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Category Archives: Personal

Far from Pittsburgh!

So… as you can tell, we are a long, long way from Pittsburgh!

I am having fun out in Las Vegas with Mary Schwarz and Caryn Azure! We’re here for a national photography conference (WPPI), so we’ve been attending classes, talking about our businesses, and doing a little shooting as well! Here are a few photos from yesterday morning when we headed into the canyons and ran into some very friendly burros.

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They would pose nicely for us! Until Caryn’s clicking boots spooked them that is… ;)
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Singing donkey? No… just a yawning one.
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The beautiful Mary!
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Caryn, workin’ it.
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More fun photos to come when I get home!

Photography Conference! and a big smile…

Woohoo! I just landed in Vegas for a photography workshop/conference with some of the best in the business! I’m out here with some other wonderful Pittsburgh photographers, and seriously… I’m grinning just like Akamai.

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See ya when I get back!!

snowy wedding photos: a preview.

I live in PA, but I am Florida girl at heart. And fresh, falling snow still makes my heart pound like a little kid.

It’s because of this that yesterday I sent out a call for couples to put on their wedding clothes and head outside in the freezing snow for some beautiful white photos. And, I had two WONDERFUL couples take me up on the offer: Betsey & Matt and Leeann & Brad.

I just got back from the shoots and downloaded the pictures, and I wanted to post two “teaser” photos. I am so excited to show the rest soon – thanks so much all 4 of you for being so amazing and coming out in the snow and cold!

If anyone else would like to take snowy photos in your wedding dress, I will extend this offer to two more couples. Contact me if you are interested.

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Inspiration Everywhere! The Killers

I find creative inspiration everywhere: in conversations, in movies, in music, in books, in the photography of others. And, I’d love to just start posting some of that inspiration here. So, now for a new post series… inspiration everywhere!

Since I am headed to Las Vegas this week, I’ll post one of my favorite music videos ever: Human by the Killers.

What I love about this: backlighting, feathers, dance, sunglasses, landscape, tiger, bird, vest, big hair, great framing, bowtie, backlighting, backlighting, backlighting!! Do you see it all?

And in response to this, let us know: what inspires you?

Washington D.C.

This weekend Brad and I (and the dogs, of course!) had the wonderful chance to get away to Washington D.C. for fun and for work! I hadn’t been to D.C. since high school, so it was very fun to visit all the monuments and enjoy the city together.

When we are on vacation, I really try not to spend all our time taking pictures. However, the sun was shining, and I just couldn’t resist playing with that sun flare a little! :) So, here are a few daytime photos of D.C. A few night photos and lots of baby photos to come soon!

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My boys headed to the Washington Monument.  Were we the only tourists there?  Almost, yes!  February is a wonderful time to visit D.C.!  :)

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Love the flags and all that SUUUN!

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The reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln memorial wasn’t very reflect-y.  Yes, that’s solid ice.

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People were actually brave (stupid?) enough to walk around on the ice.  No, no thanks.  I walk around on enough ice just getting to my car in the mornings!

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poo bags.

Thanks to a wonderful Christmas gift from my parents, Turk now carries his own poo bags around his neck in an adorable bone-shaped holder. No more unexpected accidents that make me hurriedly kick leaves on top of his mess and scream “dog!! you just went in the back yard before we left!!”

You’re awesome mom and dad. And our neighbors thank you.

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A snowy walk.

After an entire day stuck inside with the snow falling outside, Brad and I couldn’t wait to get out and walk around the neighborhood a bit. It was absolutely freezing, but there is nothing like breathing that fresh, cold air.

Here are a few photos from our walk:

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what a dork. a very cold dork.
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this isn’t much good now!

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the cars are covered.

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Don’t even think about taking that parking spot!

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Snowed in.

Happy snowed-in day everyone! Unfortunately, we had a wedding scheduled today that had to be moved to next weekend, but we figured we needed to put the cameras to use somehow! So, we went out and took some photos around Greenfield.

Hope you are all tucked away safe and sound in your homes. Hopefully we’re past the worst!

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The gift of photography.

My dad gave our family three of the greatest gifts I can imagine.

1) He loved our mom like crazy. He hugged her in front of us. He kissed her. He told her he loved her all the time.

2) He loved us like crazy. He hugged us. He kissed us. He told us he loved us all the time.

3) He took pictures like crazy. He documented our precious childhood in photos, and I think this is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child.

Thank you dad for loving mom like crazy, for loving us like crazy, and for taking pictures of it all. I love you like crazy.





This weekend while I was in Florida, I dug around in a few of MANY boxes of pictures and found a few that I loved. Today I scanned them and had them printed larger. I just adore these photos.

Mom with the girls:

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At our favorite beach spot where we vacationed with cousins: Ocean Club North

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One of many photo shoots in our back yard. We LOVED that clowny doll.

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At the beach. Love the tan faces:

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Another back-yard photo shoot:

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In our front driveway. I love the white dresses:

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Krisan trying to run away. p.s. is she not the cutest child EVER? I love that hair.

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Dad coming home from work in the cougar. We hated that car and eventually made him get rid of it because we complained so much and wouldn’t ride with him. I feel awful about it now!

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My sweet sister. I just love the look on her face:

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In a park nearby:

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Dad with his girls:

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Sitting with happy-dog. Probably for a Christmas card.

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I wasn’t thrilled about it. But check out Krisan’s grin:

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Eating lunch:

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I heart faces: textures

I wanted to stop by quickly and post a photo for the i heart faces blog. This week’s theme is textures, and Adriel and Neal are the beautiful bride and groom!

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Mary and Jay!

Mary and Jay are talented photographers and wonderful friends who we have gotten to know over the past year. Mary and I met at a photographer’s lunch and then really hit it off after realizing that Brad and I attend the church that her church helped start in the city. We have so much in common, and we are so thankful for Jay and Mary both!!  And of course, we’re thankful for their dog Astin, too! :)

Anyway, Mary took some beautiful photos for us last month, so last week when the snow didn’t stop falling for days, we made a plan for her family to come out and get some snowy pictures!!

Here are a few favorites from our time together. Enjoy!!

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They really really really really really really love the snow. Really.

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Mary and Jay: A Preview!

I just got back from a very fun shoot in the snow with our friends Mary and Jay!  Here’s a preview of the fun to come… their awesome dog Astin!

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Meet My Cousins!!

While I was in Florida over the holidays, I was lucky enough to hold a mini-session for my cousins on St. Augustine beach! My dad (who is the source of my love of photography) also came along, and we took some sweet photos of Baylen, Collin, Brooklyn, and Addison on the beach!

Here are some favorites from the session!

Sweet Addison:
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Playing hard!
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The boys:

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Sweet Brooklyn on the rocks:

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Addison is too young for playing on the rocks!

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All three doing their favorite dances:

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And now good smiles:

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I love you guys!!

Photos of the Day (and a little inspiration).

It’s cold and overcast outside but warm and happy inside. I had a few minutes this afternoon to relax, so I indulged in a little decaf, Christmas music, and Annie Leibovitz. I ended up shedding a few tears, as this book is as heartbreaking as it is beautiful. If you appreciate photography, I would recommend this work of art.

This collection of Annie’s photos is a stark reminder that life is short. That friends and family are what matter. And this afternoon, I have been inspired to document more of it in photographs.

Have you had any bits of inspiration this Friday? I hope your weekends are snowy and beautiful…