She looks like an angel! Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

This image is from a recent wedding near Pittsburgh, PA.  We met at the bride's mom's home where the ladies had their hair and make-up done.  Laughter, giggling, tears, and lots of chatter go on during this 'getting ready time'.   I attempt to get as many images of the bride and the ladies as possible during this prep-time. When time and settings permit, my goal is to get a very unique and memorable shot.  In this case, the front of mom's home was in the shade which created a beautiful soft light.


I asked the bride to stand on the first step and the posing and lighting sequence began.  It always starts with 'smile' (knowing she is looking away from me).  It normally generates laughs from the bride and the other ladies standing around which eases some of the posing tension.


To keep the process moving, I used everyone available.  Behind and to the left of me, a bridesmaid held a gold reflector.  Inside the doorway (which is all black in the image) stood a bridesmaid directly in front of her.  To the side were other bridesmaids.  The bridesmaid who was directly in front of the bride held a flash which created the glow in her veil.  


I showed them the image on the back of the camera and they responded with; "She looks like an angel!".  

Glowing Bride - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

Yes, she does!  Congrats Stephanie and Steve!  The wedding was beautiful!  (More images to follow.)

High School Senior Portraits and Weddings by dr Frank

Seneca Valley Portraits

Montour School District

Black Hawk School District Portraits

Contact dr Frank to photograph your wedding, portraits, or special event.

Visit dr Frank's portfolio site for more fun, exciting, and colorful photographs of weddings in and around Pittsburgh, PA 

Specializing in Wedding and Portrait Photography

Beaver County, Pittsburgh, and surrounding communities.

Wings over Pittsburgh 2011 - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

This past weekend I had the pleasure of spending the day with my daughter, son in law and youngest grandson as we watched an amazing Air Show.  There were many amazing displays of power, speed, and agility.

In this image, the 'jet car' is streaking across the run way at a speed >300 mph - Flames shoot out and smoke fills the air as the driver gives the crowd a small sample of what the car can do.  Later the car races a jet  to determine who is faster.  A jet car or ?

Is this the real Lightning McQueen from Cars ? :-D

The weather proved to be perfect for watching and photographing an airshow.  It was not too hot and enough sun and clouds to add dimension to the shots.

Below is a show with some of the images as stills and video. The song is a recording I made of my daughter singing the next day at Champion Life Church on 9/11/11.

High School Senior Portraits and Weddings by dr Frank

Seneca Valley Portraits

Montour School District

Black Hawk School District Portraits

Contact dr Frank to photograph your wedding, portraits, or special event.

Visit dr Frank's portfolio site for more fun, exciting, and colorful photographs of weddings in and around Pittsburgh, PA 

Specializing in Wedding and Portrait Photography

Beaver County, Pittsburgh, and surrounding communities.

Wedding Guest Albums - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography - Beaver County Wedding Photographer

Wedding Guest Albums


Imagine your guests walking into your wedding reception and noticing a beautiful album with pictures of your engagement photography session sitting on a table next to the seating cards.  Instead of a typical guest book with a few lines, your guests can flip through pages of images from your engagement session.  As they slowly look at your album, they notice blank pages opposite your images with a place for them to write a note to you, draw a picture, or sign their name.  Not only will they see your pictures but they will notice important and fun 'stuff' about you.  They might see your favorite poem or where you met.  Instead of a typical guest book, they might see a close up of your ring or a beautiful sunset shot of the two of you holding hands.  They might read about how he proposed and how she cried.


Each page is designed in a manner to express your love on paper in the best manner possible.  The front and back cover has an image of you on it that you can display on your for others to see.


Below is an image from the entrance of a recent wedding reception near Pittsburgh, PA.

Wedding Guest Book

The guests use a sharpie pen sitting next to the album and sign their name wishing you (the newly married couple) best wishes, love, and happiness.  Many years later you can pull this guest album off the shelf and look at what your guests wrote to you.  Maybe you have children and they want to see your wedding day and read about how you met.  It could be when you are blessed with grandchildren and you have them sitting on your lap and show them your wedding day.  Many different valuable memories are stored on these pages.  


Another tremendous use is for the young couple to write notes for their own keepsake from their wedding day or engagement.  The days of 'boring' plain guest albums are long gone.  Replace them with an album filled with your memories.


When you book dr frank (Kendralla Photography) for your wedding, and select a package with an engagement session, select a personalized guest book for your wedding reception.

Wedding Guest album

High School Senior Portraits and Weddings by dr Frank

Seneca Valley Portraits

Black Hawk School District Portraits

Contact dr Frank to photograph your wedding, portraits, or special event.

Visit dr Frank's portfolio site for more fun, exciting, and colorful photographs of weddings in and around Pittsburgh, PA 

Specializing in Wedding and Portrait Photography

Beaver County, Pittsburgh, and surrounding communities.

Humor - smile - A merry heart! - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography

A Minnesota couple decided to vacation to Florida during the winter. They planned to stay at the very same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday. His wife would fly down the following day.

