Pittsburgh Engagement Photographers at Mellon Park

Cathy and Travis are getting married in Erie, Pa., this summer and they contacted me to schedule an engagement session this spring. We headed to Mellon Park on a Saturday morning and had a blast.

Pittsburgh engagement session
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Wedding at Mill Creek Park in Youngstown, Ohio

Julie and Randy were married on a sunny afternoon at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Park, Youngstown, Ohio. They planned a small wedding for close family and friends with a reception at Michael Alberini’s in Boardman, Ohio.

Julie carried green hydrangea wrapped in an embroidered handkerchief. This shot was taken in the Antonucci Horticulture Library in the park’s Davis Center.

Bride by the windows

Here comes the bride

Julie and her father walked down the center aisle of the rose garden.

The kiss

Dress and ring details

Mr. & Mrs.

What a gorgeous location for this handsome couple!

Wedding cake

When Julie first saw her cake, she was concerned that the fondant was the wrong color. The room’s tungsten lighting made everything appear warmer than it actually is. This is something that photographers deal with all of the time. I was happy to be able to take a photo and show her that her cake’s accent color was the key lime green that she had in mind. I was able to do that because I gel my flash and set my camera’s white balance to match the light source in the room.

Place setting

Heirloom handkercheif

Hors d' oeuvres

Laughter

Mmm cake...

This little girl was asking Julie when she could have some cake and that made me smile because kids are never afraid to ask the important questions in life.

Julie and Randy, it was a pleasure spending the day with you. Many blessings to you and your marriage!

Post-wedding session at Schenley Park, Phipps Conservatory and the University of Pittsburgh

Lee and Brian decided to opt for a post-wedding photography session after their elopement this spring. It was a fun and relaxed way for them to commemorate the beginning of their lives as Mr. and Mrs. We decided to head to the Oakland area of Pittsburgh for its plentiful locations that are perfect for a playful post-wedding session.

Sweet kisses

Beautiful bride

Such a pretty bride! The petals were already falling and we had Brian shake the tree a bit to help.

Stylin' groom

Brian’s look was inspired by Johnny Depp. Lee said they liked what he wore at a recent event and decided that it was a good alternative to a suit or tux for Brian.

Rainy day bride and groom

Our session was rescheduled by one week due to heavy rain and while it sprinkled that morning, we weren’t going to let that get in our way.

Giggles

Much giggling occurs when I set couples into loose poses for more romantic shots. And I do love it when they giggle.

Springtime session

Here’s a fun one under another tree with pink blossoms. I love springtime.

Outside Phipps

We stopped at the gardens outside of Phipps Conservatory for a few shots.

Black and white

This image was begging to be black and white.

By Heinz Chapel

It’s tough to tell, but it was raining lightly here as we walked around outside Heinz Chapel.

In front of the Cathedral of Learning

Lee is a Pitt graduate and Brian graduate from Penn State, but he was a good sport and didn’t seem to mind having his photo taken all over Pitt’s campus.

Height difference

Sometimes it’s fun to have a couple that’s not the exact same height. It can be challenging, but it can also bring about unexpected images like this one.

Standing on a bench

Lee is actually standing on a small concrete bench. If I could go back, I’d photograph a full length shot for fun.

Strike a pose

This one was fun. Lee is smiling at Brian who is just taking it all in while he stands off to the side. He said that the Frick Fine Arts building has never looked better.

Playing in the fountain

One thing that’s nice about post-wedding sessions is the opportunity to get a little dirty and have fun. They wanted to get in the fountain for a few photos and I was happy to join in the fun.

Splish splash

This one is a new favorite and it is definitely going on the front page of my site. Lee and Brian, many blessings to you and your marriage! Thanks for a fabulous post-wedding session!

Engagement session at Highland Park

Andrea and Jonathan are getting married this August, so we spent a recent Sunday afternoon/evening at Highland Park for fun engagement session. The weather was perfect after a short mist of rain and we made the most of the setting sun.

Here are some of the keepers from our session:

Black and white portrait

This railing at the reservoir is a favorite spot for portraits and this is a stunning couple.

Engagement ring

My thought about this engagement ring shot is: if you have a good backside, show it off!

Passion

From above

These two were taken from above, on a wall by the stairs to the reservoir.

Sweetie

They brought their sweet little girl along for a few photos. She was loving walking hand in hand with her mom and dad.

The family

This is one good-looking family!

Kiss

I’m drawn to flirtatious and passionate images.

Under the bridge

I also like to set up what looks like everyday scenes.

Portrait/landscape

Sometimes landscapes inspire me too.

Creative edit

This is an example of what I call a creative edit, beyond the usual retouching with an emphasis on graphic elements.

Pretty

Handsome

Andrea and Jonathan, I’m looking forward to your wedding. Thanks so much for a great session!

Marie and Dan’s wedding at Heinz Chapel

Marie and Dan were married on a lovely Saturday in April. The said their vows at Heinz Chapel and then took about an hour afterward for some portraits. Marie and Dan were looking for a few hours of coverage to capture the essence of the ceremony and create some timeless portraits. They contacted me in March and booked me for April. And you might think they were a bit nervous about securing photography a month in advance, but they were as cool as cucumbers. Captivating Imagery offers partial day coverage for couples who, for any reason, are not interested in 10 hours of photography. If your wedding is not during the peak of the season, this may be an option for you as partial day coverage can only be booked up to 60 days in advance of an event, depending upon availability.

Anyhow, back to Marie and Dan. Marie looked stunning in this dress that was modified from her mother’s gown. She looks so statuesque in this shot.

Bride in sunshine

They wanted to have some fun with their photos afterward, so we headed to the little log cabin near the Stephen Foster Memorial. We played with the idea of a groom carrying his bride over the threshold.

At the log cabin

This image is from a series of favorites outside of the Carnegie Music Hall. They are such a handsome couple and I love the backdrop of the ornate door.

Kissing

Here’s another playful shot. They wanted to peak around the tree and make funny faces. I really like Dan’s face in this one.

Funny face

This is another favorite. I haven’t spent much time lounging under a shade tree with my husband, but this image reminds me of what you always see in romantic movies, except that they’re posing for the camera!

Bride and Groom

Milla Chappell took these fabulous images from the balcony of the chapel. In fact, Milla practically spent the whole month of April at Heinz Chapel photographing weddings.  It must feel like a second home for her by now.

From the balcony

Recessional

Marie and Dan, thanks for the opportunity to photograph your wedding!  It was a pleasure to work with you.  Many blessings to you and your marriage!