This is my Aunt Jo (Josephine) and she was one of the kindest, sweetest people I had the honor to know. She is my father’s oldest sister and she passed away last Tuesday, 12.30.2008 and was laid to rest on Saturday, 01.03.2009. She will be missed by everyone who knew her, who loved her, and who had the good fortune to be in her presence.  She was a good woman.

I’ve chosen to post an image of Aunt Jo when she was vibrant and young because in my eyes and in my family’s hearts that is all she ever was any way; vibrant and young and filled with love and life!

Aunt Jo, circa. 1940, Conneaut, Ohio

I have been blessed to hail from a wonderful Italian family filled with special Aunts, Uncles and cousins on both sides of my family and I am grateful for all of you.

My Aunt Jo is the third loss I’ve had to deal with from November through December, but I continue to count my blessings. I figure if I count my blessings - many of them coming from those I know and love - I’ll be way too busy to think anything other than loving thoughts.

Here’s to you Aunt Jo, and to the legacy of love you’ve left us…not to mention all those good cookie recepies!

BIG love to Aunt Jo, Eddie Jr., Bart, Randy and our extended family - Joanne

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

Life; it’s a BEAUTIFUL thing! Congratulations Maria and Brandon!

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

…my Pooh, my kitty with many names, including, Pud, Puddy, Pudding, Puddels, no.1, Wash, Mushdapuddapudpie, Kiki, Monkey-kitty and her original name, Cleo. She’s was a doll and would have been twenty years old this coming June (’09), but she got a bit tired, sick and weak and so today was her last day with me. Nearly twenty years together…she was a big part of my life; she was my “family”…an angel and an all-around great cat. She was a blessing and a gift and a source of great comfort and joy. I remember every moment with her from the beginning until just a little bit ago at Dr. Bebko’s Cat Clinic in Bloomfield (love the people there; so compassionate, kind and knowledgeable) and I will cherish each memory always.

Pooh is pictured here with her best friend (besides her momma) Eeyore, whom she has had since she was smaller than Eeyore was! Eeyore has been Puddy’s baby from the early weeks of her life, and every night since Pooh was a baby, she would pick Eeyore up in her mouth and carry him around the house meowing the whole time; it was priceless to see and hear!

She loved to eat because she was deprived of food in the early weeks of her life, so at one point her weight equaled her age - I think that was around age 16! And, as you can see, despite the many cushy beds she had, she preferred to cuddle up in the tops of or in actual boxes. She was a free thinker, unlike many people!

In her youth she was mischievous and full of energy, but sleeping was always a favorite pastime. Up until about two weeks ago she still loved to go on “adventures” with her momma even if they were supervised and only onto the porch. She was a great mouser, a cuddle-bug, easy-going and always happy! She had the most beautiful peacock-feather-looking green eyes and she was an angel; my heart aches right now and I miss her already.

Notice the “M” on her forehead. Legend has it that the “M” was placed on Tabby cat’s heads by The Madonna when a Tabby cat climbed into the manger to keep the Christ-child warm. The mark of the “M” was Mary’s way of blessing kitties for their service to her child. Sweet, huh.

I love her dearly; there are so many things about her I will miss always, but I will keep her safe and close in my heart always remembering her, and I will trust that she is in a better place with all the food, warm beds and catnip a kitty might want. Perhaps each of you might offer a tender thought today for my Puddy…she was an angel. Thanks.

Whose the bigcat, bigcat, bigcat?! Puddy is, that’s who and always will be!

June 1989 to November 2008.

BIG love for my BIG cat, Joanne Bartone, Photographer | www.joannebartone.com

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

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!

I’ve decided that I’ll do some simple interviews with various wedding vendors so you, my actual and potential clients can get a sense about who the various vendors around town are, what their philosophies are and what makes them so special!

Right now I’ve decided to call it “the BUZZ with JB; interviews” but, if anyone has any suggestions on the category name, I’m happy to consider them! Perhaps…”the beat with JB” or “JB on the streets” …hmmmmm…that’s not sounding too good…how about “INSPIRED interviews by JB,” in keeping with my “BE INSPIRED” theme, or “INSPIRED conversations with JB.” Again, I’m open to ideas, clearly! Feel free to suggest via comments here on the blog!

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

I did a little “interview” with Simone about her work and asked her the following questions:

JB: What are your top three bits of advice for wedding clients?

SH: 1. Begin to work with me even before you’ve chosen your venue; it’ll make the world of difference as I help you make your vision of your wedding into a dream come true, 2. Relax; when in my “hands” you can be confident of my abilities to plan and execute your day perfectly, and 3. Have FUN; it’s all about your party and you should enjoy your wedding day like no other day!

JB: What is your favorite part about planning events?

SH: Watching couples have a wonderful time at their party with their family and friends is complete satisfaction for me!

It turns out that you’ll probably find Simone dancing off to the side with a smile on her face as she watches you enjoy yourselves - I say get her on the floor!

Here’s a little composite photo I created capturing Simone’s beautiful, fun and wonderful energy - well, ‘CHA!;’ of course I took my camera with me to lunch!!! ENJOY!

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

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

I believe Kimberly Reed has been the industry leader in the TTD trend here in Pittsburgh, and she does it fabulously with her fashionable talents as a photographer and her warm, engaging and fun-loving personality. It was truly a delight to spend the day with Kim, Jeremy and Heather. Ahhhhhhhhhh, we ought to take more field trips and relax like this more often…! This was my first TTD shoot - don’t forget to comment on it to let me know if I did an “okay” job…LOL!

Enjoy a few photos from the session:

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