Morgan & Branden, Engaged!

Morgan and Branden, did their engagement session in…the place they had their first date! How romantic! We started off at Camelot, which is a small restaurant in Slippery Rock. We also incorporated some Harry Potter books, one of Morgan’s favorite series! You should make your engagement shoot as unique as you are! Bring personal items that are important to you and that reflect you and your relationship and your hobbies and interests you share together!

Morgan has THE sweetest and most adorable personality

Another interest they share–Branden’s bike. Morgan has her own accessories when they go riding together. Too cute

After these photos, we went to another setting–Jenning’s Environmental Center! It’s one of my favorite locations to hike and to take photos

And this is Bella, their baby-pup She was very well behaved

In love with these next few shots…the light was just so beautiful, and Morgan and Branden interact so flawlessly with each other! Incredibly romantic!

Love these two photos with the beautiful sunflare! Just dreamy

Congrats you two! Can’t wait for the wedding!

Laura & Chad

Wrapping up my 2011 Wedding season with Laura & Chad’s romantic wedding at the National Aviary! It was a gorgeous day, complete with a pretty First Look Session and a Penguin in attendance at the reception!

Beautiful colors of dark purple accented the day!

Lovely orchids completed Laura’s bouquet as well as the centerpieces.

THIS photo above is why I love love LOVE a First Look Session! This session breaks tradition of waiting to see each other until the ceremony. While that is a romantic idea, think of it this way–this session allows you to be alone with each other to enjoy each other on your busy wedding day! You will spend a lot of time with friends and family–as you should!–but try to make some time for you and your new spouse on your special day! A First Look is a perfect way to do it!
The way it’s done: The groom will be standing facing away from an entrance at a location that the couple has chosen. The bride walks with me halfway to him, and he can hear her, you can talk to each other, but cannot see her until she’s ready! When the bride is ready, she walks up behind him and touches him on the shoulder. When he turns around, he sees her for the first time as HIS BRIDE! Now if that’s not romantic…
And then you get shots like this…you are in your own moment sharing it together!

We headed to the Mexican War Streets, which were just a few blocks from the Aviary. There were so many interesting and colorful areas to choose from!

For these shots we went to the Mattress Factory’s garden. If you’ve never been to that museum, it’s a must! Their garden was the perfect setting for some quiet, outdoor photos.

The Aviary has gorgeous grounds as well. I loved this pathway, so enchanting!

Laura and Chad just had the most beautiful chemistry together. They are head over heels for each other and it shows!

I loved the way the light caught in flares as the sun started to set, and they are just so perfect together!

Laura with her cute parents

The adorable ring bearer and flower girl

Walking down the isle! She’s so radiant!

And then a breeze picked up and…Laura’s veil went with it

Wildly romantic first kiss!

Chad’s friends have their own jazz band, and they played during their cocktail hour!

Even Chad joined in on playing, the boy has skillz!

Another guest of honor–hehe–a Penguin attended the reception and greeted guests! How cute is that?

The gorgeous lit ceiling at the Aviary! The LED lights change color and are so pretty reflecting off the bird metal art.

First dance!

If you can’t clap with a drink in your hand, have your girlfriend help you!

High five after the garter!

They are unicorns! The unicorn was their sorority’s mascot!

And here they are just being regular human girls

Even though this image is soft focus, I love the lighting. The movement and expression say so much.

The beautiful orchid centerpieces!

Thank you Laura and Chad, for letting me be a part of your special day! You are an amazing couple and I wish you the very best!

Ode Alle Luci

In other words…Ode to Lights! For me, one of my favorite things to do is play with lights. Not lightING, just…lights. I love to throw them in the background and create a gorgeous, emotional lens blur, how they diffuse and create a wonderful backdrop for any subject. Whether you’re shooting places, people, or things, lights can be a fantastic tool that elevates your subject to a new level!
Here, we see a simple Winter Decoration. My mom decorates our back porch differently for each holiday coming. If there is no “holiday” then she does the theme for the season. Here, it was “Winter”.
Keeping just one decoration in focus, I blurred the rest of the room, which included more glass decorations and lights. Each point of light blurred, and here you can see it created a beautiful frosty feel.
Now, instead of just seeing glass decorations, you get the feeling of cold, frost, and ice. After all, isn’t that what photography is about? Not just seeing the subject for what it is, but feeling it and allowing your emotional receptors to view the photo, not just your eyes.

The Comfort of Gray

Comfort of a gray sky, it wraps you up like a blanket. At least for me it does. Living in this area where we get only 52 sunny days a year, most people find this kind of depressing. Most people need bright sunny days to feel happy or joyful.
I’ve always been a little different in my thinking. For me, a gray sky indicates it’s time to slow down, to relax, and create.

