THIS was a hard post!! I keep a running list of “favorite” images in my Lightroom photo catalog on my computer, and I went back today to review my work over this past year. I have to say that I’m happy with where my photography has moved this year. I know it’s no where near perfect, and that I always have more to learn and practice, but I can see a marked difference (to me) between my early year and late year images. I also feel as though I’ve moved from an “try this and try that” kind of post-processing, to something that has a style. I love my pink tones. I love my rim lighting. I love architectural details. I feel that as the years go on, my style will develop, and it’s so fun to look back and see just how shooting more and more helps to put little bits of myself into everything that I photograph.
Thank you to all of my 2010 clients for trusting me with their most important days, and for seeing and understanding those little pieces of me that are infused in my photography. When I have a bad or boring day here at home alone, my day is instantly brightened when I leave for a wedding or engagement sessions and get to spend such fun times with all of my clients. They are truly friends. Here are MY favorites from the year!
WEDDINGS:
My favorite shoe shot of 2010 – Linzy’s shoes. Her mom couldn’t quite get why Linzy spent so much money on these shoes, but really mom, wasn’t it worth it?
What I love here is the rustic element against the beautiful and delicate shoes.
I think we were so incredibly lucky during Maria and Jeff’s wedding in April that all of the beautiful cherry blossoms were in full bloom. I love the sweep of her veil and the vibrant spring colors.
Sometimes photographers try to balance out the “yellow/orange” tones of indoor lights in photos, but I really like it in certain instances. This is an example of one of those times. Natalie and Justin are lit with window light, and the warm colors of the indoor ambient lights behind them really add to the “winter lodge” wedding that they had. Add on top of that, Natalie’s beautiful expression and the vintage aspects of her hair and headpiece and I’m in love!
I’ve said a lot on my blog that I l-o-v-e forehead kisses. I just think they’re such a sweet way to show affection between a couple. I love the forehead kiss here with Nikki & Chris, and I love the orchid creating some foreground in the photo. I played off of the orchid’s pink color and processed the image with a bit of a pink tone to it. I’ve had an orchid in my home bloom twice this year, and used them in my wedding so I’m a bit partial.
I started playing around with off-camera lighting more this year, and I’m a huge fan now of using it for a rim light on my subjects. It almost adds a little halo to Vanessa and Dave in this photo. The expression is great, and the fact that it’s a military wedding makes it all that much better!
One of my favorite locations to shoot in Pittsburgh. It’s an art gallery and it’s b-e-a-utiful! It was super cold for Lauryn & Corey’s wedding, so we went to shoot indoors to warm up a bit. I love the art and the architecture in this image.
This photo is my newest canvas wrap that sits here in my office. The fall in Pennsylvania is so beautiful and I love the way we swept Christine’s dress as they both say in the grass. Hands, I think, also play a big part in posing and I think getting the two of them very close added to the photo. The blue sky is so, so blue!
The first photo new clients see coming to my website is this one, from Shannon and Matt’s August wedding. I remember so clearly how Shannon just thew her veil over her head while sitting in the seats at PNC Park and gave Matt a big kiss. Perfect move, Shannon!
ENGAGEMENTS:
Here’s a favorite black and white image! It’s from Bethany and Gary’s engagement session shot this fall. We worked in the downtown Pittsburgh area, and I really love how they only have their foreheads together (something I think means that a couple really “gets” each other intellectually), and the bit of harsh metal scraping look to the background of the image. It just works with her leather jacket.
Oh my, oh my, how could I not love this photo? Dia’s expression just screams “giddy in love”, and the lights wrapping around them are just beautiful. I love the bright greens mixed with the twinkle of the lights. Truly one of my favorites.
Taken at my same favorite art gallery location, this image just screams “architecture” to me! I love the archways, I love the lines of the bushes, I love the pink tone of the processing, and I love how Erin and Chris just gaze at each other so clearly in the middle of all of the architectural beauty around them.
Jaci & Matt have told me that they feel like this should be the cover for their country music album, should they ever come out with one. I think that’s a great idea! I love their expression here, and my couples all know how I love to have them laying in fields if possible
Two of my couples for next year are best friends, and I decided to pair them up for my favorite vertical engagement pictures of the year! They both have a great “vintage” quality to them, with Kristen & Joe’s “The Notebook”-inspired boat ride, to Liza & Eric’s bicycle session with the train tracks. I love how the light truly sparkles off of the water with Kristen and Joe. I love how Liza and Eric look like they could be on the cover or some Abercrombie or Anthropologie ad.
I got to shoot with an AIRPLANE. Enough said! (But really, Maggie & Tim were great, and they were married on the beach this year!)
My final favorite engagement picture of the year goes to Katrina & Brian. They are the epitome of downtown chic, and they seriously look like a magazine-worthy couple in this picture. I love the lines and the water from the Convention Center, and the processing really played up on Katrina’s dress colors and the light behind them.
Do you have any favorites this year that I didn’t mention?
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