Allegheny Commons Park Engagement Session | Samantha & Tim
Allegheny Commons Park Engagement Session | Samantha & Tim
Samantha & Tim had the sweetest sunset engagement session at one of my favorite Pittsburgh parks - Allegheny Commons. The area right behind the Aviary is so gorgeous at the end of the say. You can just see the hints of the skyline over the trees, and Lake Elizabeth is a fun water feature. Can’t wait to celebrate their wedding!
Allegheny Commons Park Engagement Session | Samantha & Tim
Samantha & Tim had the sweetest sunset engagement session at one of my favorite Pittsburgh parks - Allegheny Commons. The area right behind the Aviary is so gorgeous at the end of the say. You can just see the hints of the skyline over the trees, and Lake Elizabeth is a fun water feature. Can’t wait to celebrate their wedding!
Alabama Hills & Mt. Whitney Engagement | Rachel & Ryan
Alabama Hills & Mt. Whitney Engagement | Rachel & Ryan
This is part two of this gorgeous couple’s engagement session. The first half took place on a beach in San Diego. For this sunrise session, we drove 5 hour outside of the city to capture the majesty of the mountains.
Alabama Hills & Mt. Whitney Engagement | Rachel & Ryan
This is part two of this gorgeous couple’s engagement session. The first half took place on a beach in San Diego. For this sunrise session, we drove 5 hour outside of the city to capture the majesty of the mountains.
We started down in the desert, climbing over boulders to get the best angles. Then we drove up half of Mt. Whitney, to where base camp is, to photograph overlooking the valley. I’m particularly drawn to that view.
San Diego Engagement | Rachel & Ryan
Rachel & Ryan were incredible to work with. Let’s just start off by saying this is only part 1 of this session. Day 2 was all about the desert and the mountains! Be on the lookout next week.
We started at Torrey Pines overlooking the beach, taking advantage of the cliffs views. We then made the absolutely crazy & exhilarating hike down to the beach access, which included a pass through a small slot canyon, and using a rope to navigate a particularly steep rock face. I may have been covered head to toe in dirt by the end, but I had a smile on my face.
San Diego Engagement | Rachel & Ryan
Rachel & Ryan were incredible to work with. Let’s just start off by saying this is only part 1 of this session. Day 2 was all about the desert and the mountains! Be on the lookout next week.
We started at Torrey Pines overlooking the beach, taking advantage of the cliffs views. We then made the absolutely crazy & exhilarating hike down to the beach access, which included a pass through a small slot canyon, and using a rope to navigate a particularly steep rock face. I may have been covered head to toe in dirt by the end, but I had a smile on my face.
Rachel & Ryan both managed the hike without a trace of dirt on them. Considering the full-length dress, I think that is impressive to say the least!
North Shore Engagement Session | Elena and Lucas
North Shore Engagement Session | Elena and Lucas
How obsessed can I be with a couple before it’s weird? ‘Cause I’m a little obsessed.
Elena & Lucas rocked their session, even though it was cold, and cloudy, and just generally Pittsburgh weather. Their love for each other just shone through every photo. We ran around Allegheny Commons Park, before heading down to the North Shore to end the session with some classic yellow bridge shots.
Pittsburgh Anniversary Session | Kathleen & Jeff
These two love birds were so much fun to photograph. They decided to take some portraits to celebrate their anniversary, and go to some of the spots they didn’t have time for on their wedding day. Personally, I love the idea of getting back in front of the camera for anniversaries. It’s always amazing to be able to re-capture that feeling of excitement.
Pittsburgh Anniversary Session | Kathleen & Jeff
These two love birds were so much fun to photograph. They decided to take some portraits to celebrate their anniversary, and go to some of the spots they didn’t have time for on their wedding day. Personally, I love the idea of getting back in front of the camera for anniversaries. It’s always amazing to be able to re-capture that feeling of excitement.
Even though it rained for some of their pictures, Kathleen & Jeff still rocked it. I think the rain actually made for some amazing images.
McConnells Mill Engagement Session | Halli & Tyler
McConnells Mill Engagement Session | Hallie & Tyler
I had so much fun photographing Hallie and Tyler! They made an incredible location even more beautiful. McConnells Mills is a personal favorite. It is green & lush, and an easy hike to get to the most gorgeous scenery. Especially if you’re looking for a natural vibe, this should be at the top of the list.
