10 Ways to have the most wonderful wedding imaginable

 Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Wedding Fun

                By dr Frank – www.frankkendralla.com

                www.kendrallaphotography.com

1. Relax – Your emotions will show in your pictures and to your guests.  Relax and enjoy your day!
2. Hire a professional wedding coordinator.  Put the pressure and stress on a professional who understands the inner workings of a wedding.  Their role is to take the burden of coordination off you and/or a family member or friend.
3. Hire a professional wedding photographer and ensure you get along well with your photographer.  You will spend many hours with them on your wedding day.  The expertise of a professional helps reduce the stress of the day.
4. Reception – special songs by a guest or two.  If you have family members who can sing (especially young family members), their singing a song to the bride and groom always brings tears and laughter to the guests. I will never forget when my granddaughter sang L.O.V.E. to her aunt (bride) during my youngest daughter’s wedding reception.  Tears of joy flowed throughout the reception hall.
5. Honor others during the reception.  If there is a guest that has a significant anniversary or birthday, dedicate a dance to them.  It always brings tears to my eyes when the bride and groom dedicate a dance to family members with 30, 40, 50, 60+ years of marriage.  I always cry when the couple brings a cake to a (great) grandparent for their birthday. 
6. Plan on the variable and ensure there is enough time for stuff to happen.  Please understand delays happen during the day.  Traffic delays cause bridal party members to arrive late and/or cause delays between the ceremony and reception hall.
7. Provide maps and directions for your guests.  Although many folks have GPS devices in their cars, smart phones, etc., a printed map is always handy.  I doubt that I will ever forget the time I was in an area with very limited GPS coverage and how valuable the printed map proved to be for the guests.
8. Emergency Kit – A small kit with needle, thread, pins, handy wipes, mints, etc for those emergency situations that seem to appear at the craziest time during a wedding.
9. Eat – Yes, many brides and bridesmaids refrain from eating but remember the day is long and the opportunity to eat is limited.  I always suggest keeping an energy or fruit bar in the ‘emergency kit’.  Although chocolate is enjoyable, it might not look great if it melts on a dress or is in your teeth for pictures.
10. Relax and enjoy your special day!  Permit others to help and honor you during your day!

Fun Wedding in Beaver County

10 Ways to have the most wonderful wedding imaginable

Keep in mind that the most important tip is to have fun, relax, and enjoy your day!

Member - 

Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) 

10 Tips to have wonderful wedding images from your wedding photographer.

Pittsburgh Bridal Showcase - Wedding Professional Bridal Show

Pittsburgh Bridal Showcase

by dr Frank 

A special thanks to Erika and Sal from the Pittsburgh Bridal Showcase & PittsburghWedding & Event Vendor Network for hosting a tremendous event.  I had a Wedding Photography booth (not that I was going to have a singing booth at the show since my singing is not very good :D)  at the Pittsburgh Bridal Showcase on March 18, 2012 which was held at the David LawrenceConvention Center in Pittsburgh, PA.  The event was well organized, the attendance was amazing, and the weather perfect (although I don’t think they had anything to do with the weather) :D .  There were a large number of vendors for guests to visit and plenty of space in the aisles to avoid ‘traffic jams’ and delays.  The convention center’s help was great and assisted me when I arrived to the loading dock to unload my display onto carts and took it to my booth location. 

My booth was next to OttoProduction and I had the honor of being entertained by the company and hospitality of Jeanie and Frank (up-lighting and music professionals).  As always they did a tremendous job in up-lighting both our booths and provided a very distinct look which enabled guests from the show to see our booths from the opposite side of the convention center’s floor. In addition, Frank has a few tips on pages 58 & 59 in the Wedding Pocket guide on lighting and up-lighting your wedding reception.

