Congratulations Joy + Steve!!!

Joy and Steve were married on New Years Eve at the Sheraton, Station Square.  Their event was an intimate affair; perfect and simply beautiful!

Many of the details - which were stunning - were made with love by Joy herself with help from the wonderful Simone Hudson of 5Senses Events Design who coordinated every detail of Joy and Steve’s special day - you can see my “interview” with Simone that I did in October with her at this link - it was this interview that helped Joy decide upon using Simone’s services! - Simone is a delight to work with and I highly recommend her to anyone planning any type of an event.

The image here is just one of the examples of cooperative creativity between Joy and Simone…

Details from the ceremony and one of Joy and Steve’s tender moments directly afterward…

More beautiful details…the up-lighting of the ballroom was spectacular!  Simone helped Joy create this beautiful space through her creative resource gathering!  The limbs in the vases are manzinita branches - simply STUNNING! And a select guest from each table got to take home one of these beautiful hand-created centerpieces - what a thoughtful gift for Joy to offer her guests!

…the cake-toppers - so cute!  And the cake-cutters - so cute too!

And a few great sets of images of the beautiful couple!

Presenting the lovely Joy!

The Details:

Coordinator: the fabulous Simone Hudson!

Jewelers: Goldstock Jewelers

Caterers: Sheraton Stations Square

Cake Creators: Bethel Bakery

Florists: Fred Dietz Florists

DJ: Entertainment Unlimited - DJ Master Gee and Son

Chair Rental: All Occasions

MakeUp: Patty Bell

Hair: Salon Christine

BIG love, Joanne Bartone Photographer

tele: 412.418.8075  |  e-mail: joanne@joannebartone.com |  www.joannebartone.com

Here’s what I consider to be THE most important “formula” for successful wedding photography:

beautiful settings + planning ample TIME for photos + subjects who understand and value the importance of their photographs + subjects willing to work with their TALENTED and EXPERIENCED photographer = beautiful images EVERY time!

I cannot stress enough to everyone who is interested in hiring me just how important it is to budget enough time for the photography on your wedding day. Fortunately, Marissa and Derek valued their photography and photographer enough to plan to have enough time with me between the ceremony and celebration so I could create beautiful images for them. I think it’s fair to say we were ALL successful, and now they will have beautiful images that will last their lifetime!

Look at the light falling on Marissa; it was simply wonderful…warm, delicious… and it made her glow (photo is enhanced too), even though it was cold and windy. This field of weeds sits behind Shakespeare’s Restaurant, where the celebration was held. Now really, have you ever seen weeds look so good? I think not! I’ve chosen to show a number of images from the patch of weeds and I think you’ll agree, it’s a wise decision…

Marissa was absolutely stunning, and it helped that she is in the fashion industry, so she knew how to work that camera! You go GORGEOUS!

And Derek’s done a little modeling himself…! BUT that doesn’t mean that other’s can’t “model” just like Marissa and Derek. All it takes is a little observation, a little interest, maybe a little drink before hand, and experienced guidance from your photographer, if she knows how to work you in front of her camera!! …and this one clearly does!

Just look at the love they share…so sweet, so much fun and so natural!

…and just look at this LIGHT! It was stunning, just like my subjects!

…and then there is more love, more beauty…

…and all this sexiness!

What fun! Every wedding is a different blessing; another opportunity for me to create beautiful imagery for my clients that will “wow” them and make them happy.  I have gratitude in abundance that I get to do this for me and for you!  It’s all a beautiful gift…

It was a pure delight to be with you both, Marissa and Derek, and to meet your families, your friends (that’d be you, oh wonderful wedding party!) and to hang with my people at dinner! It was a great day; thanks for that.  And a great way to end my season of photographing weddings; I am grateful.

Now, back to work… Just because my shooting season is over it doesn’t mean my “work” is done!  I hear that whip cracking from that boss of mine…she just won’t let me rest…  ;-)  !

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

Kristin and Paul’s wedding was picturesquely beautiful! Heinz Chapel and The Carnegie were the backdrops for their ceremony and celebration; everything was perfect…well, except for that little snafu with the maid of honor’s zipper in her dress! But, as with all snafus, everything worked out perfectly and the day was joyful and fun.