Some of my best work, projects, and ideas have come out of a moody, emotional gray day that I’ve spend mulling over my experiences, goals, and list of things I would love to do someday.
Learn to look at something that is typically negative in a positive way. Make it your own spin to make it work for you. Beauty can be found in dark places.

Emily & Matt

Emily and Matt shared a beautiful wedding day! It started out with a snowfall…in October Everyone knows Pennsylvania weather can be unpredictable! But their lovely ceremony continued outside under the picturesque arches of Laube Hall in Freeport. Laube Hall is wonderful in the way that you can get ready in the spacious rooms, have a ceremony in the beautiful archway, and then the reception in their ballroom!
Beautiful beaded accents!

Since it was a near-Halloween wedding, the bridal party prepared Phantom of the Opera masks to enter into the reception! So creative and unique!

Emily’s dad got ultra creative with the Halloween Theme, bringing in a severed hand for Emily to pose with! Love her reaction with this photo! She was so fun!

Gorgeous…classic train and stunning veil!

I’ve always thought Emily has such pretty eyes, and her hairstyle shows them off perfectly!

Emily with her ‘Maids!

And the backs of their unique gowns! I like how she had Sara’s gown (sister, maid of honor!) a different color than the other girls!

Emily’s mom putting the finishing touches on the veil

All together family photo

Emily’s dad gives her away with a kiss!

Cousins hold hands during the ceremony

This was a really sweet idea: Before Emily and Matt exchanged vows, they had each of their mothers come up for a “last hug as a single son/daughter”. Loved that!

The new Mr & Mrs!!!

The really neat “hidden” bar room at the bottom of Laube! It’s like stepping back in time!

Loved how these turned out! They are so romantic! You can even see some of the snow on the ground

They had their make-your-own-photobooth! This is a wonderful idea–everyone brings their own cameras, and shares photos easily! The props are all laid out here for you!

Ready to walk in!

Excellent example of their photo-booth

Love these gurrrls

Really cute rustic centerpieces with baby pumpkins scattered around!

I love the kiss-and-make-up after the cake bash

And they had such a variety of cupcakes…even gluten free! Yay!

Seriously couldn’t get more romantic

Emily dancing with her dad

…while her mom looks on

Matt and his cute mom share a dance!

Emily’s parents brought class to the dance floor, they really know how to ballroom dance!

And from here on out…it was an awesome party! DJ Craig Lawrence of Red Hot Chameleon played tunes all nite, as everyone danced and had a great time! We shared a lot of laughs, everyone in this crowd knows how to have a good time! Don’t believe me? See below!

hehe

And “their song” Bohemian Rhapsody was playing here

How cute is that little shirt?!?!?

Love these two!

Sweet photo, and love her outfit!

Heeelarious

And I believe this song was “Time Warp”! From Rocky Horror, one of my faves!

And I forgot to mention, the photo booth accessories are also good dance props! Who wants to leave fun accessories in a box? Take them out and play!

Guess this song…Fat Joe’s Lean Back!

Take a bow

Her hair looks pretty in this shot! Love the energy!

Too cute Adrienne! Seriously such a fun night!

So cute!

Emily and Matt…what a gorgeous, fun filled day! Best wishes and lots of love to you both! Thank you so much for letting me share your special day!

Buon San Valentino!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! (The title is in Italian, of course!) Even if you are single, you can still celebrate Valentino Giorno because there will always be someone in your life that you share love with. Don’t forget parents, friends, and siblings that are dear to you. They would love to get a card telling them that you care, just so you make sure they know. A little thought goes a long way. Read below for a How-To:

I know a lot of people write off Valentine’s Day as a “Hallmark Holiday” and grump around about it, but I feel like they’re not looking at it the right way. It’s not just another day people spend money on others. It’s a day to take a little time to tell the people you spend most of your free time with that you care about them. Cards and gifts do not need to be expensive or extravagant. In fact, the best gifts I’ve ever received were gifts that were made, drawn, baked, or painted!

I decided to make Valentine’s Cards for my husband, sister, bff, and gfs that are near and dear to me. I love to craft, but really, anyone can whip this right up. With the babes running around I was short on time, or there would be glitter absolutely everywhere.
Continuing…

1.)  Get your cards, labels, or tags that you’ve either bought or made. Set them out to decide which tag goes with what chocolate.
Use a paper punch to put a hole into the tag. The one I have just happens to be a butterfly, but you could use any! Feel free to go crazy with themes here! I’m more hodge-podge…

2.)  Punch le cards/tags. If you have a punch like this, and are punching watercolor paper like I am, you’re going to get a workout. Other crafters will be smart and use cardstock at most, and be smart and use a real-live paper punch. But I like life in the fast lane.

