In 2006 I had the wonderful fortune of meeting and photographing Maria and Brandon’s wedding - they are a gorgeous and loving couple who have modeled for me between then and now. Their wedding is where I first met Danny, Maria’s brother, and Angela his beautiful finace (now wife!); yet another gorgeous and loving couple whose wedding I had the honor to photograph - like I said; ‘lucky me!’  I can’t begin to tell you how much it thrills me to be able to photograph successive siblings like this - it is such a treat!

Angela and Danny’s wedding took me through the four corners of Pittsburgh - from the South Hills, where I live, to the North Hills where Danny and his family were, to the East where Angela, her family and the ceremony were and finally to the West and the Embassy Suites, where the reception was held!  It was just a great day…so fortunate am I…great weather, great couple, great families - there isn’t much more a photographer could ask for, well, except for maybe just a little more time to photograph the bride and groom, which is always welcome!

I could sum up the whole wedding with the first two images, but of course have included a few more images as highlights of the day for everyone’s visual enjoyment!  I love you all and cannot wait for the next one - ah-hem…hint, hint…you know who I’m talking about!!  ENJOY!

Will you look a the size of that cannoli?!!! It was imported from New York City, no less!  And inside were baby cannoli! Crazy fun!

I’ve never seen so many cookies! Let me just tell you, there were THOUSANDS of cookies at the wedding!  I could only keep repeating ‘WOW; I’ve never seen so many cookies!’

On to the other images…

Pure happiness!

What I felt was a really strong way to photo and cool image of the guys…

The radiantly beautiful Angela and the handsome Donato…

As always, it was an honor and a complete PLEASURE to spend the day with you!  Cento anni di salute e felicita!

XO + BIG <3, Joanne Bartone Photographer | www.joannebartone.com

So I got to spend some time today with a couple of my brides, Maria (married in 2006) and Nicole (married in 2007) and their beautiful little girls, Serafina and Eva - ANGELS, I tell you!

Below is a couple of quick image posts for the anxious mommies to enjoy.  I’ll post a few more composites as soon as I edit my wedding from last weekend!  Enjoy!

Mommy had me all set up when Zizi Joanne walked in the room…

Eva’s cheeks are soooooo cute! They just scream out “kiss me!”

Toes!  Sooooooo cute!

BIG <3 +XO, Joanne Bartone Photographer | www.joannebartone.com

Kristen and Ian are a contemporary couple who are down to earth and simply crazy about one another!  They’ll be married soon, so we got together a couple of weeks ago for their engagement experience when the weather was perfect and they were in town preparing and planning for what soon will be a wonderful day for them.  Here are a few of my favorite images from our time together…ENJOY

I loved the flair of the sun, but who doesn’t!

LOTS of love here!

I took artistic liberty on the next image and added texture to create a unique image from it…I couldn’t decide which one I liked better, the b/w with texture, or the color without…

This one is just too sweet…

You’d never know that Kristen and Ian started out being reserved and uncomfortable in front of the camera - thank goodness I know how to “work” my couples!  What I did was to instruct them to ignore my presence which brought out how at ease they are when they focus on each other and their feelings for one another. Perfect recipe for perfect images!

I loved the texture in the rocks, and notice how their clothing color choice made them out to be the new poster couple for my new colors!  Gotta love it when everything syncs together like this…must be a sign!

The image below left was so tender and almost like a painting to me, and then I ended the session with a little more flare…sun flare, that is!  What a lovely and wonderful couple - I can’t wait until their wedding!

BIG love, Joanne Bartone Photographer | www.joannebartone.com

…when I wasn’t looking, Spring finally sprung!!  Here’s the evidence: Buddha in the garden and tulips near by!

Ahhhhhhh; the sweet sights and sounds of Spring are here…warm sunny days, periodic showers of nourishing rain and the Cardinal family nesting in our front tree.  It seems we’ve waited a long time for this.  I can finally admit that it really was well worth the wait!  Perhaps now, I’ll finally be able to get warm!

BIG <3 Joanne Bartone Photographer | www.joannebartone.com

If you are planning a wedding for 2010 or beyond, please RSVP for this great Launch Party & Bridal Gala brought to you by Kara Marie of Lavish Events Online on Wednesday, April 29th at the tre-chic Olive-or-Twist Martini Lounge, where you can meet a number of wonderful wedding professionals - myself included - to peruse our “wares,” taste-test foods, enjoy fashion, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails and receive some give-a-ways and gifts, all on us!

PLEASE RSVP BY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15TH to: lavish@lavisheventsonline.com

You can click on the invitation above, or the link here: Lavish Events Online Blog where you can read more about the event!  I can’t wait to enjoy the evening with you - remember; Wednesday, April 29th is the event, RSVP by April 15th!

BIG love, Joanne Bartone, Photographer | www.joannebartone.com

We had a handful of families turn out for the Military Love Shoot a couple of weeks ago.  I can’t convey enough what a pleasure it was for me to do this for the families and soldiers serving our country.  The families I met were special and wonderful, and very grateful for my service to them - in the big scheme of things, what I did was minuscule, but I hope it will have provided each soldier serving away from their families and homes some small piece of comfort and joy.

Marjorie Henderson of Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum did not hesitate one bit to donate the space for the families to come to be photographed in. If you are not familiar with S+S Hall, it is a beautiful venue in Pittsburgh that holds MANY a beautiful wedding, so if you are looking for a great setting with attentive staff, call or email Marjorie by clicking here. I’m going to donate a photo session for military families for the remaining three quarters of this year so that other families who couldn’t make it to this session can make it to one of the next remaining sessions - dates/times will be announced at a later date/post once Marjorie and I coordinate our schedules!

I thought I’d share some of the images I created for the families, and one of Marjorie.  Thank you, once again, to the families who came out, to their brave family members who are serving in the Military, to all of our Military personnel who so selflessly give so much to and for us every day and to Marjorie and S+S Hall!  I hope you enjoy the BEAUTIFUL faces filled with love below!

BIG love!  Joanne Bartone Photographer | www.joannebartone.com