Chuck + Veronica = Wedding!

I was so excited when Veronica asked me to photograph her wedding.  We've known each other a few years and her niece and nephew are some of my favorite kids in the world (she's pretty cool too).  Because we live in Pennsylvania, Veronica and Chuck were able to choose for their wedding to be a self uniting ceremony, meaning there was no officiant.  It was so cool!  Their wedding was very laid back and at a gorgeous park and very DIY - they made all of the decorations.  There was no dancing, though the DJ played some great music.  It was one of the most relaxed weddings I've been to and I'm so glad to have been the photographer!

Seniors 2014 - Maria

After my cousin Maria's high school graduation party, I surprised her with an impromptu senior portrait session.  For those of you who don't know Maria, she was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome and about a year ago underwent surgery harvesting cranial bone with which to build her a jaw and cheek bones.  Due to the fact that it took 6 months for the swelling to go down, we weren't able to take her pictures in the summer or fall when most incoming seniors have them done.

But better late than never!  After her party, we walked over to University of Mount Union and had an awesome photo shoot.  I wish we could have incorporated her horses, since she has been an avid equestrian her entire life and is even going to college for equestrian studies.  Her mom had a scrapbook out filled with pictures of Maria riding - some of it involved tricks that were basically gymnastics on top of a horse.  It was amazing!!  Maybe another shoot is in need....

 
Channeling my model sister with this pose

Look at that smile!

She mentioned they had a garden at the college and I loved it!

Alt Model Session - Kylie

Kylie came over last weekend and modeled for me.  My friend Kaleigh did makeup because she's awesome and, like me, adores Kylie and her boyfriend.  We originally were going to shoot at the cemetery, but because it was cold and wet out, we decided against dealing with the weather and shot in my basement instead.  Eventually, we did go out for a bit, and then remembered why we had stayed inside in the first place.

I LOVE this girl in black and white.  She looks great in color too, but muted tones and b/w are just amazing for her.  We broke out one of my barrel chairs for her to pose in a bit and now a pin-up shoot has to happen, because for someone who claims to not know much about posing, she took to it very quickly.  Also, I want to steal her skull sweater.

 

If you want to see a few more photos of Kylie, check out my Facebook page!

Seniors 2014 - Leyla

Have I mentioned before that I love repeat clients?  They mean the world to me because obviously they liked their images!  Leyla isn't exactly a repeat client, but I took both her sister and her cousin's senior pictures, so they are a repeat family and I love them for it!

It was important to Leyla to have photos that were hers, just like her sister and cousin had photos unlike any of their classmates.  To do this, we shoot  at her place - this entire session was photographed in and around her beautiful home.  Photographing seniors (or kids or families or even pets) in a location where they are comfortable makes for some of my favorite photos.  Home sessions are awesome to me since they have so many memories and knowledge of the place.  This translates into the pictures.  As you can see, Leyla is gorgeous and happy at home!

 

 

When I saw the woodpile in their backyard, I knew we had to use it.  The shapes are so fun, and Leyla with her bohemian dress looks great in front of it!

Her mom really wanted a photo of Leyla wearing an Army shirt since that's her chosen career.  Good luck with your last year of school and, of course, training!

Tips for Seniors!

Summer is starting, school is ending and congrats to all the 2013 graduates!  I'll probably be hitting at least one or two graduation parties this summer.  As for our soon-to-be seniors, summer means time to get your senior pictures done!  I have a few tips for when you're prepping for the photoshoot, so time to take some notes:

1. Look the way you look

Your look is important and we want to show that off, so make sure to bring clothes you would actually wear in real life.  However, please keep them plain or patterned.  Tshirts with funny saying or logos are distracting, so leave those at home.

Allie's shirt is nice and simple, making her awesome smile the focus

You've obviously spent awhile at your high school, so a little school pride 

is the exception to the "no words" rule

Alex and Josh earned those letterman jackets so can show them off

  

2. Bring something parent-approved

Yes, this is about you and I know we're contradicting point 1 here.  However, your parents are probably paying for pictures, so bring an outfit they like, even if it means looking dressier than you prefer for a few minutes.

Alex and Ryan both wore suits and ties for those formal shots their mom really wanted

3.  Get your look together ahead of time

If your hair needs dyed or your eyebrows need waxed, get all of that taken care of a day or two before your shoot.  You don't want massive roots or stray hairs.  

Ladies, do your makeup the way you normally would, or if you want a little extra that's ok too.

Guys, if you're usually clean-shaved, shave immediately prior.  I can edit out that pimple on your nose but not a 5 o'clock shadow.

Kacie always looks amazing and makes my job a breeze

4.  Bring props!

 Senior pictures are about who you are at this point in your life and that includes the things that are most important to you.  What do you like to do?  What do you want to be?  

Anna likes cameras, just like I do!

5. Bring pets!

Ask your photographer first though!  I love photographing people with their animals, but not everyone feels the same.  If you want to include your pet, it's usually best to do those pictures outside where you can play

 Emmilia included Zander in her shoot and got some fantastic photos of the two of them together

6. Pick a location!

I have a studio set-up and usually go to a nearby park for outdoor shots, but if there's somewhere you'd rather be, let me know!  I make house calls, and am more than happy to a location that means something to you.

 Zachary wanted some pictures at the family bowling alley, so we went behind the machines to get something a little different

7. If you're uncomfortable, bring a friend

Some people get nervous in front of the camera, and that's ok.  It happens.  Some people bring their moms or dads to help out, some bring a sibling or friend to make them laugh.

Bryce wasn't the most thrilled about getting pictures taken, but having his girlfriend there got a few smiles out of him

8.  Include your extra-curriculars

Are you in the band?  Play on the football or chess team?  We can go to the field or photograph you in your uniform.

Drew's played basketball since she was a little kid, had to include her favorite sport!

9. Don't worry about the weather

Ok, maybe a little.  Sometimes a torrential downpour warrants a reschedule, but just because it isn't bright and sunny out doesn't mean you won't get amazing photos (actually, overcast is better!).

Zak had his pictures done in the winter and it snowed a bit, but that didn't deter us

10. Keep calm and communicate with your photographer

I want to take pictures that you like.  Really, I do.  So trust that I'll do the best job I can, as long as you also promise to do the best job you can.  If you have an idea, let me know.  If I have an idea, I'll let you know.  If you don't come to me for your pictures, go to someone else you know will take good ones, because just like everything else in life, quality is important.  Your photoshoot should be a fun occasion, and I support some silliness.  Play dress-up.  Play catch.  Make faces at the camera if that helps you relax.  This is your last year of high school, so celebrate!

Becca showed off her tattoo for a meaningful portrait of entering adulthood

Family time with Christy and Kaitlyn

My cousin Kaitlyn really wanted to shoot with Christiana and me after seeing our Guess pictures (see previous blog post) so we scheduled a shoot for the following week and went to a park near our aunt Lynn's house.  It was fun, Kaitlyn is a dancer so she has natural ability, we just had to give her some instruction on how to use it.

This one is a dance move, modified for modeling.  Gorgeous!!

Pittsburgh pinups!

Ok, pointe is awesome.  Seriously.  I want all my models to be ballerinas and do amazing poses like this.

Guess?

So yesterday I photographed my sister and my cousin, but we're going to skip back a week to when I photographed just my sister, Christiana.  There's a Guess model search going on and she wanted to enter, but needed updated photos.  Being a good big sister, I went to North Park with her and took like a bazillion pictures.  Here are some of the best ones.  We do good work.