Alena’s Studio Headshots in Pink
We were creating headshots for Sewickley Academy’s senior school musical and Alena asked me to keep these portraits as well. I’m in the process of creating a wall art showroom in the studio and these portraits will be a great addition.
Keep an eye for the musical action shots in early March. I’ve just been backstage and the decorations promise to be stunning!
City Mini Session for Crela Frye and her family
Mini sessions in the City.
Some shoots look better in black and white. Pittsburgh’s signature yellow bridges are spectacular but sometimes you just want to focus on the emotions, not the surroundings and thus black and white perfect.
Winter Mini Session for Rufa Akhmedli
Winter mini sessions.
Rufa Akhmedli wanted a bunch of portraits to use on her Instagram account. They had to look different enough, as if taken on separate occasions. Rufa brought 3 charges of clothes and I was amazed how quickly she changed into yet another gorgeous outfit within the allocated 30 minutes still keeping her poise.
High School Senior Portraits for Colin Elias, a baseball player
“Thank you for the amazing job you did on Colin’s senior album! You are such a talented photographer and I couldn’t have asked for a better photographer! It was wonderful to work with you and your creativity!"
~ Judy Elias, Colin’s mother
High School Senior Portraits for Brooke Menzock
“The photos are gorgeous. Brooke really likes your attention to detail."
~ Stephanie Menzock, Brooke’s mother
From Pennsylvania with Love - February 2022 edition
New Nikon camera with Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 again.
I had to bring this lens again into the woods as the light conditions were perfect to capture the sunshine reflected in every single icicle on the the branches. In my eyes the sparkly winter wonderland wins over the bright-colored fall foliage we enjoy in Western Pennsylvania
I wanted the snow fairytale and I got it and now it’s gone sadly. I must say judos to Joyka who patiently waited for me stopping every five minutes and completing our morning hike only by lunchtime that day.
If you would like to lend me your dog to test this camera’s boundaries, please reach out. :-)
Testing Nikon’s focus tracking in combination with an ultra-wide lens
I continue testing my new Nikon camera - this time with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 on.
It was the last day when we could enjoy the light reflected from every single surface - leaves, tree branches, snow flakes before it all melted away. I thought that I needed an ultra-wide lens to capture the overall atmosphere of the ice kingdom while it lasted.
What I also love about shooting wide is this wonderful feeling of a participant in the scene, not a distant observer.
If you would like to lend me your dog to test this camera’s boundaries, please reach out. :-)
Fall Mini Session for Shannon Brady and her family
Shannon Brady wanted this session to be an 8th birthday present for her elder son. Love how they thought through all the little details of their outfits and how naturally they settled into suggested poses. We got quite a lot of color into the background on that cold November day.
Fall Mini Session for Briana Honrath and her family
It was pure joy photographing Briana’s family: 2.5-year-old daughter Aurora, husband Marc, his mother Pat and two friendly labradoodles Leonardo and Arnold. It was mostly chaotic but also organized, if you know what I mean. They certainly came well-prepared for the shoot and I just love the results of our mutual efforts.
Fall Mini Session for Casey Platt and her family
Casey was looking for family photos with her husband and her two little girls: 2-year-old Ella and baby Olivia. As always with photo sessions involving young children, we went along with the girls’ moods and impulses. Thus having given up on ideal backgrounds or elegant poses, we captured plenty of genuine smiles, hugs and kisses. The images below were Casey’s favorites.
Testing Nikon’s focus tracking with a hyper-active dog playing in the snow
I decided to test my new Nikon camera with all my lenses. This time I have Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 on.
Love this lens for its versatility. I can start shooting Joyka when he’s quite far away and keep zooming in until he bumps his head on the lens cap (he does this quite often actually). Wide angle shots give the feeling of presence, as if you are part of the scene. Zoomed in shots offer a nice separation from the background. Both options are available within milliseconds by turning the zoom wheel on the lens all the while the dog is closing up on me.
The only downside is the aperture that wouldn't go wider than f/4 but then again, when the background is not completely obliterated, it offers great for story telling.
Regardless of the distance from the subject or numerous distracting objects around it, the camera locks its focus dead on Joyka’s eye with an amazing sharpness!
If you would like to lend me your dog to test this camera’s boundaries, please reach out. :-)
Testing Nikon Z9 focus tracking: dog on the run
I am getting to know my brand new Nikon Z9 camera and its outstanding focus tracking abilities, this time with Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 on.
Joyka is finally cleared for unlimited physical activity, so we are back to daily hiking. This Golden loves to run fast. Anyone who ever tried to photograph a dog galloping at you knows that it’s not easy to get your photos in focus. But not with the Nikon Z9! This camera tracks not just Joyka, but his eye with admirable determination. Every single shot. Wow!
If you would like to lend me your dog to test this camera’s boundaries, please reach out. :-)
Sherman Bailey - Headshots for a Certified Engineer
Congratulations to Sherman Bailey for achieving an important career milestone - becoming a certified engineer. Thank you for trusting me to create your business portraits and purchasing a few extra prints for personal use.
Great job on preparing perfect outfits and looking confident and handsome during our session.
Mishon Levine in Sewickley Academy’s musical Fiddler on the Roof
The last actor for Sewickley Academy’s ‘Fiddler on the Roof” without whom the whole musical would be lacking its crucial ingredient - the live sounds of a violin. What a performance. Bravo, Mishon!
Brooke Menzock in Sewickley Academy’s musical Fiddler on the Roof
It feels like yesterday when we produced this headshot for beautiful Brooke for the Sewickley Academy’s Fiddler on the Roof senior school musical that showed just days before the lockdown.
I can’t believe she’s already a senior this year. Stay tuned for a blog with her senior pictures.
Clare Cable in Sewickley Academy’s musical Fiddler on the Roof.
I still have 3 headshots to share from before the pandemic. Here’s my favorite portrait of Claire that she selected to represent her in the Fiddler on the Roof musical program at Sewickley Academy.
A Golden Retriever on a hiking trail: Winter
As we are anxiously watching the snowflakes outside, bracing for the snow storm, a few positive winter photos are in order. Our Golden Retriever Joyka loves winter and all winter activities - hiking, playing with snowballs and especially “helping” to shovel the snow out of the driveway.
Actor’s portfolio for Tristan Heavner
Tristan needed just one headshot for his theater auditions. We talked about the roles he was aspiring to get and worked to produce the look to match his dream roles.
Family Studio Portraits
“We really liked the pictures, very nice. Thank you.” ~ K.M.
Alena plays the violin
We really enjoyed the end-of-term Christmas concert organized by Leah Givelber of Center of Young Musicians at Edgeworth Club in Sewickley.
Hearing Alena perform her beautiful and complex musical pieces she’s preparing for an ABRSM diploma exam got us thinking that it’s probably time to upgrade her violin.
So we paid a visit to Phillip Injeian, a master violin maker, one of the many hidden jewels of Pittsburgh. He helped Alena navigate through a variety of instruments and choose the right fit for her and he even performed a short piece for us saying that “you shouldn’t trust a mechanic who doesn't drive a car himself”!
Thank you, Phillip, for this memorable experience.