cause, you know, i’m sure you were just sitting there wondering what i would look like as a simpson. so here you go. 
heh heh.
i haven’t seen the movie yet, but i heard good reports from ben and his groomsmen, who saw it on saturday before his wedding.
want to know what you would look like? try it yourself.
i met up with julie and dave last night to shoot their engagement session along the riverwalk path on the north shore. (which is beautiful, and literally just a few blocks from my house, and i am officially inspired to start utilizing the bike path there.)
i met julie last year when we first got together to discuss her wedding, but last night was my first time meeting dave. we hit it off fabulously and got some great photos throughout the evening. julie is one of those women who it’s impossible to get a bad photo of (i, for the record, am ridiculously un-photogenic). also, i’m really beginning to wonder how it is that my couples are consistantly really cool and loads of fun.
i digress. here are some of my faves from our session:
love this one framed by the weeping willow
what’s an engagement shoot in pittsburgh without a bridge shot?
i was playing around with some texture overlays on these next two. i love the feel it adds.
and…my favorite image from last night. i love the image, but it was also crazy fun to make it; timing traffic and dodging cars and laying down in the middle of the street and getting beeped at in order to get the shot. kids…don’t try this at home.
julie and dave… thanks for a great time. i’m looking forward to shooting your wedding in a few short months!
amy and ben tied the knot on saturday at armstrong farms in saxonburg. a fare to remember provided the catering (delicious!) and jean marc chatellier did their cake (it was covered with a thin layer of marzipan- i wanted to cry it was so good). i was a little worried about the weather early on; the sky was overcast and threatening rain all day. however, a few minutes before amy walked down the aisle, the sun broke through the clouds, and remained out for the entirety of the ceremony. the timing couldn’t have been any more perfect!
amy and ben are the first children on either side of the family to be married, and the tears flowed freely throughout the day. the bridal party was super fun, ben and amy’s families were amazing, and there was so much joy and laughter. i’ve gotta give a shout out to abie and josh who shot with me all day. here are some of the things that caught my eye throughout the day:
right after amy’s dad saw her in her gown for the first time.
amy scheduled in plenty of time during the day for portraits. isn’t she gorgeous?
the groomsmen were gobs of fun throughout the day
the ceremony. amy wrote it herself. it was simple and emotional.
a few portraits of the new mr. and mrs.
the simultaneous licking of the fingers after eating the cake
amy dancing with her father- you can see ben getting a little teary eyed in the background.
and then the party started.
so. much. fun.
heh heh. i love breaking out the wide angle as the evening wears on…
amy and ben- i was blown away by the warmth and love of everyone I met. your friends and family are amazing; it was such a pleasure to photograph your wedding day. many blessings as you begin your lives together.
i was tickled to be asked to be one of the featured photographers on the website don’t box us in. it came out yesterday but i had a crazy day and wasn’t able to post about it.
i love the idea behind this site (a sister site of trash the dress) and am honored and delighted to be featured among the other uber-talented photographers from around the world on there. here is a little blurb about don’t box us in that i pulled from their description:
“The staff of Trash the Dress has decided to create a website that features today’s best Artistic and Creative Photographers. We have a great thing going with Trash the Dress, but we thought it we be great to show off the other amazing shots, besides the dress trashing, that are being created by photographers who have been given creative control.
We aren’t saying that your photographer shouldn’t be capturing the traditional formals or group shots….we’re just saying that when it comes to your wedding portfolio, if you are looking for amazing creative shots that will really set your pictures apart from everyone else, look for a creative photographer. Creatives don’t like to be boxed in with titles such as Portrait Artist, Photojournalist, or even Fashion Photographer. A good creative photographer uses a mixture of styles to create the ultimate portfolio for his or her clients.”
