Brett & Colleen's Epic Early Fall Wedding Day

This was an EPIC wedding day from start to finish.

Brett & Colleen tied the knot late September in one of the most beautiful, unique wedding days I’ve ever had the privilege to be a part of! Every piece of this wedding day was thoughtfully planned to dazzle guests, and create an atmosphere filled with whimsical details and unexpected surprises.

From the photos below, you probably couldn’t even guess that Brett & Colleen were forced to moved their wedding reception to a private estate in Sewickley just months before their date, due to Covid. MANY of their original plans changed - then changed again. But these two never lost heart! While Colleen pushed forward in her intensive medical program, Brett took the reigns with planning and simply gave Colleen the (fun!) job of finding a dress, and showing up the day of - then to simply enjoy the magic of their wedding day! And if you’ve ever been a bride, you know what a gift something like that would be!

What stands out to me most about these two is the fact that they never let the “dazzle” of their day outshine their love for each other. It’s easy to get lost in the glitz and glamour of a wedding day - but, truly, these two were able to focus on each other and enjoy their day, very much thanks to all of Brett’s planning, and to the team of professionals below.

Brett & Colleen, we are SO THANKFUL to have been a part of your wedding day. What a blessing it was to celebrate with you both!

Vendors: All in Good Taste Productions (Caterer, Planner, Forist, Cake Artist), St. Mary’s Sharpsburg (Church), Dorosh Documentaries (Videographer), Modern Era Weddings (DJ), Marie Michlot (Makeup), Katrina Kahill (Hair), Luna Boutiqe by Daalarna Couture (Bride’s Dress), BHLDN (Bridesmaid Dresses), Surmesur (Menswear), Nota Bene (Invitations), Party Savvy

4 Important Things to Note About Photo Sessions in the City

I’ve always felt #blessed living just a half hour from a major city like Pittsburgh. It has so much to offer in terms of photography backdrops, and provides the perfect personal space for couples, seniors, and families who call Pittsburgh home!

I’ve realized, however, that taking photos in the city is a bit different than somewhere like Hartwood Acres, Historic Harmony, or McConnell’s Mill. There’s a bit of extra planning and preparation that goes into a photo session in the city - things like sporting events, parking, and walking distance to and from locations all have the ability to impact your session. Below, I’ve compiled a list of four important things to note about photo sessions in the city!

1.     Planning to arrive early (leaving time for traffic, parking, and walking to our starting point) is key.

It usually takes a little longer to get to where you need to be when having a photo session in the city. Unexpected traffic, hard-to-find parking, and having to park a few blocks from your intended destination can all add extra time onto the beginning of a session. If you’re having your photos taken in the city, it’s important to leave ample extra time prior to your session start time for unexpected surprises! Once I had to park so far from a session starting point that I walked for fifteen minutes straight before actually arriving, due to lack of parking. Give yourself extra time!

2.     Choosing a date and time when there isn’t some other major event going on is oh-so vital.

In Pittsburgh, we love our sports, and when there’s a sporting event going on (especially a Pirates game!), certain parts of the city (i.e., the North Shore!) are SO hard to get to. Often times bridges and streets are closed down, too, which means lots more traffic! Not to mention, all of the extra people walking around make clean backdrops a bit more difficult.

Some other events to consider checking on specifically for Pittsburgh: Steeler games, Pens games, Pirate games, music concerts, the Arts Festival, parades, etc.

3.     You might be walking… a lot!

A lot of times, locations I use in the city for photos require a bit of extra walking! It’s often easier to walk from place to place rather than going back to the parking garage to get your car, to try to find parking again. Walking from place to place is usually much quicker!

I often suggest seniors, couples, and families bring an extra pair of “comfortable shoes” for walking longer distances – especially if you’re a female who’s planning to wear heels!

4.     You might garner a bit of an audience.

Cities are generally busier than other popular photo locations (like parks!), and sometimes people like to stop and stare. If you’re uncomfortable with the thought of having your photo taken in front of people, consider choosing a more private location (or at least starting at a more private location, like a park inside the city, then moving to the busier parts!) Or, consider a less busy season (like winter!) where people aren’t hanging around the city leisurely!

Finally, know this: you can’t go wrong with a session in the city, and with a photo session in Pittsburgh, your photos will, without a doubt, be so epic!

Do you have any questions about photo sessions in the city? Comment your q’s below!

Chiara + Patrick: North Shore Engagement Photos

How lovely is Pittsburgh, and how sweet are Chiara and Patrick?! I met up with Chiara, Patrick, and their Corgi, Piper, in Allegheny Commons Park for their "spring" (we're using that word very loosely in Pittsburgh this April!) engagement session!

Throughout their entire session, I could tell that these two were not just bride-to-be and groom-to-be, but truly best friends! They were high-fiving, hanging out with their pup, and just being themselves, which is always my favorite thing to see (and capture!) during a session! Why should photos have to be boring?!

Aside from hanging out with Piper, these two love traveling together, trying new restaurants, and their favorite date night includes Chinese take-out (right on, friends!)!

Without further ado, check out just a few of my favorites from Chiara and Patrick's engagement session! Congrats you two - we can't wait to celebrate with you in December!