Deidre & Paul: Cleland Rock & Moraine State Park Engagement Photos

This was such a fun engagement session! Deidre & Paul were a BLAST to photograph (alongside their pups, Navin & Piper!), and made my job so easy!

Deidre & Paul met while in college and are getting married next year at Irons Mills Farmstead! They had their first date at a bounce house (talk about a great first date!) and love spending their time just being together - them and their pups!

Their engagement session took place during one of the recent weeks where there was a lot of extra haze from the wildfires further North (you’ll especially notice in the photos towards the end when they are in front of the lake).

We started off their session at Cleland Rock, then headed over to Moraine State Park for our last chunk of time. It was truly a joy to photograph these two, and I couldn’t be more excited for their wedding next year!

Congratulations again on your engagement, Deidre & Paul! ☺️

Kathi & John: St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church Wedding Photos

Kathi & John’s wedding day was a BLAST! I photographed these two in the spring of 2022 for their engagement session (click here to see it!) and have been looking forward to working with them on their wedding day ever since.

Their wedding day took place in Monessen, PA - a town that I had never been to prior to! Apart from the getting ready portion of the day, their wedding festivities took place entirely on St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church’s property. Their ceremony took place in the sanctuary, with their reception taking place at the Hellenic Center, just a staircase below!

Kathi got ready with her bridesmaids at her and John’s home, while John got ready at his childhood home. Both houses were very close to the church, which made traveling on the day of for the couple and the bridal party so convenient!

Kathi & John have a beautiful backyard, which made for a great spot for photos of Kathi & her bridesmaids prior to leaving for the ceremony. There was even a gorgeous purple flowering bush that we used for Kathi’s bridal portraits… which turned out SO beautiful!

John’s parents also had a scenic backyard for photos of the groomsmen, with lots of greenery!

The ceremony was traditional Greek Orthodox - I’ve only photographed one Greek Orthodox ceremony before, so it was a treat to be able to photograph one again! I love the tradition and symbolism incorporated throughout the ceremony.

And thankfully, even thought it was supposed to rain for their entire wedding day - it only rained during the ceremony. That was a HUGE answer to prayer! We were able to take all of their bridal party & couple portraits outside, which we were not expecting… what a blessing!

After portraits came the reception - full of giant cookie tables, delicious food, and tons of Greek dancing! I’m not sure I’ve seen a bride & groom on the dance floor as much - ever! They had a ton of fun and we enjoyed every minute of getting to work with them. Congratulations on your wedding day, Kathi & John!!

Vendors: Just Hitched Wedding Films , Fragile Paradise Florist , Barton's Bake Shop, Galiffa Productions, Wanderlust Beauty Studio, The White Orchid, By George Catering

Karissa & Dave: Saint Alexis Church & The Chadwick Wedding Photos

It was the most perfect summer day for Karissa & Dave's June wedding day!

Karissa got ready at her childhood home that is situated just a short walk from the church. Photos between the ceremony & reception were taken at the North Park Golf Course, where Karissa's family is very well known! And the reception took place at the Chadwick in Wexford - the very last few photos in this blog post feature Karissa’s grandma & grandpa, who have been married for 60+ years! They won the anniversary dance for longest married couple at Karissa & Dave’s reception!

These two met during the lockdown era back in 2020 - it's beautiful to see how God takes difficult times and brings beauty out of them, like with Karissa & Dave's relationship!

Congratulations on your wedding day, you two!

Vendors: The Chadwick, North Park Golf Course, Saint Alexis Church, Hearts and Flowers Floral Design Studio, Pittsburgh DJ Company, Samantha Colton (hair & makeup), Nota Bene Fine Paper Boutique (invitation), Bridal Beginning Pittsburgh

Martha & Sam: Greystone Fields Wedding Photos

It’s hard to believe it, but here we are… the first wedding blog post of the year! 🎉

Martha & Sam’s wedding was not only my first wedding of 2023, but also my first wedding back from maternity leave! It truly felt so good to be back to work… even if it was hard to leave my little one for such a long period of time!

