PITTSBURGH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER: WEDDING PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS 2022

What a beautiful year FILLED with amazing couples it has been! These highlight posts are always some of my personal favorite blog posts from the entire year, because I get to see not only all of the beautiful couples I’ve worked with, but also because I get to see highlights from my full body of work throughout the year – that in itself is so rewarding!

It’s hard to believe that I photographed my first wedding 10 years ago this year… so much has changed since 2012! At the time, I never thought that photography was something I would do full time. In fact, I was pursuing two degrees at the time in Graphic Design & Web Design, and was using any photo gigs I booked as a means to pay for them! I am so grateful that God has allowed my business to grow to the point of being able to support my family as my full time job. It is a blessing to get to serve so many people and explore so many beautiful places – and to get to work for myself!

Today, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite photos from my 2022 weddings and engagements. Some might seem like obvious favorites (because they’re of beautiful people or details, or technically beautiful!), but some are my favorites simply because of the emotion they show, and others because of what I had to overcome technically to make the shot happen. Weddings can be quite unpredictable, and often put photographers in situations where they need to make “magic” happen out of less than ideal lighting and timing situations (among other hurdles!). While that part of the job can often be stressful (especially when someone’s memories of the best day of their life are on the line!), that pressure has also given me the opportunity to produce work that I am proud to share with my clients!

So, without further ado – here are some highlights from 2022!

This image was created using a $1.25 mirror from the Dollar Tree… this was the first time I used this little trick to add a bit of visual interest to a detail shot, and I love how it turned out!

This was our first wedding of the year in January - it was like, 6 degrees outside, but our couple still trekked down to the Hot Metal Bridge for photos!

In March, it can be difficult to find good backdrops for photos - I was so excited that the light and backdrop of this venue (the Camelot) lined up and that we were able to use it for bridal party photos! It was honestly a proud moment for me, since there weren’t a ton of backdrops to work with at this particular venue, and we didn’t have enough time to drive to a different spot!

Such a sweet sister moment ❤️

I love the joy, shock, and excitement that comes during proposals. This Phipp’s Conservatory proposal was such a highlight!

We had the whole Broderie room to ourselves!

I love Disney Pixar’s “Up” - Matt & Maria’s “Up” themed wedding day was so much fun to photograph! I got to get a little creative with their details, too!

Possibly one of my favorite bridal party photos of the whole year!

This couple flew in all the way from Seattle for their engagement photos!

Walking around Kennywood with these two was a huge highlight from this year! They met here, so it made the perfect backdrop for their engagement session!

Jackie & Gerald are literary lovers who incorporated so many books into their wedding day. I decided to borrow a few from their reception area to incorporate into their details photos - and I’m so glad I did! I am so excited about how these detail photos turned out!

This backdrop gave me major Lord of the Rings vibes. Which was perfect… considering the fact that Jackie & Gerald incorporated some subtle LOTR details throughout their day!

If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, you’ll appreciate this little potato sign! 😉

Firework photos have always been a bit tricky for me. I love how these ones turned out! And that “Love” sign?! Adorable!

Love this photo that Nick got of the groomsmen!

This wedding took place at the White Barn… one of my all time favorite wedding venues! Nick and I got married here back in 2015, too!

One of the sweetest mother-son dances.

No window light and in a small room? Create your own light with a speedlight by bouncing it into the corner of the room (so the light falls back onto your subject) to create soft, flattering, directional light!

This foot washing ceremony was so sweet, and so emotional.

Champagne pop at sunset?! It doesn’t get much better than that!

Maybe I shouldn’t have favorites… but this bouquet was one of my favorites of the entire year! I love a good fall textured bouquet. It was SUPER heavy, but super gorgeous in all of the photos!

This was one of those tougher lighting situations! It was a super bright day, and the first look took place right in the middle of the day (when the sun is highest in the sky). It’s notoriously the toughest time for natural light photography! I was thankful that we were able to find a place in this location to place the couple where we were able to control the light a bit more, to make sure it was flattering on our couple’s faces.

Something I LOVE about this walkway is that it has white cement… which acts as a great natural reflector, effectively “popping” soft light back into my couple’s faces, creating a flattering look for their skin. This wasn’t a location we had originally planned on using, but when we were driving by, I had to stop and take a few portraits of them there because I knew the light would be great!

This couple had a beautiful clear roof tent, which let in SO MUCH LIGHT! It was the best of both worlds - tented in case of rain, but also it sort of felt like you were completely outside because there was so much light!

