Sam H: Hartwood Acres Senior Photos

Sam is an Eden Christian Academy senior who is a part of the class of 2021! I do not exaggerate when I say that Sam is truly one of the nicest guys we’ve had the pleasure of photographing. It sometimes takes a little while to get guy seniors to “open up” in front of the camera, but Sam was there from the start - comfortable, talkative, and cooperative!

Post high school, Sam hopes to work as a youth pastor. He’s also a (very talented!) photographer - which made taking his photos even more of an honor!

Sam, congratulations on your last year of school! You are going to do great things!

Annie S: Vibrant Senior Session at Hartwood Acres

Annie’s mom came to me with a vision: vibrant, floral-focused images with thoughtfully chosen outfits. Originally, the plan was to shoot at Simmons Farm - but the week before Annie’s session, we found out that the farm had been mostly stripped of its zinnias and other colorful offerings! So, we went for our backup plan (always a favorite of mine!): Hartwood Acres!

Hartwood’s garden was looking so full of life for Annie’s session - and her mom even brought additional flowers for us to play around with! We had a beautiful arrangement for the basket of her vintage pink bike, and some others that we scattered on the ground for a different type of look!

I just cannot get over the colors in this session! Vibrant, bold, bright colors are always my favorite to photograph, so this senior session was truly a dream!

Congratulations on your senior year, Annie! It was such a joy to take these photos for you!!

Brittany & Ian: Vibrant Hartwood Acres Engagement Photos

I knew Brittany & Ian were a great fit as a JHP wedding couple when they mentioned loving vibrant colors in photos! Vibrant, bright color is always my absolute favorite to photograph!

As you’ll be able to see from the photos below, Brittany did not disappoint with her gorgeous, brightly colored pink maxi dress. It was a DREAM to shoot, not only because of it’s bright color, but because of how flowy it was! And Ian came in a fun patterned shirt (complete with palm trees and flamingos! 🏝) to compliment Brittany’s choice!

Brittany & Ian have known each other for over a decade, and got engaged at one of their favorite places to vacation - Myrtle Beach! To celebrate their love of the beach, they are having a tropical themed wedding next year. Congratulations on your engagement, Brittany & Ian! I am so honored to be the one to document this season for you both!!

Abigail & Lydia: Twin Pittsburgh Senior Photos

What an absolute treat it was to take photos of twin sisters Abigail and Lydia! We had so many awesome locations to go to that we spent not one, but two days together over the course of a week, traipsing all around Pittsburgh!

Abigail & Lydia both attend Oakland Catholic in the heart of Oakland… so it was only fitting to use Oakland as the backdrop for their senior photos! We started off on Pitt’s campus, then ventured over to Phipp’s, then lastly, to Schenley Park. For day two of our time together, we spent all of our time at one of my favorites - Mellon Park! The light is always SO good there!

It’s so easy to tell that these two ladies are the best of friends! Abigail and Lydia, it was such an honor to take your senior photos. Congratulations on your senior year!!!

Kayla & Michael: Mellon Park Anniversary Photos

Awwww, this is a special one! You may have seen these two on the blog before, if you’ve been following along for a few years! I’ve photographed Kayla & Michael twice before - once for their engagement photos, and once on their wedding day! I was so totally honored when Kayla emailed me, asking if I would be interested in taking their anniversary photos. Of COURSE I would be!

If you click through those blog posts above, you’ll notice a theme: rain. Oh yes, it rained for both their engagement session AND their wedding photos. Oh my, did I pray for no rain for this anniversary session! I desperately wanted these two to have a rain-free, bright, sunny day for their anniversary session.

Well… while we did end up with a beautiful night, it only came after we had to reschedule once due to… you guessed it… rain! I swear, my heart broke into a million tiny little pieces when I saw the monsoon of a forecast for the date we had scheduled originally for their anniversary photos (I know, not dramatic at all ;) ). The weather feels like one of the toughest parts of my job, because it so greatly affects my scheduled sessions, but I have zero control over it!

Anyways, thankfully, Kayla & Michael are kind & gracious, so we were able to reschedule to a later date! And we even got some SUNLIGHT for the second half of our time together 👏 Booya!

Since I had photographed these two before, I knew they were pros in front of the camera, which really helped us take advantage of SO much of what Mellon Park has to offer! Gates, architecture, gardens, a fountain… oh my! It truly just felt like we were hanging out with old friends. Because we were! 💛 Getting to photograph my couples, seniors, and families in their next stages of life is always one of my all-time favorite things!