Before Martha & Sam’s wedding day, the weather forecast was ominous (at best). The forecast was calling for 90-100% chance of rain all day. We had talked through rain plans, packed our clear bubble umbrellas in the car (a must have for peace of mind if you photograph weddings in Pittsburgh), and even unloaded our gear into the church in the rain - and then, the clouds parted and the skies cleared exactly when we needed them to for photos! That was a HUGE blessing, considering the fact that Martha & Sam wanted to showcase the beauty of Oakland (the place where they went to school, met, got to know each other, and became husband and wife!) in their photos. I was (and am) so thankful!

The ceremony itself took place at Bellefield Presbyterian Church in Oakland, where Martha & Sam met. The church ministers to the Oakland area (including many Pitt students), which is how Martha & Sam became involved. Not only is the church one that is on mission to reach its community.. but it’s also so beautiful, with stained glass decorating its walls. It was the most beautiful backdrop for their vows!

After the ceremony, we headed over to the Cathedral of Learning for bridal party and bride & groom photos, and then over to their reception venue, Greystone Fields in Gibsonia (which we absolutely LOVE!). After an evening full of dancing, food, and cookies, Martha & Sam ended their night with a “last dance,” with just the two of them in the reception space, and then made their getaway exit through lines of guests holding Chinese lanterns.

Martha & Sam had the most beautiful day and I am so thankful to have been a part of it. Congratulations on your marriage, Martha & Sam!

Vendors: Bellefield Presbyterian Church (Ceremony), Greystone Fields (Reception), Yinz Getting Married (Planning & Coordination), Tolman Media / Reflections Media Pennsylvania (Videographer), Weischedel Florist & Ghse (Florals), Oakmont Bakery (Cake), Bridal by Bre (Makeup & Hair), One White Lane (Wedding Dress), Sophia Tolli Australia (Wedding Dress Designer), Stephen’s Kitchen & Catering, Joyce Gindlesperger (Pianist), Rev. Joshua Brown (Officiant)

Unique Blog Post Ideas for Wedding Photographers

Is blogging dead in 2023?

While I consider myself a fairly consistent blogger (I blog about 70 times per year), I’ve wondered this myself as we enter the golden age of apps like TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube. Does blogging have any value for a small business owner, and maybe more specifically for photographers, in 2023?

I might be biased, but I say a resounding YES! And I say this emphatic “yes” because of some simple (yet compelling) reasons:

• Content from my blog STILL drives TONS of traffic to my website (especially when I’m consistently sharing and keywording images from my sessions), which is great for my SEO rankings on Google. Google likes activity, and they reward websites with “good” activity with higher rankings (meaning that when someone searches for you, your website/blog post will pop up on or closer to that coveted first page of Google!)

• Blogging is an easy way for me to answer frequent questions that clients have for me, and in turn, allows me to serve my clients better. When they email me, I simply send them the blog post I’ve already written instead of typing out that answer again and again and again. Plus - answering your clients questions positions you as an expert in your field. Imagine someone Googling “where should I have my senior photos taken in (insert your town)?” and YOUR blog post pops up with some beautiful images from your favorite locations. Do you think that person is going to trust that you are an expert and that you know what you’re doing? Of course! And that puts them in a great position to want to invest in your services and experience. Score!

For me, those are two awesome reasons to continue blogging, even into 2023 and beyond. And I believe that anyone can “up” their rankings on Google by consistently posting to their blog, even beginning in 2023. It’s not too late to start!

One of the most difficult things about having a blog can be the age old question of “but what do I write?” As someone who has been blogging for 10 years, trust me, I GET IT. I feel like I’ve written so so many blog posts throughout the years that I barely have any content left to write about. But then I get a question from a client or photograph a wedding at a new venue, and suddenly, I have an idea for content!

In this particular blog post, I’d love to share some ideas with you for blog posts that will actually help you rank on Google and that will help you serve your clients well. Because you need those inquiries… and you need to take care of those clients who have already trusted you with their memories and money!

First up, I’m going to share some blog post ideas specifically for Wedding Photographers.

