Feeling sexy, alluring or just really, really good about the way you look?  Want to give yourself or someone you love a uniquely special gift?!  Then you should reserve your private Boudoir Mini-Session just in time for two important gift-giving holidays: Christmas and Valentine’s Day!

We’ve changed the dates to accommodate both week-day and week-end sessions:  Wednesday, November 06, 2009 AND Sunday, January 10, 2010!

Mademoiselles, these sessions are for each one of you who has ever wanted to bring out the goddess inside!  Private and fun with beautiful results that you or the love in your life will enjoy over and over again!

Here is what one of the women we recently photographed had to say about her session: “

“I have already raved to most everyone I know (except my husband) that they HAVE to do this and that you are the women to see!!  I had so much fun, I would definitely do it again…every day if I could!  :)  I just can’t tell you enough how grateful I am.  You do sooo much more than just take pictures; you really change how a girl sees herself, and that is such a gift!“

Reserve your session by calling Elizabeth at 724.355.9079 or emailing elizabethcraig@me.com and click HERE for more information!

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

I’m so happy to announce that Pittsburgh DJ Kelli Burns of Kelli Burns DJ Entertainment has a blog ! Please make it a point to visit Kelli’s blog RIGHT NOW to congratulate her on her new endeavor, and visit often to comment on her posts.   Then, stay tuned (pun intended!) for her informative and fun posts on news and entertainment in the music industry and for your event.

Below is an image of Kelli from Beth and Andy’s wedding that we had the pleasure to work together on:

Kelli has 23 years of experience in the greater Pittsburgh area where she has DJ-ed hundreds of wonderful weddings to the delight of her clients and their guests, and has been exclusively procured to DJ for innumerable creme de la creme events around the city. Kelli readily volunteers her entertainment expertise to many important causes and she is well known and highly regarded throughout the Pittsburgh event community.

Besides Kelli’s stellar professional reputation, she’s a great person; both fun and fun-loving, but always a top notch professional when spinning an event. I can attest to her professionalism and abilities first hand after working with her. Kelli’s dedication to “Making that one moment in time even more memorable,” as her tag-line reads, represents a solid commitment to her approach to her work, and she delivers on it!

Kelli is a member of many prestigious professional organizations including Toastmasters, which has served her well when she is in front of your event guests. Kelli’s ability to speak with complete command and elegance while maintaining the balance of not being overbearing or stuffy at events is, well to quote musician Thomas Dolby, “like poetry in motion!”  I am thoroughly impressed by her abilities.  And to quote Bob Sendall of All in Good Taste Productions, he describes Kelli as “The best of the best.”  Agreed Bob!

Kelli and I first met earlier this year and hit it off so spectacularly that we decided to share office space in order to closely collaborate on projects together and promote our businesses.  Our business meetings consist of progress and work, but we have a lot of fun while wearing our business hats!  In fact, we are offering a service to clients seeking photographers and DJs for weddings and other events - contact either of us for more information.  And, we are planning a launch party to celebrate our collaborative efforts to be held at a to be determined date and location this coming October - stay tuned to both of our blogs for information on that!

The following images are clear evidence of our camaraderie and our silliness - Kelli’s the good looking one on the right!  :

So, if you are seeking to hire a DJ for your wedding or private/corporate event, contact Kelli - I highly recommend Kelli Burns of Kelli Burns DJ Entertainment, mostly because she ROCKS!

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

I’m fortunate and I know it!  I remind myself of my good fortune daily by being gracious and grateful for the good things and the wonderful people that enter my life, be it in my work or my personal life.  I can honestly say, that I get to work with some of the SWEETEST people to walk the earth - my clients - who quickly become friends once we connect.

And so it is with Leslie and Jeff, and Lexie and Sadie - sweet beyond belief; all of them!  We started out photographing at Leslie and Jeff’s home so we could incorporate some of Jeff’s work in the photos.  For the photo below, I had to make barking noises to get Lexie and Sadie’s attention…I was hysterical behind the camera watching their faces curl up as I made my barking noises, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, right?!  It was a blast and I just love those two little fur people.  HA!

Leslie is a graphic designer, AND beautiful, as you can see!  So all of the brides that visit here at the blog really need to contact me so I can give Leslie’s number out to you so you can hire her to do the things you have no time to do, like invitations and the programs for your ceremony and reception!  She’s an angel and you will love, love, LOVE her and her work! I recently referred Leslie to one of my photography colleagues for design work and her remarks: “Leslie is amazing!”