I had the distinct honor of talking to many visitors and other vendors. My hope is that every couple is able to find the vendors who will assist them in making their special day beyond amazing.  There is no doubt in my mind that attending a Bridal Show is overwhelming and confusing to the families and friends who accompanied the ladies as they talked to countless vendors from all categories and looked at a mind numbing number of brochures, fliers, and other advertisements handed to them at the show.

The preparation for the wedding day can be overwhelming and at times presents itself as a very daunting task.  As always, my suggestion is to ensure that you hire experienced wedding professions and that you can work with each vendor then relax, and enjoy the experience.  For more tips on having an amazing wedding day, please read through the Wedding Pocket Guide written my multiple wedding professionals including a few tips by me on pages 46 & 47. 

Member - 

Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) 

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers

Bridal Portraits - Using Props - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Bridal Portraits Parasol Umbrella

Utilizing Props for your Wedding Portraits

Nearly every bride has some sort of prop with them during their wedding day.  Obviously, one prop is their flowers, another could be a family Bible, or some other sentimental item. To create a unique look to this series of images, I added a parasol umbrella.  


Another option is for all of the ladies in the Bridal party to have a parasol.  Since there are hundreds of variations, the Bride can have one color and the rest of the bridal party another color. The flower girl can have one similar to the other ladies or one unique to her.  These would make nice gifts and will add a very nice look to the portraits. 


The parasol comes in many different colors and designs. I did a quick search and found hundreds of options.  From low cost paper to very creatively designed waterproof umbrellas.  There is no doubt I will search for a few more unique parasols to use during 2012.  The look is so elegant that their use as a prop is limited only by imagination.  A parasol could be used during a family portrait session to a high school senior portrait session.  


Maybe a few flowers on the handle for the bride or something unique added to the flower girl's parasol.  Experiment and have fun.  It is your day to enjoy and cherish forever.  Add something unique to your portraits. 


_________________________
The uplighting on the beautiful staircase is made possible by Otto Productions.

The image was taken at The Fez Banquet Center in Hopewell Twp,PA which is the home of an upcoming Bridal Show.

Visit our booth at the upcoming Bridal Show to book your wedding photography. 
________________________________


www.kendralla.com
www.kendrallaphotography.com
Photography by dr Frank 

The Glow - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography - The Fez Banquet Center

The Glow

The Fez Banquet Center - Hopewell Twp, PA

Bringing in the New Year with a portrait displaying one of my favorite portrait techniques.  The glow which accents the bride's beauty. 


The uplighting which helps frame the bride within the beautiful staircase is made possible by Otto Productions.


The image was taken at The Fez Banquet Center in Hopewell Twp,PA which is the home of an upcoming Bridal Show.


Visit our booth at the upcoming Bridal Show to book your wedding photography. 



www.kendralla.com
www.kendrallaphotography.com
Photography by dr Frank

Reflections of OUR Love - Danica and Nichlas - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Danica and Nichlas were married on July 9, 2011 at the Memorial Park Presbyterian Church and their reception was at the Crowne Plaze in Moon twp, PA. 

This is one of two images that I shot in the area outside their reception.  One item that I always look for when finding a location for a reception portrait is a reflective surface.  I noticed this beautiful black piano when I was walking in the hallway early in the evening.  Immediately, I knew that I wanted a shot with the two love birds reflecting in the piano.

There are a few items within the image that caught my attention.
I liked the partial frame above their head from the curtains and the line below them from the piano.

The soft glow behind Danica immediately caught my attention as well as the reflection displayed in the surface.

The Crowne Plaze Hotel is located north west of Pittsburgh and close to the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Engagement Photos - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers

Pittsburgh Weddings - Engagement photography

These photos were taken in Cannonsburg, PA near Cannonsburg Lake which isn't too far from Pittsburgh.  The sun was bright but the temperatures were falling and the air was cold.  These were taken in late fall when 70 degrees was normal and 50 was 'cold'.  Today, 50 degrees would feel very warm compared to the single digit temperatures that we had recently.


The sun was a beautiful golden color and since it was late fall, it set fast and presented a beautiful glow to everything.  We were able to get many photographs that had an amazing look.  


