Hair Raising Election Night

It's been two weeks since one of the most exciting election nights I've ever covered.

In both 2000 and 2008 I was at the IBEW hall on the South Side for the Democratic party election night shindig.

What a difference in atmosphere.

2000:


2008:

You're Never Too Old for Love

Richard and Mary Ann met over the internet 3 years ago. It's a story that isn't so uncommon anymore. I personally know a few people who have met their spouses using the internet. No, I don't mean mail-order brides or anything like that;-)

The thing that's unique about Richard and Mary Ann is that they're 87 and 71-years-old. Both widowed, they met through friends and chatted online before meeting in person. Eventually, Richard asked Mary Ann to marry him. When she said "yes" he sold his home in Yorkshire, England and relocated to West Mifflin.

I'm sure if asked they'd both tell you never to take your mate for granted, and to cherish each day you have together.






I've had some fantastic weddings lately and the photos from them are just wonderful. I'll be updating my website very soon and those pictures will be featured prominently, so stay posted.

Let There Be Light

OK, so sometimes I can act like I'm jaded.

A few days ago I got the assignment to photograph the test run of Casa Magica's lighting of the Cathedral of Learning. I really wasn't expecting much, but when I arrived it was like "Hey, wow! That's cool!"




If you have the opportunity I highly recommend you go by the Cathedral between now and November 20, as part of the Pittsburgh 250 Festival of Lights.

Habitat for Humanity

There are three houses being built in a hurry during a "Home Builder's Blitz" by a group of volunteers from Habitat for Humanity in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Westwood, near my home in Crafton.

I think it's great that three families are going to have brand-new houses, but what's really cool is that they're contributing to the construction efforts. Each family is responsible for 350 hours of sweat equity in the building of the homes.

Today, officials announced who is getting which house and Theresa Jenks (right) learned that her family will be the first to move in. A few weeks later the other two houses will be complete and the rest of the families will move in.





Good news all around.

In the news

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop wrote an outstanding article for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review this weekend. It deals with the process of selecting locations for wedding photos.

I'm proud to have cooperated with my friend and colleague Justin Merriman to come up with a list of tips for wedding photos.

A big thanks goes out to Liz and Marc Allemang and Jessica and Siggy Pehel for agreeing to be interviewed for the article. You can check out their pictures by following the link I posted in the first paragraph.

Cha-cha-cha-changes!

Apologies to David Bowie, but I'm very excited about the new packages I just rolled out this weekend.

I'm especially jazzed about the new books I'm offering from Asuka and Finao. I encourage you to check them out. You'll see that they offer the finest quality books in their categories.

I've been very happy with the books I've offered up to now, more importantly so have my clients. It's my responsibility to keep up with the many, many book products out there and after a lot of research I've decided to go with these two companies.

Asuka offers printed books that exceed the quality of a fine-art book you might buy at a bookstore.

The Finao books are made from flush-mounted photographs and represent a very high-end option that can be customized to create a unique keepsake - how about a hot pink leather cover with a leopard-print accent!

Or not. The point is that customers are able to create something that represents their individual vision and taste.

Whichever book you choose they are custom designed by yours truly. I don't use templates that you just plug pictures into, I design each page. As always, you'll be able to proof the pages in an online gallery. The books are printed once you approve the design.

While my new packages are built around the books, I continue to offer a package without books for those couples with simpler needs. They all, I feel, are priced competitively and offer an outstanding value.

Whatever the package you choose, I bring all the experience and skills acquired over 17 years as a professional photographer.

Whatever I'm shooting - be it news, sports, portraits, or weddings - I'm still growing and seeing things with fresh eyes. That is the most exciting thing to me.

It's all about trust

OK, so the bride wanted a picture of all the groomsmen holding her, which seemed like a benign idea:



I don't think she expected what she was setting herself up for:



In case you're wondering, they caught her. By the way, the groom was standing just off camera to swoop in and rescue his new wife.

This wedding was in St. Mary's, PA. It was nice to go somewhere new and see a new church and a different reception hall.





Check out the antler chandeliers and the log cabin walls!