Amanda & Chris: McConnell's Mill Winter Engagement Photos

You’ve gotta love Pittsburgh, where temperatures can go from 4 degrees to 40 degrees in less than 12 hours! We rescheduled Amanda and Chris’s engagement session twice due to the freezing temps, which ended up being a great choice with the “real feel” and wind temps dipping below zero both times ❄️And in turn, we were rewarded with an almost 40 DEGREE winter afternoon for their winter afternoon session at McConnell’s Mill! And let me tell you - these two totally rocked it!!

ABOUT AMANDA & CHRIS

Amanda and Chris met over the phone, when Chris was working as a tech support rep. Chris quickly became Amanda’s go-to teach support guy, and as they say - the rest is history! But that first call was a pretty significant one, because when I asked these two when they knew each other was ‘the one,’ Chris said: “The first support phone call I had with her. I never wanted to stop talking to her.” Cue the happy tears!

I have a lot of questions I love to ask couples, but one of my favorites is: “What do you admire most about your significant other?” And because Chris and Amanda’s answers to this question are just so sweet (and so telling of how much they love each other!), I just have to share!

Chris: “Her ability to always make me smile or laugh. She managed to do it on our very first phone call, every call after that, and even every day since."

Amanda: “His determination to teach himself anything he puts his mind to. It’s quite wonderful to watch him figure something out that he’s never done before and then successful (with some trial and error) accomplish what he set out to do. It makes me want to learn from him everyday.”

THE SESSION

One of my very favorite things about Amanda and Chris’s entire session is how much they laughed together! They literally laughed through the entire session - which, I know, sounds so simple. But it made my job so easy! It’s always so fun to see two people who are truly and genuinely best friends loving their time together!

We started off their session at the main park section of McConnell’s Mill, and did a little bit of perilous hiking throughout the snow-covered trails, then headed over to one of my favorite sections of McConnell’s Mill - Cleland Rock! It’s about a 12 minute drive from the main Mill section - but SO worth the drive, especially when it’s covered in snow 😍

Without further ado - I am so excited to share some of my favorite images from Amanda and Chris’s engagement session! 💛

Best of Engagement Photos 2018

One of the best parts about engagement sessions is getting to know my wedding couples beforehand, and this year I’ve had the pleasure of photographing so many amazing couples in so many picturesque places! The very first engagement session of the year was in JANUARY, with the sweetest couple who had the most perfect January day! (It was like, 50 degrees and sunny - it doesn’t get much better than that in January in Pittsburgh!). The very last engagement session was with a couple who braved the rain and cold for some unique shots in some of my new favorite locations! All and all, this year was a blessing from start to finish.

To all of the couples who trusted me with their engagement photos: You are the BEST! I am so thankful to be the one you’ve trusted with these precious memories!

Chrissy & Chris: Cozy Pittsburgh In Home Couples Session

I had the pleasure of photographing Chrissy and Chris’s wedding day nearly three years ago (to see their wedding, click here!), and I was so excited when they recently invited me to their new home for a couples session! I had a great time hanging out with these two first time home buyers, along with their adopted dog, Edda! Chrissy and Chris - thank you for the pleasure of taking these photos for you and for showing me around your new home! 💛

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!

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! 🎉

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.”

Kate P: Hartwood Acres Senior Photos

I had a blast hanging out with Kate and her dad for her Hartwood Acres senior session! Every fall, I inevitably become obsessed with the clothing color palettes and soft, earthy hues - and, of course, there was no difference with Kate’s session! So excited for this sweet lady’s bright feature. Congratulations on your senior year, Kate! You are going to do incredible things! 💛