Cathedral of Learning for families. This family didn’t have any ties to the University of Pittsburgh, but recently moved here from another big city and appreciate a more urban setting. We started at steps of the Carnegie Library.

family portrait by the Carnegie Library

The beauty of the architecture and landscaping offered lovely lines and bright splashes of color for this portrait of these sweet little sisters.

little girls by the garden

And then they wanted to switch positions and this little sister planted a kiss on her sister’s cheek.

little sisters kiss

This whole session took place on the corner below the Cathedral, so we could just walk from location to location. These little girls did so well too!
Their mama was wise to choose this location knowing that moving around would keep them happy.

family walking along the path

We are blessed to have such beautiful scenery in Pittsburgh. I think this is my favorite shot of the family.

family portrait by the fountain

And we planned to stop at the PNC Carousel in Schenley Oval to complete our session. It was a great reward for the girls too!

family by the carousel

I love photographing clients on this carousel, but the best shots are really right before and right after the ride, because with the up and down and spinning movement, getting a shot where everyone is visible can be tricky.

on the carousel in Schenley Oval

Carousel rides are a good end to a session.

Pittsburgh Engagement Session

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I’ll be photographing Taylor and Brandt’s wedding in 2017 for George Street Photography. We got to meet for the first time at their engagement session in Oakland—Panther Hollow, to be exact. It was great getting to know them and their doggie, Zeus, who sometimes stole the show. You’ll see what I mean in a bit.

engaged couple and their dog

I’ve never really spent any time under this bridge before, but it is a nice location for sure!

pittsburgh-engagement-session-002

This next shot at Schenley Park is one of my favs of them. They’re having a good time and it’s contagious!

Love in Schenley Park

Ok, here’s where Zeus starts to ham it up. While this shot was planned, there were several unplanned shots of him getting in between his parents. It was very funny, but Taylor and Brandt were smart to bring along friends to help with entertaining Zeus while he wasn’t being photographed. Otherwise, I think Zeus would have been photobombing the whole session!
couple with their fur baby

Taylor has been busy on Pinterest and this is our take on one of her pins. Now who’s pinning who?

pittsburgh-engagement-session-005

And she even brought this cute sign for Zeus to wear. And he wore it like a champ!

She said yes!

What a fun session! Thanks Taylor and Brandt—looking forward to your wedding next year!

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography at Phipps Conservatory

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I posted about Lisa and Josh’s love lock story last week and now, I’m ready to share it all—every last scrumptious detail! Lisa and Josh were so much fun to spend the day with. They flew in from their new abode in San Francisco. And I must say, I’m really impressed at how they did such a fabulous job planning this wedding from out of town. It went so smoothly—without a hitch, and the details were gorgeous! We started with Lisa getting ready at the Hampton Inn in Oakland.

getting ready wedding details
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Post-wedding session at Schenley Park, Phipps Conservatory and the University of Pittsburgh

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Lee and Brian decided to opt for a post-wedding photography session after their elopement this spring. It was a fun and relaxed way for them to commemorate the beginning of their lives as Mr. and Mrs. We decided to head to the Oakland area of Pittsburgh for its plentiful locations that are perfect for a playful post-wedding session.

Sweet kisses

Beautiful bride

Such a pretty bride! The petals were already falling and we had Brian shake the tree a bit to help.

Stylin' groom

Brian’s look was inspired by Johnny Depp. Lee said they liked what he wore at a recent event and decided that it was a good alternative to a suit or tux for Brian.

Rainy day bride and groom

Our session was rescheduled by one week due to heavy rain and while it sprinkled that morning, we weren’t going to let that get in our way.

Giggles

Much giggling occurs when I set couples into loose poses for more romantic shots. And I do love it when they giggle.

Springtime session

Here’s a fun one under another tree with pink blossoms. I love springtime.

Outside Phipps

We stopped at the gardens outside of Phipps Conservatory for a few shots.

Black and white

This image was begging to be black and white.

By Heinz Chapel

It’s tough to tell, but it was raining lightly here as we walked around outside Heinz Chapel.

In front of the Cathedral of Learning

Lee is a Pitt graduate and Brian graduate from Penn State, but he was a good sport and didn’t seem to mind having his photo taken all over Pitt’s campus.

Height difference

Sometimes it’s fun to have a couple that’s not the exact same height. It can be challenging, but it can also bring about unexpected images like this one.

Standing on a bench

Lee is actually standing on a small concrete bench. If I could go back, I’d photograph a full length shot for fun.

Strike a pose

This one was fun. Lee is smiling at Brian who is just taking it all in while he stands off to the side. He said that the Frick Fine Arts building has never looked better.

Playing in the fountain

One thing that’s nice about post-wedding sessions is the opportunity to get a little dirty and have fun. They wanted to get in the fountain for a few photos and I was happy to join in the fun.

Splish splash

This one is a new favorite and it is definitely going on the front page of my site. Lee and Brian, many blessings to you and your marriage! Thanks for a fabulous post-wedding session!