I can’t get over the lights they have in the tent at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. They are so gorgeous!

Let me tell you about these confetti poppers! The confetti streamers that come out stay attached to the poppers themselves - making for super easy clean up! Which was great, considering that we popped them on a church altar!

It ended up being pretty cold on Jen & Brandon’s wedding day… so we did the majority of their portraits inside Heinz Chapel. And it was AWESOME. They left us enough time in their timeline to create some really special portraits for them… all while staying warm! 10/10 would do again!

This may be one of my favorite wedding portraits of the whole year!

Engagement photos in a (somewhat surprise) snow storm! We knew it was going to snow, but I don’t think any of us knew how heavy that snow would be. Thankfully - these two went for it! And thankfully I had a willing husband to hold an umbrella over my head while I was taking photos!

How to Get All of the Wedding Photos You're Dreaming Of

When it comes to wedding photography, what brides and grooms might be looking for out of their wedding photos can be very broad from couple to couple. Every couple has must have shots (i.e., the things that happen at every single wedding - the first kiss, first dance, parent dances, etc.), but then there are other photos that might not be as obvious - photos that are based more on preference or details specific to that couple (i.e., a photo of the couple dipping in front of their reception venue, a photo of the bride with her great Aunt Suzie, etc.). As a wedding photographer, it’s my job to capture not only the must-have photos that happen at every wedding day, but also the small details, relationships, and specific photos that might not be so obvious.

To do this, I like to practice three specific things - communication, coordination, and cooperation, all of which must be strong between me and my clients. In this blog post, I’m going to break down how practicing each of these three C’s with my clients has helped me create & capture images that my clients love!

1. Communication

Good communication is an essential building block for any relationship, including a photographer-client relationship. I love spending time getting to know my clients, whether through Zoom at an initial consult meeting, at their engagement session, or on phone calls leading up to their wedding day discussing details. This helps me get a better idea of who they are as a couple, what their like and dislike are, what prompts/direction they respond best to (or don’t respond to at all!), and ultimately helps me figure out how to best photograph them in a way that’s true to who they are. I love when couples give me multiple opportunities to get to know them, because it helps me serve them all the better!

Leading up to the wedding day, communication becomes even more important. There are SO MANY details to communicate about when it comes to a wedding day - addresses for the reception and ceremony, other vendors who will be involved in the day, start and end times, VIP’s, family members, must-have photos, family formal combinations, special details - the list goes on and on! I like to collect all of this information via an online questionnaire that my clients fill out, that is then submitted to me (about 2 to 3 months before the wedding day). This allows me to have all of that information in one place, straight from the bride and/or groom. I can refer to this questionnaire whenever I want! Leading up to the wedding day, I use this questionnaire to create the wedding day timeline, which leads me to my next C - Coordination.

2. Coordination

After communication comes coordination, and there can’t be much coordination of the photo timeline for the wedding day without solid communication!

The first part of coordination happens before the wedding day. Once I receive all of the details about a wedding day from a bride & groom, I take those details and create a master photo timeline. This is my guide for the couple’s wedding day, and allows me to create a game plan for their timeline to make sure we are able to get ALL of the photos they are hoping for! I love when my couples rely on me to help them create their wedding timeline, because I know from experience (10 years of weddings as of 2022!) how much time certain things on a wedding day take… and it’s usually longer than most think!

For example: does it usually take 2 minutes for you to get into your outfit for the day before work? That’s great! But on your wedding day, it will take longer. You may have buttons on the back of your dress, which can take a lengthier amount of time to complete. You might have special jewelry you’ll be wearing, or shoes that have clasps that you’re not used to - not to mention a veil to put in! I encourage my brides to leave 15 to 20 minutes just for getting into their wedding day attire. Sometimes it takes less time, and sometimes it takes more, but that is the average!

Other things that can take additional time on a wedding day are: travel between locations, bustling the dress, restroom breaks, walking between photo locations, receiving lines, first looks with a family member or the wedding party, and even more! Coordinating a solid game plan prior to the wedding day that both me and my couple are on the same page with is key to ensuring that we have enough time to get all of the photos we need, and that the couple, family, and bridal party don’t feel rushed while completing those photos.

