Tag Archive for: portrait

Introucing Pittsburgh Studio Bridal Sessions

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I’m getting all geared up for the 2011 wedding season here in Pittsburgh and I have an exciting way for brides and grooms to enhance their wedding photography. Captivating Imagery is now offering Studio Bridal Sessions at SteelGate Studio. I’ve developed a new approach to bridal sessions which seem to have gone by the wayside over the last decade or so. When I think of my grandma in her wedding dress, I’m immediately taken back to a beautiful studio portrait of her with her train fanned out. It was fitting for her 1947 wedding and she looks so lovely. I’m glad to know what she looked like in her wedding gown and to have a stunning portrait of her at one of the most important times in her life. There’s a lot to be said for that.

While wedding photography has dramatically changed since then, I think there is still a need for beautiful portraits of the bride. And while I always take time to photograph the bride on her wedding day wherever we are in the time that is afforded, there is no substitute a studio bridal session. I’ll share more about that later in this post, but for now, let’s get to some images of what I’m proposing is a more contemporary approach to studio bridal portraits.

Pittsburgh bride photography

This is from Evette’s session. She’s getting married in June this year and wanted to give her husband-to-be some portraits of her in her wedding gown in a more relaxed setting. It’s very unlikely we’d have much time for this type of portrait on her wedding day, not to mention most brides don’t want to wrinkle their dress or mess their hair. The look is more on the sexy side and it shows of the neckline of her gown. It’s a nice alternative to a boudoir session because a bride can be dressed in her gown and be a total knockout. Plus, if a family member or friend stumbles upon the portrait someday, there’s no need to blush!

Pittsburgh studio bridal portrait

The sessions include two looks with many variations, so we take our time and try new angles and poses.

photo of a Pittsburgh bride before wedding

The session also includes a stylist who pampers the bride prior to the session with complete make-up and hair design. Amber Altany did Evette’s hair and make-up for this session. It is a wonderful experience for the bride and invaluable for me as the photographer, because the stylist stays during the shoot and assists with stray hairs, adjusting the dress, and touching up the make-up. That way, I’m free to focus on what I do best.

wedding photography in the studio

We made the most of the natural light streaming in from the studio windows. Ok, now on to a fashion-inspired look with studio lighting. This second look aims at showing off the details of her gown in a fun and lighthearted way.

bridal fashion shoot

We got out the wind machine and really had fun with it.

fashion wedding photography in Pittsburgh

Rather than using a muslin or canvas backdrop like the traditional studio bridal portraits, I opted for gray seamless with a nod to fashion photography.

Pittsburgh bride in wedding gown

Evette’s dress is to die for. Here’s a full-length view of the back:

Pittsburgh bride in wedding gown for fashion shoot

And now with a slightly different lighting set-up, Evette really shines in this close-up.

close-up of a bride in Pittsburgh

So, in keeping with the times, this approach to studio bridal portraits is a fun and fresh way to create gorgeous images of the bride before her wedding. In my experience, I find that these images are cherished by both brides and grooms and they become more and more valuable as time passes. A wedding is the perfect occasion to commission a portrait session that highlights the bride’s beauty at such an important time in her life. I recommend scheduling studio bridal sessions between 4 and 2 months prior to the wedding. It is a wonderful, stress-free experience that couldn’t come at a better time for most brides. Studio Bridal Sessions are $450 and include a stylist and a disc of high-resolution images with permission to print for personal use. If you’d like to know more, please contact me (Kate) to schedule a consultation.

Here’s a slide show of Evette’s session:

Pittsburgh Portrait Photographers with Flashes of Hope

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Last Saturday, I had the privilege of joining Alex Jones to assist and photograph a portrait session at SteelGate Studio with Flashes of Hope. Flashes of Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides portrait sessions to children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses with the purpose of changing they way they see themselves with the gift of photography. The organization also raises money for pediatric cancer research.

Here’s a mother and her 3-month old daughter who joined us that day.

Mom and baby portrait
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Retouching by Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers

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Any time I can find a few hours to experiment with new concepts for wedding photography, I take it! So I called up a friend of mine while it was still warm at the end of summer and we headed to the West End Overlook in Pittsburgh to try out some ideas I’ve been kicking around. This is a great way to keep things fresh and also to work out what is actually realistic on a wedding day. Amanda is a great sport and a lovely lady so she didn’t mind if I shared her photos before and after retouching.

