Charming And Fresh: Kristie And Patrick’s Pittsburgh Outdoor Engagement Photo Session

“Love does not look like a person, love is our actions, love is giving all we can.”

– Rupi Kaur

An outdoor photo session is one of our favorite days! We love covering every kind of wedding and adore engagement photo shoot sessions. To us, an engagement photo session is where the love begins to bloom, it is where two souls sing the same song, and by the wedding day, two souls start dancing to the same beat. To us, one of the best forms of love is simple, and comfortable right next to each other. We know that every love story is different, and every couple is unique, which is why days like these when we sit down and cover a happy story of a couple warm our hearts. It is like watching a beautiful love story start at the engagement photo session and bloom into true beauty by the time they tie the knot. Kristie and Patrick were a one–of–a–kind couple. Our engagement photographer not only had a great time helping them pose for photos but also had a blast working with them. The day of the engagement session was a pretty day. Early fall as it was, the weather outside was perfect and the chosen photoshoot spots were just right for the two! We love the choice of photo shoot location, it was lush green, full of spaces that were used as amazing photo locations, and the surroundings were ripe with color, all of which made their photo session beautiful. From the different sets of outfits to the bright smiles and their young rottweiler puppy, Patrick and Kristie’s outdoor photo shoot was fresh, unique, and charming. The outfits they had decided to use were stunning and softly juxtapositioned them from the surroundings. In nature, these two lovebirds were seen smiling and giggling. Our Pittsburg engagement photographer met the couple in the morning and talked about what they wanted for their engagement photo session. Excited, the couple shared that the chosen location for their engagement session was a park that both of them greatly admired. The moment our photographer looked at the photo shoot location, he knew why the two had selected it. 

Nestled along the scenic confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, Pittsburgh stands as a vibrant city with a rich history and a dynamic cultural scene. Known as the "Steel City" and the "City of Bridges," It transformed from its industrial roots into a thriving metropolis that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation. With a proud heritage linked to steel production, Pittsburgh's industrial past is still evident in its architecture and landmarks. The iconic steel bridges that crisscross the city serve as a testament to its industrial history as they offer breathtaking views of the city skyline. But Pittsburgh is not just a city defined by its industrial past, it has also emerged as a hub for technology, education, and healthcare. The presence of prestigious universities like Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh has fostered a culture of innovation and attracted talented individuals from around the world. One of the city's most famous attractions is the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History. Located in the historic Oakland neighborhood, these museums house an extensive collection of art and artifacts that showcase Pittsburgh's cultural heritage, give city residents and tourists a chance to explore ancient civilizations, marvel at masterpieces by renowned artists, and immerse themselves in the city's artistic narrative. Sports enthusiasts will find their haven in Pittsburgh, as the city boasts a passionate fan base and a strong sporting tradition. Pittsburgh's sports culture unifies the community and adds electric energy to the city's atmosphere. For nature lovers, Pittsburgh offers a wealth of outdoor spaces to explore. The expansive Frick Park is a tranquil escape from the urban hustle, featuring serene walking trails and picturesque picnic spots. And for adventure-seekers, the stunning landscapes of the nearby Laurel Highlands offer great opportunities for hiking, biking, and skiing. To delve into Pittsburgh's history, one only needs to visit the Heinz History Center, an immersive museum that showcases the city's cultural and industrial evolution, which is filled with the stories of immigrants who shaped the city, information on the rise of steel production, and history on Pittsburgh's role in the American Revolution and in the Civil War. No visit to Pittsburgh would be complete without indulging in the city's culinary delights. From the iconic Primanti Brothers sandwiches, stacked high with coleslaw and french fries, to the diverse food scene in the Strip District, Pittsburgh offers a gastronomic adventure for every palate. It was here that the soulmates, Kristie and Patrick met each other and fell in love. 

For the first leg of the photo shoot, Kristie and Patrick were dressed in uber-casual clothes! They loved their comfort and wanted to make sure that their photos from the engagement session showed exactly that. Patrick had decided to wear comfortable khaki shorts, which he paired with a crisp sky-blue shirt. For his footwear, he chose very comfy tan shoes. Kristie chose to put on a well-fitted flowy white dress. With that, she chose to have her white ankle-length sandals. For the day, she decided to let her hair down, her natural curls were the perfect hairstyle for the photo session. For their engagement photo session, Kristie and Patrick brought their well-behaved black rottweiler as well. The four-legged furry friend had a pretty white collar with red dots on it. As the day progressed, and these two strolled through the park to find the perfect photo session spots, they confided in our photographer that they were excited and that their wedding planning had already begun. The two also shared that they had already booked the wedding ceremony venue. Being religious, they wanted to have a traditional wedding ceremony, which is why they had made arrangements at the Old St Luke's Church for their wedding day. Our photographer was happy to hear that and could see how immersed in love these two were with each other. They also shared that the reception party venue was also booked for the day, which is Salvatore's Events & Catering. Every time our photographer looked at the couple, they could see the excitement of marrying the love of their life exuded from them. For the day, the couple decided to pose for pretty and natural photos, which made them feel like themselves in the photos. Our photographer was more than happy to help them and had a few photos pose ideas that they knew would be perfect for this amazing couple. 