The second part of coordination happens on the actual wedding day with the execution of that timeline. Many weddings I photograph do not have a “day of” coordinator (i.e., someone keeping everyone and everything on time on the wedding day). Some may have a ceremony coordinator or reception event coordinator, but what about everything that happens prior to the ceremony and reception, like making sure the bridesmaids/mother of the bride are dressed before the bride, getting the bride dressed, leaving for the church on time, and any photos that might happen in between? Many times, the photographer steps in to coordinate the timing of these events to make sure the bride, groom, bridal party, and family aren’t running behind. For me - it’s a role I happily take on! I love being able to help in this way, and help my couples stay on track for the day. Even the most laid back wedding needs to have some semblance of a timeline and coordination in order to run smoothly!

3. Cooperation

After the communication and coordination comes cooperation, which pulls all three of these pieces of a client-photographer relationship together. Cooperation together on a wedding day between the couple, bridal party, family, photographer, and other vendors is key to having a fantastic day, and to getting all of the photos you’re hoping for! There are many moving parts on a wedding day, and many opportunities for hiccups. On a wedding day, there are a few specific relationships that I, as a photographer, find the need for cooperation with:

Cooperating with the Couple, Bridal Party & Family - First, with the people I’m photographing. This includes the couple (obviously!), the bridal party, and the family members of the couple. The vast majority of the time, cooperation between me and my couples is very easy (first because the ones I photograph are so amazing!), but also because I’ve had the opportunity to build a relationship with the couple. However, the majority of the time, I’m coming into a wedding day without having met the bridal party or family who will be present, which means I need to take the time to build trust with them prior to directing them around. I love to do this by finding ways to encourage the bridal party and family members as much as I can during the getting ready portion of the day, when my job is a bit more candid. That way, when we come to the parts of the day that I need to direct and take control of a bit more (bridal party portraits, family formals), I have built that trust a bit (at least with the bridesmaids and bride’s family!) and have hopefully gained a bit of their trust.

Family members and the bridal party cooperating with the direction and timing I share helps us continue through the day and get all of the photos that the bride & groom want. Problems can arise if family members wander off to cocktail hour during the family photo portion of the day, which ultimately sets the timeline behind. Sometimes, if the bridal party has had a bit too much to drink, they aren’t paying attention to the direction I’m giving, which makes the photos take a bit longer. I love to try to make the photo portion of the day as quick and painless as possible for the larger groups of people involved (family & bridal party), so when all cooperate, we are able to get through photos faster and get them to the reception even quicker!

Cooperating with Other Vendors - Second, I find the need for cooperation between myself and other vendors. On a wedding day, photographers have the unique opportunity to see MANY of the wedding day vendors - usually beginning in the bridal getting ready suite with the hair/makeup artists, working with the videographer throughout the entire day, the “church lady,” limo driver, and finally the DJ and venue event staff/coordinator. Because we work with so many vendors on a wedding day, it’s important for us to put our best foot forward whenever we are able to, and to try to stay on track for the sake of honoring those other vendors who have put so much time and effort into a couple’s wedding day and who want them to have the best day, too!

It’s important for the bride and groom to be diligent in communication and coordinating between their vendors for the sake of the vendors cooperating well on the wedding day. For example: it’s important to ask your photographer when they would like to start taking photos so the hair and makeup artists know when they need to have the bride, bridesmaids, and mother of the bride ready for photos. If this crucial piece of information is not communicated, it can make the entire day run behind. Another good example is communicating how much time the videographer will need on the wedding day. Will they need any time separate from the photo portion of the day for their own video footage? If so, the photographer should know in advance, since they are usually the ones coordinating the day and creating the timeline! (Note: this might not apply if you are working with a skilled wedding planner who can coordinate multiple vendor timelines). Does the photographer know when the limo will pick you up to take you to the ceremony? Does the reception venue know how much time you will need between the end of the ceremony and beginning of the reception for photos? (Note: always ask your photographer how long portraits will take, don’t assume a time based on what your reception venue tells you! Your photographer is the one creating your wedding photos and knows how long it will take them to get all of the photos you want - not your venue!).

Proper communication and coordination between vendors will result in better cooperation for all parties involved, and will, in turn, help your wedding day run more smoothly!

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Thanks for taking the time to read, I hope this post was helpful to you as you plan your wedding day, or help someone else plan theirs! If you are interested in reading more (or in seeing more of my work!) feel feel free to check out additional blog posts below:

Winter Photoshoot Outfit Ideas: The Do's and Don'ts

When considering an outdoor photo session in the winter months, you may come across a bit of a conundrum. Of course, you want to look cute for your session, but you do not want to be too cold while standing outside for an hour or two!

Enter the answer: this blog post! I’ve compiled a list of the most pertinent “do’s” and “don’ts” pertaining to outfit choice for photo sessions that take place in winter weather.