There are a couple of factors in this first image. I love walking shots of brides and grooms, but this shady walk has splotchy patches of light passing through the leaves. I used off-camera light at a low level because I didn’t want to blast her with light and loose the pretty light pattern from the trees, but I wanted some even light on her face. My first job is to make Amanda pop out of the scene but in a natural way. Sure it helps to have an off-camera light, but there’s only so much you can do when the subject is walking and the light is stationary. On the wedding day, this problem is resolved with a second shooter who can assist with lighting in tricky settings. So here’s the before:

bridal portrait in Pittsburgh
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Pittsburgh Maternity and Newborn Photography: Babies and Bellies

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Over the last year, I’ve had the pleasure of photographing some fantastic maternity and newborn sessions here in Pittsburgh. These sessions are a real treat as a photographer because it is amazing to work with expecting moms and their little bundles of joy. I love to witness the miracle of pregnancy and babies. So I’m excited to share this slide show with images from some of my favorite sessions. I will soon be updating my portfolio and packages pages with information about maternity and newborn sessions, but I didn’t want to wait until then to share this slide show. If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and interested in a maternity or newborn session, please send me a message!

If you’re interested in a maternity or newborn session, here are a few things to keep in mind. Timing is everything. The best time for a maternity session is in the third trimester, between week 32 and 36. The timing for newborn sessions is even more crucial because it’s better to photograph newborns while they are asleep. And you can only count on them to really sleep soundly during their first two weeks. I know that is a short time-frame, especially considering a mom needs time to recuperate from giving birth and adjusting to life with her baby. But if you can make it work, a newborn session within the first few days of life is so worth it! It’s best to contact me at the beginning of your third trimester so that we can start to talk about scheduling and preparing for your maternity and newborn sessions.

My introductory rate for each session is a $150 sitting fee. A web gallery with a minimum of 25 images will be available within two weeks of the session. There is a required purchase of $350 worth of prints or other products from the web gallery for each session.

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography Valentine’s Day Contest

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Thanks for visiting! Here’s how to enter to win a free Bridal Portrait Session:

1. Like Captivating Imagery on Facebook.
2. Post the story of your proposal on Captivating Imagery’s wall. Simple or extravagant proposals – all are accepted!
3. Ask your friends to like Captivating Imagery and leave a comment under your story.

The post with the most comments wins! You can then redeem your free bridal session whenever you’re ready. For more details on this contest, keep reading…

As a Pittsburgh wedding photographer, I’m excited to hold the first-ever contest by Captivating Imagery. It’s inspired by Valentine’s Day, a thoroughly commercial holiday where we take the time to remind our loved ones that they’re loved. But I want to get past the commercial and on to the good stuff: the romance.

Here’s what I propose: I want all the brides- or grooms-to-be out there to share the story of their proposal for a chance to win a free Bridal Portrait Session. Guys, this could be a great opportunity to give to your bride-to-be a free bridal portrait session on Valentine’s Day. And sharing your proposal story, how thoughtful is that! She’ll love that you took the time to share and your effort to win her the portrait session—a $600 value.

The Bridal Portrait Session Includes:
Portrait Session by Captivating Imagery at SteelGate Studio
Hair and Make-up Artist
An image of the bride’s choice to be retouched and printed on a 11×14 gallery wrap

So do something sweet for your fiance in the spirit of Valentine’s Day. And if you’re not engaged, but have friends who are, spread the word!

Here’s How to Enter:
1. Like Captivating Imagery.
2. Post the story of your proposal on Captivating Imagery’s wall.
3. Ask your friends to like Captivating Imagery and leave a comment under your story.

The person with the most comments will win a Bridal Portrait Session. The deadline for entries is Feb. 13. The winner will be chosen and notified on Valentine’s Day. In the event of a tie, the best story wins. I’ll choose if it comes to that.

All engaged couples are eligible to enter this contest. The only requirement is that the bride must be able to travel to Pittsburgh for her portrait session.

Pittsburgh bridal portrait

I’ve been offering studio portraits for over a year now and I’m getting ready to launch a portraits section for my website this spring. In case you’re wondering, here’s what SteelGate Studio is all about:

SteelGate Studio is midsize turnkey studio located in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood and is available for rent for still photography and video production. The studio’s warm surroundings and ample resources facilitate a smooth shoot where creativity can flourish. Clients and talent can relax in a comfortable setting equipped with a dressing room and full-sized kitchen, complete with wifi and a stereo system for your favorite Pandora station.

The studio offers a variety of wall and floor textures for different looks: distressed plaster, flat finished drywall, and brick walls, as well as hardwood, brick, and slate floors. The space is bathed in beautiful available light with six 8-foot windows along the western wall. The layout of the SteelGate Studio offers diversity in shooting angles and ample space for set up with 2000 square feet and 200 amps of dedicated electrical service. The studio furnishings are stylish yet lightweight to provide immediate access and space reorganization for the demands of the shoot. Full digital resources are available with Nikon and Hasselblad cameras and two workstations. The studio also is outfitted with a full lighting and grip kit.

SteelGate Studio is located in the RiverWalk Corporate Centre (formerly the Terminal Building), just minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh. There are many dining, shopping and entertainment destinations nearby between Station Square and the South Side Works.

So this studio holds a ton of possibility for bridal portraits, maternity sessions, newborns and more. I’m very happy to have such a great resource here in Pittsburgh.