Rebecca + Yeddie: Oakland Engagement Photos

Novembers in Pittsburgh can be hit or miss. I remember last year, November was almost summer-like just until the end - and then we went straight from “summer” to winter, seemingly almost overnight! This year we’ve seen some crazy cold temps and LOTS of rainy weather. But Rebecca and Yeddie were completely unfazed! When I mentioned moving their session to a different day/time with the looming forecast of all day rain before us, they decided they wanted to go for it anyways - which I so admire! So I pulled out the bubble umbrellas and my rain jacket and met up with them on a cold (and wet!) November afternoon!

Their session took place in Oakland in some of my favorite locations! We started off at the Mellon Institute, so they could get the hang of being in front of the camera without having to worry about posing/moving with an umbrella, or with the surrounding rain! Then, we hopped over to the Frick Fine Arts Building, utilizing the Schenley fountain (with umbrellas in tow!), and the interior of the building - which has so much beautiful, natural light! It also just so happens that Yeddie spent a large majority of his college career taking classes inside that very building, providing the perfect personal touch!

About 20 minutes before their session ended, the rain stopped, giving us the perfect window of time to finish out their session outside of the Cathedral of Learning!

Rebecca and Yeddie, you two are such a joy to work with, and I can’t wait for your wedding in 2020! 💛 Thank you for an awesome afternoon!

Kelly + Daniel: Doubletree Monroeville Wedding Photos

If you’ve seen my work before, you know that I’m a HUGE fan of color - so Kelly and Dan’s sangria and gold fall wedding was a DREAM! Their day was full of color, and oh-so full of love!

One of the things I admire most about Kelly and Dan is their commitment to remembering what really mattered on their wedding day. Sure, the details were beautiful and everything came together beautifully, but at the end of the day, it was SO easy to see that these two are in it for the long haul - better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health. Their joy radiated throughout the entire day!

And I can’t neglect to mention their INCREDIBLE friends and family, who we were so privileged to walk alongside throughout the day! This was my second wedding with Kelly’s extended family (see the first here!), and truly, they are some of the most energetic, excited people we’ve had the honor of working with!

Kelly and Dan, I pray that your marriage continues to become all that it was meant to be and that you continue to be an example to those around you of what true love looks like! So thankful to have been a part of your day!

Vendors:

Ceremony: Anne Ashley United Methodist

Reception: Double Tree Hotel Monroeville

Bride’s Dress: White Orchid, Maggie Sottero Gown

DJ: All Pro DJ

Makeup and Hair: Ulta at the Waterfront

Cake: Spinola's Bakery

Florist: Colasante's Flowers in the Park

Erica + Rio: Hartwood Acres Engagement Photos

The day of Erica and Rio’s session was BRIGHT and SUNNY. This might sound like a strange thing to say if you’re not from Pittsburgh, but if you’re a Pittsburgher heading into December, you know that we don’t get very many non-gray days once winter hits! In fact, I read a statistic that said we have about 306 cloudy days a year, which means about 84% of our year is cloudy (via this source). To give some perspective - Seattle only beats us by two days. TWO days!

So when the sun came out towards the end of November for Erica and Rio’s session, I was FLOORED! These two came all the way up from Virginia, so I was so thankful they had a beautiful day for their engagement session!

Erica and Rio are goofy and in love, and are both teachers in Virginia! They met at freshman orientation at Clarion University and started dating in December of 2013, and Rio popped the question this past April on the golf course Erica grew up playing on.

It was such an honor to photograph this incredibly fun couple, and I cannot wait for their wedding in 2020! 🎉

Moore Family: Lake Forest Gardens Christmas Tree Farm Photos

Isn’t it crazy when life comes full circle?! Just a few years back I was photographing Amanda and Jeff for their pregnancy announcement, then for their maternity photos - and now for Atlas’ first Christmas at Lake Forest Gardens! 🎄We had such a great time walking through the rows of trees - even though it was a little muddy, and a little cold, but they were such troopers through it all! Amanda and Jeff, thank you for having me take these photos for you. It was such an honor!

Tsung Family: North Shore Family Photos

I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family a few times over the last couple of years - and they are truly some of the kindest people I’ve had the pleasure to work with! This year was especially special, considering they’re moving out-of-state towards the end of this year! So, of course, the city made the perfect backdrop as a tribute to their years spent in Pittsburgh.

Eva, Allan, Peter, and Carolyn - you will be missed! Prayers for a smooth move and transition into your new norm! 💛

Leah + Connor: Morning Glory Inn Wedding Photos

Leah and Connor’s wedding was unlike any other I had ever experienced. When I first sat down with Leah and Connor, they explained the vision for their day: intimate, full of family and friends, and focused on what really matters. And truly, their day was all of that and more!

