Here’s a few favorites from a recent senior session with Lyndsay - Barb and I had a blast with her, finishing on the side of her street in the road bed of buttercups. Lyndsay’s a very engaging and accomplished young lady. She graduated this year and is off to college in the fall. We wish her all the best.

Life’s been busy with wedding season in full swing, but we’ve managed to get out of the cave and from behind the computer a little and hit the bike trail, rivers and lake.

Barb and I had designs on tackling the Great Allegheny Passage this year - the bike trail from Pittsburgh to Washington DC -  but it was time to take care of an nagging handball knee injury during the off season - thank you Doc Harner. So, it’s going to take another year of training.

We’ve had some great bike rides - most mornings were out on the riverfront trail and on Friday, we extended it a bit from Millvale through downtown to the Eliza Furnace trail (a.k.a the jail trail) across the new hot metal walking/biking bridge and down the Monogahela to Station Square and return.

It’s a little hairy ride, though, through downtown during rush hour traffic.

We love the Freeport to Butler PA trail, but it’s a 40 mile round trip and takes some time.  It’s a beautiful trail and usually very quiet.

We’re totally hooked now on kayaking, both on the river and on North Park Lake (our son Dave is working there this summer for Kayak Pittsburgh).  And, Barb’s been rowing starboard on an “8″ on Monday nights with a group of ladies through Three Rivers Rowing.

Here’s a couple of shots from Venture Outdoors member day - great fun. Barb and our daughter Nina.

If anyone wants to join us, we’re going to start doing the Wednesday morning Venture Outdoors wake up paddles downtown - there’s not too much traffic at 6:15AM ;}

In a beautiful ceremony and reception at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, Elizabeth and Derek were married on June 14th.

I’ve incorporated a few audio clips just to give you a feel for how much fun everyone had, from getting ready to the end of the party.

Elizabeth surprised Derek with a limo ride from home with the guys - a great group of friends and family who are, well, colorful and fun.

If your favorite salon and makeup artist travel, I always recommend using that service. It’s just one less thing to worry about, especially if Kenny Chesney is in town - it was sure busy downtown and it was nice to have everything in one place.

The Renaissance is a beautiful hotel with an old world feel, yet not stuffy. It has some awesome locations for photographs. Tony Lee, the wedding and special events manager is fantastic. He takes great care of his clients and always does something special for them ( I don’t want to give out any of his secret surprises).

It usually takes a while for families on both sides to get to know each other and integrate, but Elizabeth and Derek’s families have become so close, even before they were married.

Elizabeth has a great sense of humor - she’s such a pleasure to be around. And, she can do that look - fashion passion. Derek’s just a sweet guy - warm and open - and a lot of fun to be around.

Elizabeth’s beautiful gown was a Casablanca creation, cake by Bethel Bakery, florals from Alison McGeary and DJ Spike’s always a lot of fun and has a great feel for the crowd.

Turks and Caicos was their honeymoon destination - some place I’ve always wanted to visit.

Congratulations!

Kristan and Andy were married on June 8th at Armstrong Farms, Westminster Preserve - a hugely popular and unique location for an outdoor ceremony.

Armstrong Farms was established in 1816 and has been in Andy’s family for seven generations. The Westminster Preserve campus has a Pennsylvania bank barn, built in the mid 1800’s. Kristan and Andy first met at the preserve and Andy proposed to Kristan on the deck of the barn. - very romantic.

Short of being 93 degrees in the shade, which was good for that extra 5 pounds, it was a perfect day and so much fun.

Kristan was beaming all day and looked amazing in her Sottero and Midgley gown (with a little help from the air conditioner to get the air moving

I loved their choice of cupcakes for the traditional wedding cake -  so good and seriously rich.  Andy’s an airline pilot, thus the cool cake topper.

Dreamscape is one of the top bands in the city - Amy has such a sweet voice and they always seem to know what tune’s going to get the crowd dancing and having fun.

Yes We Cater provided the creative stations - one more traditional and one very popular chinese wok station.

Kristan and Andy honeymooned in Jamaica at The Sandal’s resort and are back home having a great time as newlyweds.

Jenny and Howard were married on May 31st and just returned from their honeymoon in Hawaii.

I had a chance to spend a lot of time with them during their engagement session - we had a blast in the strip district. They’re such a fun couple - Jenny’s laugh is so contagious. You just have to giggle. An engagement session makes wedding day just a bit more relaxed and I really felt like I was photographing good friends on their wedding day.

Jenny and Howard were married in the Hall of Architecture at the Carnegie Museum with a reception following in the Music Hall Foyer. The ceremony was beautiful with a mix of traditions, Jewish and Christian.

Barb and I are an interfaith couple and are sensitive to what that’s all about - If you’re planning an interfaith wedding and have some concerns, don’t worry - it all works out and it’s wonderful.

As you can see, Jenny and Howard’s wedding was absolutely gorgeous - amazing details, terrific music and Jenny’s Reem Acra gown was stunning - it was perfect for her and she was just beautiful.  The bridal party was great fun and Jenny and Howard are fortunate to have terrific and suppotive parents. It was just a wonderful wedding.

In the Mood with their 20 piece orchestra laid down the groves, Hepatica provided the floral artistry and Parkhurst outdid themselves with a beautiful (and delicious) cake. Mary Jo Rulnick, the special event wedding coordinator at The Carnegie is always attentive, personable and does an outstanding job with every event.