McConnells Mill Engagement Session | Halli & Tyler
I had so much fun photographing Hallie and Tyler! They made an incredible location even more beautiful. McConnells Mills is a personal favorite. It is green & lush, and an easy hike to get to the most gorgeous scenery. Especially if you’re looking for a natural vibe, this should be at the top of the list.
Strip District Engagement Session | Faith & Justin
Faith & Justin just got engaged up at the West End Overlook. They reached out to plan an industrial, Pittsburgh engagement session. So what better place than the Strip District to get that gritty Burgh vibe?
Strip District Engagement Session | Faith & Justin
Faith & Justin just got engaged up at the West End Overlook. They reached out to plan an industrial, Pittsburgh engagement session. So what better place than the Strip District to get that gritty Burgh vibe? To get some city lights, we ended the session with a stop at Washington’s Landing after dark.
These two are the coolest people, which made for such a fun session!
5 Golden Rules to Follow During Your Engagement Session
It’s totally normal to have a thousand questions about your engagement session before it happens, you’ve probably never been a part of one before! There’s no need to stress over it—it’s supposed to be a fun and exciting time for you and your fiancé(e). I’ve put together a couple of golden rules to abide by during your shoot. As long as you follow these, your pictures will be stunning, guaranteed.
5 Golden Rules to Follow During Your Engagement Session
It’s totally normal to have a thousand questions about your engagement session before it happens; you’ve probably never been a part of one before! There’s no need to stress over it—it’s supposed to be a fun and exciting time for you and your fiancé(e). I’ve put together a couple of golden rules to abide by during your shoot. As long as you follow these, your pictures will be stunning, guaranteed.
Relax and Get Comfortable
Unless you’re a celebrity, it may feel strange to be having a photographer follow you around. Some poses may feel unnatural from how you and your S.O. behave towards each other in real life, but I promise they will make for some spectacular photos if you just relax and enjoy yourself. Think about it as a practice photo shoot for your wedding day! It’s a good opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera, since you’ll have double the amount of pictures taken of you on the big day. Take this time to really enjoy the moment with your fiancé(e). Use it as a break from wedding planning and think of it as a great way to spend a few hours together. Keep in mind that this photo shoot will result in some amazing and frame-worthy pictures.
Think About Your Wardrobe
Think about where your photo shoot is happening and what kind of outfit you want to wear. If you’re getting your photos taken in PNC park, a ball gown is probably not the best choice. If your backdrop is a cityscape however, that might be a bit more appropriate. I also suggest you avoid wearing clothes with busy or distracting patterns so they don’t clash with your environment. I recommend items of clothing that are either neutral or bold, and solid colors so you and your S.O. really stand out from your background.Bring a few options with you so I can get shots of you and your S.O. in a couple of different looks. Consider bringing one casual look and something closer to cocktail attire (or black tie if you really want to go big!). You should also make sure that you and your S.O. wear outfits that go well together. No need to get super matchy, but you want to look good standing next to each other! Ladies, when it comes to jewelry, try not to wear anything too flashy that might distract from the real subject of the picture—you two.
Listen to your photographer
An engagement session is not only an opportunity for you and your S.O. to produce some stunning pictures, it’s a time to get to know me, your wedding photographer! I’m going to be right by your side throughout your big day, so it’s important we get comfortable with each other before then. I’ll work with you to find the most flattering angles and poses for both of you. Some of the poses I ask you to do may feel a bit odd, but trust me! I know what I’m doing and I’m only trying to get the best shots for both of you.
Location(s) matter
Choosing a location that is important to you will make the whole vibe of the shoot feel more casual and normal. If you have a favorite spot, let’s shoot there! Check out last week’s post for choosing the best spot for you. The point is, if you’re in an environment that is special to you two as a couple, the whole concept will feel more natural and fun, resulting in better images. If you have a few spaces that you want to use as a background, I can also make that work. Need help deciding between a few spots? I’m here to help.
Act Natural
Let me know prior to the shoot the kind of overall vibe and look you are going for. You want to make sure you’re staying true to yourselves as a couple. If you’re not a super PDA couple, you may not want every single picture to be of you two kissing. Let me know what kinds of images and poses don’t feel right for you so I can avoid them. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy yourself! Have fun with this experience and really enjoy these moments I’m capturing. Remember that this is about you two showing off your love for one another, so relax and have fun!