Their venue, the Morning Glory Inn (located on the South Side of Pittsburgh) is one of the most unique and intimate wedding venues I’ve ever come across! Though I tried to do this venue justice through Leah and Connor’s photos, this is a place you have to see in person and really experience to appreciate fully! (They take reservations for guests to stay - so if you’re looking for a “stay-cation,” I would highly recommend checking out this spot!)

The wedding day began inside the inn, which has SO MANY beautiful locations for detail photos! Being someone who LOVES the photographing the detail portion of the day (invitation suite, bride’s dress, jewelry, etc.) I was in heaven!! And on top of all of the inn details, Leah had the most beautiful details that matched the vibe of the inn to a “T”!

After getting ready, Leah shared a first look with her dad. There was hardly a dry eye in the room (including mine!). Immediately after, Leah and Connor shared a first look together in the courtyard of the Inn!

We headed to the Mellon Institute columns for bridal party and bride & groom portraits, then back to the Inn for the ceremony - which might’ve been the most unique part of the day! Guests stood in the courtyard, surrounding the bride and groom for the ceremony, which made it feel like there was a closeness and intimacy that is sometimes lost during wedding ceremonies!

After the ceremony were toasts, a delicious meal by Fish Hawk Acres catering, and TONS of dancing in the courtyard! We were even able to sneak Leah and Connor out at just the right moment (when it just started raining!) for a night portrait in front of the Inn!

Leah and Connor, I couldn’t have been more thankful to be a part of your day. Thank you (to you two and your friends & family!) for having as capture such a beautiful day, and for making us feel like a part of the family in the process. 💛

Ceremony & Reception: Morning Glory Inn

Bride’s Dress: Bridal Beginning (Wtoo Watters)

Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie

Bouquets: Deb Smith (Maid of Honor’s Mother)

Menswear: The Black Tux

Invitations: Minted Weddings

Catering: Fish Hawk Acres

Officiant: Meaningful Marriages (Larry)

Cake: Oakmont Bakery

Makeup: Briann Mattise (JL Makeup Studio)

Hair: Sahaira Beauty Salon

Cait + Brian: North Side & North Shore Engagement Photos

Cait and Brian met in high school and started dating in the summer of 2011, and are tying the knot at the White Barn next year! These two were such troopers with the rain and cold during their session - I couldn't have asked for two kinder people to photograph! Congratulations on your engagement, Cait and Brian! 💛

Krista + Brent: North Shore & Point State Park Engagement Photos

Krista + Brent live in Chicago, got engaged in Delaware, and are tying the knot in the 'Burgh next year! We had THE perfect fall evening for their engagement session, and I even got to meet their adorable Golden Retriever pup named Phil! And after their engagement photos, these two headed straight over to the Steelers game - talk about a great night!! 💛

Thank you so much for the honor of taking these photos for you, Krista and Brent!

Valerie + Matt: Hartwood Acres Engagement Photos

Hartwood in the fall... I'm not sure it gets much better, except for maybe pairing it with Valerie and Matt! These two met at Robert Morris University (my alma mater!), but didn't start dating until they reconnected a few years later! Both are graphic designers, love tacos, and are just all around wonderful, easy going people. So thankful to know you both, Valerie and Matt!

PS - Valerie's engagement ring is emerald and an heirloom from Matt's family! 💍

Amy + Anthony: Indiana Wedding Photographer

I’ve been to Indiana, PA twice - once before for a wedding, and the second time was to photograph these two for their engagement photos! And it was completely and totally worth the trip! 💛 Amy and Anthony met while attending IUP (see more from Amy’s recount of their story below!) and got engaged on a trip to Florida last fall! One of my favorite little details I learned about these two is that Anthony took Amy (on their first date) to the same restaurant that Anthony’s dad took Anthony’s mom to on their first date 😭 Talk about special!

Besides their love for coffee and cars, these two love traveling and being adventurous together! One of their more adventurous dates included zip-lining over the ocean and swimming with dolphins. They’ve also backpacked around Switzerland, where they “scootered” down the alps! Even in the midst of all of their adventuring, I couldn’t help but get the sense that these two truly love and care not only for each other, but for the people around them. They are two incredibly kind and down-to-earth people who I feel so privileged to know!

Amy and Anthony, thank you for the incredible honor of taking these photos for you! I cannot WAIT for your wedding!! 💛

How they met:

“IUP hosts a mandatory pre-departure meeting for all students studying abroad. We both studied abroad in Spring 2014 -myself in Spain and Anthony in England. Due to an error (or some may call it fate) in the seating chart, my assigned seat was at the England table, right next to Anthony. We talked the whole meeting and then left and went our separate ways, without talking or communicating in any way again. Then on my first night back in Indiana in August 2014, I was out catching up with a friend and Anthony walked into the restaurant. It turns out that the friend I was out with was a mutual friend of both mine and Anthony's, so Anthony sat down with us for awhile. We hit it off again, but this time we weren't studying abroad, so we've been almost inseparable ever since.”