Bella | Wilson High School Class of 2022 | Berks County Pennsylvania Senior Portrait Photographer
Bella and I met up at the Reading Public Museum last week for her senior portrait session. (Her original session date ended up being 40 degrees and super windy, so we decided to reschedule. I’m so glad we did - this particular afternoon was absolutely perfect!!!) Bella is a member of Wilson High School’s Class of 2022, and she is off to Pitt in the fall! I had such a fantastic time strolling around the park with her this evening, chatting about her future plans and snapping photos in the stunning golden hour light. Here are some of my favorite portraits that we created. Congratulations, Bella and family! Best wishes on your next adventures, and thank you for trusting me to celebrate this milestone with you.
Nicole + Stephen | Intimate Backyard Summer Wedding | Reading, Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer
Nicole and Stephen got married in an intimate outdoor wedding ceremony during the hottest hour on the hottest day of 2019 (so far), and I was thrilled to be there to celebrate (and sweat) with them! I have documented so many intimate wedding ceremonies this year - and let me tell you… I love them! I enjoy capturing all types of wedding celebrations, but there is just something extra special about small, intimate ceremonies. Although I personally thrive in chaotic environments, it’s so nice to be able to relax a bit while documenting smaller, laid back celebrations. Smaller weddings still deliver an abundance of emotional moments!
Thank you for trusting me to capture these memories for you and your loved ones, Nicole and Stephen! Here are a few of my favorite images from their celebration that took place on family property in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Evelisse + Dustin | Stokesay Castle Engagement Photoshoot | Berks County Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer
A few weeks ago, I had the absolute joy of photographing Evelisse (Evy) and Dustin at the Stokesay Castle. Evy and Dustin were gifted an engagement photoshoot, courtesy of Evy’s mom, and the management at Stokesay was kind enough to allow us early morning access to the castle grounds. The temps were cold and the winds were high that morning, but Evy and Dustin were troopers and rolled with it. They were so much fun, had the best attitudes, and were such a pleasure to photograph. All three of us were smiling the entire morning - while we were shivering. ;)
Huge thanks to the Stokesay staff for allowing us to photograph there, and congrats again to Evy and Dustin! Here are a few of my favorite photos from our chilly morning together.
Jes + Chris + Ronan, Part 1 | Kula Kamala Ashram Wedding | Reading, Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer
Jes and Chris exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony at the Kula Kamala Ashram in Reading, Pennsylvania. They got married on Earth Day, which is pretty appropriate considering how prominent nature and spirituality are in their lives. This was my first time visiting the ashram, and as soon as I stepped inside I fell in love with the colors, the smells, and the overall sense of calm that existed there. This was the perfect place for Jes and Chris to be wed in the presence of their loved ones - including Jes' son Ronan who played an important role in their celebration.
Their decorations were simple yet beautiful, and created a romantic backdrop for their very personalized celebration. Because the reception was taking place inside the ashram, strict rules had to be followed regarding the ingredients and preparation of the food. In addition, no alcohol was to be served. That didn't have any impact on the celebration, though, and I witnessed some of the best dance moves I have ever seen.
Mother Nature decided to bless them with ample amounts of luck (i.e. rain) on their wedding day, so our outdoor portraits were kept to a minimum. These were rescheduled for another day, which is shared in Part 2 of their blog post.
Without any further delay, here is a selection of photos from their wedding day. Congratulations, Jes, Chris, and Ronan!
Big thanks to the following team of people for working together to pull off this amazing wedding celebration:
Photographer: Carrie Kizuka Photography, LLC
Videographer: Brian DiRenzo, Artistic Hands
Venue: Kula Kamala Ashram
Florist: The Rustic Bunch
Cake Artist: Amanda Blake, Savory LLC
DJ: Greg Nyce
Hair Artist: Iris, Salon EveLeila
Makeup Artist: Alisha, Alisha's Spa Euphoria
Wedding Dress Boutique: Adrianna Papell, Macy's
Groom's Tuxedo: Men's Warehouse
Officiant: Sudha Allitt, Ashram Co-Founder
Henna Artist: Yenna Hill
Harmonium Player: Charles Feenstra
Readers: Sam Watson, Felicia Walk
"Lord of the Rings": Ronan Ayres
Marty's Baptism | Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church | Berks County Pennsylvania Family Photographer
Marty was recently baptized at the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, PA. This was the second Greek Orthodox baptism I have observed, and it was just as beautiful to witness as the first one. (The first one happened to be Marty's sister's baptism. You can view those images here.) I was honored when Marty's family asked me to photograph his baptism just a little over a year after I photographed his sister Annabella's ceremony. His baptism date was very close to his first birthday, so we were celebrating that milestone on this day as well.
After the ceremony, the celebration continued at Dan's Restaurant in Green Hills. The food at Dan's is always incredible, and the baptism and birthday cakes they had ordered were absolutely amazing! Just like last time, care was taken to celebrate all of the children and loved ones in attendance.
Here is a small selection of photos from Marty's baptism and luncheon. Thank you again to this wonderful family.
Jill + Steve | Reading Museum Couple's Session | Wyomissing Pennsylvania Portrait Photographer
The majority of my time is spent photographing engaged couples and their wedding celebrations. It's not often that I get couples in front of my camera that have been happily married for years. My time spent hanging out with Jill and Steve at the Reading Museum a few weeks ago showed me that I need more of these sessions in my life.