Head on over and check it out. There’s some super awesome photography that’s showcased!
i met up with brad and apryl on monday night on the north shore for their engagement session. they both work nearby and love spending time along the river, and i can see why- it’s just beautiful there! i liked brad and apryl immediately when we met up a few months ago to discuss their wedding photography - we have a very similar sense of humor. plus, i found out later that i graduated high school with apryl’s maiden of honor. small world! anyway, we had a great time walking along the river and sharing some laughs. these two are so fun-loving and so right for each other- i love it! also, apryl is a rep for partylite candles, so if you’re a candle lover, get in touch with her! here are a few of my faves from our session:
thanks apryl and brad! i’m totally stoked to shoot your wedding for you in September!
i met up with leah and don on sunday night in the strip district to shoot their engagement session. leah and don are one of those fantastic couples who were up for anything- including a little silliness. they also had a ton of input and great ideas for poses and locations, which i love! we had a great time wandering around the city and sharing some laughs. here are a few of my faves:
we were right next to a dumpster full of rotten fruit for these next few shots- it was unbelievable stinky!
i love this one! this is at the train station downtown- the location was totally leah’s idea!
thanks leah and don! i’m looking forward to seeing you again in october for your wedding!
i spent some time sunday morning with my sister and brother-in-law for some family photos. here are a few i got of my niece and nephew…aren’t they adorable?
where to begin? heather and kris tied the knot on saturday at the morning glory inn on the southside. this was the first time ever that i hadn’t met the bride or the groom before their wedding day. we spoke on the phone for the first time last week, and when one of the first questions kris asked me was if i liked mojitos, i liked him instantly. once he told me a little more about the details of their day, i knew it was going to be a good time. heather and kris were incredibly gracious, and the day couldn’t have gone any smoother. heather wore an elegant gown by nicole miller. alphabetical order provided the flowers, and yes we cater provided the meal stations following the ceremony. (did i mention there was sushi? any wedding with both sushi and mojitos gets a thumbs up in my book). afterwards, the newlyweds led their guests parade-style through the streets of the southside to the rex, where their afterparty was held. here are some of the things that caught my eye:
corsages and bouts. i love the simple elegance of an orchid.
i have very few photos of heather where she isn’t smiling or laughing.
captured this while one of heather’s bridesmaids was putting orchids in her hair. heather is one of those women that is just naturally beautiful. one of their guests, upon seeing her in her gown, made a reference to grace kelly. i have to agree.
walking down the aisle. i love the joy on everyone’s face.
on the way to the rex. the couple on the left are friends of the family, and provided the musical accompaniment for the parade, which really added to the energy of the journey. strangers on the street were stopping to congratulate them, and kris managed to inspire some staff and patrons from a bar we passed to join the procession. it was quite a sight to behold.
in lieu of cake- a tower of cupcakes.
aerial view of the rex. the bands ‘the what else’ and ‘the new alcinders’ played…
and then kris took the stage and dj’ed. (yes, at his own wedding).
(i have to give a shout out to abie and josh, who were my second shooters and comrads for this wedding. thanks guys!)
heather and kris, thanks for inviting us to document your day. you were a joy to work with and be around, and your wedding day was one of the most fun celebrations i’ve been privy to. hope you’re enjoying your honeymoon!
i met up with cara and nathanael at schenley park thursday night to shoot their engagement session. it was a beautiful evening, and they brought their dogs, so we spent a little time walking around and getting some casual pictures of the two of them. these two are so sweet together, and cara has some of the best hair i think i’ve ever seen- it’s really dark and has these fabulous curls- i love it! i just got a new ultra wide angle lens (it came in the mail thursday!), so i had some fun with that. anyway, here are a few of my faves:
a few working some delicious wide angle-ness…
i think this one is my fave. i love love love how the backlighting from the sun leaves them totally outlined in light.
thanks cara and nathanael! it was great to see you again, and i can’t wait to shoot your wedding for you in october!
Me Ra Koh hosted an ‘ask and learn’ session last night on a pro photography forum, and closed with these nuggets of wisdom:
“Be good to yourself. Being an entrepreneur is one of the scariest things we can ever do. Trying to live a life that isn’t based on feast or famine is hard, and we feel the weight when we especially have little ones around us. So be good to yourself for even trying this thing called “self employed” or “on my way to being self employed”. I commend you for trying, despite your fears.