SAY YES TO…

• Visible Layers - Visible layers - coats, sweaters, faux fur wraps, and the like - can not only keep you warm and toasty, but add lots of great visual interest to a photo! Consider finding an adorable coat that you could wear for your entire session, and plan any other outfits around that!

• Hidden Layers - As great as visible layers are, you might want to consider some “hidden” layers for your winter session, too! Layering extra warmth under your “visible” layers (so long as they don’t get too bulky!) can be a game changer during a winter session. You’ll want to make sure you can last in the cooler temps so that you can get your money’s worth of photos during your session! My favorite example “hidden layers” came from one of my engagement session clients, who wore a beautiful maxi skirt to her winter session. She layered multiple pairs of pants and fluffy socks underneath her skirt, and you couldn’t even tell in her final images!

• Super Cute Coats - Like I mentioned before, consider splurging in a cute coat, and make it the visual centerpiece of your images! A cute coat “goes” quite well with a winter backdrop, too.

• Winter Accessories - Give me ALL of the adorable winter accessories! Hats, scarves, mittens, boots, boot socks, faux fur wraps - you name it, it can be incorporated into your images, AND add warm during your session!

• Boots or Waterproof Shoes - This is a HUGE one that I try to remember to tell my clients beforehand… if your shoot will have snow in it, make sure you wear a pair of shoes that are either 1) water proof, 2) insulated, or 3) you don’t care about getting ruined! If you schedule a session with me and there’s snow, you better believe that we will be galavanting around in it!!

• Bright Pops of Color - I LOVE bright colors for winter sessions! With backdrops being mostly more neutral (with snow) or barren (empty tree branches), pops of color (think a bright colored coat, or a bright set of mittens, scarf, and hat!) can add lots of visual interest and “pop” to your images!

• Winter Themed Props - Fun winter themed props can be a great way to stay warm during your session! Have a cute and cozy blanket laying around the house? Bring it and we can have you sit on it, or wrap you and your family or partner up in it! You could even bring some cute mugs and hot chocolate for something a bit more styled.

CONSIDER PASSING ON…

• Outfits That Show Skin (if you don’t want to muscle through the cold!) - This one might seem obvious, but I’ve had quite a few people over the years show up to their winter sessions in dresses and short sleeve shirts, and I’ve felt absolutely terrible keeping them out in the cold! Of course, this is a completely personal choice. Some people don’t mind the cold, and are willing to “muscle” through for an hour when they have a specific vision of what they want their photos to look like. I love those people!!! But if you are uncomfortable and cold and having a no good very bad time… that will most likely show through in your images! Consider choosing weather appropriate clothing, unless the cold never bothered you anyways ;) Remember that you will be out in the winter weather for an extended period of time, so you’ll most likely get cold fast!

• TOO Many Heavy Layers - While layers are usually a good thing when planning for an outdoor session, you will want to make sure that you don’t have too many layers! Too many extra layers can add on extra “weight” that isn’t there.

A FEW MORE RESOURCES:

If you’re looking for some more help preparing for your winter photo session, check out the posts below!

• Winter Family Outfit Inspiration Pinterest Board

• Winter Engagement Outfit Inspiration Pinterest Board

• Winter Senior Outfit Inspiration Pinterest Board

View some of my favorite outfits from past winter sessions below!

If you enjoyed this blog post, check out some more of our most up-to-date content below!

For more resources for photographers, seniors, and engaged couples, click any of the photos below!

Should You Hire a Day-of Wedding Coordinator?

Day-of wedding coordinators: the heroes of wedding days.

Or, at least they are in my book. ;)

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, a day-of wedding coordinator is someone who essentially runs and manages the wedding day – they deal with day-of logistics, including execution of the timeline, day-of coordination and communication with vendors, and basically making sure everything goes off without a hitch, and take a huge amount of pressure off of the bride, groom, and their friends and family so everyone can enjoy the day.

And truly, every single wedding I work that does have a wedding day-of coordinator runs so much smoother than those that do not. Today, I’d love to share a few reasons why you might want to consider hiring a day-of wedding coordinator.

You might want to hire a day-of wedding coordinator if….

1.     You don’t want the pressure to fall on any of your friends and family members.

This is a HUGE one. When there is not a day-of coordinator, often times, last minute tasks, decisions, and questions can fall on your friends or family members. For my own wedding, we didn’t hire a day-of coordinator, and much of the responsibility for last minute details, decisions, and coordination fell on my mom (God bless her!). In hind sight, we both agreed that, if we could go back, we would 100% hire a day-of coordinator so she could’ve kicked back a bit more. Hindsight is 20/20!