Jill is a fellow photographer, so my anxiety was a little higher than usual at the beginning of our session. (I always get nervous before a session - it's just how I am wired.) I brought my husband along to assist that evening, because he's known Jill and Steve for a while and I knew we would make a great team. As soon as our session started, my nerves dissipated. The four of us had amazing chemistry together - sparked by our mutual love of snowboarding, and solidified by our light-hearted silliness.
The entire session, Jill and Steve looked at each other as if they were newlyweds. Their love is palpable and inspiring. Everyone needs a couple like Jill and Steve in their lives to remind them that true love is real and possible. This may sound cheesy, but I really am a better person after spending time interacting with them at our photoshoot. If you know Jill and Steve, I'm sure you understand.
Jill and Steve, thank you for asking me to capture these moments for you. I had such a great time, and I'm looking forward to making more memories together (both off and on the snow)!
The Jines Family | Christmas Mini Sessions | Reading, Pennsylvania GoggleWorks Studio Photographer
I know with Halloween still a few weeks away, it's a bit early to start thinking about winter and Christmas. The weather finally started cooling off to fall temperatures over the past few days, and where I live many of the leaves haven't even started changing colors yet. However, due to a booked fall calendar, I had to offer my Christmas mini sessions a bit earlier than usual this year. All of my sessions sold out for this past Sunday, and both repeat clients and new clients came to visit me from near and far. (Some families were local, and some drove all the way out from the Harrisburg and Philadelphia areas!) I had six different backdrops to choose from, and each of my sessions turned out great! All of the kids were so much fun to work with - I even had to dodge snow balls that made their way right to my camera lens! (These kids had great aim!)
I'm so thankful for my clients who made the time to drive out and visit me at my GoggleWorks studio in Reading yesterday. It was such a pleasure photographing your children and spending time with your families. I hope you enjoy these previews from your session.
If anyone else wants to get in on the action, I still have some openings for my mini sessions being held on Friday, November 3rd! Click here for more information or to book: http://carriekizukaphotographyllc.bigcartel.com/product/winter-christmas-studio-mini-sessions
Up now - the Jines Family! I had the honor of capturing some lifestyle photos for them in their home outside of Philadelphia after Charlotte was born earlier this year, and I was thrilled when they signed up for a Christmas mini session! Charlotte has grown so much since I last saw her, and she is developing quite an amazing personality! She was my last client of the day, and I haven't stopped smiling since. I hope you enjoy these fun previews as much as I do!
The Pittman Brothers | Christmas Mini Sessions | Reading, Pennsylvania GoggleWorks Studio Photographer
I know with Halloween still a few weeks away, it's a bit early to start thinking about winter and Christmas. The weather finally started cooling off to fall temperatures over the past few days, and where I live many of the leaves haven't even started changing colors yet. However, due to a booked fall calendar, I had to offer my Christmas mini sessions a bit earlier than usual this year. All of my sessions sold out for this past Sunday, and both repeat clients and new clients came to visit me from near and far. (Some families were local, and some drove all the way out from the Harrisburg and Philadelphia areas!) I had six different backdrops to choose from, and each of my sessions turned out great! All of the kids were so much fun to work with - I even had to dodge snow balls that made their way right to my camera lens! (These kids had great aim!)
I'm so thankful for my clients who made the time to drive out and visit me at my GoggleWorks studio in Reading yesterday. It was such a pleasure photographing your children and spending time with your families. I hope you enjoy these previews from your session.
If anyone else wants to get in on the action, I still have some openings for my mini sessions being held on Friday, November 3rd! Click here for more information or to book: http://carriekizukaphotographyllc.bigcartel.com/product/winter-christmas-studio-mini-sessions
Up now - the Pittman brothers! This family was one of my first clients when I just started offering photography services, and I have had the honor of watching these two awesome little men grow up in front of my lens! They are always so full of energy and joy, and I'm already looking forward to our next session together, whenever that may be. Thank you so much for stopping by!
The Bowman Grandkids | Christmas Mini Sessions | Reading, Pennsylvania GoggleWorks Studio Photographer
I know with Halloween still a few weeks away, it's a bit early to start thinking about winter and Christmas. The weather finally started cooling off to fall temperatures over the past few days, and where I live many of the leaves haven't even started changing colors yet. However, due to a booked fall calendar, I had to offer my Christmas mini sessions a bit earlier than usual this year. All of my sessions sold out for this past Sunday, and both repeat clients and new clients came to visit me from near and far. (Some families were local, and some drove all the way out from the Harrisburg and Philadelphia areas!) I had six different backdrops to choose from, and each of my sessions turned out great! All of the kids were so much fun to work with - I even had to dodge snow balls that made their way right to my camera lens! (These kids had great aim!)
I'm so thankful for my clients who made the time to drive out and visit me at my GoggleWorks studio in Reading yesterday. It was such a pleasure photographing your children and spending time with your families. I hope you enjoy these previews from your session.
If anyone else wants to get in on the action, I still have some openings for my mini sessions being held on Friday, November 3rd! Click here for more information or to book: http://carriekizukaphotographyllc.bigcartel.com/product/winter-christmas-studio-mini-sessions
Up now - the Bowman grandkids! Their grandma reached out to me a few days ago because the planets were aligned and they all happened to be in town at the same time I was offering my mini sessions! I'm so glad they were able to find the time to stop by my studio for some photographs!
