Tag Archive for: Pittsburgh

Self portraits

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My portrait on the bio section of this Web site was pretty outdated for a long time. I haven’t had curly hair for about two years, so I finally got around to taking some self portraits to remedy that. And while I’ve found self portraits to be tedious in the past, I actually enjoyed the process this time around. It became a challenge to get it just right, and before I knew it, I was tired from running back and forth from the camera. I’m a perfectionist, so my tendency to scrutinize over the smallest of details was unrestricted as I was on my own with no worries about sticking to a certain schedule.

Time is something I can never get enough of when I’m behind the lens. I’ll always find something I want to change or improve, but when I’m working with or for someone else, I always respect the given schedule.

Anyhow, here are a few favorites that I think best represent me:

Self portrait

Close-up

Part of my goal as a photographer is to bring out the essence of a person in their portrait. As I pressed the shutter button to initiate the self timer, I tried to remember that as I made my way in front of the lens.

Being myself

Having some fun

Going back and forth from the camera made me acutely aware of the pressure that can be felt by trying to look natural. I just tried to relax with my eyes closed and wait until the last beep before I “posed” for the camera.

Bashful

My favorite

Tara & Chad’s wedding at Twin Lakes in Greensburg

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Tara and Chad were married on Halloween at Twin Lakes park in Greensburg. They said their vows on a small island near the lake’s shore as the sun was setting. I can’t remember the particulars of how this couple came to choose Halloween as their wedding date, but it was suggested as a joke by Chad and Tara went for it. They made the wedding fun for everyone and encouraged their guests to dress in costume for the reception. Tara and her bridesmaid and flower girl walked down the aisle to the theme song from Tim Burton’s “A Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Here are a few details:

wedding details

Tara is stunning in this dress and headpiece. With her classic beauty, this retro style really suits her. Also, notice the peacock boutonniere on Chad’s brown tux.

Man and wife

Because the sun was setting and it was pretty dark under the canopy, I rigged wireless flashes on both sides of the supporting structure. The flash really made the bridal party pop from the low light in the background. Here are a few sweet moments from the ceremony:

Tara&Chad-6

The ceremony

Exchanging rings

The moment after their kiss

Congratulations Tara and Chad! Blessings to you and your marriage!

Pre-Deployment Session in the Strip District

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A few weeks ago, I received an email from a young woman who was inquiring about whether or not Captivating Imagery was affiliated with Operation: Love ReUnited. Her husband will be deployed to Afghanistan in January and she was looking to schedule a portrait session for her and her husband. While, I’m not yet affiliated with Operation: Love ReUnited, I think it’s a great way to give back to our troops and their families.

We scheduled a date to meet in Pittsburgh’s Strip District for a fun portrait session. The couple often spent Saturday mornings in the Strip and for the session, we took that as a cue for some fun shots.

Deployment session

If you are (or you have a family member) serving our country and are about to be deployed or returning from deployment, please contact me about scheduling an on-location portrait session or a photojournalism session at the airport for a departure or return. I am offering this service for the months of December through March, and on a limited basis throughout the year.

David’s senior portraits at Highland Park

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David and I met up at Highland Park in Pittsburgh for a fun senior portrait session on a Monday afternoon this fall. David was so much fun to work with and the weather held out so it was a great afternoon.

Portrait at entrance of Highland Park

Sitting on the bench

With only a little coaching, David was able to take some basic poses I suggested and really own them. He’s a cool guy, and I wanted that to come through his portraits.

Above the resevoir

Close-up

We took about two hours walking around the park, stopping here and there for some photos. I like being able to chat while we’re going from one location to the next to get a better sense for what makes the subject tick. It’s much more fun and laid back that way. And I think it really helps to bring out the personality of the subject. Plus, I love talking with high school seniors because they have so much ahead of them in life and you can just see the potential in them.

Full-length portrait

In the woods

Under the bridge

When I’m editing the photos, I might be looking at as many as 200 from the senior portrait session. There are so many because I take several shots in just one pose to get just the right expression. I edit the final images down to a collection of 30 or more images. It’s amazing how many different looks you can get in just one location.

On-location senior portrait

Tara & Chad’s Wedding at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, Pa.

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Here’s a slide show from Tara and Chad’s Halloween wedding at Twin Lakes in Greensburg.  More to come on Tara and Chad ~