Washington’s Landing Engagement Session | Lauren & Tim
You all know that I love a classic Pittsburgh engagement session. There is just no better city for skyline views and that great mix of nature. We started Tim & Lauren’s session on Washington’s Landing to get that perfect mix. The skyline view from the end of the island is one of my favorites in the city. Then we headed down to the North Shore to wrap things up with yellow bridges and riverfront views.
Washington’s Landing Engagement Session | Lauren & Tim
You all know that I love a classic Pittsburgh engagement session. There is just no better city for skyline views and that great mix of nature. We started Tim & Lauren’s session on Washington’s Landing to get that perfect mix. The skyline view from the end of the island is one of my favorites in the city. Then we headed down to the North Shore to wrap things up with yellow bridges and riverfront views.
Rainy Pittsburgh Engagement Session | Sam and Curt
These two flew in from out of state for this engagement session, so there was no rescheduling even with the threat of thunderstorms. By the end of the shoot, there actually ended up being a tornado warning! We dealt with some crazy downpours, but had enough breaks to get some great images. To start things off, we switched locations to the Columns in Oakland to have a spot with some cover. It ended up being a great option with Sam’s gorgeous dress! Sometimes it is fun to dance in the rain.
Rainy Pittsburgh Engagement Session | Sam and Curt
These two flew in from out of state for this engagement session, so there was no rescheduling even with the threat of thunderstorms. By the end of the shoot, there actually ended up being a tornado warning! We dealt with some crazy downpours, but had enough breaks to get some great images. To start things off, we switched locations to the Columns in Oakland to have a spot with some cover. It ended up being a great option with Sam’s gorgeous dress! Sometimes it is fun to dance in the rain.
Mt. Washington & The Point Engagement Session | Whitney & Ian
Mt. Washington & The Point Engagement Session | Whitney & Ian
What better way to start a photoshoot than a picnic and champagne in the back of a pickup overlooking the city skyline! After enjoying a glass (or two), we headed down to grab some epic shots at Smithfield Street bridge, before wrapping things up at the Point.
Mt. Washington & The Point Engagement Session | Whitney & Ian
What better way to start a photoshoot than a picnic and champagne in the back of a pickup overlooking the city skyline! After enjoying a glass (or two), we headed down to grab some epic shots at Smithfield Street bridge, before wrapping things up at the Point.
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!
Golf Course Engagement Session | Cindy & Ryan
Cindy & Ryan’s first date for engagement photos was rained out, but I’m almost glad it happened, because the day of their shoot was magical! The golf course let us borrow a few golf carts to explore in. During the shoot, they popped champagne and had a picnic right at sunset.
Golf Course Engagement Session | Cindy & Ryan
Cindy & Ryan’s first date for engagement photos was rained out, but I’m almost glad it happened, because the day of their shoot was magical! The golf course let us borrow a few golf carts to explore in. During the shoot, they popped champagne and had a picnic right at sunset.
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Pittsburgh Engagement Session | Allison & Ron
Allison & Ron's session was a little uncertain, because we wanted to focus on downtown & PNC Park, but the North Shore kept getting flooded! Luckily, by the time their shoot rolled around, there were only a few puddles left on the sidewalks (and lots of mud). We ended up with a bright & sunny day to explore - and explore we did! We walked all over the North Shore, downtown, and even drove up to Mt. Washington to end the night.
Pittsburgh Engagement Session | Allison & Ron
Allison & Ron's session was a little uncertain, because we wanted to focus on downtown & PNC Park, but the North Shore kept getting flooded! Luckily, by the time their shoot rolled around, there were only a few puddles left on the sidewalks (and lots of mud). We ended up with a bright & sunny day to explore - and explore we did! We walked all over the North Shore, downtown, and even drove up to Mt. Washington to end the night.
7 Things Your Wedding Photographer Wishes You Knew
Below are a few things wedding photographers wish their clients knew about wedding photography. Read these 7 tips before booking yours so you know exactly what to expect.
Below are a few things wedding photographers wish their clients knew about wedding photography. Read these 7 tips before booking yours so you know exactly what to expect.
Hire a photographer whose photography style you like
Wedding photographers can have a variety of different shooting styles such as photojournalism/documentary, traditional, and fine art (or be a mix of a few), as well as different editing styles (light & airy, bold & vibrant, dark & moody, etc). It’s important to understand the differences between all the styles and which one you and your future spouse like the best. Be sure to do your research and know what style calls to you before booking a photographer. That way you don’t end up with someone whose style doesn’t work for you.
It’s important to establish a relationship with your wedding photographer
Get to know your wedding photographer! After all, they’re going to be snapping photos of you two on the most important day of your life. They’ll want to get to know you as a couple, from how you interact with each other, your cute quirks, and the way you show affection towards one another. Understanding these things about a couple prior to the wedding day helps the photographer capture the little moments that make your big day so special. I personally like to meet a few times before the wedding so that we have that opportunity (consultation, engagements, timeline meetings, etc).
