Pittsburgh Wedding Photography at St. Mary of the Assumption and the Mayernick Center

May 25, 2012/by kmiller

Here’s the complete scoop on Megan and Zak’s wedding photography. You might want to check out my previous sneak peek as well. This was such a lovely day and it was so much fun to work with Megan and Zak. We started at her parent’s home where Megan and her bridesmaids were getting ready. I really love the design on the back of Megan’s dress. And she looked so pretty in it! And Zak surprised her with a limo for the day—what a sweet groom!

Pittsburgh Senior Portraits

April 27, 2012/by kmiller

I always love the opportunity to photograph high school seniors. As a wedding photographer primarily, I like to be able to switch my mindset and focus on photographing people individually. So I was thrilled when I received an inquiry for two high school seniors who happen to be twins, Jack and Alora. They were so much fun to work with and each in their own way. We did two separate sessions on different days and came up with some great shots that I hope really reflect their personalities. Here are some favorites from the sessions.

For Alora, I wanted to photograph her in soft light and was really thrilled with how this one came together—I love her outfit complete with her cute boots and how she is so relaxed and natural.

For Jack, I wanted to go with a more industrial setting, so we moved to an unfinished section of the building with lots of windows which create a really nice rim light around his face. I love how the neutral surroundings and his blue shirt really set off his blue eyes.

I love close-ups and this one of Alora is one of my favorites. She just exudes sweetness.

And when it comes to the traditional yearbook photo, I will always shoot it vertically, but when I’m sure I’ve got what we need, it’s fun to switch it up to a horizontal shot. It just feels so much more free this way and allows some room for Jack to really shine.

Alora collects hats, so we had lots of fun photographing her on white seamless with all of her cute hats. I just love this one because it’s so playful and flirty.

And Jack brought along his guitar—one word describes this one well: heartthrob.

It was so much fun getting to know you, Jack and Alora! I wish each of you the very best in the years to come!

Pittsburgh Engagement Session: North Shore and West Park

April 20, 2012/by kmiller

We met up with Valerie and Tom for their engagement session on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, early on a bright Saturday morning a few weeks ago. Alex joined me for this session as some extra added support as I was just getting over some food poisoning. It’s always nice to have such great support in moments when you don’t know if you’re going to toss your cookies! Thankfully, we made it through the session with no incidents and were feeling warm and bright—because it’s hard not to feel that way when you’re hanging out with Valerie and Tom. They are incredibly cute together and so much fun to photograph!

I love photographing couples on the North Shore. That will never get old for me. There’s just something about being down by the river and the view of the city that’s magic no matter what time of the day.

The sun was unmercifully bright, so it made for a lovely opportunity for back-lit portraits. Plus, Valerie and Tom wouldn’t have to squint with the sun in their eyes.

Then we headed over to West Park on Pittsburgh’s North Side to photograph them in a more casual setting. I love this shot by Alex.

The trees were in bloom and the water sparkled, so while it was a little chilly, there’s no telling in these photos. But I guess that had more to do with the warmth between Valerie and Tom than the park’s surroundings.

Tom’s more flirty and Valerie’s more shy. I love that combination.

Tom is from Texas, so they both had these awesome boots that you’d never be able to find in Pittsburgh.

I think their wedding is going to be lots of fun!

Valerie and Tom, thanks for a great session and we’re looking forward to photographing your big day in June!

Some of My Favorite Shots as a Second Shooter

April 3, 2012/by kmiller

It’s been a long while since I’ve posted, so my blog is in desperate need of some love. This past month has been full of traveling to spend time with my family to celebrate the birth of my sister’s precious daughter and the life of my sweet grandmother who has gone on to be with Jesus, and in the middle of those highs and lows, struggling through the symptoms of the first trimester in my pregnancy. Yep! That’s right, we’re expecting and we recently shared the news with our family, friends and clients. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support over these last few weeks. It means the world to me and I’m glad to say that I’m back in the saddle again and gearing up for the 2012 Pittsburgh wedding season.

I left off blogging about the importance of wedding photographers having a good second shooter and shared some of my favorite photos by Alex Jones, my primary second shooter. This time, I’ll share some of my own favorites as a second shooter. Being a second shooter can be fun. There is more freedom to explore different angles, to notice interesting things happening on the periphery, and to catch wonderful candid moments with the bride and groom while the main photographer is focused on the many responsibilities that come with that job. Here are some favorites from weddings I’ve shot with Alex, Photorise Photography and Scheller & Co. during the past season.

Up next, I’ll share some photos from an on-location newborn session with my sister’s darling baby, Kynleigh.

Three Cheers for Second (and Third) Shooters!

March 7, 2012/by kmiller

I’m dedicating this blog post to all of the hard-working second shooters out there. And as I’m getting ready to expand my team of second shooters for the 2012 season, I have to say that I’ve been blessed with a solid second shooter who has helped me in so many ways. And I’m excited about the new shooters that will be joining us!

A good second shooter is invaluable. I’m not talking about someone who recently picked up a DSLR camera and is experimenting on the job—that’s not a good approach to providing coverage on a client’s wedding day. I’m talking about professional photographers who know their camera bodies, lenses, and speedlights like the back of their hand. A good second shooter is attentive and organized, and can respond quickly to the rapidly changing needs on a wedding day. Honestly, I think a photographer’s second shooter is a good measure of their overall commitment to providing clients with the best photography possible.

There is a lot of competition in Pittsburgh wedding photography and this is one of the issues that I think distinguishes professional photographers. So if you’re in the market to hire a wedding photographer, this is something you’ll want to consider. Because wedding photography is a two-person job (at least) and it’s important to know who you are entrusting to capture your memories.

If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you’ve surely seen work by Alex Jones, my first choice in second shooters. This post includes some great shots that Alex has captured over the last season or two. Next post, I’ll share some of my own favorite shots as a second shooter working for Alex, Photorise Photography and Scheller Image and Design from this past season.