This opening spread is a scene-setting image taken from the reception. Pittsburgh is a gorgeous city, and on this perfect day I was so glad to be there!

Engagement and Background Story

I must say, Dani is one of my favorite people in this world. (Tim’s a lucky guy!) We met my sophomore year at RIT, while each looking for new roommates. We shared an apartment for the next two years, and one of those lifelong college friendships formed. After school, she moved back to her hometown of Pittsburgh, but we still see each other at least twice a year. I love hearing about her adventures at Heinz (she works in packaging) and she enjoys hearing about my progress as a business owner.

In August of 2010, she married her sweetheart Tim! Wow, its almost two years already. If you followed my blog back then, you might remember the Engagement Session I photographed for them. They are also the ones that did the cool Table Numbers and a custom guest book from these photos. This blog post is part three in their story, as it continues now to the wedding. My husband and I (we tied the knot just 3 months before they did!) attended the wedding as guests. The ceremony was at the historic Heinz Chapel in Pittsburgh, PA followed by a reception-with-a-view at the Le Mont.

I love watching the groom watch the bride. The two top-left images were moments captured from my seat!

Being a Guest at the Wedding

I brought my camera (would you expect otherwise?) with intentions to only take a few photos, and stay out of the professionals way. Honestly, I wanted to photograph the table centerpieces using my photos, and also try to get some unique shots from my seat. I thought it would be a fun challenge to see if I could get anything the main photographer might miss! I think you can say I succeeded. As the moms were escorted down the aisle at the start of the ceremony, I noticed the lead photographer had her back to them once they passed, and was focused on the next pair coming up. The second shooter was off to the side, getting a second view of those entering. From my seat, I could see the altar…. the mom’s were lighting the candles… the photogs weren’t looking. I stood up and took a few shots, knowing they wouldn’t have these moments otherwise. I sat back down, until the bride came down the aisle. I was able to get the coveted shot of the groom looking at her from my seat. That may have just been good luck meets preparation

Here, Dani is showing Tim my photo of the mom's lighting their unity candle.

This was one of my favorite images their photographer captured. I converted it to black and white and used it as the closing image in the album.

Designing the Album

By the end of the day, I was surprised to see I had made over 100 images. I thought nothing of it until nearly a year later, when Dani asked me to design her wedding album, and if I didn’t mind, include some of my images! I was both honored and thrilled to be asked, and gladly accepted! Since Dani purchased the files from her hired photographer, I was able to work with both those images and mine. It took some time to go through them all and familiarize myself with the way the other women worked. I found myself correcting glasses glare, straightening lines, adjusting color balance and cropping.

I appreciated the fact that Dani liked my style enough to really trust me. Sorting through over one thousand images to pick the ~100 best, I was able to take the images (some mine, some not) and apply my sequencing and layout skills to create an album that told their story. I’m extremely pleased with the results, and I don’t think it is obvious which photos are whose. Its not about crediting the work, its about telling a story, and this collection of images does just that. My layouts are very simple with thoughtful use of whitespace, sizing and placement to emphasize important people and moments.

The brides album, lower, and the parent album, upper, had different covers but featured the same layout inside.

The parent album, elegantly packaged.

Delivering the Final Album

Dani and Tim’s album is what I call my Signature Album with a two-tone cover. We produced two duplicate copies of the album, one for each set of parents. These clones were photo books with a photo wrap cover. It was my pleasure to hand deliver these albums, as nothing compares to watching the couple turn the pages and relive their memories for the first time. It was also an excuse to get to see their new home and enjoy the city of Pittsburgh for a weekend!

Dani and Tim viewing their album together for the first time.

I managed to sneak myself into the album since John took a photo of Dani and I on the dance floor.

Thank you Dani and Tim for the honor of creating this heirloom for you and your families. I hope it brings you years of happiness, and I’ll always look forward to the next chapter!