Pittsburgh Wedding, Boudoir, Senior Photographer

Persephoni and Phil | City Engagement Session

The day of Persephoni and Phil’s engagement session, it may have been one of the coldest days we have ever photographed outside! It was about 20 degrees, but the bright sun and warm company made our time together at the session fly by. Persephoni and Phil love the cold weather! These two became engaged on the ski slopes and are planning their wedding for March 2017 because they love the snow and cold temps. While I get chilly if it is 70 degrees out and a slight wind blows, I’ve found the perfect solution for photographing in the beauty of winter: Under Armour layers and toe warmers. If these items can keep me warm, they will work for anybody!

Persephoni and Phil brought their sweet pup Atlas along, so they got a few pictures with him before relieving him from the chilly temps. Take a look at some of my favorites from their session, and keep scrolling down to learn a little more about this beautiful couple!

Downtown, city engagement session, Pittsburgh, wedding photographer, Lavender Leigh Photography, blog

Downtown, city engagement session, Gateway Center Park, Pittsburgh, wedding photographer, Lavender Leigh Photography, blog

Q: Tell us how you met!
A: We have known of each other since high school, just never really hung out. I was living in downtown Pittsburgh at the time and Phil had asked me to go to a Pens game with him. We had the most amazing time!

Q: When was your first date? Details, please!
A: It was a Pens vs. Flyers in the fall of 2013. Phil had texted me saying he bought us tickets to the Pens vs. Flyers game, which by the way were awesome. Our seats were directly behind the goalie. We went to Primantis, ate good food and drank good beer. It was a fun, memorable and successful first date.

Q: How did you know he/she was the one?
A: We could immediately be ourselves around one another. It was a given from day one. We just clicked and had natural, genuine fun together. You just know.

Q: What was the date of the proposal? Tell us about it!
A: January 22, 2016. The proposal happened in Snowshoe, West Virginia on top of the mountain in the middle of a blizzard. It was right after we finished our first ski run and Phil asked to stop for a picture. It was then that he got down on one knee. The scenery was beautiful, the moment was perfect and the blizzard helped create the most romantic proposal. We both love the snow and winter, so it was like a dream proposal coming to life.

Q: What do you like most about your fiancé?
Persephoni: He is such a genuine soul. He’s the most selfless and thoughtful person I’ve ever had the pleasure of being around. He also encourages me and believes in me in all that I do. He is the only person that can turn my tears into laughter. There has not been a single day that has passed that he hasn’t told me he loves me. I just love him all around.
Phil: I like her playful, goofiness. I love the way she makes me feel. I can be myself around her. We can be having a serious, deep conversation and the next minute be laughing at something completely irrelevant. I’ve never had to be someone else in order for her to love me.

Wedding Date: March 4, 2017
Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Renaissance Pittsburgh

Amy and Matt | Mellon Park Engagement

There’s just something about Amy and Matt that screams sweet, unadulterated love! On the day of their engagement session, it was another 50+ degree day in Pittsburgh, and the sun’s rays couldn’t compete with the radiant feelings these two have for each other.

Amy and Matt are both avid Frisbee players. In fact, Amy had a game at 10:30PM the same night as their engagement session! Can you imagine playing a competitive game at 10:30PM at night? Talk about hard core! The engagement session must have been a warm up!

It was so wonderful getting to know these two as we took pictures, and also listening to the ideas of what they have in mind for their wedding, which will be in Montgomery, AL (where Amy grew up!) Take a look at some of the engagement pictures of this sweet couple, and keep scrolling down to learn a little bit more about them!

Q: Tell us how you met!
A: We met our first day of college- Emory University in Atlanta. We quickly became close friends, but we didn’t date.

Q: So, you didn’t date at first?!
A: It finally got to the point where both of our moms were always asking why we hadn’t started dating yet!

Q: When did you know that the romantic relationship had started?
Amy: During our junior year, I said “I love you” and he kissed me. 2.5 years later, he proposed!

Wedding date: 3/11/17
Reception location: Montgomery, AL

Sweet and Sultry | Boudoir Photography

What I love most about photographing boudoir is that it celebrates the fun, sexy, sultry, and sweet aspects of femininity all in just one session. It gives each lady the freedom to express themself in a fun and light atmosphere. Most importantly, it makes every lady that steps through my door feel beautiful in their own skin.

Here are some boudoir photos of a lady that is not only lovely on the outside, but just as sweet and lovely on the inside! We had so much fun during her session- which is really what it is all about. Being pampered as you have your hair and makeup styled (strawberries and a little bit of bubbly add to the fun, too!) then feeling on the top of the world and confident as your pictures are being taken. I’ve had quite a few boudoir clients schedule a second and third time because they had such a great experience the first time around, they want to make it a reoccurring event. And yes, these are the same people that entered their initial session with a few jitters, only to find the most fun and amazing experience by the end!

With the huge boudoir success we had in 2015, we are quickly filling 2016 bookings, and couldn’t be happier about it! If you are considering a boudoir session, contact me soon so we can make sure to get you on our schedule! To view more of our boudoir blog posts, click here.

