Tag Archive for: Pittsburgh

Introducing the 2012 Captivating Imagery Wedding Album Collection

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Over the last few months, I’ve been working hard to prepare new sample albums and products for the Cavanaugh Bridal Show on January 28th and 29th. So I’m pleased to present a sneak peek of sorts on my blog! I have three new sample albums from some awesome weddings I’ve photographed over the past year: Melissa and Gabe’s October wedding at Rolling Acres, Katherine and Robert’s July wedding at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, and Callie and Brian’s September wedding at Callie’s family home.

The albums each have their own style and I’ve named them to make it easier when I talk with clients about what style they like during album consultations. So for today, here’s the Classic Album. It is a flush mount album with a premium leather cover in black and this sample features Melissa and Gabe’s wedding. This 20-page album is designed as 10 spreads so that the photos stretch right across the gutter, or the crease in the center for the binding. So you’re seeing what the pages look like side-by-side when you open the album.

Pittsburgh wedding album

Of course the actual albums don’t have watermarks on the pages. That’s just for the web site.

Pittsburgh wedding photography

Melissa also did a studio bridal session so I was sure to include some of those photos in her album as well.

Pittsburgh studio bridal session photos

And Melissa is such a beautiful bride that I couldn’t help including a few more portraits from her wedding day. Those gorgeous flowers are by Joanne’s Occasional Flowers. Joanne always does such a beautiful job!

on-location bridal portraits

It was a little chilly that day, so the ceremony was held inside and it made for beautiful, back-lit, black and whites, so I went with that for the next few pages.

Pittsburgh wedding ceremony

classic wedding album Pittsburgh

The rain slowed and Melissa and Gabe and their bridal party bared the cold for some photos right before sunset.

on-location bridal party portraits

I love when it’s time to photograph just the bride and groom. It’s hard to choose, but I think that’s my favorite part of the day.

bride and groom portraits wedding album

They were announced into a warm and friendly crowd and went right into their first dance.

Pittsburgh wedding reception photos

I like to save the last spread for some nighttime portraits.

storybook wedding album

This album design was just sent to be printed and bound. Once I receive it, I’ll take some more photos to show the cover and binding. Up next, the Contemporary Album featuring Katherine and Robert’s wedding!

Pittsburgh Senior Portraits at SteelGate Studio

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It’s just about that time to meet up with family and old friends and celebrate the Christmas season. But before I go, here’s a post from a senior portrait session in October. I met Sam through his brother, whose wedding I photographed in Pittsburgh this past summer. He’s a great guy and we had a fun time during his session with a little help from his friends. First we started with a traditional portrait for the yearbook photo.

senior portrait

This messy look with the hair was expertly achieved by his younger brother Raymond, who stood by making sure it was all in place.

high school portrait

I think this is one of my favorites of Sam. He looks so comfortable and casual leaning against the wall.

senior photos

Ok, time for another look.

senior year

These images of him on the green chair are close contenders for my favorite shot. Love seeing his arms on the back of the chair. Watch out, ladies!

high school guy

And here, he’s just too cool for school.

 

on-location senior portrait

We stepped outside the studio to walk along the train tracks and trees that run along the Monongahela River.

senior portrait outside

What a great guy! Thanks, Sam, for a great session! Many blessings to you in all your future endeavors!

Senior portraits by Captivating Imagery can be done in the studio or on-location. The creative fee is $500 for a 2-hour session with a $350 credit toward prints and other photo products. Contact me at info@captivatingimagery.com if you’d like to talk more about scheduling a session.

Lauren and Dan’s Pittsburgh Engagement Session

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Lauren and Dan are getting married next Fall and have been planning their wedding from out of town, so when she emailed me about their trip to Pittsburgh for the last weekend of October, we made sure there was time for their engagement session while they were in town, even if it happened to be on a Sunday afternoon right before a Steelers game. Little did we know what chaos we would face with the pre-game festivities and detours on the North Shore, it definitely made things interesting, but we can all laugh about it now.