I am not from Cannonsburg and asked a friend of a good location that had water.  I didn't need much else since the theme in my mind that I wanted to create was a sunset session overlooking water.  I could not have been happier with the look and feel of the area. The critical part that I want to emphasize is that there are many locations in our backyard that present tremendous photo opportunities.  


Not far from where I was standing was a 'boring' parking lot.  By using fill lights, reflectors, and some ingenuity, we created a look that is a very romantic fun look. 

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers - Engagement Pictures

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography - Cannonsburg Lake

Tip: When selecting a location, I look for where the sun is setting (or rising if early enough in the AM), and use it to help create dramatic lighting.  I carry with me two light stands that fold up to less than 36".  These combined with two umbrellas, a 40" five in one reflector, a few clamps, and other items fit easily into a large duffel bag. This set-up enables me to be very mobile and I consider this a studio in a bag.  With the sun behind the couple, I used fill flash (flash was on a light stand - camera left - shot without a diffuser and fired via Nikon's wireless CLS).  I wasn't interested in overpowering the sun with the strobe but was interested in getting enough light on their faces to give some detail but leave the beautiful glow from the sun.  

Beaver County and Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers

Book dr Frank to photograph your wedding in and around Pittsburgh, PA.

www.kendrallaphotography.com
www.kendralla.com

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers - Wedding Portraits - Bridal Shower Part 1

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer - Bridal  Shower

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers - Wedding Portraits - Bridal Shower Part 1


Great photographs can be made regardless of the location and in spite of the lighting.  However, creativity is required often.


This photograph was taken at a Bridal Shower in Cranberry Twp, PA. (Located north of Pittsburgh, PA). The bride's finance arrived to the shower with five dozens of beautiful red roses.  I could not pass up the opportunity to capture this fantastic memory.  This shot was taken on the porch of the venue where the bridal shower was held.  The light was harsh but the porch roof assisted in reducing the harsh light from the mid-day sun.  I bounced the light off the building wall to fill in the bride's face and keep the light very soft on her face.


She was posed in front of the evergreens that were lining the porch which added texture and contrast to the image.  


Alissa and Tim were married in November.  Their wedding ceremony was at Victory Family Church with the reception at Shadow Lakes Country Club in Aliquippa, PA (near Hopewell Twp, PA).


Gear used: Nikon D300, Nikon 85mm f/4.0 1/250 second @ 400 ISO


Weddings and portraits by dr Frank @
www.KendrallaPhotography.com
Please visit my portfolio site:
www.kendralla.com
Contact me @
www.kendrallaphotography.com

Finding Vivian Maier - Street Photographer - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Many will recognize the name of Cartier Bresson as a street photographer but very few will recognize the name of Vivian Maier.  Until recently, her amazing collection of over 100k images were not seen publicly. In this amazing story of how she captured over 100k images in Chicago and around the world as an unknown street photographer is amazing.

A link to this information was sent to me by a friend and since reading the behind the scene story and admiring Vivian's work, I felt I must pass on this information.  It appears that Vivian accomplished what many photographers aspire to achieve.  "Capturing life as it happens."  There are some street photographers that talk to their subject prior to the photograph and others capture the photograph with little to no interaction.

This is not a story about her gear (although there is some discussion); it is a story of a woman who was an outstanding street photographer.

The sad part about this story is that Vivian died before her work was on public display and unfortunately never was able to participate in its public showing. There is a blog dedicated to her work which is linked on the side of this blog.  In addition, there is a documentary being made about her work and life.  Vivian was a nanny as her day job but it is apparent she was passionate about photography and capturing life as it unfolds.

Please take the time to review the video below as well as visit the blog which contains more images from her collection.