UNIQUE BLOG POST IDEAS FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS:

• Highlight the best images from every wedding you photograph. Yes, every single one. Chances are, you’re most likely editing some sneak peeks for your client, so go the extra mile and throw those sneak peeks in a blog post - but don’t forget to keyword those images (that’s the secret sauce!). This one is such good low hanging fruit, too, because these blog posts basically write themselves. Share the images, share a list of what vendors were involved in the wedding day, and even a little bit about the flow of the day itself (people love reading about the behind the scenes of a wedding day!). If you really want to go crazy - share a little bit about the couple’s story, too!

• Highlight your favorite venues in their own blog posts. Are there any places you LOVE shooting weddings at? Consider featuring those venues in their own blog post! Couples tend to book their venue before their wedding photographer anyways, so being able to offer professional insight about a wedding venue positions you as an expert, and could give you an upper-hand on other photographers who haven’t photographed events there before.

• Why should your client do/not do a first look? List out the pros and cons of a first look between a bride and groom. How will it help their wedding day flow better or worse?

• How you handle rain on a client’s wedding day. Do you bring umbrellas with you? Are you an off camera lighting aficionado who could make any indoor space look amazing? What types of locations do you look for to use during a wedding while it’s raining?

• Share a sample wedding day timeline - you could even do this for different “types” of wedding days (i.e., with a first look, without a first look, 8 hours of wedding coverage, 10 hours of wedding coverage, with a reception exit, without a reception exit, etc.)

• Share your favorite vendors. You could do multiple blog posts with different vendor categories: florists, makeup artists, DJ’s, etc.). Don’t forget to link to their websites, too!

• Think about the most difficult parts of the day from the client perspective, and offer a solution from your expertise. For example, ways to not keep your guests waiting too long during cocktail hour photos, how to work through family formals quickly, etc.

• Why should your client consider having engagement photos done? Are there any benefits of them getting to work with you beforehand?

• How can they prepare for their engagement photos? Is there anything they should do beforehand that will help them show up more prepared?

• Share your favorite locations for taking engagement photos.

• Are there any details you want your client to have ready for you when you arrive on their wedding day? Most of the time bridal detail photos are the first thing a photographer photographs - what should they have ready for you? (Tip: you can also make a blog post listing groom detail photo ideas!)

• How can your client maximize their portrait time on their wedding day? This would be a good place to talk about sneaking out of the reception for those beautiful golden hour photos!

• If you offer albums, create a blog post featuring some of your sample albums. Show them what options you have available! Cover materials, page designs, sizes, etc.

• Write about a challenge you experienced on a wedding day, and how you overcame it. This, again, will position you as an expert in your field! Wedding days are FULL of problems that need to be solved quickly by professionals.

• Share your favorite locations for taking wedding photos. If you photograph weddings in a city, you might have some locations you prefer over others. Share why you love those spots so you can begin to steer your clients towards those favorable locations!

• Share a compilation of your favorite ___________ photos. What I mean by this is: if you LOVE photographing epic night photos, share a compilation blog post featuring your favorite epic night shots. If you love taking wedding couples out for golden hour photos, share a blog post featuring your favorite golden hour photos. You could basically do this for every part of a wedding day!

• At the end of the year, share your favorite wedding images from that particular year. It’s fun to do a little round up of the year prior! I try to choose at least one image from each wedding I photograph to share in my yearly round up blog post. I find that my clients enjoy seeing everything else I photographed that year, and I enjoy seeing and remembering all the hard work that went into that year!

I hope this list is helpful for giving you at least one idea for how you can get started writing your wedding photography blog! And remember - even if a blog post has been written before, it hasn’t been written from your unique perspective. YOUR clients want to hear from YOU! Happy writing!

How I Navigated Pregnancy as a Wedding Photographer

2022 was a unique year for me as a wedding photographer and business owner, because I was pregnant for the first time, ever! There were lots of unknowns and some learning curves, but thankfully, I was able to make it through photographing 12 wedding days (and many portrait sessions!) while pregnant. Granted, that may not be as many as other photographers, but it still was enough to make me a little nervous going into wedding season!