We started at Riverview Park for some portraits amidst the fall foliage.

engaged couple walking hand-in-hand

It was so quiet and peaceful there. Lauren loved the fall leaves and Dan was happy to hold her close and keep her warm.

sweethearts

soon-to-be Mr. & Mrs.

kissing fiances

They had no trouble kissing in public. And that’s ok when you’re being followed by a camera! At least, that’s how I see it!

low angle portrait of couple

I really like this low angle. It doesn’t always work, but these are some of my favorite photos from the session!

kissing under a tree

And fast-forward through a 45-minute drive to the North Shore. The detours and traffic were particularly bad that day because of the game. What Lauren and Dan didn’t know is that their engagement session that day came with a tour of Pittsburgh’s North Side! Ha!

bride- and groom-to-be along the North Shore

couple in front of Pittsburgh skyline

There were flocks of Steelers fans on all sides, but they were kind and gave us some space as we made our way along the North Shore, stopping here and there for some photos.

couple in front of PNC Park

This is one good-looking couple.

close-up

engagement session along the North Shore

And just one more kiss!

kissing by the Roberto Clemente Bridge

So, Lauren and Dan were off to the big game—lucky ducks! Her friend bought them tickets as an engagement gift. I went home and watched it with some friends dressed in our Halloween costumes. All in all, what a great day! Go Steelers!

Mt. Washington and Downtown Pittsburgh Engagement Session

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Here’s a fun engagement session with Colleen and Jeremy who were married in October. This one just slipped away from me a few months ago because I finished these images and delivered them in the midst of the wedding season, so I’m just getting around to blogging about their session now. Colleen and Jeremy wanted to start at Mt. Washington to be photographed with the view of the city that brought them together in the background. The college sweethearts met while studying at Pitt.

engaged couple

You can’t help but smile being around these two.

fiances

Then we headed downtown to Market Square and the Cultural District—we really got a lot of exercise that morning! So we stopped at Starbucks for a break. Note that no Starbucks branding can be seen in these photos. I’m half joking here because we were nearly chased away by some defenders of the Starbucks corporate identity. No worries, Starbucks, I still love you!

couple drinking coffee at Starbucks

her engagement ring

It was fun walking around downtown because we had time to get to know each other between our stops for photos. I love this flirty photo by Heinz Hall.

bride- and groom-to-be

And something about this photo of them walking by all of the colorful signs from Pittsburgh’s Cultural District feels fun. Basically they were on a Saturday morning date and I tagged along. Thanks for letting me do that guys!

Walking hand in hand

Then we stopped at the small garden across from Katz Plaza with the fake magnolia tree. I just love that there’s a lot covered in ivy right in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh, so it seemed like a good place for a straight up portrait.

couple before their wedding

Colleen and Jeremy, it was so much fun spending that morning with you. I hope you’re doing well and loving your newlywed status!

Janelle and Andre’s Pittsburgh Engagement Session

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Every now and then, I hear from a bride and groom who are planning an out-of-town wedding, but have come to love Pittsburgh and want to be photographed here for their engagement. It’s always fun to hang out with people from other places and especially so when we’re on the same page about Pittsburgh, because I love this city! Anyway, I met up with Janelle and Andre at Mellon Park, one of my favorite parks in the city, and wrapped up our session on the North Shore as the sun was setting (another favorite!) It was so much fun spending the evening with them and learning about how they met.

engaged couple portrait

They started with a more casual look at the park. Gotta point out Janelle’s heels – love them!

sweethearts engagement session

This next one is a favorite with the way the sunlight is just wrapping around them. They’re so happy and in love, that it’s fitting that they’re glowing.

couple walking hand in hand photo

Snuggling on a park bench will never grow old for me.

fiances photography

There’s also something really fun about bringing along a picnic blanket. Great idea, Janelle!

soon-to-be bride and groom photo

Timing was the tricky thing about this session. And I would be fibbing if I took credit for that. Because it’s tricky when you’re coming up on twilight and there is an outfit change, traffic and parking to consider. But I was thrilled that we got to the North Shore just in time for some shots of Janelle and Andre dressed to the nines. And they had fun with it dancing along the river!

dancing along Pittsburgh's North Shore

We walked along the shore a bit as the sun was quickly setting and then they danced a little more. And I have to say, they are experts at dipping!

engagement photo on the North Shore

Then to finish off the night, we headed to Rivers Casino to see what we could find. And the large, lit tower made for a perfect silhouette.

silhouette by Rivers Casino

Janelle and Andre, thanks so much for a fantastic engagement session. It was so much fun getting to know you and I wish you the very best on your wedding day. Many blessings to you and your marriage!