Hey!   Bellissima, wedding photography in western PA (mainly the Pitttsburgh area) is now a member of the Better Business Bureau!

I read how some people won't do business with companies who are not members of the Better Business Bureau, so I called the BBB.  From their website:

Members of local BBBs are businesses and firms which:

• meet tough BBB membership standards,
• agree to follow the highest principles of business ethics and voluntary self-regulation, and
• have a proven record of marketplace honesty and integrity .

So I applied, and we were accepted!  We are excited to get our welcome packet, and then we will be displaying the logo on our website.  We are always looking for ways to earn our clients' trust, and we think this helps.  The Better Business Bureau is a non-profit organization.  I didn't realize that, but I guess it makes the most sense.  There is a LOT of information on the BBB website, and of course our local office is in Pittsburgh.  And if you are a business, your membership fees are 100% tax deductible as a necessary business expense, according to the BBB office.  NICE!

remember how i got rid of TV?

well, we have this gorgeous 50" plasma monitor in the 'studio' room, and while i work, i often have a netflix movie on there.  (this is an old photo, and alexander doesn't usually sit up there next to it - he was just being like Vana White when we got the monitor.)

 my laptop computer is connected to the monitor.  i 'watch' the movie over and over - it actually just plays over and over - that way i don't feel like i have to sit there and i'm not distracted, just entertained.

for the most part i still hate tv.  there are a few shows that i think are cute - and i found a loophole!  not only can i log onto netflix and watch movies online, ABC has streaming programming!  the entire season of shows!  i don't have cable, or my dish tv, but i do have a FIOS line.  so i installed the necessary player and... vwala!!  only the shows i actually want to see.  it's so funny - i don't even know what half these shows are!  here's what's on...

we walked into the bathroom and saw this amazing light!

we grabbed Maura for 5 minutes and ended up with this...

BUT, it didn't start out this way.  Since we were in a bathroom, there were things I didn't want in the photo.  I exposed the photo a few different ways and like this exposure the best.  I also shoot raw, so I have a little room to push and pull the image.  and the raw is nice, since we had a mixed lighting situation - raw is easy for me to adjust, since i'm so familiar with Adobe Camera Raw.  The exposure is the first thing to tackle and you really have to get it right in the camera - or you just lose a lot. 

After that, i got rid of the sink and stall doors.  i selected areas that i did like and flipped and moved the pieces as layers - no clone tool - makes a smoother transition.

then i did a little 'glowy' stuff and finally sharpened.  so here's the before and the after!

of course it helps to start with an absolutley gorgeous subject in a silk gown !

i rarely touch up an image for the slideshows - but this one was really worth it - don't you think?

EDIT...  that is a window - i re-read this post and thought you might think that was a light.  nope... a window.  the mixed light came from the flourescent lights above the sink.

KEN + JEN...

Jennifer and Ken were married at Green Oaks Country Club. (what a beautiful golf course)  Colleen really makes sure everything is taken care of and the day went very smoothly.  The weather held out for a beautiful ceremony right on the fairway!  Jen looked beautiful, and her flowers were so colorful – I love the little monogram she had on each of the bouquets. 

We did a little Bella Mia session with Jen before she go dressed – of course those images are in a private folder just for Ken, but here is a glimpse of what we did…

And the fabulous shoes!  I think this photo will be added to our website – I just have to find the right spot for it.

Once we arrived at the Country Club we loaded into golf carts and went to take a few photos.  It was very hazy, which created some nice light for the ladies photographs.  We went to the pool for the guys photos.  I could have spent more time at the pool.  The life guards moved the ropes for us to be able to get some clean shots.  Then it was time for the ceremony!  Ester Wagner provided the fabulous string quartet.

You might remember Jen + Ken’s eSession – we went to a private residence.  Well, we contacted the home owner for Jen and Ken and he graciously invited us back for wedding photos.  Brenda got this great shot of Jen and Ken… 

Tami the Cake Lady did Jen’s cake and it was delicious!  I love the little diamonds and the twisted silhouette of the layers.

The reception went by in a whirl!  What a fun evening.  The very highly recommended Jeremy Ganss provided the music and WOW!  We’ve heard about Jeremy, and were so excited to work with him.  He is AMAZING!  Everything about Jeremy is first rate – he provided us with a timeline the week of the wedding so that we knew what was going on, and kept us informed the whole evening.  And the way he mixes the tunes!  I cannot say enough. 

Jen and Ken enjoyed a honeymoon in Aruba and are looking forward to another big move – into their home!  Congratulations guys, and thank you for allowing us to be part of your beautiful day!

Here are the Moving Pictures - what a wonderful day!

