Shell Bailey Photography » Weddings

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers: Wendi & Tom

Shell — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 19:43:45 +0000

This one was my last wedding of 2012… Wendi and Tom asked me cover their beautiful ceremony at St. Therese of Lisieux in Munhall, PA. It’s such a joy to photograph small weddings like this. Wishing Wendi & Tom the best & many happy years to come. :)

Pittsburgh Wedding | Kelsey & Evan

Shell — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 01:46:18 +0000

Kelsey and Evan were married on a beautiful fall day at St Vincent College’s Basilica. After the ceremony, we snuck into their gardens and finally, the yellow stacks of the college library for a couple amazing portraits. (Much to the bafflement of the assistant librarian, suddenly confronted with an entire bridal party!) If I wasn’t a photographer, I would probably be a librarian, so that crossed off one of the lines on my list of dream portraits. :D

So many details that I loved- the excitement that comes with putting on the wedding dress, the parents’ teary eyes, the excitement of all of their friends, and the way everyone at that wedding was invested in Kelsey and Evan and their shared love. It’s a beautiful thing to see, and the best kind of celebration.

[featured-img]

Sneak Peek | Kelsey & Evan

Shell — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:03:11 +0000

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers | Virginia & Chris

Shell — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 03:11:19 +0000

There are so many things I could say to describe this wedding. I could say that when we first met, Virginia and Chris told me to expect hot rods and moonshine. Or that when the limo broke down, the entire bridal party came together to make sure that everyone got where they needed to be without a hitch. But I think the best thing I can say is that there were more props, more schtick, and more ongoing jokes at this wedding then I think I’ve ever seen. It was pretty fantastic. The priest’s popstar glasses, the epic first dance that was eight minutes long and choreographed with props. Virginia & Chris brought that crazy, exuberant joy to every part of the wedding, and it doesn’t get much better than that. Loved it.

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers | Chris & Molly

Shell — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 22:07:39 +0000

This wedding was spectacularly fun. I’ve said before how great Chris and Molly are to work with, and I knew their wedding was going to be something to look forward to. Still, some things just blow your expectations out of the water.

General silliness & good sesnses of humor, taking over a small local playground for bridal party pictures, Irish pub songs during the cocktail hour, hysterical toasts, late-night munchies (I can’t tell you how good of an idea this is) and finally ending with a one of the best last calls/rendition of Piano Man I have ever seen- it was a fantastic party, from beginning to end. So glad we were there to capture it. :)

Pittsburgh Backyard Wedding | Brad & Maggie

Shell — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:36:33 +0000

I think my favorite thing about shooting weddings is how widely varied they are. It’s such a deeply personal representation of the celebration and the things that are important to the couple. From the large, traditional, white dress weddings to a small, intimate dinner party with closest friends and family- no matter the type, I always feel like I have been invited into something very special.

Brad and Maggie had that dinner party. A private ceremony, and their closest friends and family assembled at a banquet table on their back porch, with good food and wine and laughter. It was simple and joyous and beautiful.

Pittsburgh Backyard Wedding Preview | Maggie & Brad

Shell — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 21:43:49 +0000

Love love love these intimate weddings… more to come soon. :)

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography | Handcrafted Wedding Albums

Shell — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:03:33 +0000

I am delighted to finally show off my new sample albums! They arrived this week and I couldn’t be more thrilled with them. These are beautifully handcrafted flush- mount albums. They have lovely thick pages, lay open down the middle so that images can go across both pages, and the printed images are amazingly clear and beautiful. (Put it this way: I am used to seeing my work in print in all sizes, and even I am impressed with the print quality.)

If there is one thing I think is undervalued in the wedding industry right now, it’s albums. I completely believe in being able to have the digital files from your wedding- it was one of my priorities when I was looking for a photographer, too. But as valuable as they are, digital images simply aren’t a replacement for holding the photographs in your hand. I’m curious if past brides would know offhand where they stored their images on their computers, if I asked them. Or if they’d made backup copies, in case the computer or USB fails. Or if they have printed even half of the prints that they had wanted to- I’m a photographer and I can never seem to remember to make personal prints for myself. Believe me, I understand.

In comparison, having these books- heavy, substantial, bound well and printed beautifully- is such a great reminder. You can’t pick one of these up without being drawn to look through it, and the memories it holds are invaluable.

A few notes about the design process, and what’s pictured below. There are two cover options for the books: Japanese silk with a cameo image (shown below in aqua), or leather with embossed names (shown in bitterwsweet nabuk.) I love them both- the silk looks modern and fresh and the leather is plush and gorgeous. I custom design each album to tell show the narrative of the wedding day- it features about 75-100 images, and they are very carefully chosen to show the ambiance & the moments & the emotions and capture the true feeling of the day from beginning to end.

If you’re considering whether or not to invest in a wedding album, I will be bringing these to all of my consultations, and holding them in your hands makes a surprising amount of difference. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to see them in person.

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers | Year in Review

Shell — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:06:47 +0000

I know things have been quiet here lately! I have been designing albums and spending too much time on Pinterest and generally enjoying hibernating through the winter. I’ve enjoyed the quiet while it has lasted, but now I’m ready to kick back into gear.

This is an exciting time of the year, when I get to talk to so many couples who are just beginning their wedding planning, and who have so many things to look forward to. I love meeting new couples and hearing their stories. I do still have 2012 dates available and am booking for 2013, so if you’re newly engaged and planning your wedding, please get in touch!

But before I started posting new work, I wanted to share some of my favorite photos from the past year, both from my personal work and from my weddings and portraits. :) 2011 was pretty fantastic and I am so looking forward to what this year has in store.

Omni William Penn Wedding: Chrissy and John

Shell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:11:38 +0000

This was my last wedding for 2011! Chrissy and John got married at a lovely Friday night ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh and had their reception at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

Friday weddings can be hectic, especially whenever you have to plan it from several states away and everyone has to fly in. People can be late and details can be lost and, let’s be honest, weddings are fun, but they can also be pretty stressful sometimes. But no matter what was happening, Chrissy and John were so focused on each other. Throughout the day, they took the time to do little things to make each other happy. I know that sounds like a small thing. But sometimes that means changing plans, and sometimes that means putting everything else on hold while you spend time with each other. Witnessing that, and knowing that they chose me to document something that important to them, was humbling and inspiring.