The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her e-mail address, and without realizing his error, he sent the e-mail. 

Meanwhile.....somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who was called home to glory following a sudden heart attack. The widow decided to check her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she fainted. 

The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read: 

To: My Loving Wife
Subject: I've Arrived
Date: 16 May 2003
I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is not as uneventful as mine was.
P.S. Sure is hot down here!

The Gathering Place - Darlington Lake - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer - Uncorking A Cure for Cystic Fibrosis Wine Tasting Event

The Gathering Place - Darlington Lake - Uncorking A Cure for Cystic Fibrosis Wine Tasting Event

Gathering Place

I wanted to continue to show the beauty of this facility and discuss an upcoming event.  On Friday, August 26, 2011, The Gathering Place is hosting a Wine tasting benefit for Cystic Fibrosis.  The event is called "Uncorking A Cure for Cystic Fibrosis Wine Tasting Benefit".

7 pm - 10 pm - rain or shine - no refund

Event tickets are $25 -


If you are interested in obtaining a ticket, please contact The Gathering Place.  (Below is an excerpt from their Facebook post.)

UNCORKING A CURE!!! Tickets close to selling out! Please call or email for ticket purchase. 724.827.2833 gatheringplaceatdarlingtonlake​@yahoo.com

$25/ticket OR $100 for "Friends of Uncorking A Cure"= 2 tix/2 wine glases/name recognition in program. Friday, AUGUST 26, 7-10pm. Three PA wineries, beer tasting station, auctions, give-a-ways...ETC!!! Don't miss this wonderful fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis!!!!

Darlington Lake

We will be at this event displaying some of our wedding work and taking portraits along the lake for purchase.   In addition, if time permits, we will document some of the activities from the exciting day.  


Please stop by and visit us and you might win a prize or two too. :-D










The Gathering Place - Darlington Lake - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer - Uncorking A Cure for Cystic Fibrosis Wine Tasting Event

The Gathering Place Early Morning Rest and Beauty - Darlington Lake

Darlington Lake - The Gathering Place

Finding beauty in or near your backyard.

I mentioned this thought in previous posts and will continue it again.  There is no doubt many of us photographers have beautiful places to photograph within minutes of our home or office.  This is one of those places. "The Gathering Place" sits along Darlington Lake in Darlington, PA.  It is minutes from my home and is a beautiful setting to sit and watch the birds and other animals enjoy the rising sun and mist burn off from the heat.

I took a few different shots and since the mist and fog was very thick created only wide angle shots.  Over the next few weeks, I plan to visit the location during different times of the day and capture the beauty of the facility which sits along this peaceful lake.

Both of these shots were shot as an HDR image using five bracketed stops with the Nikon D300, Tamron 17-50 @ f/8 ISO 200 on a tri pod.  I used Nik HDR Efex pro, Lightroom, and Photoshop CS 5 to polish the images.
HDR Efex ProHDR Efex Pro
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3

I believe with all my heart that many wonderful locations are not known because they are shadowed by very popular tourist sites or well known landmarks.   While I was photographing this scene, the birds were flying from their resting place within the grass along side the lake.  The grass was moderately high and fully covered with a heavy dew or remnants from yesterday's rain storm. 

I can imagine sitting on the porch of this beautiful facility drinking a warm cup of tea or other morning beverage listening to the chirping and singing sounds from all the birds.

As always - get out and enjoy the beauty of life.  Laugh, love, and live!

Misty Morning Reflections

Wedding Album - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography The First Heirloom of this new family.

Wedding Albums - They are one item that I recommend to every couple.  Years after their wedding day they can show their children, grandchildren, and any one else who wants to laugh and cry with them as they remember their special day.

When I create an album, I create it in a story telling manner.  Maybe it is from reading comic books when I was a kid and like the storyboard format.  Maybe because I want to show details from the wedding.  I am not sure but this layout style is my favorite.  This album is in a 10x10 format and will be printed with a UV coating over the pictures to help preserve their memories.

A wedding album is the first heirloom of this new family.  If they are like many families, they will take pictures, cut out articles and begin to document their families life as it builds and unfolds.

Enjoy a quick stroll through the pages of this couple's first heirloom.

Danica & Nichlas - Pittsburgh Wedding Photography - Fusion Wedding Show

Danica and Nichlas were married on July 9th in the North Hills of Pittsburgh and their reception was held at the Crowne Plaza in Moon Twp., PA.  Their wedding show is a fusion show with a few clips of video from their wedding reception.

High School Senior Portraits and Weddings by dr Frank

Seneca Valley Portraits

Black Hawk School District Portraits

Contact dr Frank to photograph your wedding, portraits, or special event.

Visit dr Frank's portfolio site for more fun, exciting, and colorful photographs of weddings in and around Pittsburgh, PA 

Specializing in Wedding and Portrait Photography

Beaver County, Pittsburgh, and surrounding communities.