Looking back on this season, I would love to share some tips and thoughts as I look back over the past several months that were helpful for me while navigating wedding season while pregnant.

First, I’d love to share some general things I implemented that ended up being helpful throughout my season!

1.     I let my wedding couples know I was pregnant before I announced it publicly.

Sharing about your pregnancy is a very personal thing. I went back and forth on whether or not to share the good news with my couples individually once I was in my second trimester, but looking back, I am SO glad I did. Sharing the news with my couples allowed us to be on the same page and left space for open communication. I didn’t want to announce my pregnancy on social media, then have them wonder how the pregnancy could affect their wedding day. For me, it was important to answer the major questions up front (the biggest being if anything with the pregnancy, like my due date, could affect their day), and then to keep the door open to discuss any questions or concerns they might have. Wedding photography is an investment, and I wanted them to be confident that I would still be able to fulfill my obligations to them just the same!

Another perk of letting my couples know I was pregnant was not having to explain certain things on a wedding day. For example – I had more frequent bathroom trips, which never interrupted the flow of the day, but my couples were understanding when I needed to take a quick detour to the restroom. All of my couples were incredibly kind about letting me sit down to eat dinner during the reception, and there were a few times during longer receptions where I sat down while taking photos of the dance floor action. I never felt like I needed to explain why I was making those choices to my couples, which helped me feel better about photographing their day while pregnant!

2.     I had a strong & consistent assistant/second shooter come with me to every wedding.

My husband photographed about 60-70% of my weddings with me prior to me becoming pregnant, so after we found out I was pregnant, we talked about him committing to helping me with all of my weddings for the 2022 photo season. Thankfully, I had already decided that I was going to take a few less in 2022, so even with his full time job, he was able to help me with all of the weddings I had scheduled. This did a couple of things for me: it helped me know, without a doubt, that I had someone I could rely on to help me with anything and everything. All of the other second photographers I have ever hired to help me with a wedding have been fantastic – wonderful shooters who are incredibly helpful – but there’s something about having your spouse there to help you in any situation that feels different. Nick was able to carry lots of our gear, knew how to set up our lighting for receptions, and knows how to support me emotionally on a wedding day (it’s so fun, but can be stressful at times!), so for me, it was huge to have him there consistently throughout my full wedding season, and took some tasks I was used to doing off of my plate.

If I felt the need, I was also open to bringing along someone towards the end of the wedding season (when I was way more pregnant!) to help and be with me for the entire wedding day (since Nick and I are sometimes doing separate things). But we actually ended up feeling like we were able to work through the last few weddings just the two of us! (For reference, my last wedding was at 32 weeks pregnant – thankfully!).

3.      I ended my season early and took less weddings overall.

This may be a controversial one, and something that will be different from person to person depending on financial situations and prior obligations (weddings can sometimes be scheduled SO far in advance, it can be hard to plan so far ahead!). But for me, when I found out I was pregnant, I stopped taking any additional weddings for that current season. 14 was my number for the year, and I was happy with that at the time – and looking back, I am still happy that I decided to limit what I took, even if it meant a decrease in income. I’m also a senior, family, and portrait photographer, so I decided to supplement my income with more of those types of sessions (which were not nearly as hard on my pregnant body as a wedding day!).

In addition to taking less weddings, I ended my shooting season mid-November (typically I shoot through until mid-December) with my due date being mid-January. I wanted to have a month to finish up editing and administrative tasks before Christmas and New Year’s, with a bit of built in rest towards the end of my pregnancy. I am SO thankful I did decide to do that – after my last wedding in mid-November, my body was ready for a break!

4.     The day after each wedding, I gave my body time to rest.

Most photographers try to rest the day after a wedding anyways, but this was even MORE important to me to try to stick to while pregnant!