2.     You don’t want to have to give lots of instruction the day of your wedding (or, in other words, if you just want to enjoy the day and let someone else make some of the decisions!).

The bride is usually the head honcho of the day, and everyone wants to make sure she’s happy – so when there’s any sort of uncertainly about how something should be/go, whether it’s how the napkins should be folded, where the photo booth should be set up, or how/when to execute a rain plan, if there’s not a wedding coordinator, these decisions will fall on the bride. And – honestly – most of my brides just want to be able to enjoy their wedding day! Having someone else who knows all of the ins and outs of the wedding day and how things need to run (especially someone who’s a professional at running a wedding day!) can be a huge asset and take lots of weight off of the bride’s shoulders, without putting them on someone else’s who is there to simply celebrate the couple!

3.     You don’t want to be the bridal party/family wrangler.

Whether it’s getting your bridal party lined up for the ceremony or getting your family together and ready to take family formals, a day-of coordinator will be the one who directs your loved ones to wherever they need to be whenever they need to be there. Let them be the one who tells your family that they can’t go to cocktail hour until they finish family formals! ;)

4.     You don’t want to worry about executing a detailed timeline to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

The truth is, weddings revolve around the wedding timeline – and every piece of the wedding day revolves around the ceremony! When wedding days don’t run on time, different parts of the day have a tendency to suffer. You might be more rushed, have less time for photos (which always makes me so sad for the couple!!), and just generally have less time to really enjoy different parts of the day. Plus, the last thing you’ll want to do on your wedding day is be the one telling everyone where they need to be and when – there are just too many moving parts, and you’ll probably just want to enjoy the day as it is! A day-of coordinator will do the timeline legwork and work to make sure all runs according to schedule so that all of your planning does not go to waste.

Even though day-of wedding coordinators are fantastic and help the day run infinitely smoother, some folks either don’t have the budget for a day-of coordinator, or just aren’t really interested in having one (maybe they have a smaller or simpler wedding). Regardless of why,

if you don’t want to hire a coordinator, here are some tips for helping your wedding run smoothly without a coordinator:

1.     Send an emergency contact list and final wedding timeline to all of your vendors ahead of time.

An emergency contact list and final wedding timeline ensures that all vendors are on the same page regarding timing and communication, eliminating any discrepancies.

As a side note, I would recommend adding in addresses for any locations vendors will be traveling to the day of your wedding – not just names. When I was first getting started in the wedding world, I had a bride tell me the name of the hotel where she was getting ready without providing the address – and I didn’t ask for an address, because I thought I knew exactly where the hotel was! It turns out, there was a newer hotel with the same name across town that I didn’t know about, so I ended up showing up to the wrong hotel!

2.     Put a bridesmaid or family member in charge of ALL day-of communication and question-answering.

Putting a bridesmaid or family member in charge of day-of communication (and communicating that in advance to all parties!), helps everyone! With this approach, the bride won’t be bombarded with questions as she focuses on preparing for the day. As a side note, I’ve been this person before in a number of weddings, and it truly does help the bride relax, knowing that there’s someone else who can answer questions when needed.

3.     Put different friends/family members in charge of specific tasks.

There are lots of little details that can slip through the cracks on a wedding day when you don’t have a day-of coordinator. Who will line you up for the ceremony, and send your bridesmaids down the aisle in a timely manner? Who is going to add the last minute touches to your outdoor ceremony space? (Bows, flowers, etc.!). Who is going to hand out final wedding payments to your hair/makeup artists? I’d suggest breaking down the different, small tasks that need to happen the day of the wedding and spreading them out between different friends/family members. That way, no one has too much they need to remember and can focus on completing their one (or two!) specific tasks!

4.     Go over the timeline for the day with your bridal party and family at the rehearsal dinner… and maybe even give everyone a copy of the timeline (or, at the very least send it to them so they can have it on their phone!)

One of the most frequent ways I see weddings fall behind is when members of the bridal party or family walk away when they’re needed for something (in my case, I see it a lot with the photography portion of the day!). You cannot over communicate where everyone needs to be on your wedding day and when enough! The easiest way to get everyone on the same page is to spend a few minutes at your rehearsal dinner giving people specific times for where they need to be – when they need to be dressed and ready to go for the ceremony, when everyone needs to line up for the ceremony, when the family formals will take place, when the bridal party photos will take place, and when everyone needs to line up to be announced into the reception are all great time points to communicate!

