Raleigh Engagement Photographer: Amanda+Sean

It’s rare to find a day in late November in Pittsburgh when it doesn’t rain, so I’ll take doomy overcast any day! Amanda and Sean are getting married next July up in the ‘Burgh and wanted to shoot their engagement session on the North Shore with a view of the ever-awesome skyline. What is nice about shooting in Pittsburgh (especially on the North Shore) in late November is that no one is there… as opposed to summer months when you can’t ever get a good shot because of the tons and tons of boats in the background. :)

Amanda and Sean met in high school and have been dating for many years. She is a pension analyst and Sean designs software. They are getting married at Stonebridge Farm Nursery and I am sooo excited to shoot there… it’s absolutely lovely! They rocked it out on the North Shore in the epic cloudiness in late November… so I’m looking forward to seeing them in sunshine on a farm in early July!

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer: Morgan+Jim

You know you’ve known someone for a long time when one of your past experiences with them involves going to see Oasis in concert.

Morgan was a few grades older than me, but close friends with my sister. It turns out that she was also close friends with Geoff’s sister at the same time in some weird Twilight Zone-y way. Anyway, I used to see a lot of Morgan until I got to the point where I would stop pestering my sister to hang out with her and her friends. :P They graduated, I graduated, etc (in closer proximity to Morgan’s younger sister Randi), and our relationship turned into Facebook friends, as so many relationships do these days. When she asked me to shoot the wedding of her and her fiance Jim back in Pittsburgh and about 10 minutes away from our hometown, I was very excited… excited to see her and her family again, and excited to meet Jim, because I was pretty sure he’d be pretty cool.

And of course he is (and I welcome another groom who has GREAT hair and excellent music taste), and of course they are, and of course their family and friends are. In fact, it was one of the coolest assemblies of people we’ve met in a long time. There were cats involved, an old family house, Tom’s wedding shoes, alleyways to shoot in that I’d never thought to visit even though I grew up ten minutes away, lots of Hall and Oates and Phil Collins, a videographer who used to be my band teacher, a Glen’s custard visit (a Springdale staple), and… perhaps best of all… a totally decked out Steelers bar who yelled at our newlyweds from across the street: “Hey, yinz guys come over here and we’ll give you a drink!” Of course, the drinks actually were accompanied by the owners and local bar residents blasting The Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” while playing along via jugband (i.e. banging whisks against beer bottles) in celebration of Morgan and Jim’s soon-to-be marriage. I’m not sure what could have been better, but upon wading through and editing their pictures later, I’ve determined that nothing could have been better.

First Dance Song: “Something” – The Beatles

Bride’s Occupation: Pricing Coordinator – GNC Corporate Headquarters

Groom’s Occupation: Project Administrator  – Siemens Energy // Soccer Coach

How You Met: Well, we were born in the same hospital 2 days apart and were in the nursery together – our families even visited with one another (her Mom and his Aunt were bffs in high school).  But we don’t really remember that.  25 years later our mutual friends unknowingly reunited/introduced us.

Interesting Bride Fact: 100% certified crazy cat lady, and avid bookworm

Interesting Groom Fact: Has an extremely extensive record collection, shuns most modern technology, and hopes to one day open a used book store so that he can go to work barefoot every day.

Date: November 19, 2011

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Springdale Veterans Association // Springdale, PA

Officiant: District Magistrate Carolyn Bengal

DJ: Craig Brown // DJ Goodtimes

Florist: Springdale Floral

Cake: Oakmont Bakery

Caterer: Patti Luffy // Ranieri Catering

Hair/Makeup: Ashlee Pici Seger // Ashley DeMasi Hair Salon

Videographer: Brian Querry // Querry Music Productions

Raleigh Family Photographer: Melissa+Jimmy+Harper+Frank+T-Bone

If this session doesn’t make you want to run out and buy a matching set of weiner dogs, I’m not sure what will.

Meet the McGuinness family! You might remember them as Melissa and Jimmy. :) Melissa and Jimmy had Frank, their first Dachshund, when Jimmy was stationed over in Germany. Frank unfortunately could not make it over to their wedding that I shot in October 2010. I was brokenhearted as I had been stalking Frank’s various outfits and adorableness via Facebook for some time. After they were married for a little while and moved back to NC, they adopted T-Bone, their second Dachshund (you’ll see that T-Bone is kind of tiger striped). Then, recently completing their big happy family, came Harper, their adorable baby girl and little sister to the adopted fur-children. :) I was so pleased to meet and photograph the new new additions, and it was lovely seeing Melissa and Jimmy again. Their family is beautiful. Harper is a little angel, and Frank and T-Bone are completely and utterly ridiculous… but in a good way.

Jimmy just recently left for a one year deployment in Afghanistan, and they wanted these pictures taken before he left. Jimmy – I wish you a safe and healthy deployment, and I hope these pictures bring you a little bit of comfort.