Hannah and Will | Heinz History Center Wedding

It was a day when Pittsburgh was just getting back into the groove after the holidays: work weeks were back in full swing and people were walking about the city and taking advantage of an unusually warm January day. As we enter the hotel room where Hannah and her ladies are getting ready, we are greeted by a “Hi Leigh and Barry!” and Hannah’s most beautiful and warm smile. Hannah jumps off of the bed and starts helping her bridal party get ready by placing sashes on her bridesmaids and the tiara on her flower girl. It is heartwarming to see how the flicker of Hannah’s smile naturally ignites smiles from her entire bridal party. Which isn’t entirely surprising because it is only natural to adore someone who is as genuine and gracious as Hannah. And, what a perfect match for Hannah- she found an equally genuine and sweet gentleman in her husband, Will.

Will and Hannah are incredibly adoring towards each other- watching them interact, you can see that “love at first sight” spark every moment they are together. Their hands are always touching when they stand or sit next to each other, their laugh becomes even larger with they join in together. They just make perfect sense. Take a look to see what I mean…

The ladies spotted Will and the groomsmen taking pictures with Barry in the street below!

The ladies’ view of down below, where Barry is showing the guys where to stand for their pictures

Hannah and Will sat next to each other on the trolley before the ceremony! Will is blindfolded in true Steeler fan fashion.

Hannah’s grandfather worked for USS Steel, so incorporating the USS Steel sign at the Heinz History Center was a must!

One of Hannah’s relatives actually drove this trolley- so special!

Because who doesn’t want a picture with a huge Heinz ketchup bottle?

I love the below image not only because Hannah and her father are dancing, but also because a special moment was caught between Will’s parents and Hannah’s mom as they watched…

Cake: Market District
Caterer: Common Plea
Ceremony Venue: McKnight United Methodist Church
DJ and Ceremony Musician: Klicker Productions
Florist: Blumengarten Florist
Hair Artistry: Greg Jockel
Makeup: Pure Beauty Makeup Artistry
Photography: Lavender Leigh
Reception Décor: Michelle Stiglitz
Reception Venue: Senator John Heinz History Center
Transportation: Molly’s Trolleys
Videography: JHC Videography

Kate and Cory | Engagement Session

Stepping into Kate and Cory’s apartment, I am dazzled by the beautiful and eclectic décor, and am immediately greeted by one of the cutest pups I have ever met- a sweet rescue named Ryder! I instantly understand why this beautiful couple wanted to have some of their engagement photos taken in their charming and welcoming home.

Kate and Cory are equally as charming and welcoming- I instantly fell in love with how relaxed and in love they are with each other. It is evident that they would try to jump to the next continent if the other asked them to do it. I am so lucky to have been referred to these two by another client (thanks, Kelly!) Fun fact about Cory and Kate- they work in really unique fields! Cory plays the double bass in an orchestra, and Kate is in the TV industry!

Their engagement session landed on the warmest day in January, so after their apartment pictures, we strolled around at their local park and took advantage of the warm winter sun! Take a look at some of Kate and Cory’s engagement pictures, and scroll down to learn a little more about this couple!

Q: Tell us how you met!
A: OkCupid! – Turns out online dating isn’t so bad and it’s free!

Q: What was the date of your first date? Details, please!
A: May 28, 2014. We met up for Adventure Bingo at Union Pig and Chicken (upstairs). The theme was 80’s Video Games. The host there is awesome and his crazy off the wall sense of humor really helped to break the ice. After bingo was over we stuck around the bar area and kept talking and talking and talking until we realized what time it was. A hug and some butterflies followed. Then texting and talking and soon another date!

Q: How did you know he/she was the one?
A: Shortly after we started dating Cory was asked to play some gigs down south. One of them turned out to be close to Graceland. Cory thought we should make a big road trip of it since it’s somewhere I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go. Not only did we not kill each other in the many confined hours of the car, but we made tons of memories along the way stopping in Beckley, Nashville and Jackson, culminating in our visit to Memphis to see the King!! It was a blast. We are travel buddies for life now.

Q: When was the proposal? Tell us more about it!
A: October 15, 2015. We were on a family vacation with Cory’s family and it was my first time to Disney World. The first day we all split up in the Magic Kingdom to do our own thing. It was sometime after lunch and Cory and I had just ridden Space Mountain and were flattening pennies when I spotted a photo booth. We love photo booths so I asked him if we could do it. He said sure, in his normal happy, calm demeanor. As soon as the timer started counting down he pulled out all this Kleenex and I was like , “Why the heck are you blowing your nose NOW?? Look at the camera!” That’s when I saw a ring and he asked me and the photos captured the moment pretty perfectly. Shock, disbelief, excitement and pure joy. Disney World really is the happiest place on Earth!

Q: What do you like most about your fiancé?
Kate: He loves me exactly how I am. He accepts and loves my crazy little dog. He has the patience of a saint and a real passion for what he does. Watching him teach little kids piano is pretty adorable too.
Cory: I love her sense of humor, passion, and how creative she is. Everything that she does whether it’s writing, drawing, cross stitch, or whatever has a lot of personality in it.

Wedding Date: November 6, 2016
Ceremony and Reception Location: Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN

Persephoni and Phil | City Engagement Session

Amy and Matt | Mellon Park Engagement

Sweet and Sultry | Boudoir Photography

Hannah and Will | Heinz History Center Wedding

Kate and Cory | Engagement Session

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leigh@lavenderleigh.com