About
Hi, so glad you are here! I am a professional wedding photographer, based in Pittsburgh PA. I've been married to my best friend for the last 13 years and we have two crazy boys! In my free time, you will either find me cuddling with my kiddos, adventuring outdoors every chance I get or taking couples' dance classes. My love for artistic images has its roots in my background, however I didn't discover my love for photography until later in life, while I was studying for my graduate degree. I feel blessed that it happened that way; I had a solid training in art even before I ventured into the photography business. For the following several years I was climbing the corporate ladder, still not planning to become a wedding photographer until it completely stole my heart (and time!). In my mind, it happened that way because it was truly meant to be.
I had incredible art teachers and I could honestly say – I wouldn’t ever be on the same level where I am right now without the strong foundation and diverse art background they gave me. Classical art training helped me tremendously develop a strong control of composition and lighting. The traditional approach was following European atelier system with the emphasis on acquiring thorough drawing and sculpting skills, before moving into paint. Years of still-life exercises of plaster anatomy and different light sources, sculpturing as well as painting exercises were around tonality and the effects of light on form and color. I believe that gave me an edge in wedding photography from the start and eventually, after years of following trends, it helped me develop my own cinematic style and for that I am forever grateful.
I had incredible art teachers and I could honestly say – I wouldn’t ever be on the same level where I am right now without the strong foundation and diverse art background they gave me. Classical art training helped me tremendously develop a strong control of composition and lighting. The traditional approach was following European atelier system with the emphasis on acquiring thorough drawing and sculpting skills, before moving into paint. Years of still-life exercises of plaster anatomy and different light sources, sculpturing as well as painting exercises were around tonality and the effects of light on form and color. I believe that gave me an edge in wedding photography from the start and eventually, after years of following trends, it helped me develop my own cinematic style and for that I am forever grateful.
My style has matured throughout 11 years; originally I was inspired by the aesthetic of fine art style. My European background and classical art school shaped me as an artist who was highly inspired by the elegance and fashion. Soon after, I realized that I wanted to photograph not what those moments looked like, but what they FELT like, while still not losing that sophisticated approach to imagery. Spontaneous movements, joy, goosebumps, the tears shed as intimate vows are pronounced. In simple terms, my clients often say that they love the polished, glamorous look of the gallery they receive, which also truly captures their essence and how much they love to laugh. It's often said that photographs are the only tangible memories after a wedding. This is why I want to document how YOUR love looks like! That means no awkward poses or heavy edit that would date with time. Those photos eventually become your legacy, the time capsule of those moments.
One of the most important aspects to me was to create a product that would stand the test of time. It's essential for me that the wedding photos will look timeless and that's why I chose to remain true to the colors and achieve the effect through classical light/shadow game. My style fully developed after 6-7 years when I stopped following the trends and was able to create my unique cinematic style.
Dream client:
I am so happy to say that I am already working for my dream client: smart, easy-going bride with a strong aesthetic sense and impeccable taste. Most of my brides have either passion for art, home decor, fashion etc or "cherry-pick" the best vendors for their Big Day to enjoy the moments, while we take care of the rest. I feel blessed that I have brides who not only share my vision, but they also become long-term friends. I meet so many inspiring ladies and I often find myself at weddings with multiple couples that I photographed in the past. Besides weddings, you will see quite a few maternity and family sessions on my blog, featuring mainly my return clients. It is so humbling to be invited into your life to document your most important day and become your family photographer for years to come.
FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
For information about my upcoming photography classes and workshops - please check out this blog post or contact me directly.
What we DO NOT do: selling trendy presets, teaching canny selling techniques, pre-recorded instructions.
What we FOCUS ON: developing your own strong style with time and hard work. It is a 3 weeks wedding photography school with individual lessons, critique and homework, followed by a month of individual mentoring.
latest publications
recent oil paintings
