DeFanti Family: Zelienople Family Photographer

Oh how I love this family! I've had the pleasure of knowing Ada for a couple of years now. Ada is a wonderful photographer herself and loves to photograph families and seniors around her beautiful property, just north of Cranberry Township. So you can imagine how honored I was when she asked me to come and take some photos of her sweet family on their very own property!

As a side note, I think Ada has one of the coolest jobs ever - she works for Disney at their research center in Oakland (And for those of you who don't know me very well - I LOVE Disney!) - talk about an amazing gig! 

Without further ado, here are just a few of my favorites from their session!

Maddie + Tyson: McConnell's Mill & Moraine State Park Engagement Photos

Oh how I love the locations Maddie and Tyson chose for their engagement session - we hit all of the good spots! Cleland Rock has become one of my favorites - it is a beautiful rock overlooking the very scenic mountains of McConnell's, with a field right across. Our second location was the South Shore of Moraine State Park right before sunset. Does it get any better than that?!

Maddie and Tyson both work in finance and accounting and are lovers of all kinds of adventure! From kayaking to boating to skydiving, these two have traveled the world side by side in search for life's most interesting activities! Just to give you more of an idea, here's a little excerpt from Maddie about their favorite date:

"We went on a cruise in the Caribbean and did a zip line called 'The Extreme' in St. Maarten. It was one of the craziest things we've ever done! The zip line went on for miles and miles through the forest and you basically did everything on your own - hooked yourself on and off of the zip line as you went down. The sights were beautiful and something we'll never forget. Afterwards, we grabbed lunch and stopped at a bar on the beach to enjoy some margaritas while looking at the clear blue waters."

How amazing is that?! Knowing all of that background, I'm sure you won't be surprised to read that Tyson popped the question during a pretty rigorous hike at Ohiopyle earlier this year! But Maddie said the ring made the hike worth every step! :)

Congratulations, Maddie and Tyson! We are so excited to be a part of your day!!

Caileigh S: Hartwood Acres Senior Photos

Every once in a while I have a senior that takes my poses and makes them even better - and Caileigh was, without a doubt, one of those seniors! We had so much fun taking this sweet girl's senior portraits at Hartwood Acres. And, as you will be able to see - she literally cannot take a bad photo! Caileigh brought a couple of different outfits (all adorable!), but I especially loved her idea of incorporating her school colors (blue and yellow) into her last outfit to match her poms. It was perfect! Thank you so much for an awesome session Caileigh, and congratulations on your last year of school!

Danielle D: McConnell's Mill Senior Photos

Today I'm excited to share Danielle's senior photos from her McConnell's Mill senior session! I had the privilege of photographing Danielle's brother, Joey, just last year at McConnell's Mill for his senior photos (see more from his session here). I love this family and I'm just so excited to share these photos of this sweet girl!

When Should We Have Our Engagement Photos Taken?

You’re engaged – congratulations!! For many couples the first few steps in wedding planning might include finding (and booking) a wedding venue, beginning the ever-popular bridal dress search, and booking an engagement session! One of the most frequent questions I receive from recently engaged couples is: “when should I book our engagement photos?”

This is a great question, but really, there is not one-size-fits-all answer. I always recommend couples book their session sooner rather than later, but truthfully, the question of when to book your engagement session comes down to how you plan to use your engagement photos. For example:

• Will you be using your engagement photos for an engagement newspaper announcement? (If so, you might want to schedule them within the first few weeks of being engaged!)
• Will you be using your engagement photos for save the dates? (Save the dates typically get sent out 6 to 8 months before the wedding date, so it would be best to schedule your session 8 to 10 months out from your wedding date.)
• Will you be using your engagement photos for bridal shower décor? (The bridal shower typically occurs 1 to 2 months before a wedding, so 4 to 5 months should give you enough time!)
• Will you be decorating your wedding with your engagement photos? (If you’re really only planning on using your photos to decorate your wedding, you could probably time your engagement session just a couple of months out from your big day!)

Other points to consider that may affect the timing of your engagement photos might be…

…if you have your heart set on getting your photos done during a certain season.

 …if you have your heart set on a certain seasonal location (for example – if you’re from Pittsburgh and you want the fountain at the Point in the background, scheduling during the summer time would be best, as it turns off as the months grow colder!).

…if you would like to have a destination engagement session in a different city (your photographer’s availability might be varied for sessions that require further travel).

Caroline + Grayson: North Shore Engagement Photos

I loved having the opportunity to hang out with Caroline, Grayson, and their pup Rigsby in downtown Pittsburgh not too long ago! Congratulations on your engagement, Caroline and Grayson!

Madeline O: Hartwood Acres Senior Photos

Is anyone tired of seeing Hartwood sessions yet?! I have to be honest - I'm definitely not tired of photographing them! I think every time I go (which has been a lot this spring/summer!) I fall a little bit more in love with it. (Plus, I feel like I need to get in all of these brightly colored flower photos before winter time hits!). But beyond all that - I had the complete pleasure of photographing Maddie yesterday evening! Her sweet, outgoing personality made her a dream to photograph (and her love for grapefruit and Conley cookies from Monte Cello's is out of this world!!). Check out a few of my favorite photos from her session below!

Cailey K: North Park Senior Photos

Cailey is a hockey-playing senior from Pine Richland who is just the cutest! Even though it sprinkled throughout about half of Cailey's session, she was a trooper and didn't let the rain dampen her spirit! We had so much fun hanging out with her - congratulations on your last year of school, Cailey!

Sam M: McConnell's Mill Senior Photos

I have to give MAJOR props to Sam - she spent her last morning before her senior year with me... at McConnell's Mill... at the crack of dawn. And she had a smile on her face the entire time! We were able to hit up some BEAUTIFUL morning light, and Sam jumped right into posing with ease - I couldn't believe she had never had her photos taken professionally before! Sam is an avid reader, and reads more books in a month than I read in a year. She's just an all around awesome person to be around! Congratulations on your last year of school, Sam!

Twesha M: Hartwood Acres Senior Photos

Ohhh do I love this girl! I know I say that all of my seniors are the sweetest - but they all truly are, and Twesha was no exception! This girl is naturally gorgeous, incredibly talented, and if it tells you anything about her dedicated, hard-working personality, her name means "intelligent." For her wardrobe, Twesha brought two street outfits along with an authentic Indian dress, which was SO much fun to photograph! Never be afraid to incorporate something that represents your personality or your background into your shoot. The results are always awesome!

Thank you so much for an amazing time, Twesha! You are a rockstar!