Kelsey & Nick: Downtown Pittsburgh Engagement Photos

It has been a while since I've had an engagement session in the city, and we hit so many favorite spots in celebration of Kelsey & Nick's engagement - we had the sweetest time with them!

First up on our location list Point State Park, which was bursting with the most beautiful color! Second - the classic North Shore Riverwalk, with Kelsey in one of the cutest e-session dresses I've ever seen! And third, one of my favorite views in Pittsburgh in the Strip District. They even brought bottle of champagne (with a custom made label) and glasses for a little sunset toast!

These two were an absolute BLAST to spend the evening with... and I couldn't be more excited for their wedding day!

Congratulations, Kelsey & Nick! Thank you so much for letting me walk alongside you in this season! ❤️

Bridget & Sean: North Shore Pittsburgh Engagement Photos

Bridget & Sean wanted a true Pittsburgh session, and there was hardly a better place than the North Shore! We had an absolute blast hanging out with these two and exploring along the riverwalk. Even better… we had a cloudy day for their photos, which was sooo helpful with this particular location… it usually gets blasted with afternoon light, but fortunately, the clouds created a beautiful, diffused glow on the city!

However, this perfectly lit engagement session didn’t happen without a few obstacles that we had to overcome!

First, we found out there was an event happening at our original location (Point State Park) that would make it near impossible to get photos without crowds in the background. So, we changed our game plan for the location. Then, the weather forecast started to get worse and worse as the day went on… the rain went back and forth, then back and forth again - so we opted to move the session up by an hour or so to try and beat the rain, which was definitely a must, since Bridget was driving a few hours in from out of town! But in the end, I was so thankful that this sweet couple was willing to be so flexible and roll with the unexpected punches… and I am so excited about the images that we were able to get!

Congratulations on your engagement, Bridget & Sean! I couldn’t be more excited for your wedding day next year! ❤️

Hannah & Taylor: Point State Park Engagement Photos

What a lovely evening we had for Hannah & Taylor's engagement session at the beginning of October! These two are from Indiana (the state!), and moved to Pittsburgh within the last couple of years. Though they're planning on tying the knot in their home state, they wanted to get some iconic Pittsburgh photos to celebrate their relationship in the place they now call home!

We started off at Point State Park, then ended our time together with some champagne bottle popping on the North Shore with the iconic Roberto Clemente Bridge! We felt like we had known these two for years - they are kind, encouraging, and just so easy to be around!

Also, fun fact: these two have been together for 9.5 years, and are getting married on their 10 year anniversary - what way to celebrate!!

Congratulations to you two, Hannah and Taylor! I am so thankful to have been the one to take these photos for you! ❤️

Taylor & Chris: Pittsburgh Engagement Photos

This blog post feels like a blast from the past in the absolute best way possible! I’ve known Taylor for quite a few years - we went to the same school for a period of time (before her family moved to Texas!) and my sister was a friend of hers, but her and I were about six years apart in age!

Taylor and Chris BOTH went to the same school as I did, actually - and that’s where they met, all the way back in high school! They’ve been together for quite a few years, and much of their dating relationship has been long distance. But starting next year after their wedding day, they’ll be together full time here in Pittsburgh! Even though they’re tying the knot in Texas, they wanted their engagement photos done in the city where they met, as a way to incorporate the ‘Burgh into their wedding day! Which, I thought, was an absolutely brilliant idea!

We had the most fun EVER walking around the Mexican War Streets, hanging out at Allegheny Commons Park, and catching the soft evening light on the North Shore, near the Roberto Clemente Bridge. These two are full of love, TONS of laugher, and I am just so stinkin’ excited for them to be husband and wife!

Taylor & Chris, congratulations on your engagement, and thank you SO much for the honor of taking these photos for you!

Chelsea & Zach: Point State Park Engagement Photos

I can barely contain my excitement to share this downtown Pittsburgh engagement session!! Towards the beginning of Chelsea & Zach’s session, it started to rain - out of no where! But thankfully, it left just as quick as it came, and we were rewarded with the most beautiful evening for their photos!

Chelsea & Zach met in a Finance class in Mervis Hall on Pitt's campus during their 2015 Fall semester! They got this winter in front of the red doors at the Cathedral of Learning - the perfect, most personal spot. Their first date was a Penguin’s game, and they currently live on Mount Washington - you could say that they’re a true Pittsburgh couple, through and through!

We started off their engagement session at Point State Park, then headed over to the North Shore area to get some photos with the skyline and bridges. They brought some champagne (such a great prop!) and were brave enough to dip in the middle of the Roberto Clemente bridge! (Don’t worry - we had someone watching for cars!!!).

Chelsea & Zach, I am SO excited to be a part of your wedding day! Congratulations on your engagement, again!

Colleen + Brett: Riverfront Pittsburgh Engagement Photos

Oh my, this was a fun one for so many reasons! I had the pleasure of photographing Colleen and Brett’s engagement photos at two amazing locations (one of which was new to me!): Aspinwall Riverfront Park, and the North Shore!

Colleen and Brett are a laid back couple who were so much fun to photograph! Their whole session felt like we were old friends just hanging out, which made my job so easy!

We started out their session at Aspinwall Riverfront Park in their work outfits. Brett works in law enforcement, Colleen works in the medical field, and they’re both so passionate about what they do for a living! We incorporated Brett’s dog into a few photos, then headed down to the North Shore for some gorgeous golden light and epic bridge photos!