Jeff, well he does landscaping, but I really can’t even call the art he creates “landscaping!”  You see, Jeff’s work is nothing short of PHENOMENAL!!!  After photographing some of the images from Leslie and Jeff’s engagement session in the backyard of their home, we drove to Nevillewood to photograph in the yard of one of Jeff’s clients! This was no ordinary yard, believe me!

What Jeff does is incredible - the ponds, the walls, the plants and flowers; simply amazing work.  So all of you non-creative people out there who need some help with your property need to call Jeff so he can take the pressure off of you too, and bring peace to your lives through his work. You can find out more about Jeff at his business link: Pittsburgh Stone and Waterscapes - check it out!  And, click HERE for an article on Jeff from HGTV.  And, click HERE for a video on Jeff and his company from HGTV!  That’s Right; Home and Garden TV - love that channel!  And, click HERE for another article by Jeff!

Ok, enough of the plugs for my clients!   :-)   On to a few of their beautiful photos, done by me, of course!  ENJOY!

Always a pleasure to be in your presence!

BIG love ( <3 ), Joanne Bartone Photographer | www.joannebartone.com

REMINDER: Reserve Your PRIVATE Boudoir Gala Session Today!

We want to reassure you that you will have absolute privacy for your Boudoir Gala Session, where you will be photographed by two award-winning professional photographers: myself, Joanne Bartone, and Elizabeth Craig, in the beautiful and romantic setting of The Parador Inn, a lovely local Bed and Breakfast!  Each session is staggered to accommodate each woman’s makeup preparation and privacy!

Reservations are limited, so please don’t delay!  Click HERE for more information!

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

NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR OUR BOUDOIR GALA!

Joanne Bartone Photography and Elizabeth Craig Intimates have joined together to offer 2 Boudoir exclusive events for 2 very special holidays.  If you’ve been thinking about what to get your significant other for Christmas or Valentine’s Day, we have an elegant and fun solution for you!

On November 4, 2009 and January 6, 2010, Joanne and Elizabeth will be holding a Boudoir Gala at a romantic Bed & Breakfast here in Pittsburgh, The Parador Inn where you will have the opportunity to be photographed by 2 award-winning professional photographers.  The end result will be artistic and glamorous images of you presented in a beautiful book as a gift for you, or for giving!

INCLUSIONS…

Each woman arrives with hair styled as they wish to be photographed and receives:

Makeup applied by a Professional Makeup Artist.

Up to two outfit changes for the shoot.

30 minute Intimates/Boudoir Shoot with either photographer.

A 5×5 Gift Album will be discretely delivered for the holiday of choice.

All high resolution images will also be presented on disc, including printing rights.

INVESTMENT: $300.  A $100 retainer is required to reserve your space for the shoot.

NOTE: We understand that your privacy is very important during the shoot. We’ve staggered each session so that each woman can enjoy her shoot in complete privacy! You will arrive 1/2 hour prior to your scheduled session for preparation with the makeup artist.  After makeup, we’ll begin your boudoir session in a private setting with myself or Elizabeth only.  And, if you’d like to bring a close girlfriend for moral support, please feel comfortable to do so!

This is an exclusive event and only 40 women can participate.  Contact Elizabeth Craig via email at elizabethcraig@me.com or via phone at 724.355.9079 for more information and to make your reservation.

Come on ladies…time to get your GODDESS on! 

I want to send a BIG love SHOUT OUT for John Craig of Craig Photography who is holding a “How to Everything” Photography (The Basics - 101) workshop on September 17, 2009.

CLICK HERE OR ON THE PHOTO FOR MORE INFORMATION!

Perhaps you want to learn how to use that expensive camera you just bought, or perhaps you are considering becoming involved in the professional world of photography and you don’t know where or how to begin, or if you have just started a business involving photography, this would be a great step-off point for you to acquire some basic knowledge.

John Craig is a wonderful soul, a great guy and has extensive professional photographic experience and knowledge, that I am proud to say I call on from time to time myself.  So, I am confident that you will benefit from his expertise and I strongly encourage you to take the plunge and take this workshop!  CHECK IT OUT!

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

I’ve been a shooting maniac since June: weddings, engaged couples, babies, boudoir, portraits…insert rapid clicking of a shutter noise here!  Below is the results from one of my engaged couples’ shoots: Eryn + Jay, who will be married in June of 2010.  We had an absolute blast together and I created some really fun and contemporary images of them while we were out and about - we even ended up having to do some of our shots on the sly; it was like stealth photography - HA!