I’m so lucky to have such a great job - stay tuned for a very different,  cool, unique and beautiful wedding the weekend after Jenny and Howard’s wedding celebration - Kristan and Andy’s outdoor wedding at Armstong Farms, followed by Elizabeth and Derek’s wedding this past Saturday at The Renaissance.

Steve and I are no strangers to celebrating Father’s Day without our Dads. My father passed away 15 years ago, my step-father 8 years ago and Steve’s dad 4 years ago. They were great guys and we miss them. From them, we (and hopefully our kids) learned compassion, humor (very corny humor), gentleness, and most importantly - how to make lemonade from some pretty nasty lemons.

What we aren’t so used to yet, as we lose our parents, is that we are also losing our teenage kids in a sense - off they go. The past few Father’s Days (and Mother’s Days for that matter) we haven’t had all of the kids home to celebrate with - at least one of them has been missing. They call or send a card but, in a not too distant future, we can see a time when their lives will take them elsewhere for holidays.

My wish for Steve for this Father’s Day and those to come is that he remembers the kids voices when they were small, scrambling to make him breakfast in bed before he got up (while he pretended to still be in bed even though he had already had his coffee and read the entire paper!). The homemade cards and artwork, the burnt toast, the trips to the zoo or the pool and the kisses and hugs. I do believe the kids will remember those days and do the same for their kids. As Dads & Grandfathers go, they have learned from the best.

Happy Father’s Day!

Jennifer and Jim were married on May 17th and just returned this past weekend from a nice long honeymoon in Hawaii. I can’t wait to hear about their trip!

A reception at The Senator John Heinz History Center followed their ceremony at Sacred Heart Church in Shadyside - an absolutely gorgeous church - that’s one looong walk down the aisle.

Barb captured this amazing moment - Seth was so proud of his tux.

Looking over at Jim when Jennifer walked down the aisle brought back memories of seeing Barb for the first time, walking down the aisle. I remember, like it was yesterday -  tunnel vision, with everything going white. You can see in their eyes, the love they have for one another.

One of Jennifer and Jim’s favorite pastimes is spending an evening at the baseball park. We had so much fun playing while taking some shots around PNC Park, but there’s always a chance of an audience from Just Ducky Tours (it’s a blast if you haven’t had a chance to experience the tour).

This History Center is one of more unique venues in the city and a wonderful location for a reception, with two very different ballrooms. Jennifer and Jim’s reception was held in the new Mueller Center  ballroom which features a terrace overlooking the city. It’s an amazing view at sunset.

Jennifer and Jim are world travelers and the theme of their wedding revolved around their love for travel, with vintage luggage and different vignettes from some of their favorite destinations.

The Common Plea is the exclusive caterer for most events and Martin and Linda always do a fabulous job - great food and excellent service.

Congratulations - thanks for letting Barb and me share your special day!

Downtown Pittsburgh taken with my Iphone.

We hit the bike trail yesterday morning before it got too hot. It’s been great to get out and do some riding again and after this past week, a nice break to clear our heads a little.

The light just after dawn was beautiful, which got me thinking a bit about questions I receive at almost every wedding, which usually begins with “what lens do you suggest for my digital SLR? I’m not happy with my photographs - they all look like snapshots”.

My answer usually starts with “it’s not really about the lens, it’s the light that makes a great picture.”

On the other hand, the zoom lens that comes with most digital SLR’s is a poor compromise and I always suggest that the next purchase should be, first, a removable flash and secondly, a 50mm 1.8 lens that can be had for around $100. It’s one of the best investments you can make to improve your photographs.

A fast lens lets in up to 8 times as much light as most consumer zoom lens at it’s widest aperture, allowing you opportunities to photograph in natural light without flash - try increasing your ISO to 800 and set your aperture to 1.8. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Using on camera flash, especially the little pop-up flashes on digital SLR’s is a sure fire way to make your subjects look flat - the deer in the headlights look. A removable flash allows you to move your flash head to bounce your flash off a wall, ceiling or reflector and will dramatically improve your photographs, giving them more of a 3 dimensional look.

If you can, photograph during the “sweet light”,  just after sunrise or just before sunset.

It doesn’t take a sophisticated camera to make a great photograph during these times - like my little 2 megapixel Iphone camera.

It’s with great sadness along with a little comfort that Barb’s Mom Frankie is now at peace after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

While I’ll let Barb tell her story when the time is right, Frankie was an amazing lady - strong and extremely bright with a great sense of humor.

It’s a little hard to imagine when you’re first married, but after as many years as Barb and I’ve been married, your in-laws become every bit as much your family, as your own. I have 6 such wonderful brother and sister in-laws along with 23 nieces and nephews. They’re my family.

Frankie continues to live in my heart.

Steve

Well, that was a major and unexpected hassle, but our website migration and upgrade is finally complete - our website, gallery and blog are back in business.

If you still see the maintenance page, you’ll have to clear your browser cache - temporary files that make loading web pages faster. In Internet Explorer, go to tools, internet options, browsing history, temporary internet files. In Firefox, tools, clear private data, cache.

It was worth the effort - I think you’ll find our website and especially our online gallery to be dramatically faster.

Please let me know if you find any glitches or problems with our site.  Thanks for your patience!