Whether you choose to hire a day-of coordinator or use a DIY method for coordinating your day, I hope these tips help you make the best choice for you and your loved ones! And if you’re someone who’s planned a wedding – what did you decide to do for your wedding day, and what would you recommend to others?

Happy planning!

How I Got the Shot

I’m a sucker for anything labeled “behind the scenes.” It’s so much fun to see what goes into making things, and personally, I love hearing the thought process and intention that goes into a product or service!

Today, I’m excited to share the behind the scenes making of a few select photos. This post might be a bit more geared towards photographers with some of the technical detail - but regardless of if you’re a photographer or just someone who likes looking at photos, I hope you enjoy!

This shot was taken jus after sunset on the Roberto Clemente bridge in Pittsburgh! Camera left (allll the way on the sidewalk of the bridge), my assistant was holding a portable speedlight (without a modifier, like an umbrella or softbox) pointed towards my subject. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if this would work without a modifier, but I was pleasantly surprised with my results! I later figured out that because the speedlight was far enough away from my subject, the light appears a little bit softer. If my speedlight had been closer without a modifer, the light would’ve appeared harsher. I used a 70 to 200 mm lens for this shot, so I stood quite a distance away from my subject because of the longer focal length!

This was a favorite ring shot of mine from last year! It required a little extra planning, but it ended up being worth it! While my couple was changing into their second outfit (at their engagement session), I borrowed their ring to take a few shots. I noticed a bench near me with a slightly glossy/reflective surface, which is where the slight ring reflection came from. I placed a small, battery-powered portable string of lights behind the ring, which reflected nicely onto the bench! I used my Canon 100mm f/2.8 L macro lens at 2.8 to make sure I’d be able to get the creamiest bokeh possible! Click here to see/purchase the twinkle lights I use for less than $7 on Amazon Prime!

This photo was taken a few hours after sunset outside of the Morning Glory Inn on the South Side of Pittsburgh and is one of my favorite “night time” shots to date! I had been a little worried that this wedding was going to be a rain out - but it turned out that the rain came JUST at the right time, just for this photo!! To achieve this look, I placed a portable speedlight in a clear plastic bag (to protect it from the rain!) on a light stand behind my couple to light them from behind, and to “light up” some of the rain. To light them from the front, I used an off-camera speedlight with a small softbox (to soften the light on their faces) held by my second shooter camera left. I used a 50mm lens for this shot.

I knew when I took these two to the sunflower field that I wanted to REALLY make them look like they were lost in the sunflowers. To achieve the “look” of the sunflower close up in the left side of the frame, I used my Canon 70-200 f/2.8 (at 200mm) and used the high compression to my advantage, making the sunflower appear larger than life in the frame. (To learn more about lens compression, read this great article by SLR Lounge!).

This was one of my favorite invitation/bridal detail shots from all of 2019! While this may look like a simple set up, getting to the final product took a little bit of time. A good flatlay shot requires good light - and for me and my style, I like to have even, soft light across the bridal details I photograph. When I came into the bridal suite, there was a small room with couches in the back that had TONS of window light - I knew it would be the perfect spot for bridal details! Window light was coming stronger from camera left and the top of the image, so after I set up this shot, I added a silver reflector (click here to see/purchase the one I use!) camera right to soften some of the darker shadows cast by the invitation suite (which is a few inches elevated from the invitation tray by the back of a ring box). Believe it or not, the background (tan with blue dots) of this image is actually the couch that was in the getting ready space! I used a 50mm lens for this shot. I didn’t want to use too wide of a lens because I didn’t want any lens distortion, and I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t be able to see the edges of the couch here.

This may be one of my favorite senior photos from this past year! I love love LOVE clean, soft light, and on this particular day in the fall, we had the most beeeeautiful light for Lydia’s senior portraits! But there a few tricks that made this image really pop. Notice where the sun is - you can see it’s a little hazy in the background and hitting her hair, but it’s just out of the camera frame - which makes Lydia’s face clear (free of haze), with a nice pop! I used a higher compression lens (an 85mm) and a lower aperture (f/2) to achieve a dreamy-like look, with Lydia in focus and with the background completely knocked out. I also had my assistant holding a white reflector camera right, just out of the frame, which lit her eyes up a bit more and removed some shadows from her eye sockets!

Favorite (Non-Cheesy) Simple Props for an Engagement Session

One of the most common questions I get when it comes to engagement photos is: “should we bring any props?”