The images below are a compilation of this great yellow wall that I fell in love with!  And, while we were shooting there Eryn + Jay seemed to feel a bit odd about why we were shooting there and the things I was having them do and I’m sure wondered how those images would turn out - it’ll always make sense afterward; you just have to trust me!  It’s my guess that the two of you are really going to LOVE this piece; I know I do!  ENJOY!

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

Jenna + Aaron’s wedding was so beautiful and so much fun to photograph!  Once again, blessed by the fact that I get to work with some really wonderful families and people, this was one of those occasions - which truly does happen often for me! - where I fell in love with everyone!  I am such a fortunate person…

Married at Sacred Heart Church in Shadyside (can you believe they don’t have a link?!), their ceremony could not help to be beautiful due to the majesty of the church itself; it was simply lovely.  It’s always been one of my favorite churches to photograph in…

The Pittsburgh Field Club in Fox Chapel was chosen as the venue for the reception.  It was dressed to the nines and they did a really spectacular job with the event!  Eric Schiemer of Schiemer Entertainment Services did a fabulous job entertaining the guests with some great tunes that kept everyone happily dancing all night long!  And besides that, there was this fabulous slide show Eric put together from video clips of Jenna when she was little; it was so sweet and special…  GREAT job Eric!  Can’t wait to work with you again - let’s not make it so long between events!  Eric is a great guy and DJ; make sure you contact him for your event!

Ok, on to the images - ENJOY!

Jenna’s mother, Patty so badly wanted a portrait of Jenna reflected in a mirror.  Why?  Because that was one of the images special to her on her own wedding day.  This was a must-have for Patty and I made sure to deliver!

Additional classic portraits: the window silhouettes in the window before we left the house and Jenna with her father, just before they walked down that long beautiful aisle at Sacred Heart!  Love these images!  Classic and timeless…

Sooooooooooo, the priest did not offer a “you may kiss the bride” to Aaron, and of course I immediately realized that when photographing, so as Aaron + Jenna were recessing down the aisle I asked them to stop and kiss so we would have their ceremonial church kiss after they were married.  Now, to stop them went against everything in my document-the-event-as-it-happened thinking, but I knew that the kiss is important to all couples, so I felt it was my responsibility to orchestrate it before the opportunity was lost.  It was a tough call/decision on my part, but I think Jenna + Aaron will appreciate that I did.  And the expression on their guest’s faces helps make the image happy and exciting!

As an FYI for anyone having a Catholic ceremony, the kiss is NOT part of the Catholic marriage service.  You must tell your priest that you want to include it, and then they typically allow for it either during the sign of peace or before you recess down the aisle.  Then of course, be sure to tell your photographer when the kiss will occur so they can capture it.  And lastly, grooms everywhere, make sure you make that kiss count - at least 3 seconds, if not a bit longer, so your photographer can capture it!  I’m just saying…and, I mean, make it count!  You are married after all!

Some beautiful portraits of Aaron + Jenna: on the left, just after they recessed down the aisle, and then when we were exiting the church, on the right…those details!…those windows!

Some of the beautiful details of Jenna + Aaron’s reception at the Pittsburgh Field Club!

One of the many beautiful portraits of Aaron + Jenna on the grounds of the Pittsburgh Field Club.

Ring and flower details…yummy…

I’ll title these images above “Joanne’s Artful Eye.”  Always looking for different ways to document AND create art from weddings, I thoroughly observe my surroundings until I see interesting points of view and complex compositions that I can use to create unique images for my clients.  These images portray some of those interesting points of view I see when I am in the throes of my creative observation process.  Notice that each image seems to be a mirror image; well, they actually are…I took the photo on the left with the camera pointed directly at Aaron + Jenna while they were having dinner from outside the doorway to the dining room.  Then, from the same position, I turned to the right where the reflection of Aaron + Jenna was seen in the mirrored glass of the doors.  I added the window frame of the door in both images to: 1. add an additional frame while composing the image within the frame of the camera , 2. add an architectural element to the image, and 3. make the images interesting.  I LOVE these two shots a lot and think they are a wonderful representation of how I create my art while documenting weddings!

Relaxed and elegant portraits from the end of the night.

Romantic, timeless images that can be used in Jenna + Aaron’s custom-designed Signature Wedding Story Book!

As always, it was such an absolute honor and pleasure to spend the day with all of you!  Thank you for having me as your photographer, and now friend!

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