Since the first outfit for the session was bright, our photographer decided to choose an open space, where both of them could pose for some amazing photos. The space was open, with green grass peppered with yellow and orange leaves, while trees around them surrounded the space. Right at that moment, the sun took a slight dip behind the clouds, giving our photographer a perfectly lit space to take some realistic photos of the couple. Using the slightly shaded light, natural light, our photographer took some mesmerizing photos of the two. Without even trying, Kristie and Patrick looked like they were ready and were already posing in pretty romantic poses for the photos. Our photographer was happy to see that these two were comfortable in front of the camera. Settling on a space with open ground and trees in the background, our photographer directed a few poses that helped the couple also pose their furry friend for the photos. One of our favorites is the one where their four-legged friend is looking directly at our photographer while Kristie and Patrick lean into each other to steal a soft and quick kiss. Another favorite engagement photo from the session is the one where these two are standing next to each other, and their four-legged furry pal is sitting next to them. The reason why we love that photo of Kristie and Patrick is simple, all three of them looked like they belonged together. Looking at their photos made our hearts sing with happiness. 

Then, the couple decided to walk around, looking for more photo spots. The couple reminisced over their older memories and how much fun they’d had here in the past. Our photographer spotted a beautiful spot with slabs of rocks in the background. Suggesting that this spot will be a great place to take photos, our lovely couple for the day was not only excited but was also filled with photo pose ideas. Using the last spot, the couple decided to pose for impressive romantic photos in front of the rocks and slabs of rocks. Smiling and giggling, Kristie and Patrick were easy-going and were quick to change poses. Absolutely happy in each other’s company, they were not shy to show their love for each other. Softly pulling each other close, holding hands, and stealing glances, their photos turned out amazingly well. Some of our favorite photos from this spot was the cute one where Kristie was softly touching Patrick’s face as she was talking about something. Another one of our favorite ones is the one that was caught in motion. As the couple had been posing for a photo, a slight breeze brought a few strands out, and Patrick softly, forgetting about our photographer there, tucked it behind her ear! In that photo, we can clearly see how in love these two are with each other. 

Once done, for the second leg of their photo session, the couple changed into a new pair of outfits. This set of outfits was also casual, which was perfect for the couple. This time around, unlike the first outfit idea, which was pretty and bright, Kristie and Patrick had something darker in mind. Patrick had a deep green-charcoal t-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. To match the tonality of her fiance’s engagement photo shoot outfit, Kristie put on a pretty light blue-light green dress with patterns on it. For this round of photos, the couple knew exactly where they wanted to take photos. Instead of roaming around and hunting for photo spots, they walked hand-in-hand to a small pool of water in the park. This was a serene spot. From the moment they stepped into the area of the pool, which was surrounded by large rocks and stacks of rock slabs, the temperature dropped a little, making it exceptionally cool. The soft chill in the air traveled up and down, and the time seemed to still all together as well. Kristie and Patrick had broad smiles on their faces and the excitement of a child in their eyes. It was pretty easy to gauge that this was one of their best spots to hang out. Wasting no time, the couple decided to throw off their shoes and dip their feet in the water. Softly talking and chilling, the couple completely forgot about our engagement photographer, who took this opportunity to quietly take some amazing candid photos. Patrick and Kristie were engrossed in their conversations, as they absent-mindedly played with the water, dipped their feet, and flicked at the water. At this moment the couple looked like two kids who fell in love with each other. For some reason, looking at these fun-loving sides of theirs, we couldn’t help but remember Taylor Swift’s song, Love Story. 

After a while, the couple decided to walk back to their shoes and pose for some photos. Our photographer helped them find the poses that made them look the best. In one of the photos, our photographer helped them use a traditional couple photo pose, which is pretty common, where Patrick stood right behind Kristie, who softly placed her hand on Patrick’s cheek. In the same position, she leaned in to kiss him. After that, our photographer helped them pose for natural-looking photos. Our photographer asked them to sit down and have a conversation with each other and smile and then took photos. And the best part about this is, even when our couple was just relaxing, our photographer managed to take brilliant photos of the two. And just like that, the day of the outdoor photo session for Kristie and Patrick was coming to a close. Our photographer, with a big smile, wished them luck for the upcoming wedding day and made their way back. To us, this photo session was supremely unique not only because of the photo session poses but also because of the pretty outfits, the casual charm the couple exuded, and because of how comfortable and in love they were with each other. When we look at them, all we can remember is a quote by Rupi Kaur, which goes something like, “Love does not look like a person, love is our actions, love is giving all we can.”