Tami and John tie the knot

Tami and John got married June 13 at a lovely ceremony and reception held at Bella Sera in Canonsburg.

Here are a few images from their day.

time for the big screen

Do you go to the movies? And if you do, do you go the Cinemark in Monaca/Center?   If you do then sometime in July you need to make sure you see the pre-movie commercials then.

Why would you want to actually watch the commercials you wonder? Because it’ s the Silver Screen and lots of famous people have been up there. Billions are spent each year to fill that huge screen with images to thrill, excite and scare you, to make you cry and laugh, squeel and scream.

See, I’m putting together a commercial that will run before every movie at the Center/Monaca Cinemark, and while my daughter might call me cute and all, I’m not going to be the Star of the Show. You are.  Or perhaps your friend, sister or the dog down the street.  You’ll have to go just to see who you know up on the bigscreen!

Unless you know already know somebody like Shia LaBeouf or Danielle Radcliffe of course!

Signature Session – Urban Adventure date set

The next Signature Session for Seniors is Monday, June 29th. We’re going into Pittsburgh for something different, something Urban, something FUN!
These are limited shoots but there is space left if you’d like to have some Senior Pictures done by Heinz Field, some of the bridges, skyline, Point – it’s a dynamic shoot and you’re input is most welcome – where do YOU want to go?

So if you’d like to come along the ‘bus’ leaves at 5pm. We can even do your makeup at no extra charge!

So give us a call at 724-234-2893 and tell us you want to go to Pittsburgh! It’s only $40 for about a 3 hour session!

Of Pirates and Parrots (or birds anyway)

I get so few weekends off over the summer so when I go get one I’m more interested in getting away than painting the house.  So we went camping in Lake Erie, well, not in the lake but on it, right at the mouth of the bay/harbor.

We were still setting up camp when William  comes running over to tell me about the pirate ship he just saw. Pirate ship?

OK, to an 8 year old I suppose that does indeed look like something from Pirates of the Carribean. I’d heard they were going to restore the Niagra, but I didn’t know (till the next day) that is sales every weekend – and for a small fee you can go out on the boat – as part of the crew. So it’s not a Carnival cruise, but it’s something I’ve got to do this year!

I got a shot of the ship at sail the next day – it was a bit overcast and I don’t have any super-tele lenses, but I like this shot anyway! (shot over Presque Isle from the Bicentennial Tower)

On the way back we stopped at Pymatuning State Park to show the kids the fish at the spillway there. If youv’e not gone, you really should. It’s something to see! But that’s not what I got pictures of. At the Ranger Station they have a baby bird that is friendly, looking for it’s mother they say. At first it freaked us out – it will sit on your, climb on you, sit in you hand – and he’s yelling the whole time. He sat on my shoulder for abit an yelled in my ear. No way would a pirate ever put a parrot on his shoulder – it’s WAY too loud!

Here’s the bird on Jill – it’s just weird to have a wild critter get this close!

We played on the beach a little but, but the water was very cold, which is typical for early June.

Remember, we’ll be up here in late July for a Signature Session for Seniors – and the water will be nice and warm then!

going to see the elephant

“There is one word of advice and caution to be given those intending to visit Alaska for pleasure. If you are old, go by all means. But if you are young, wait. The scenery of Alaska is much grander than anything else of the kind in the world and it is not well to dull one’s capacity for enjoyment by seeing the finest first.“
National Geographic Society President Henry Gannett, Member of the 1899 Harriman Expedition to Alaska

When I was young and all was possible I wanted to take a motorcycle trip across this great country to see all there was and to visit Alaska. Well, like many young dreamers, it’s a dream that went unfulfilled.

I’ll be turning 50 in a couple of years and have decided that dreams can come true – my successful photography business is proof of that, so it’s time to put a long time dream to the test of reality.

I’m going to Alaska!

The initial thought was to do this on a motorcycle of course, and I did ride for 15 years and worked as a motorcycle mechanic for over 10 years, so it was a logical way to plan to go. But I’m not interested in camping on the ground for the trip or rich enough to afford hotels every night, or crazy enough to drive it straight through or some approximation of that. I do want to stop and see the sights – Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Mt Rushmore and lots of other stuff – and of course take a few thousand pictures.

But going by car, well, that’s too civilized. I am a fan of the adventurers of yore that endured hardships on long treks and I don’t want to go in all that air conditioned comfort, not that I want to walk it either, like I’m sure many did.

My compromise is to take my Jeep Wrangler, naked. For those that aren’t into the Jeep Thing, that means the Jeep has no roof or doors. And for accomodations I’ll take our 1966 Apache Raven pop up camper, just about the smallest, simplest camper ever made (Apache did make one smaller model).

Now to me this is a big adventure, a trip of a lifetime. I figure it’ll take 6 weeks and cost about $14,000 in all. Fourteen grand? Yeah, the Jeep isn’t ready for a 12,000 mile odyssey and it gets about 12 mpg so gas is a cost to consider, as is a larger gas tank – it’ll go about 150 miles then it runs dry. I’m not sure how frequently the place gas stations on the trans-canada highway, but as I said, I’m not interested in walking to Alaska. It’s not got a trunk or roof so security of a few things need to be considered. Food for 6 weeks won’t be cheap either – I may be camping but I’m not cooking morning noon and night. Touristy things never come cheap, and I’ve got to have some souvenirs of course. Plus taking 6 or 7 weeks off of work isn’t cheap – my boss doesn’t give me paid vacations. LOL

So as I update my Grand Tour plan I’ll post updates here for those that want to follow along.

Step one on the Jeep is a new carburetor, then tires/wheels that are more suited to long distance travel than the 6-ply mudders that are on there now. I need to get the hitch finished and some wiring, plus the engine has an issue…like it needs a new one I believe, something that’s not a big concern around town but it’s an issue that I don’t want to deal with in podunk, iowa.

First Special Senior Session Rocked!

Anyone that knows me knows I’m not into the boring same old dull routine of life, well, most of the time anyway. We all mellow with age I suppose. But I am determined to keep shaking things up, and to shake up the world of Senior Portraits I’m doing a few special sessions this summer.

The first Session was in May, a Sunset/Twilight shoot down by the river. It was great! The weather was outstanding, the girls and their parents very patient and super easy to work with – and I think that comes through in the images!

Here’s a sneak peak of a few images from the shoot. Our next Special Session is in Pittsburgh in late June. If you’d like to come along to get your pictures done, give me a call or email!