Colleen and Brett - you two are so much fun, and I can’t wait to celebrate you two on your wedding day!! ☺️ Congratulations again on your engagement!

Lauren & Michael: Downtown Pittsburgh Engagement Photos

The CRAZIEST thing happened at the beginning of October (I promise, it relates to Lauren & Michael!). I was photographing a wedding at Shady Elms Farm, and showed up early to get a few things set up. While I was carrying my gear into the barn, I noticed a couple walking around, checking out the space! I distinctly remember thinking “I wonder if they have a photographer for their wedding?!” Shady Elms Farm is one of my all-time favorite locations for photographing weddings, and I’m always trying to find ways to shoot there more!

While I was organizing my camera bag, I heard the voice of the venue owner say “do you two have a photographer yet?” To which the bride replied “we do!” To which the coordinator (ever so kindly!) replied: “I was going to recommend this one to you!” (Motioning to me). To which the bride said “I think she’s actually our photographer!”

I stood up, whirled around, and found myself standing in front of two vaguely familiar faces, whose names I recognized immediately. It just so happened that this couple (who currently lives in North Dakota and who I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting in person yet!) was one of my couples whose wedding I am photographing next year! And they were in town for their engagement session, which I was photographing that very week!

I mean, seriously?! How much do all of the stars need to align in order for something like that to happen?!? I really think that everything is meant to happen for a reason, and the fact that we all happened to be in the same place at the same time was just too crazy!

But anyways - on to more about this amazing pair! Lauren and Michael are two of the kindest human beings on the planet! They are the type of people who you instantly feel comfortable around, and, though you might’ve just met, feel as though you’ve known them for years!

They met at Penn State at a fraternity tailgate before a home football game - and the rest, as they say, is history! They totally hit it off. And Lauren even skipped an anatomy class to get ready for the date! A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! Michael later planned a sneaky/surprise proposal at Phipp’s Conservatory in a private room. Talk about perfection!!!

It’s so easy to tell how much these two love each other, and what a truly amazing pair they make together! Lauren and Michael, I could not be more excited to photograph your wedding day next year and to celebrate your love! Congratulations again on your engagement!!! 💛

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! 💛

Why Professional Prints Are Worth the Investment

When someone pays to have photos taken, typically, they plan on printing them to hang around their home. At least, that’s usually the final destination. But not everyone gets there the same way. Some might choose to print through a local consumer lab, such as Walmart, Target, or Walgreens – all of which are helpful for keeping things cheap and fast. But what might you be sacrificing in the long run?

I like to liken having photos taken and printing them through a non-professional lab to going to a fancy restaurant with a picture of a meal that you want to eat from a different restaurant – for example, a burger with fries – and then having that restaurant make the meal with their ingredients. Technically, yes, you’re eating a burger and fries that resembles the photo you brought in – but the quality of the meal (and your experience) will most likely suffer, because you’re not eating the meal the way it was indented to be eaten with its intended ingredients. Much is the same with printing your photos. The photos might not look that different – in fact, they might look fairly similar – the same faces, the same pose. But what’s affected is the quality.

So, what can be affected in your prints when you order from a consumer lab, such as Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Costco, or Shutterfly?

• Colors could look off (too saturated, or just plain different)
• Skin color is always affected (you might look too orange, yellow, pink, or green!)
• Highlights may be too bright (making the subject look too washed out!)
• The print could lose contrast or have too much added (making the print look too soft or muddy and gross!)
• The photo could appear out of focus (I’ve had this happen several times to people!)

If you’re interested in comparing different photos from a variety of labs, I highly recommend checking out THIS ARTICLE, which gives an amazing comparison of prints from a variety of different consumer labs compared to a professional lab!

Printing from a professional lab ensures that your photos will look as close as possible to what you see on your screen and in your gallery. Remember – photos are an investment, and if you’ve spent money on having gorgeous photos taken, going the extra step to make sure they’re printed correctly is an investment worth making!

Kristin + Brian: Allegheny Commons Park Engagement Photos

Have you ever met people that are just so instantly comfortable to be around?! Kristin and Brian are most definitely those people! Not only are they easy to be around, but they are incredibly gracious and kind! These two wanted warm weather photos, and if you live in Pittsburgh, you know that we had one of the longest reaching-into-spring winters in a while. So we pushed back their engagement session date once - then twice - and you know what they say - third time's a charm, and it was SO worth the wait!

We met up at Allegheny Commons Park on a chilly morning, but lucky for us, there were some pink blossom trees that were in bloom, which is exactly what Kristin had envisioned (along with lots of green!).

And if you can't tell how adorable and in-love these two are from their photos, listen to how they met: Brian was a teller at a bank, and Kristin was a server at Eat'n Park (a little over three years ago). Kristin would come into the bank to deposit her tips, which is how she met Brian. After she met him, she tried to purposely make sure she would end up going to his counter (doesn't it sound like something out of a movie?!) - and a short while after, they had their first date (on St. Patty's Day!) which included some Eat'n Park grub!

Besides being such fun and kind people, Kristin is actually an incredibly talented wedding and senior photographer herself (check out her work here!!). It is always such a HUGE honor when someone else in the industry trusts me with their precious memories!

Without further ado, check out a few (or, okay, a LOT ) of favorites from Kristin and Brian's session! Cannot wait to celebrate with you two next month!!