3.)  Using shiny plastic ribbon, attach tags, tie and curl with scissors.  Ensure it’s only theee beeest chocolate. Every other day, regular store varieties are perfectly fine. But for special occasions, go the extra mile. You don’t have to spend $35 on a box of truffles, although I’m sure that will not receive any complaints! All I’m saying is…one bar of extra fine chocolate goes a long way! Go to Betsy Ann’s Chocolates! I swear to you, they are better than…well, I’m not going to bash any other brands, but I seriously think you’d have to go to Belgium to find anything better!

4.) Give! And don’t forget to give your friend/partner/family member/husband/wife a hug after doing so! Duh. That’s the most important part!

I’d also like to add for all the “Humbug Hallmarkers” (HAHA I JUST MADE THAT UP FOR REAL!!!) that Valentine’s Day is actually a REAL holiday. It actually has a few different historical backgrounds from various cultures that can be found in this synopsis. The Italian version is that St. Valentine wed couples in secret. He believed in love and promoted love. I think it’s beautiful that centuries later, there are still people that hold a day aside in the honor of love!

Paula & Mike

Mike and Paula shared so many beautiful moments on their wedding day. They have a great group of family and friends that accompanied them during their celebration.

Loved the sparkly shoes and the vintage daisy pin!

Paula & Mike’s beautiful ceremony was held at the Meridian United Presbyterian Church.

He made it the whole way across the isle!

Love bubble receptions! So fun!

The ever-popular jump photo!

Mike and Paula are both firefighters at South Butler FD, this was actually how they met!

They also belong to a Motorcycle Club called Fire and Iron, which is a fire fighter motorcycle club. They ride for charity, and also wear these awesome kilts

Absolutely LOVED Paula’s Cathedral-Length Veil!

Something I love about beautiful settings such as Preston Park it’s incredibly easy with one of the lovely untamed orchards which provide a lush canopy to stand under. I’ve said before that it’s almost like stepping back in time. As I’ve mentioned before with another bridal couple that had their photos taken here, I love wide-angle shots to incorporate the landscape of your setting into your photos! It shows a detail that can be overlooked–the nature and feel of where you and your new spouse spent a special half hour by yourselves after saying vows and before spending the night with your friends. Each photo helps tell your story. I love to provide variety to bridal couples, from close ups of your faces and hands, to strict portraits of your torso and face, to ultra wide scapes of the area you were in. These intimate moments are something wonderful to look back on.

And the BEST Maid of Honor speech EVER goes to Jess–hands down! She actually rapped  (with beat music playing!) the story of how Mike and Paula met! Way to go Jess, you had everyone in tears laughing!

Paula and her dad

Mike and his mom

The fight for the Bridal Bouquet…

And she emerges victorious!

Taking the pilsners from the centerpieces will save you a few trips to the bar!

It’s also fun to carry them like a baseball bat

One of the beautiful crystal trees

Dasies also covered some of the tables!

And the very popular Pilsner centerpiece…two of them went to a good cause

Very cool grooms cake!

Both of their rings on the shield of the FireFighter helmet

This is a great alternative to a guest “book”. Each guest can sign, and you can hang it in your home! You can also customize it as they did here, with the motorcycle.

Matching helmets, now with the same last name
Thanks for sharing your beautiful and fun day–best wishes on your new life together!

What I’ve Learned…

Some of what I’ve learned this year…
I’ve learned the hard way. Sometimes you have to make mistakes in order to grow.
Sometimes these mistakes show YOU where you belong.

Sometimes getting hurt is the best thing for you, simply because it makes you reevaluate your self worth. Nine times out of Ten, it is much higher than you originally anticipated.

I’ve also learned that when I’m feeling down, the best place to go is home, because I have five people that live there to tell me that the world is wrong and that they love me and think that I can accomplish great things with my skills, personality, and affection for others.
(keep reading…more below…)

I’ve learned how to look at light so I can see it for what it is–a lovely paint to wash over the beautiful Nature that God has created for us. I’ve been enamoured with this dead field since we moved here, and I truly hope it always stays.

I’ve learned what type of photographer I want to be, and how I want the interaction with my clients to always be the focus of my business, and that the friendship that comes with working with them is real.