Engagement sessions are important
You have a trial run for your hair and makeup and you try on your dress a number of times before wearing it on the big day, so why wouldn’t you do a practice run with your photographer? Engagement sessions allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera and allows your photographer to get used to photographing you both. When you see the images it will give you an idea of what your wedding day pictures will look like. Still not convinced? Here are a few reasons you should have an engagement session.
Your photographer doesn’t need a shot list
It might seem like a helpful idea to give your wedding photographer a list of all the moments you want captured, but it actually ends up stifling the photographer’s creativity. On the big day things are moving quickly and trying to organize everyone for photos is stressful enough without having to worry about a checklist. You can actually miss out on the candid moments when you’re too busy double-checking the shot list.; and candid photos end up being some of the best! Photographers are experienced professionals and they’ve shot enough weddings to know what kinds of images couples want. Have a general chat before the wedding day about any moments you definitely want pictures of, especially things we may not know about, but providing a detailed list isn’t necessary.
Chat about the wedding day timeline
The wedding day timeline is largely based off the photography timeline. Your wedding photographer (or planner if you have one!) is likely an expert in creating these and can be a helpful resource for this part of your planning. They know exactly how long family, wedding party and couples portraits take and can help plan out the day accordingly. The bigger your family and the bigger the wedding party, the longer pictures are going to take, so keep that in mind when you’re planning out your day.
Good pictures can’t be rushed
Go into your day understanding that good wedding photos take time and patience. While you may be eager to join your guests during cocktail hour, you don’t want your anxiousness coming across in photos, so just enjoy the time you have with your new spouse! Consider doing a first look if you’d rather get all your photos taken beforehand. If that’s not for you, other concessions can be made, like sneaking out during sunset for a mini portrait session.Your photographer wants to give you the highest quality images, which doesn’t happen at the drop of a hat.
Trust your photographer
At the end of the day, your photographer is a professional so trust them! If they tell you to pose or move a certain way, listen to them. It may feel weird or you may think the picture is going to come out strangely, but wedding photographers know what they’re doing. Trust them to do their job as best they can so you can have gorgeous photos that will last a lifetime.
Have some more questions? Let's chat
Other Moments Your Wedding Photographer Can Capture (Besides the Wedding)
These days it’s pretty common for couples to hire a wedding photographer to capture the big moment. It takes away the stress of wondering if the pictures will come out well and you can use them for your save-the-dates or as a way to share the engagement news with loved ones.
other moments your wedding photographer can capture (besides the wedding)
The Proposal
These days it’s pretty common for couples to hire a wedding photographer to capture the big moment. It takes away the stress of wondering if the pictures will come out well and you can use them for your save-the-dates or as a way to share the engagement news with loved ones. The bottom line is, you won’t regret hiring a professional photographer to capture this moment, but you may regret NOT hiring one. Read this article for more reasons to hire a proposal photographer.
Engagement Session
Not only are these great images to use for your wedding decor (ie. your guestbook, framed pictures, etc), but it’s a great opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day and get to know the photographer. You try on your dress and do a hair trial before your wedding right? So why wouldn’t you do the same with a photographer? It helps me get to know you as a couple before the wedding as well so I can understand how you interact and give you pointers to make you feel comfortable. Check out a few other reasons to have an engagement session here.
Bridal portraits
Deciding to take photos of you in your wedding dress prior to the ceremony is a good idea for a number of reasons. First of all, it can act as a test run for getting into your gown, your hair and makeup trial and seeing how long the whole process will take. Secondly, getting these images out of the way before the big day will allow for a smoother timeline the day of the wedding. Finally, you’ll have these gorgeous pictures to cherish for years to come. Trust us, your spouse will love them!
Bachelorette Party:
A night out on the town with your closest friends? Bring along your photographer for part of the night to get those great Instagrammable moments, without having to spend the evening looking at your phone! It’s one way to make sure you’ll remember the evening. Check clips from a recent party here.
Bridal Shower:
Your bridal shower gets your near and dear family and friends all in one place to celebrate your upcoming wedding. Why not capture the moments that make it special? Your shower is an important part of the wedding process, and it should get some attention too! Want to see a recent shower I photographed? One was just featured over at Ultimate Bridesmaid.
Rehearsal Dinner
I’d love to photograph your rehearsal dinner! This is a special gathering since it’s the last time you’ll all be together before getting hitched. Since there are often speeches and sentimental moments, it’s nice to have those memories captured as well. You’ll be glad you have pictures with your closest friends and family at a gathering other than your wedding day.
Day-after Session
Capture more relaxed pictures of your newly wedded bliss by having a day-after session. Maybe we travel back to your venue and have an extended portrait shoot and capture all the images you want. Maybe we travel somewhere new and adventurous to get shots you couldn’t dream of capturing on the actual wedding day, because it would take too long, or be too difficult to get too. Either way, since the wedding is over, you’ll be more relaxed and at ease, with no timeline to stick too.
Anniversary
Whether it’s your 1-year anniversary or 10-year, let’s reenact your engagement session! Or we can travel back to your wedding site and snap pictures there. It’ll be a romantic way to capture your love for one another on such a special day.
Want photos of events beyond your wedding? Let’s chat.