Kayla and Michael, congratulations on your MANY years together. We are so thankful for you two, your hearts, and just for who you are. 💛

Also… if you’re wondering where Kayla’s fabulous red dress is from, she found it on Shein!

Sam & Brian: The Fez Wedding Photos

I am so thankful to have been a part of this wedding day.

Like many couples getting married this year, Sam and Brian were unsure what would happen in the months leading up to their wedding day. But, very thankfully, they were able to get married on their original date and have their wedding day, surrounded by friends and family!

Sam and I grew up on the same street, just a few houses down from each other - when she was a senior, I even took her senior portraits (back in 2014)! She just so happens to be the first senior of mine who’s wedding I’ve also had the privilege to photograph (I so hope that happens more in the future! 💛It is so fun to see everything come full circle!)

While I had photographed Sam before, but had never photographed Brian, much less Sam and Brian together. I was so excited to find that both Sam AND Brian were incredibly natural in front of the camera - separate, and together! Getting genuine expression and emotion out of them both was so easy, and helped us capture the joy of their wedding day! And on top of that… their bridal party and families were so kind, and so much fun to work with!

We were able to stop by a friend’s house in Beaver for some portraits between the ceremony and reception in front of their beautiful gate, on the edge of their property. It made for the perfect backdrop for both bridal party and bride & groom photos, before we headed over to the Fez for the reception!

Sam and Brian, it was such an honor to be a part of your day. We just love you both and wish you all of the best in your marriage!

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Vendors: Grace Lutheran Church (Ceremony), The Fez (Reception), Dana Lynn Photography (Videographer), Mussig Florist, Cakes by Brenda McGee, Stylin’ with Sherri, The Winner (Bride’s Dress), David’s Bridal (bridesmaid dresses), Minted (Invitations), Cable Creations (Menswear), Jenna Hidinger Photography

Anthony V: Hartwood Acres Mansion Senior Photos

A suit never goes out of style - and really, it’s the perfect choice for a senior session at Hartwood! Not only is Anthony a super down-to-earth, kind guy - he’s also a total natural in front of the camera! And even though there were tons of kids having their prom photos taken around us, he never let it phase him - and I’m so excited to share a few favorites from his session! Congratulations on your senior year, Anthony!

Gracie D: McConnell's Mill Senior Photos

One of my absolute favorite things I learned about Gracie during her senior session at McConnell’s Mill is that she is named after “Gracie Lou” (played by Sandra Bullock) from Miss Congeniality! And really (in the short time I got to spend with her!) I can tell that she’s much like the character she’s named after - kind and sweet, but tough and more than able to hold her own!

We had the most beautiful day for Gracie’s senior portraits, and were even able to find some flowers around the park to incorporate into her photos. Congratulations on your senior year, Gracie!

Adam G: Butler Airport Senior Photos

Adam’s senior session had a first for me in the near 10 years I’ve been taking senior photos - an airplane on a runway! Adam is heading into his senior year of school, with hopes of becoming a commercial pilot post-graduation! It only seemed fitting that we incorporate the airplane he’s been learning to fly on into his shoot. A huge thanks to the Butler Airport for letting us use the runway for some shots!

Before heading over to the airport, however, we spent a little time at Succop Nature Park, just down the road! Their new modern-looking barn made for a great architectural backdrop for the first part of Adam’s session.

Congratulations on your senior year, Adam!

Nailah S: Hartwood Acres Mansion Senior Photos

Well friends, the season is upon us for senior photos, and I am absolutely LOVING it! And on one of the busiest nights I’ve ever seen at Hartwood Acres (which is saying something - I’ve been there a lot!), I had the pleasure of photographing Nailah to celebrate her upcoming senior year!

This joyful lady has a desire to go into the medical field post-high school, which I find to be even more impressive, considering everything that’s currently happening in our world! Her whole family came along to her session, which made the night all the more fun. I often have people ask if a parent, sibling, or friend can come along to a senior session, and my answer is always a resounding YES! Your people know how to make you smile. I have my bag of tricks… but your brother/sister/dad/mom/best friend knows you much better than I do!

So without further ado, check out some of my favorites from Nailah’s session below! Congratulations on your senior year, Nailah!!! 💛