Sadly, I’ve also learned that there are people out there that will make anyone’s Day…
All About Them. Weddings, Funerals, Birthdays…you name it. It’s very hard to stand idly by and bite my tongue, because it’s not my place to say anything to defend. These people can put a damper on any situation. Leave these people be. It’s the only thing you can do, besides feel sorry for them. They’ll figure it out soon enough as they start spending more time alone.
(keep reading…more below…)

I’ve learned that being open and honest will get you places. People appreciate someone that isn’t shy to share their thoughts and ideas.

I’ve also learned that it’s not what you say, but how you say it. You can certainly get your point across without being rude, brash, brassy, nasty, demeaning, or hurtful.

Saying what’s on your mind without consideration for another person’s feelings while writing it off as “just being honest” doesn’t count.
(keep reading…more below…)

As with everything, most things look better with a photo
These photos, for me, were something I’ve been drawn to doing for months. I typically head here when I want to be alone but feel safe, when I need a moment to myself to reflect and to regroup.
In our society, we’re constantly comparing ourselves to others. We’re bombarded with what “everyone else is doing” through tv shows, movies, Facebook, texting…it’s so easy to get caught up in it and get down on ourselves for not doing enough.
It’s time to relax…tap into your personal best. Don’t be so hard on yourself, and remember one of my favorite quotes that my Dad tells me:
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
This sums up perfectly what our society tries to diminish: accomplish everything fast and show it off. Compete. Run faster. Get more. Do more.
Stop–slow down. Enjoy this journey. Don’t you want to look back and see the fun you had, or were you too busy catching up and running ahead to look at the friends you made along the way? Did you forget to look for the beauty in every day moments, and remembering how having a warm breeze in your hair inspired you?
Back to basics…
Thanks for reading my blog

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Gallery Crawl

Finally–a night out! And the perfect night to head down to the city. The weather was awesome and a ton of galleries opened their doors to show off their artwork. My girlfriend and I were a little too excited to get into the metro area–something I’ve affectionately named: “Concrete Therapy”. Seriously, could not ask for a better night out!

Art is sexy

Study in composition and lines using the Exhibit: in transit
Taken at the Wood Street Galleries

Even little babes had fun at this exhibit

Also taken at the Wood Street Galleries

Gorgeous Silhouettes by Kathryn Carr with intricate details, and also interactive! Had a pretty good time at the 709 Penn Gallery

And the last exhibit we saw, the performance by Steel Town Fire–definitely an exciting group of performers!

You can see more of these photos on my facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/katesphoto) and if you missed this quarter’s gallery crawl, there is another one in April coming up for you to make plans for! I know I’ll be making a trip! Just hit up the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust website to make your plans!

Michelle & Aaron

Michelle and Aaron had a beautiful wedding with the blessing of rain! The rain literally held off the whole day, except for about ten minutes just after their ceremony! Just enough time was available to do the bridal portrait outside before the rain started–perfect timing, and their day continued! The day was spent at the Youghiogheny Country Club, a wonderful venue where you can relax and spend your whole day in one easy place. They have a spacious and elegant bridal room to get ready in, a lovely place to exchange vows, and a large and regal ballroom for your reception.  Their day was full of rich autumn colors and everyone had a fantastic time dancing!

Leopard Print was the theme of the day! Sassy!

One of the most relaxed brides, ever She even helped with the girls’ hair

And the little girls even had leopard print flower clips for their hair! Cuteness!

Someone brought Michelle one of the photos they had of when she was a baby. Love throwback pictures! So sweet

Aaron, seeing Michelle walking up the isle!

That’s dedication, look at the Officiant’s tie–that’s love right there! How cool is that when he’s so involved and interested with his couples?

I really think this is one of my favorite cake toppers

By this time, it was pretty dark, so we did a family portrait inside. There are always nice places you can squeeze into to get portraits of the important people you love! Luckily, there was this beautifully decorated cigar-style room that could easily be rearranged to hold everyone nicely!

Invasion of the flowers…

And next, they conquered the cake…

Before moving into the jungle…. haha love it

Looooved her widdle sneakers!

The two sides, protective bro, and fun bro

I am really a little sad that there are no more Thomas Boys to get married! They are seriously so much fun, and they dance the whole night! They really know how to have a good time! I’m thankful I got to meet both of them and their cute wives! They give me inspiration for my own two boys; I can see how brothers may fight when they are little, and still grow up to be such good friends and have a special bond.

All the Ladies in Leopard!

And Christina and Zach, still as beautiful as you were on your own wedding day

Congratulations Michelle and Aaron, and best wishes to you and your beautiful new life together!