We are a part of a church plant that meets on Sundays, so we always have a 4-5 hour standing commitment on Sunday mornings/early afternoons that often involve setting up for service, serving, and tearing down. That commitment is extremely important to us, so even during wedding season, we don’t want to miss. However – I made sure that on the weekends I had weddings, I was able to sit in the service, not serve during it. And boy did my body, mind, and emotions need that time to recoup! Then, after our commitment, we would go home and crash and just relax. That was the best way for me to be able to still have that commitment and serve in a smaller capacity during this season!

I’d also love to share a few items that helped me get through those long wedding days.

 1.     Nutrient dense snacks with high protein

Our bodies need lots of nutrients to properly function on long days, but especially while pregnant. While I was pregnant, I learned that my body will always give my growing baby the nutrients it needs first, then I get what’s left. After I learned this, I started noticing how much what I ate affected how I felt, especially on wedding days when I was on my feet directing people for 10+ hours. I started intentionally trying to bring higher protein, nutrient dense snacks with me (nuts, cheese, vegetables, chicken chips, protein bars, etc.) on those long days and felt SO MUCH BETTER as I went throughout the day, and the day after.

2.     Drinks with extra electrolytes

Obviously, it’s important to drink lots of water when you’re pregnant – especially when you’re pregnant and on your feet! But early on in my wedding season, I started noticing that water wasn’t cutting it. I wasn’t able to drink enough on wedding days without constantly having to use the restroom, so I started drinking no sugar added propel on wedding days. I was able to drink a “normal” amount of beverage, stay a bit more hydrated, and, consequently, have a somewhat easier time recovering the following day.

3.     Belly support band

I ended up not using one of these until after my last wedding while pregnant, but boy was it LIFE CHANGING! That baby gets so heavy in your pelvis in your 8th and 9th months of pregnancy, and can cause all sorts of aches and pains. A belly support band would have been a must for me if I had any weddings or sessions past the 32 week mark. I highly recommend this one from Amazon!

4.     Supportive shoes

Such a simple thing that can make such a difference – make sure you have supportive shoes! Or, if you are really feeling the pain in your feet, bring a pair of tennis shoes to switch into at the reception. If you’re obviously pregnant, I don’t think anyone would fault you for it!

5.     Warm foot bath

One of the best gifts my husband got me (before I was pregnant!) was a portable foot bath. This was truly my saving grace after long wedding days while pregnant – I came home and soaked them every single time, and it helped reduce the extra swelling in my feet.

If you are a wedding photographer who is pregnant and will be working through wedding season, please be sure to talk to your doctor to make sure you both are on the same page. All of the tips and items listed here are recommendations from my personal experience, and while they might not be directly applicable to your situation, I do hope they help give you some confidence that you CAN do it!

Jen & Brandon: Heinz Chapel & Grand Hall at the Priory Wedding Photos

Jen & Brandon's wedding (or 2 year vow renewal/celebration!) marks our very last Covid wedding reschedule for us. These two have waited SO long to celebrate with their friends and family - over four years from the time they originally got engaged! And boy, have they had quite a few unexpected events come up. First, their original wedding venue shut down, forcing them to change their date and find a new venue. Then - Covid hit, and different rounds of closures forced them to reschedule not only once, but twice.

But they still decided to officially tie the knot back in 2020 in a very small ceremony, which I love. They didn't let all of the reschedules and closures keep them from celebrating what truly matters - a union of two in marriage! But of course, they still wanted to celebrate with their friends and family, so they decided to keep their reception plans and celebrate a two year vow renewal instead.

And there's even more to celebrate this year - they have a baby on the way, and they just closed on their first home. What a joy! It only made their celebration that much sweeter.

Jen & Brandon, thank you for letting us photograph your beautiful wedding celebration. It was an honor to celebrate so many huge milestones with you alongside your friends & family! You two are a joy, and I'm sad that our time of working together has come to a close!

Vendors: Heinz Memorial Chapel, Grand Hall - Priory, Just Hitched Wedding Films, McCandless Floral, Prantl's Bakery, JL Makeup Studio and Beauty Boutique, Bridal Beginning Pittsburgh, Magnet Street (invitations),

Cleveland Keys Dueling Pianos (made their reception SO FUN and unlike any other we've been to!)