Look at other photographer’s websites and work, but not for too long. If you’re like me you get sucked into this thing of starting to put down your own work. Don’t get in that trap. Set a timer if you have too. 
You have an eye that no one else does. No one will ever be competition with you b/c no one can express life the way you do. This is truth and always will be.
Take a risk, but make sure you let others in on your risk (maybe one or two) so when the storm hits and you’re not sure if your risk was a good idea, you have support, a safe place to cry and express your doubts. But then hang in there and don’t give up.
And inspired from a conversation I had with my dad this week, whenever you see the magazine Fortune. Think about what it would be like to have a magazine called “Misfortune”. I would read this in a heartbeat. I don’t want to hear about all the “right” things people did all the time. Especially when I often make mistakes and feel like I’m in the dark. Remember that even though it seems like every one and their businesses is doing great, you are too and we’re all struggling to honor the gift and passion we carry.”
I just loved what she had to say, and I had to share it. I get contacted from time to time from photographers who are just starting out in the business and are looking for some wisdom, or insight, or a critique of their portfolio. I’m always honored when someone thinks highly enough of my work and my business to ask me for advice with theirs, so I help them in whatever ways I can. (Plus, so many people have helped me along the way, it just makes sense to pay all of that generosity forward).
Anyway, I wanted to offer encouragement out there to anyone that is just starting out in this crazy business. It’s easy to look around at what other people have, and where they are, and to get discouraged. Don’t. We all have to start somewhere. It’s scary to take the leap into turning your passion into your career path. There are no guarantees in self-employment. But if this is what moves you, what brings a smile to your face, what keeps you laughing and inspired, then hang in there and follow that dream. Through all of the ups and downs and doubts and insecurities, because if you have that creative urge inside of you, it’s always going to be there, and it’s always going to need to be expressed. I’ve tried a zillion 9 to 5 jobs, desk jobs, sales jobs, service jobs, and at the end of the day, I wanted to poke my eyes out. I just can’t do it. I need something that fulfills me. And I’ve found it. I love the challenges and the freedom. I love being inspired by my peers. I love that every day is different. I love that I get to meet so many amazing people, and to be a part of their lives, if only for a moment.
So if you’re reading this, and you’re on the fence on whether to pursue what you’re passionate about (whatever that may be), jump off of the fence and do it. Life is just too short to spend doing something you loathe. Do what fulfills and inspires you, every day. I’m a firm believer that if you chase a dream long enough, sooner or later you’ll catch it. 
Fellow photographer David Hessemer is doing a blogathon TODAY for his “Through Their Eyes” Africa project. He is going to be taking a team of photographers to areas of Africa next year that have so far been unreached by electricity and media contact. In addition to helping the people living there, the photographers will also be teaching them to take photographs, in the hope of giving them a skill as well as to be able to see the world the way they see it. The photographs they take will be formed into a traveling exhibit all over the country.
There are only a few hours left in the blogathon to raise money and awareness for this project. The link where you go to donate and learn more about the project is:
ronette and cooper tied the knot on 07-07-07, which the press is saying is the most popular wedding date in history. it was a beautiful day in Pittsburgh for a wedding, and there was plenty of laughter and tears (the good kind!) throughout the day. we started out at ronette’s parent’s home (which, incidentally, is located on love street- how fitting!) after that, we made our way to the church for a simple, beautiful ceremony, and then off to springwood for the reception. i’ve got to say- springwood is amazing. if you love the outdoors and are looking for somewhere a little different to hold your wedding, definitely check them out. the building and grounds are very unique and quite picturesque. flood city brass band provided great entertainment throughout the evening, and there was just so much love throughout the entire day. i also have to give a shout out to shannon, who was my second shooter yesterday. thanks shannon! here are some things that caught my eye:
tears during her sisters toast
love this face.
ronette and cooper, you guys are amazing! it was such a pleasure photographing your wedding day for you. have an incredible time on your honeymoon!