Props can be a great way to add personality to your engagement session and make your photos your own! Many of my couples, when thinking about props, voice that they’re afraid their engagement photos will appear “cheesy.”

Truth be told – some props can be a little cheesy, but fear not! Within the world of cheesy props, there are some props that never seem to go out of style – regardless of what is currently trending!

Today, I’d love to share a few of my favorite simple, non-cheesy (at least to me!) props.

Champagne & Flutes

Ever shaken a bottle of champagne and let the cork fly?! If not… you’re missing out! Champagne is a fun and fitting prop that is perfect for couples who want to keep it classy… but fun! And as a perk, if you’re nervous about having your photos taken, you can have a bit of liquid courage!

Confetti or Petals

Engagements mean celebration, which means it’s time to cue the confetti! Being engaged is something to be excited about, and personally, when I think of excitement, I think of confetti! There are some great biodegradable options for confetti out there to choose from. If you’d like to go a little more natural with your celebratory toss – consider flower petals instead!

Your Engagement Ring (duh!)

Possibly the most obvious (and best!) prop of all is your new bling  - your ring! Don’t forget to take your ring to be cleaned (or clean it yourself!) before your engagement photos. I love snapping a few quick “macro” (or super close up!) shots, and my camera always picks up on dust or hairs that is caught in the prongs!

Floral Bouquet

You don’t have to limit your bouquet carrying to just the wedding day! A bouquet of flowers can be a fun way to add a pop of color to your engagement portraits, and to make them slightly more upscale! And if you have a favorite flower, or a type of flower that your S.O. often gets for you, it could be the perfect personal touch to add in!

Blanket

There’s something about a blanket that makes things extra cozy and close! A blanket is an easy prop to bring that will 1) keep you warmer if you’re having your photos taken during a colder season, and 2) can add a pop of color or a neutral compliment to your outfits!

Something that Represents Your Relationship, Specifically

Was your first date at an ice cream shop? Ice cream and photos totally mix! Do you love going on picnics together in the summer? Pack a cute little picnic basket for your engagement photos! Love to fish together? Grab your fishing poles and bring ‘em along! Sometimes props like this can be cheesy, but if you have a prop you would love to bring that you feel could be cheesy, just communicate that fear to your photographer! I love when people bring props that I’ve seen in “cheesy” engagement photos and let me create something that’s not cheesy with them – just something that’s personal and representative of who they are!

And there you have it! Six prop ideas for non-cheesy engagement photos. But if you decide to bring a pizza as a prop… beware. Your photos will definitely be cheesy.

Happy prop planning!

Behind the Scenes: JHP Promo Video by Dorosh Documentaries

Curious as to what you might experience at a photo session with JHP? Look no further than the video below, expertly captured by two of my videographer friends from Dorosh Documentaries! Click the play button below to check it out!

PS - Dorosh Documentaries films weddings, so if you’re in need of a wedding videographer, look no further than these two!

JHP Wedding Photo Highlights 2019

All I can say is WOW! Another wedding season is in the books, and boy was it an absolutely AMAZING one!!! This year, my first wedding of the year was the very first week of January, with a long break for a few months before starting back up in April and going through the end of October!

This was the first year I put a cap on the number of weddings I took, clocking in at a max of 21! Truthfully, with the 70 other portrait-style sessions I took this year, putting a cap on the number of weddings I took allowed me to really focus in on each one and give each couple my full attention and creativity on their big day!

Below, I’ve put together a loooong blog post of some of my favorite photos and moments from each of the weddings I photographed this year, starting with my last wedding, and ending with my first.

But first, to each and every couple (including their family and friends!) who gave me the honor of documenting their day: thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for trusting me with the immense honor and privilege of photographing your wedding day! It was my absolute privilege to come alongside you and serve you during your day. There is no shortage of amazingly talented photographers in the Pittsburgh area, and the fact that you put your trust in me blows my mind. Every one of you is an answer to prayer, and I praise God for our time together! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 💛

Without further ado, some of my favorite wedding moments from 2019. All glory to God for these moments and for these beautiful people and their life-long commitments to each other!

If you’re looking for more information about wedding packages or would like to inquire for a specific wedding date, visit my pricing page here, and my contact page here!

Let me let you in on a little secret: it rained Katie and Shane’s ENTIRE wedding day, but that did not stop us from getting some epic portraits!

Katie brought me this absolutely GORGEOUS tray to style with her details. I was in detail heaven!!!

Quite possibly the best natural light I’ve ever had in a getting ready space! I could shoot here every weekend!