Beautiful day + beautiful details + beautiful settings ALWAYS = beautiful photographs!

Hopefully the few images posted will help everyone hold on a bit longer while the remaining images are being processed. I am confident you will love them when you see them!

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

PS…I heard that “bigger was better,” thus the new look to the images I’m posting on the blog! Enjoy!

Maggie and Jason…a lovely couple from two warm, loving and lovely families, gathered with hundreds of lovely friends, on a lovely special day. They had a lovely ceremony and one of THE most fun celebrations I’ve seen this year! Who could ask for anything more..lots of smiles, love, warm and wonderful people and FUN, which translates into many, many, MANY beautiful images! In fact, so many images that this little slide show doesn’t even do the many fun and beautiful images “justice,” but I hope you’ll enjoy it anyway - I know I did! Here’s a sneak peek at a few in their slide show - ENJOY!

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

Gown: Anne Gregory ~ Celebration: Butler Country Club ~ Wedding Planning and all things sweet (you’ll see a few of the many beautiful goodies in the show): Erika Stamets of SweetHouse Bake Shop ~ Burnt Almond Torte Wedding Cake: Prantl’s Bakery (of course!) ~ Flowers: The Butler Florist, with special thanks to Ed, Jeff and Karen -the flowers were spectacular! ~ Photobooth: Art Campbell, the Photobooth Guy, email him at: katana@the-kastle.com

Sheena and Jonathan had a beautiful day, ceremony and celebration filled with happiness and surrounded by loving friends and family. Everything about their day was simply lovely, as you will see below!

They were married in the Historic Presbyterian Church in Sewickley where no photos were allowed during the ceremony, so after first having gone to the Allegheny Country Club to photograph the details and ambiance there, I arrived at the church just as Sheena and Jon were taking their vows. I don’t often get to enjoy the beauty of my couple’s ceremonies because I’m busy observing and capturing, but this time I was able to listen and quietly observe from the back of the church - it was a peaceful and loving ceremony, re pleat with an Irish Minister, Tracey Cowan who had a beautiful Gaelic accent that only added to the whole event - and this was Tracey’s first wedding ceremony! It was just beautiful, I tell you! So, the first image you see in the slide show of Sheena and Jon will be of their recession directly following the ceremony - I just had to sneak one shot of the ceremony in - it killed me not to be photographing even though I did enjoy watching it!

From the church, we proceeded to one of the family friends home, directly across the street where we used their beautiful gardens to photograph the family, wedding party and Sheena and Jon - the gardens were a perfect site for beautiful and romantic images, again, as you will see in the Slide Show below. It was an elegant wedding and I chose to display some of the photos with a hint of color, so they would appear timeless, romantic and elegant. Simply click on the “play” arrow in the lower left, above Sheena’s name to start the show - I hope you enjoy my creativity!

Best, Joanne Bartone, Photographer

Flowers: Reed and Petals

Cake: Autumn’s Cakes

I’m fortunate to work with many couples who are from out of town, and Lisa and Dave are one of my wonderful couples who live in Virginia. What a sweet couple they are - always smiling, great attitudes, crazy in love with each other…simply perfect for one another!

Lisa and Dave’s ceremony was held at Duquesne University Chapel where the chapel and the grounds provide a picturesque setting for both the ceremony and photos afterwards - you’ll see the majority of the images I used here in the slide show are from the ceremony and photos on the grounds. Never mind that the day was one of our hottest days so far this year! No one melted; everyone simply smiled and had a great time.

After the ceremony, the reception and party was held at the Chadwick, where I enjoyed the company of Lisa and Daves wonderful relatives over a delicious meal. The day was full of emotions, fun and memorable moments that made for beautiful imagery all day long.

