Photographing their engagement session truly made my week, and I’m absolutely thrilled that one of my weekends this summer will be filled with their presence. Katie, Josh, and Bo – engaged:

Love this. Also, I love my 85 (favorite lens)

Katie and Josh are so easy-going and they were up for anything I suggested.

Brief intermission to gawk at a pear diamond (*love!*)

Josh, agreed – Katie’s hair does look adorable in a ponytail.

Mellon Park is such a great backdrop for an engagement session!

Family portrait!

Loved the tree in this one with the sunlight peeking through.

Congratulations! See you both in July! (It’ll be here before you know it.)

“Pool lights are green, not blue. Three stars.”

“Tree obstructs ocean front view to only 99% ocean front. Two stars.”

“Was greeted with regular fruit punch and not spiked fruit punch. Half a star.”

It’s really our silly form of entertainment, but in a place with no worries, why not joke about others’ ridiculous expectations as well? We’re pretty easy-going and vacationing together is something we truly enjoy. We’ll be here for a week, and traveling to tropical paradise has inspired me to start a blog series on honeymoons. Some of my past brides will soon be chiming in with their honeymoon reviews, which I’m really excited to read.

In the meantime, this view… one star. Seriously.

photo form iPhone with AutoStitch and FilterStorm

“Why did my best friend just text me a picture of a groundhog?
I’m hungry.
I should blog.
I should blog cookies.”

This past wedding season I was in the presence of numerous cookie tables, and each one is always as alluring as the last. On top of that, there were some really cute cookie table decorations and ideas that perhaps you can carry along into your own wedding day design. First, some little signs to let your guests know what each type is..



Flowers or something seasonal to spruce up the table:


Adorable hanging signs for the tables:


And incorporating candy into the mix, including big apothecary jars and colored ribbons:



Don’t forget “to go” containers for your guests!

Tomorrow, is my niece, Lydia’s, birthday. She’s going to be three and I remember when Brad and I were anxiously awaiting her arrival at the hospital on a snowy January in 2009. She’s grown up so much, and now I’m lucky to be her playmate when we’re around, and we’ll go from playing “we’re at the beach” to “now we’re in a doll house” to “now we’re dogs” all in the matter of 5 minutes. Wouldn’t trade it for the world, so for tomorrow, happy birthday little girl!

Also, some other random stuff that I’m loving lately – Naked Juice. I can’t tell you how much I just wanted to chug juice once the food poisoning had weaned itself away. I’ve been told about this green goodness, but now that I’ve experienced it I’m in a whole new world. Looks disgusting, but you’ve gotta trust me on this one. You’ll love it.

Speaking of green, what’s with the Pittsburgh weather this January? I hope all of us appreciate this “warmth”, because let’s remember how incredibly, incredibly miserable last winter was. So, horray!

Currently reading? A really interesting read, especially since I enjoy speaking so I want to make sure my work is..like..*bjam!*. Wow, if that doesn’t speak volumes for the need to practice word selection I don’t know what does.

Found this at TJMaxx the other day and was obsessed. I actually sat on the bench next to it in the store and stared. Whoa, creepy handbag lady, what was wrong with me?! However, I didn’t buy it, because Kate Spade missed a crucial element in the handbag – the top clasp. It was wide open. Like, just help yourself to anything inside of my bag. Weird? Yes. So I let ‘er go.

And finally, I instagrammed this not long ago, but it still cracks me up:

“Uh, hello, AAA. I just found my keys. They were in my pocket.”

It’s been a crazy week. An absolutely, insane, what day of the week is it again? kind of week. In the matter of 6 days I was in New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Hartford, and Chicago. In the “in-betweens” of those days I was faced with blisters, airplane engine failure while in the air, deathly food poisoning, and the threat of a winter storm. Needless to say, by the time I got home my brain was as good as fried.

Speaking of fried, did somebody say Beignets?

Traveling with me this week was Jared Bauman, the Co-Founder of ShootDotEdit. We spoke at three different PUG (Pictage User Group) meetings, met tons of amazing photographers, and mingled with some super awesome up-and-coming photography-related businesses at Imaging USA. I’m in the process of launching a coaching business for new photographers, and I realize completely that it’s a cause that will be faced with open arms from many and closed minds by few. It’s going to be a challenge, and I’m just at the beginning.

This plane actually managed to have two engines working the entire time.

I have to admit, it kind of seems like this week was set out to be the “Ok, you want to get yourself into this? Let’s see what you’re made of” kind of week. Ever feel like that? Like the universe is testing you, to make sure that you can handle what’s to come? Ya, it was one of those kind of weeks.

And now here I am, at home on my couch, and in a snuggly robe having eaten real food for the first time in a day and a half. I made it. And I’m going to make it.

As long as the food poisoning doesn’t come back – if that happens I’m calling it quits!

Their wedding was held at the ab.so.lute.ly beautiful Riverwood Mansion in Nashville. It was such an honor to photograph their day, and traveling to Nashville was a great way to beat the winter chill here. The day was warm, sunny, and just ethereal – kind of just like Cindy. Funny how that works.

The mansion has a beautiful southern charm, and the chandeliers and gold detailing were just lovely.

I always was to just scoop up the flower girls – they’re the cutest!

Dudes. They’ll tell you that I was a complete nerd with them to get this photo, but I think that it was well worth it – handsome, gentlemen!

Cindy was just breathtaking.

These two were taken on the porch of the mansion, and again, I love it’s rustic doors paired with the elegance of the building. And flowergirls – c’mon! It’s adorable!

The ceremony was held in one of the side rooms of the mansion, and you can just see Cindy’s mom beaming as she walks her third-to-get-married daughter down the aisle. The last wedding walk! *tear*

Pure Joy.

After the wedding was really the first time Cindy and Charlie got to stop and talk all day. We were really tight on daylight, but it was important that they have a few minutes alone to just soak it in. If I could, I would suggest that every couple do this – such a great breather and emotional time to celebrate being married!

Yup – winter in Nashville!

The mansion!

All of the girls switched into cowboy boots after the wedding – love it!

Not only did I have the pleasure of working with an amazing couple for the end of my 2011 season, but I also had the honor of working with Mary Natalie, who was just a doll. Here is the reception tent all ready to go.

They had two cakes – one for the wedding cake, and a groom’s cake made to represent Charlie’s favorite guitar. He’s got some musical talent!

Told ya – he even sang and played with the band during the reception!

The chandelier was cool!

And finally, just pure magic. Exactly what the wedding, and I’m positive – their marriage, will be.