This was their ceremony space 😍

Bright and colorful weddings are always some of my favorites! Alyssa and Ben had THE most beautiful details. Bouquet is by Shady Elms Farm!

They had the most beautiful, glowy light for portraits, too!

Possibly one of my favorite first looks to date! Nick and I cleared this ENTIRE balcony of tables and chairs after realizing that the spot we had originally planned for HD and Jeff’s first look was being used in a race where 2,000 people were going to run through 😂

HD’s sisters were here bridesmaids! 💕 They were just the sweetest!!!

We snagged this shot right before the ceremony. The light was just too perfect!

It was HOT in this room, but it was so worth it for Kayla and Donny’s portraits!

The sweetest father daughter first look, ever. I cried.

Thankful these two let us steal them away for some epic night shots!

We lucked out and the bridge was closed on Krista and Brent’s wedding day! 🎉

The most beautiful ceremony space in all of Pittsburgh. I’m convinced.

This shot is a MUST if you have a wedding at the Pennsylvanian! So thankful that these two made this a priority!

When a rug makes the perfect backdrop for the invitation suite 😍

The getting ready space at Shady Elms Farm is just too beautiful!

A fake first look with the best man!

Ohhhh these two were naturals! 😍

The Grand Estate at Hidden Acres has THE most picturesque staircase!

How absolutely perfect is this bridal party? And these colors?!

One of the most fun exits from any reception ever!

It rained and it poured for this wedding day - but epic photos were still made! 🎉 And these two had the best attitudes about it all!

Literally can’t get over this wedding. It was too beautiful!

White Barn coming in clutch with some clean backdrops!

I am so thankful that these two trusted me - they jumped in fields and walked all over the White Barn’s property to find the best light and locations! Cait and Brian, you two are champs!!

The couple who eats tacos together, stays together 💕

My second shooter took this shot and it’s one of my favorites from Val and Matt’s day! (Photo cred to my husband, Nick!)

Megan brought me this tray for her details and I almost cried tears of joy when I saw it!

Um HELLO! Megan you are stunning!

Loved getting to play with perspective here!

We adore these two! 💕

We had the best day ever with these two fellow Disney lovers! 😍

And they had a fun visitor at their reception!

Photos in the museum with the dinosaurs - a fun challenge!

Becca with the perfect veil hold!

The sweetest downtown courthouse elopement 💕

And last but not least, a January wedding with one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve seen!

And some of the most beautiful details!

JHP Engagement Photo Highlights 2019

Engagement sessions are one of my favorite types of sessions EVER! It is so much fun to have people in love in front of my camera, and this year, there were some seriously amazing ones! 💛

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!

If you’re looking for more information about engagement portraits or would like to schedule a session, visit my pricing page here, and my contact page here!

This was my first time photographing a couple at Fellows Riverside Gardens and I totally fell in LOVE! Props to my couple for introducing me to this epic location!

Brielle and Stephen came dressed to kill! An engagement session is always a good time to kick up the style a notch!

Photographing my cousin and his fiance was definitely one of the biggest highlights of all of my engagement sessions this year! And getting to take photos in the sunflower fields at Soergel’s was just icing on the cake!

I mean, have you ever seen flower bushes so beautiful?!

I was wondering why all of the sunflowers were facing in one direction, and learned that they grow facing towards the rising sun. Fun fact!

Winter engagement sessions are always, ALWAYS my favorite. 💕 Specifically when there’s snow!

Technically this was an anniversary session, but we adore these two so I had to include them!

Ed and Meghan incorporated a car that’s been in Ed’s family for quite a few generations. It was so much fun!

This was one of my favorite locations of the entire year! Everything just came together seamlessly - the sky, the light, the couple.

Lis & Naz: Hartwood Acres Anniversary Photos

We met Lis and Naz nearly four years ago at a Pittsburgh wedding networking event - four years later, and they have become some of our dearest friends! Constantly encouraging, ever authentic, and always asking the tough questions that spur growth - these two are a pair to be reckoned with! ✨

Not only are they amazing people individually and an amazing couple collectively, but they are also absolutely INCREDIBLE wedding videographers (if you don’t believe me, just click here!). We teamed up during this session for a couple of mutually beneficial purposes and we were SO excited when the day finally came! We pushed through heavy downpours and a surprise country concert to create these images, and it was so totally worth it! 💛

I could type paragraph upon paragraph depicting all of the characteristics and traits we love about these two, but what it really comes down to is this: we just truly love them! Happy belated anniversary, Lis and Naz!!