February weddings can either bring sunny days or snowy weather and thankfully, we missed the onslaught of our daily blizzard conditions of just a few days before. It was a perfect day – just a little snow on the ground for the beautiful look of winter white.

Shannon and Vernon were married at Heinz Chapel with a reception following at The Pittsburgh Athletic Association, a beautiful historic ballroom and building based on the 16th century Venetian Renaissance palace, Palazzo Grimani di San Luca.

With help from the always creative planners at Trends to Traditions, the ballroom, decorated in an old Hollywood theme looked gorgeous.

Shannon’s Jasmine Couture gown was stunning and she looked amazing. Her cake was designed by Creative Cakes and her awesome floral and table arrangements by Allison McGeary. Jeremy Ganns did a great job as DJ and Videosac provided motion imagery.

While we usually stay together as a team, considering the timing of the day, Barb hung out with the guys and I with the ladies. We had so much fun. It was a perfect beginning to our 2010 wedding season.

Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your special day!

Okay, I’m kidding really – but what better way to preserve the absoulte stunning beauty of a winter snow storm than through photographs?  I can think of nothing better on a hot sunny day then to sit with a cold drink in hand and gaze at scenes of a freezing cold winter day!

We had the chance to photograph a few wintry sessions, including these fabulous photos of Kim, Kelsey & Nolan.  The kids were willing models and so adorable; red-headed twins!!  No words needed to describe Mom’s good looks but what most strikes me about her is her powerful love for her kids.  I love looking at these photos because I remember the tender look on her face as she watched her kids being photographed.

For anyone else willing to brave the elements with us – let’s go!

Happy Birthday Kate – we love you!

Their ceremony will be at Heinz Chapel with a reception following at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. Katherine Shaw at Trends to Traditions is helping them plan their event with an old Hollywood theme. I know it’s going to be awesome.

Shannon will be getting ready at The Mansion at Maple Heights, which is on our list for a quick in-town getaway. It looks very cool.

We can’t wait for wedding day!!

You can view the slideshow full screen – Iphone users click here.

Like coming back from vacation and looking at life and work with a fresh start, it takes some time and a step away for me to think about our recent weddings.

It was extremely hard to look through 40,000 photographs from our 2009 weddings to pick 3 or 4 from each wedding that tell the essence of a couple’s wedding day.

We’re going to go back and post more photographs from each wedding. We know our brides and grooms like to look at weddings for ideas, whether dresses, tuxes, cakes or details.

But I wanted to include photographs that spoke to me – that captured a fleeting moment in time. I see a part of myself in each of these photographs – they represent how I felt about each wedding. Of course we photograph families, friends ceremonies, dancing and details. But I think the most meaningful photographs are those when a bride or groom is not aware of the camera, let down their guard and reveal their true personality and feeling.

We’re unlike any other vendor at a wedding. Florists and cake artists drop off their work and leave, rarely interacting with the bride and groom. We spend a lot of time together with our couples from our initial meetings and engagement session through wedding day. We’ve built a special relationship that allows us capture moments like these -  our couples have to be comfortable with us to let us into their world and become a part of their friends and family.

We’re so busy during wedding season, processing and editing, photographing engagement sessions, running our business. It’s very long hours and we move from one task to the next without thinking. This little January break has allowed me to step back and reflect – to realize again how much I love my work.

Barb and I have been married for a long time – 25 years this August – and like anything life becomes routine. But every week, in a way, we renew our vows. We see the love and affection of our newlyweds and steel a glance at each other and nod. It brings back that moment when Barb first walked down the aisle and thet flood of emotion and love.

We would like to thank all of our couples for trusting us to tell the story of their wedding day. You’ve enriched our lives. We can’t wait for this year’s wedding season!

We hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday! It’s been an extremely busy December as we finished our last Christmas deadline orders.

It’s great to have all of our kids home – Nina arrived this past week and Dave just squeaked in between storms yesterday. Kate finally has a day off from school and work.

We’re excited to have a new member of our family – Lola, a Boston Terrier. I was pretty distraught after Jack, our labrador retriever passed away and it took a year until we were ready to bring a new puppy into the household.

Lola is SO cute and is settling in life at the Barry’s house after a very rough ride from the breeder’s. She seems to be so smart, plays hard and then crashes in your arms. She made it through the night without crying or snoring too much. We’re very excited.

We’re thinking of all of you and hope that you’re enjoying some time with your family.  We send along our heartfelt wishes for a healthy and happy new year.

Barb and Steve

Fabulous designer Anne Lehman and I have teamed up to create Avenue Anne – a line of photo holiday cards, birth announcements and graduation announcements. Call 412.781.5773, or send an email to info@in-visionstudio for details.  www.avenueanne.com

Book an executive session this month to be photographed before January 20th and receive a coupon for $25.  Make a resolution to update you portrait!