Pittsburgh Wedding, Boudoir, Senior Photographer

Our 2019 Trip to Greece Part I (Santorini)

Happy New Year to all of you! This January weather is making me wish for warmer days in warmer places. I can’t wait to satisfy my wanderlust and travel again to those warmer places once the pandemic craziness is over!

In light of my dreams to travel, this blog post is dedicated to our 2019 trip to Greece. Santorini, Athens, and Kalambaka were the highlights of the trip. In today’s post, I will hone in on our time in Santorini; the island of white-washed towns, mesmerizing sunsets, amazing seafood, and ocean-side hiking.

Enjoy!

<alt>lavender leigh photography's travels to Santorini, Athens, and Kalambaka, Greece</alt> — The town of Perissa, where we stayed.

The best baked goods I've ever eaten; they were drenched in a sugary honey. — Our cute “guest house”

<alt>lavender leigh photography's trip to Santorini, Greece</alt> — Hiking the mountains surrounding Perissa.

<alt>lavender leigh photography's travel to Athens, Santorini, and Kalambaka Greece</alt> — The catch of the day.

lavender leigh photography's travel to Athens, Santorini, and Kalambaka Greece — Stray cats were everywhere…

Kelsey and Ryan | Holiday Marriage Proposal

A few inches of snow covered the grass on the lawn in front of the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning. Green holiday lights covered the young trees planted in this lawn. The sun was about to dive behind the horizon. I see a well-dressed and beautiful couple walking closer to me, on a sidewalk on the opposite side of the street from where I stood. “That’s them!” I told myself, as I turned my back away from the couple. I pretended to take cell phone snaps of the fountain in front of me. You see, I knew what was about to happen, because Ryan contacted me weeks in advance and asked me if I could capture his surprise marriage proposal to Kelsey in front of the Cathedral of Learning.

I casually glanced behind me to wait for Ryan’s signal. He took out his cell phone from his pocket, and began to set up a selfie of him and Kelsey in front of The Cathedral. That was the signal; the proposal was seconds from happening.

I actually started to tear up, happy tears of course. In that second-of-a-moment, I realized the astonishment, elation, excitement, and love this couple was about to experience. This is a moment that happens once in a lifetime, and I was the lucky one to be privy enough to witness and capture it, like a fly on the wall.

Ryan gets down on his knee. Kelsey’s mouth drops in surprise, and her hands cover her mouth. I hear my camera shutter click in rapid-fire speed, but it is too silent for the couple to hear. Ryan slides the ring onto Kelsey’s elegant finger, and the smile on her face depicted her response of “YES!”, and also the elation in her heart.

Ryan stands up and hugs his now bride-to-be. “Success,” I think to myself. I was able to be inconspicuous, and at the same time, I was able to be in the exact position to capture the emotion of the moment.

After a few hugs, words, and excited glances at the ring, Ryan looks at me and says, “Hi, Leigh!” As I cross the street, he explains to Kelsey that I was there to capture his proposal, and also a few pictures of them afterward in their special moment.

It took me six paragraphs to sum up a moment that happened in seconds, and yet, my words can barely paint the picture of how beautiful and emotional it was.

So, without further ado, here is a brief glimpse of what was captured on Ryan and Kelsey’s magical, snowy, winter engagement night.

<alt>pittsburgh pennsylvania wedding, engagement, marriage proposal and boudoir photographer</alt>

Ashley and Mike | Teutonia Mannerchor Wedding

“Let me quickly get dressed, and then I’ll help you with whatever you need!” says Ashley’s mother once I enter their home to begin photographing that day. So kind, to be concerned about ME rather than taking the time to get her own self ready on the day of her daughter’s wedding.

“Awe, you are so sweet! Please take your time; I have everything that I need!” I say to her as she scurried back to the master bedroom to put on her dress.

A few minutes later, Ashley enters the house, just having her hair and makeup application completed at the salon. She is calm and relaxed, and as beautiful as ever. “Leigh, I have something for you as a thank you,” she says as she hands me a bottle of wine dressed with ribbons. How is it that I feel like I am being treated like royalty on the day that should be all about Ashley and Mike?! But all of these kind gestures are a testament of the thoughtful and caring families that Ashley and Mike are a part of. Their beautiful personalities extend far beyond this. Ashley and Mike are all smiles all the time. Yes, this is because they are 100% perfect for each other, but they are also the most optimistic and go-with-the-flow couple that I know. During this time of the rules and restrictions in relation to the pandemic, they had to change their wedding plans three times over. They did it with grace, and didn’t let these changes bring them down whatsoever. They kept their chin up and continued to smile through it the entire time.

Speaking of smiles; seeing Mike’s as he watched Ashley walk down the aisle was one of my absolute favorite moments. He just beamed, and once he took his first steps with Ashley towards the altar, he smile became bigger, if that was even possible.

Take a look at some of my favorites from their wedding day…

<alt> Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania wedding, boudoir, portrait photographer, Lavender Leigh Photography</alt>

Bridal Accessories: Clarissa Boutique
Cake: Tasty Bakery
Ceremony Venue: St. Wendelin Church
Florist: Pete Donati and Sons
Hair Artistry: Studio G Kayla Scanlon
Invitation: With Love Daily
Makeup Artistry: Lexie Hudek
Photographer: Lavender Leigh
Reception Venue: Teutonia Mannerchor

Simay and Josh | Saint Vincent Basilica Wedding

Simay and Josh are the kind of couple that anyone would like to be friends with. They are kind, funny, generous, and gracious. And on top of this, they have an air of sophistication and class that is so natural, you don’t really realize it until you take a step back and watch them in motion.

I first met Simay two years ago because I photographed her friend, Nicole’s, wedding. Simay and Josh don’t live in Pittsburgh, but when she reached to me to capture their wedding day, I was absolutely elated to hear from her again!

Simay and Josh got ready at Hotel Monaco in downtown Pittsburgh, and their ceremony was held at Saint Vincent Basilica Parish in Latrobe. The leaves were changing on the trees, and it was a perfect fall afternoon.

Take a look to see some of my faves from their wedding day…

<alt>Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania wedding, engagement, boudoir, and senior photographer, Lavender Leigh Photography</alt>

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania wedding, engagement, boudoir, and senior photographer, Lavender Leigh Photography

Ceremony Venue: Saint Vincent Basilica Parish
Florist: Community Flower Shop
Getting Ready Venue: Kimpton Hotel Monaco
Hair Artistry: Simply Captivating Salon
Makeup Artistry: See Jane Blush
Photographer: Lavender Leigh
Wedding Gown: Pronovias

Fall Mini Sessions

I had an overwhelming request for mini sessions this year, so much so that I may actually have another mini session day if there is enough interest!

The leaves were turning and falling, and the kids could play in huge piles of them during and after their photo session!

The mini sessions were held right in my neighborhood park, Parrish Park. This park offers a lovely backdrop, and also a playground for us to get action shots of the kids playing on it.

Here is just a small handful of images from the mini sessions that I photographed this fall…