This link will take you to a good article on her too.

www.kendralla.com
www.frankkendralla.com

Holiday Photography Plans Pittsburgh Wedding and Portrait Photography

What a tremendous spring, summer, and fall we had for photography!  I apologize for the lack of posts here and the only reason is an excuse.  - Busy, Busy, Busy with weddings, portraits, and some personal items.

This will be a quick post but as we go into the winter, I plan to return to at least one post per week.

The holiday season is upon us and many photographs will be taken.  Take the time to capture the memories your family will want to hold and cherish.  However, do not forget a few important items.

1. Have fun! - Do not make taking pictures a chore or hindrance to your family events
2. Include YOU in the photographs
3. Print the photographs

Too often the images are posted on-line to Facebook and many other social networking sites.  However, they are never printed.  It almost appears to me that folks believe that these places will be around for our viewing pleasure 20-50 years from now.  Although there is a chance they will be around, I doubt that they will be in the same format that we see them now.

My concern is that many of these memories will be lost if they are not printed.  Please take the time to make prints.  My favorite print for this year is the thin wrap with satin metallic finish (other than albums and brag books - more on these items in the future).  Typically, I use Bay Photo for my prints (both professional and personal work) and ACI labs for my albums and brag books.

The second point is that WE (that take pictures) are not included in the images.  Take the time to have someone else get a photo of you or put your camera on a tripod and fire away.

Below is an image from a recent wedding engagement session.   The great looking background is the interior of a building at a local park.  I constantly look for new places to take portraits and I am amazed how many are available at local parks.  Do the same thing in your area.  As you drive around, notice the lighting, textures and other areas that might make a great family photo. 

I plan to post more over the next few months with ideas and tips for photographing your family at these locations.

The couple was lit with a combination of available side light (camera left) and some fill light from an off camera flash (SB800) through an umbrella mounted on a light stand (camera right).

For many of my portraits I am now using two different lenses.
Nikon 35mm f/1.8 and the Nikon 85mm f/1.8.  The sharpness and speed of these two lenses have made them my favorite portrait lenses.

Typically, shots of more than one individual I am using the 35mm (unless I want the background to blur out and disappear) .  Recently, I did a group photo of over 15 individuals using the 35mm with great success.  I plan to discuss this great little lens in future posts.

Memories Live Forever in a Picture - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

This is one of the best videos I ever watched that fully illustrates the power and value of photography. Regardless of the photographers skill level or experience, every photograph is a memory.  Although the primary focus of the images on my blog are weddings and portraits, I enjoy capturing life's memories and viewing the work of others who capture life's memories.  

In my opinion, this video is a classic for every photographer.  

Many will say that after the family, pet, etc, the pictures are next to save in the event of a disaster.




www.kendrallaphotography.com
www.kendralla.com
Pittsburgh Wedding and Portrait Photography

Christy Matt - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

 Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Christy and Matt were married at Victory Family Church in Cranberry Twp, PA.  which is located north of Pittsburgh.  The first image was taken outside the wedding reception in front of One Oxford Centre.  I attempt to create a unique artistic image for each bride and groom and when we walked around the front of the building the interesting light in front on the display immediately caught my attention.  I wanted to use the light to create an interesting shadow with a wild color.  Notice in the middle of the image is a heart.  I wish I could say I planned it but I didn't.  :-D

The second image was taken at the church prior to the ceremony.  For months, I studied this area of the church and thought about the many ways to pose a bride to capture her beauty with the magnificent light that comes through the windows.  The window frame acted as a natural frame and the shiny floor accented the photo.  

The lighting on the second photo is a combination of back lighting from the window and front lighting via an SB800. 

Nikon D300

SB800

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Spot Metering 

Sarah and Mark - Montour Heights Country Club - July 30, 2010 - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Sarah and Mark were married on July 30, 2010 at the Montour Heights Country Club in Moon Township, PA.  This is located north of Pittsburgh and is a perfect location for an outdoor wedding. We took wedding portraits throughout the facility and at various locations on the golf course.

The weather was perfect for a wedding in Pittsburgh which made it possible to be even more creative for their wedding portraits.