Congratulations, Lisa and Dave! It was an honor and a pleasure to be with you. Thank you for trusting me with your wedding photography! Enjoy the show…

BIG love, Joanne Bartone, Photographer

This past Saturday, July 5th Jeremy Ganss, DJ extraordinaire and his beautiful fiance, Heather Wingard, married in an intimate ceremony surrounded by their loving family and closest friends in a beautiful outdoor setting! It was my honor to attend as a guest, but as I mentioned in my previous blog, how could I not take my camera?!!! I couldn’t; I did! And Ryan Sigesmund, the talented photographer and friend of Jeremy and Heather’s, who was actually hired by them to photograph was gracious enough to allow me to, well, kind of “second-shoot” with him. Actually, as a friend of Jeremy and Heather’s, and as professional photographer I just HAD to photo them! For me, it was simply impossible not to. Heather, you were simply stunning and Jeremy, as dashing as could be! It was a beautiful day and it REALLY was an honor for me to be your guest and enjoy your beautiful love - CONGRATULATIONS! I love you both and am thrilled for you!

So, here is a slide show of some of the many wonderful images I created for Jeremy and Heather from throughout their day…ENJOY!

BIG love, Joanne Bartone, Photographer

Heather Ganss!

MORE to come in a Slide Show tomorrow!

BIG love, Joanne Bartone, Photographer

Saturday, July 5th, 2008 will be my good friend and colleague Jeremy Ganss (DJ extraordinaire) and his lovely, sweet and special fiance, Heather’s wedding! And, I couldn’t be more excited for them! They are a perfect match for one another; both sweet, kind, talented and wonderful people and I have the honor of being a guest with them tomorrow as they celebrate and ENJOY one another on their big day! …news flash…I’m bringing my camera even though I’ll be a guest for a change! I can’t just show up at a wedding without a CAMERA, right?! I would be like a fish out of water if I did! I’ll post some photos from their celebration next week.

I first met Jeremy at one of my October 2006 weddings, Heather and Chris S., and was immediately struck by Jeremy’s talent and wonderful personality! I found him to be a great guy AND a top-notch DJ and that combination can sometimes run few-and-far-between, as the saying goes. But Jeremy had it all; elegance, class, talent, a great personality, good mojo - and the list goes on - and he was relatively new to the wedding business at that time, so I made it my mission from that point on to promote his services exclusively! I will forever talk him up - he is worth every penny anyone might ever consider paying for his services. This young man rocked the house and had people dancing constantly and all night, and I mean the floor was packed!

Then, I had the honor of meeting Heather, Jeremy’s fiance and wife-to-be at a photographer’s picnic I held last year. I specifically made sure to invite Jeremy and Heather so I could promote Jeremy’s DJ services to all the other photographers in the city and I’m happy to say he is a busy man. If you want him to DJ your wedding, you had better book him quickly because he is booking two years in advance. Anyway…these two are so SWEET! I absolutely love them and can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t! Heather hand-makes Jewelry that is so very lovely - I should know - I have had the honor of being gifted two sets of Heather’s earing designs, and I just love them! I think her work would be perfect for wedding party gifts as she does male and female designs. And wouldn’t it be great to get such a personal hand-made gift from the couple? The answer is “yes!”

So, tomorrow I’ll be drinking a toast to Jeremy and Heather; may they be as happy always as they are sure to be tomorrow!

BIG love to both of you, Joanne Bartone, Photographer

All these years in my career, and the pressure was FINALLY “on!”

Traci is a good friend from Art School; a fellow photographer who is an absolute sweetheart with a smile so bright, a laugh so real, eyes that sing, dancing abilities like you’ve never seen and a heart of gold! And who did she marry? None other than Tom, another artist and a great guy with all the same qualities! They are a match made in heaven, that Muffett and Boris! But I’ll tell you, because of Traci and Tom’s artistic bent, I really wanted to create images for them that were real, like their personalities, but images that also portrayed their love for one another in a contemporary way - I think I’ve “done good,” as the saying goes! I have a TON of beautiful and emotional images from the day that I believe depict all the happiness, love and splendor shared between two people surrounded by an intimate group of family and friends!

The ceremony was held at Traci’s father and step-mother’s home in Gibsonia; a beautiful setting where the day was perfect, well, until that storm whipped up later that evening! Never-no-mind! Nothing dampened anyones smiles or spirits and the party lasted well into the night…

I can’t even begin to express my gratitude, delight and honor to participate in such a special day for such a special friend and her wonderful husband and family! Thank you so much for having me with you and for trusting me to create and capture your memories for you. Enjoy the show!

BIG love, Joanne Bartone, Photographer