Casey & Danny: Picturesque Fall St. Vincent College Wedding

Casey & Danny met at St. Vincent College, got engaged at St. Vincent College, had their engagement photos taken at St. Vincent College, and on a beautiful October weekend, they finally said "I do" in the St. Vincent Basilica at St. Vincent College!

And even though we had a little sprinkling of rain on and off, we had was the most beautiful fall day to celebrate their marriage!

I started off the day with Casey at her childhood home for getting ready photos, then we headed off to St. Vincent's for a beautiful ceremony, and some photos around the campus that brought them together! At the reception, they had a beautiful foot washing ceremony followed by lots of dancing, cookies, and mingling with family and friends!

One of my favorite details from Casey & Danny’s wedding: Casey carried her grandma’s Bible with her bouquet down the aisle that has been carried by all of the women in her family since. What a sweet tradition! ❤️

Casey & Danny, thank you so much for the honor of being a part of your beautiful day. It was such an honor!

Vendors: St. Vincent Basilica, Brides & Butterflies (florist), Moio's Italian Bakery, Mobile Mix DJ, Shayla Snyder (hair), MarWin Bridal, AZAZIE, Stratigos Banquet Centre

Abigail & Austin: Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens Wedding

Abby & Austin celebrated their marriage at the one and only Pittsburgh Botanic Garden on the most gorgeous of early fall days, and they flew in from Seattle to do so!

This intimate, laid back affair included their closest family and friends, as well as some who they haven't seen since pre-Covid! Needless to say, it was the sweetest time for catching up and celebrating the union of these two people who just genuinely love each other so much!

Abby & Austin had their first look at the Japanese Garden, followed by some portraits, then onto their ceremony, then some more portraits around the Celebration Garden, a few in the Meadow, and a few on the pathway back to the reception space (which probably ended up being some of my favorites from the whole day!). The pair chose a tent with a transparent roof - which let in so much beautiful sunlight! It was perfect for getting that almost completely outdoor affect, without having to worry about there being a threat of rain. During the reception, they focused on toasts from family & family members, interacting with their guests, all while being serenaded by some gorgeous jazz music!

Abby & Austin, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for letting us be a part of your sweet celebration. It was truly a day to remember!

Vendors: Oakmont Bakery, Community Flower Shop, Make Up Design Studio, Luxe Redux Bridal

Anna & Henry: White Barn in Prospect, PA Wedding Photos

Anna & Henry had the most beautiful September day for their White Barn wedding (& of course, the most beautiful venue! But I know I'm biased since this was where I got married back in 2015!!!)

Anna & Henry’s wedding day was full of special details to the couple, and so much fun! In the photos below, you’ll easily be able to see how much these two adore each other and how much fun they love to have!

One of my favorite things about working at the White Barn is that everything takes place there. The ladies can get ready there, the ceremony, photos, and reception can all happen there - which makes the day much more relaxing for the family & bridal party (and it’s not too bad from a vendor perspective, either ;) ).

After the ladies were finished getting ready, Anna shared a first look with her then future mother-in-law, then with her bridesmaids, and then with her dad. After taking some photos of Anna with her bridesmaids and Henry with his groomsmen, we were all set for the ceremony to begin!

Post ceremony, we dove right into family formals, then bridal party portraits, and finally photos of the bride & groom. The White Barn has so many great backdrops on their property, and we were able to use so many of them during the time we had allotted for photos! And Anna & Henry were such naturals in front of the camera! (Click here to see their engagement photos from last year!)

Their reception began with confetti guns and a champagne tower, and the party went on all night long!

Congratulations on your wedding day, Anna & Henry!!! Thank you so much for letting us be a part of it!

Vendors: Oakmont Bakery (cake), Alexis Vince Makeup, Bridal Beginning Pittsburgh (bride's dress & bridesmaid dresses), Loyalty Entertainment LTD (DJ), Lightning Hair Lounge, Truly Engaging by Magnet Street (invitation), Medure's Catering