The following show contains many of their wedding portraits.


Sarah and Mark Wedding Portraits from Frank Kendralla on Vimeo.

Visit www.kendralla.com for more images from their wedding.
www.kendrallaphotography.com

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography - Images from Mt Washington

All of the guys in Andrew's wedding were long time friends and softball buddies.  Therefore, the gift from the groom (Andrew) to the guys was a softball bat with their names engraved in it.  A very nice gift and touch.  Something they can keep for years and look back on with a smile.  We were on one of the observatory decks of Mt. Washington, overlooking the beautiful city of Pittsburgh.  It was mid day and the sun was hot (100 degrees +-).  However, the groomsmen, best men, and groom, were all very cooperative and we were able to create this fun shot with a beautiful blue sky in the background.

Next up were the ladies.  We wanted to add to their beauty with a landscape shot of Pittsburgh as a backdrop.  The sunglasses helped to cut down on the strong sun glare (and no doubt glare from my head).

The third image is an entire group shot of the ladies and guys.  Again, we utilized sunglasses to reduce the strong glare from the sun and create a fun look for the group shot with the city of Pittsburgh as a backdrop.


The wedding was held in Munhall, PA (images from the beautiful church will be posted in future posts) and we stopped on Mt. Washington for wedding pictures before heading to the Double Tree hotel in Moon Twp. PA.

Images by Frank Kendralla - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Lindsey and Andrew - Wedding Prep at Double Tree Hotel

Lindsey and Andrew were married on July 3, 2010.

I had a tremendous time photographing the time prior to the wedding ceremony of Lindsey and Andrew.  Everyone laughing and getting ready at the Double Tree Hotel in Moon Township.  The guys were on the same floor but the opposite end of the hotel compared to the ladies.  This made photographing them less like a sporting event.  :-D

The ceremony was held at St. Therese Catholic Church in Munhall, PA.  We made the trip around the city of Pittsburgh without any delays.  Although the city was preparing for the holiday weekend with boats in the water and temperatures rising near 100 degrees, the ladies were very comfortable in their limo bus.

This short multimedia show is the first of others made to cover the wedding day of Lindsey and Andrew.  All the ladies looked beautiful in their gowns and the guys wore some of the fanciest shoes ever.  Look for them in the shows and check out Andrew's shoes as he rested and waited.



Lindsey Andrew Wedding Prep from Frank Kendralla on Vimeo.

Check out more images at www.kendralla.com under weddings.  Part two of this series will include some of the images from the ceremony and the group photos we took on Mt. Washington with the city of Pittsburgh as a back drop.

James Centre - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers

James Centre - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

Recently, I had the privilege of photographing (documenting) a ten year anniversary celebration. The event was held at the James Centre in Pittsburgh. The evening started with family portraits of the couple and their two children. After the portraits the couple recommitted their lives together through a renewing of the vows. It was a beautiful ceremony followed with a first dance and toasts from many different friends and family. The D.J. gave an amazing toast and tribute to the couple followed by a tear jerking toast by their daughter. The toasts were followed by a beautiful dinner and an amazing looking cake.

Throughout the night, candid shots and portraits were taken to document the family’s event. Instead of a typical photo booth, we took portraits and images of folks enjoying themselves in different parts of the James Centre. No evening would be complete without dancing from all age groups. This evening was no different. The dancing ending with a fun filled ‘soul train’ dance. I have photographed and attended many events but this was one of the best ‘soul train’ endings ever. In fact, it looked like so much fun that I wanted to join in. However, if you ever saw me dance, you will know why I don’t dance and I stick to photography. It started with songs from the original soul train to modern songs that kept folks hopping, skipping, and dancing into the night.