MAURA + JOHN

Ok, I’ve got to say that after Jen and Ken’s wedding, I was really excited to know that Jeremy was going to be the DJ at Maura and John’s wedding at Oglebay.  I have only been to this resort once, several years ago and I only stayed for a short time.  This time we were there from Friday to Sunday and it was wonderful to be in one place for everything! 

Maura’s flowers came all the way from Wooster, Ohio – All Flowered Up put together the beautiful blooms.  The little curly pieces are really flowers!  I’ve never seen them before! 

And instead of a cake, Maura’s guest had cupcakes from Dozen in Squirrel Hill.  They were delicious.  (I had a red velvet one!  Yum!)  

Her bridesmaids wore espresso dresses with a tiffany blue ribbon from Ann Tayor.  And Maura’s Dupioni silk dress was stunning!  Don’t you think?  She found her veil in Naples, Florida. 

John is a coach for the Army football team – doing what he was born to do!  (John’s dad played pro ball for the Patriots and his uncles were also pros!)  This was one football-lovin’ group!  So there were lots of details… from the ring-bearer’s jersey to the marching band that ushered the wedding party in to the cocktail party – yes!  A marching band!  It was fabulous!!  Jeremy introduced the family ‘teams’ as everyone danced up the walkway. 

Everyone kept dancing all night!  What great sprit this group had!  The Conways have a beer connection – and the Great Lakes Brewery provided a special label wedding ale for the couple.  Another first for us to see. 

And Jeremy Ganss did a fabulous job – as usual! His fiancé, Heather was with him, and she is such a delight.  Jeremy keeps things moving so smoothly.  His attention to detail is remarkable.  I just LOVE his Bose speakers.  First they are teeny tiny – so they will not ‘ruin’ a photo, BUT the best part is the SOUND!  You can stand near them and actually talk, yet they fill the room with amazing sound!  His style is so professional – mixing in music that everyone loves – old and new.  I actually have a CD that Jeremy mixed from a wedding that I listen to in my car!  Jeremy books up fast, so if you are looking for fabulous music and amazing talent, call him right away.  BTW – check out his home page where he features Maura – look familiar?

I’d love to go back to Oglebay – for another wedding, or just a vacation (when I figure out what one of those is!)

Congratulations Maura and John – Thank you for such a wonderful time!

Of course - The Moving Pictures...

Well we were having so much fun at the reception that I didn't blog...

but i promise a full review of the last 2 weddings very shortly!  they were just wonderful!  for now, here's one shot of the bride and groom with Patches, their pup pup. she was so cute - i wish we could have spent more time with her.

here are the moving pictures... ENJOY!!

wait until you see Maura's photos - wow, is she gorgeous!

Brenda and I have the pleasure of photographing Maura and John's wedding today!

We are at Oglebay Resort and it is just gorgeous!  There are deer everywhere - so beautiful!  Last night we attended the rehearsal and a fabulous rehearsal dinner BBQ and met their wonderful families - I am really looking forward to today.  i got up early and read for a few hours before snooping around.  this will be an amazing wedding day!

I've got a great wireless connection, so as i wrap up the slideshow for the reception, i hope i can share few photos later tonight!

ciao for now!

i love this photo - it's both a ring and a shoe image, and i adore how the light is dispersed through the diamond to create a glow on the heel of the shoe. ( i will post something a little higher resolution once i get my watermark on it - the detail in the diamond is so sharp).  but i MOSTLY love it because brenda set it up and i took it.  we were really working as a team.  the day went very quickly - at a pace a little faster than i prefer - but working as a team i think we got some fantastic images!  I think there truly is a synergy in working together as 2 photographers.  Bren was really ON with the fisheye - check out the next to the last image in the MOVING PICTURES!  It's fabulous!  We were soooooo lucky with the weather - a full review is on the way!!

Congratulations Jennifer and Ken!!

I read this quote a couple weeks ago.  I just love it.  I think everyone should read it an think about it.  It's by Marianne Williamson.   

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

also - i have xanny's 'after' pics ready, but i wanted him to grow out a little and take a current one.  his eyebrows were sooooooo short - he was kind of freaky looking!  but now he's growing in and looks more like himself.  i'll post a few as soon as i can.  next time i'll ask eric to keep his eyebrows longer.  and xander has been practicing with the brush since he got such a bad report card!!  he bites at it a little less now.

 

 

 

you've got to take 5 minutes and watch this...

CLICK HERE!

mind-blowing, isn't it?  i'm just waiting for my jet pack to arrive and we'll be moving into the space colony any day now...

oh! and wait until you see alexander's hair cut!!  here's a 'before'...   the after is coming!

this is such a neat website! 

if you are looking for something handmade, or make things that you would like to share with people, check out etsy.com.  i can think of a lot of people who should know about this site - people who love to shop and people who have something to offer!

you have to click 'buy' and then shop by color - it's so cute how it all interacts!  very dynamic.