James Centre - Pittsburgh PA Wedding Receptions

The evening was very similar to a wedding reception with the cutting of a beautiful cake. Guests had the opportunity to enjoy beautiful looking fruit, pastries, and other snacks while we completed the family portraits. The James Centre offers an impressive looking reception area with a nice dance floor and a “U” shaped balcony that has extra seating and photo opportunities. The west side of the facility is lined with windows that enabled beautiful lighting well into the evening. The James Centre is located minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and is very close to many photo opportunity areas including the West End Overlook, Mount Washington, Station Square, North Side, and many others.

Beautiful Pittsburgh Wedding Receptions

There is no doubt many Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers have shot and will photograph many fun filled events at the James Centre in Pittsburgh.  I am sure there are many brides who do not know this beautiful facility exists for their wedding reception or other event.

If you would like to contact me to photograph your Pittsburgh Wedding, please complete this contact form.

 
 
 
 
 

Vanessa's Bridal Shower - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography


Vanessa's family and friends joined her to celebrate her upcoming wedding to Andrew.  The bridal shower was held at the Bravo Italian restaurant in Cranberry Twp. Pa.  which is north of Pittsburgh, PA.  I had the honor of photographing this fun filled event.  It was filled with laughter, giggles, and love.  A short time ago, I shot their engagement pictures in Mt. Washington (Pittsburgh) and Station Square.  The images of their engagement shoot are here.

 As a wedding and portrait photographer, it is always an honor and pleasure to participate in this event.



Vanessa's Bridal Shower from Frank Kendralla on Vimeo.

Lemons to lemonade!

There is an old saying - "If life throws a lemon at you, grab it and make lemonade!"  I say, grab it, throw a few strawberries, grapes, water, and ice in your blender and make a tremendous strawberry lemonade.  One of my favorite mixes for a summer treat is this mixture:

Handful of globe grapes with seeds
1 Lemon
4-5 large strawberries
2 cups water
2 cups ice
stevia to sweeten or your choice of sweetener (some use Agave Nectar)

Put them in order in your Vita-Mix or Blentec and this will make a tremendous summer drink.  Pour this mix into Popsicle holders or something similar for a quick treat.  

New blog design and layout

I hope you like the change to the blog design.  I was playing with a few different looks and wanted to incorporate a three column design going into the summer.  It enables me to put a few new links on the left and hopefully make the navigation to my other items easier.

Below is an image I captured from the west end overlook.  It is an amazing area to view the city and all three rivers merging in front of the triangle.  When I shot this image, there was a line of bridal parties waiting to take their wedding pictures with the city behind them.  There is no doubt many wedding photographers use this area to take beautiful pictures with the city behind the bridal party.

This image was shot with the Nikon D300 and 70-300 VR.
Processing:
Lightroom, Photoshop CS2, Topaz Adjust

Handheld and a polarizer used to cut through the heavy haze from the humidity.





www.kendrallaphotography.com
www.kendralla.com

Pittsburgh Engagement Photography - will you marry me?

The question is asked, "Will you marry me?"  Tears flow and the guy has a tough time speaking.  Maybe a few hours or days before, he met with his future bride's dad.  Do her parents like me, will they accept my request to marry their daughter?  He was scared, what if I am turned down, what if she laughs, what if she says yes?  So many questions and thoughts flow through the young man's mind as he walks with his future bride to a quiet place to 'pop' the question. 

Then they are at the perfect place, a place where he thought about many times before.  The young man gets down on one knee and - "will you marry me?"

She shouts with passion and love in her voice, "yes, I will marry you!"  And a new entry in the notebook of love and romance is written.  Reminding me of the great movie, "The Notebook". 

Images taken during an engagement shoot are one way to recapture that special day when the groom to be, asked the love of his life, "will you marry me".  Andrew and Vanessa were engaged on the walkway to the Gateway Clipper in Pittsburgh, Pa.  Yesterday's post provided a few more details of the engagement session as we walked through the streets of Station Square and rode the incline to Mount Washington. 

Engagement images by Frank Kendralla

www.kendrallaphotography.com

Contact me:
Nikon D300