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.
Connor - Class of 2022 | Fleetwood Senior Portrait Session | Berks County Family Photographer
Connor is a member of Fleetwood High School’s Class of 2022, and the son of another talented Berks County photographer! His passions include music, fashion, his beloved Subaru WRX… and his family. It was such a pleasure meeting up with him for a golden hour photoshoot in his hometown of Fleetwood this past fall. Best of luck on your future adventures, Connor! I know your family is incredibly proud of you.
The Mauro Sisters | Wyomissing Fall Family Portrait Session | Berks County Pennsylvania Photographer
Next up on the blog is one of my favorite local families. Technically this year it was just the sisters participating, but I know it took a family effort to make it happen! (And I think their mom deserves an award for finding the absolute best outfits for each session!!) Due to the early sunset time and typical crazy fall schedules (x3 with these talented, involved girls), we had less than 30 minutes to make magic together. With their personalities and boundless energy, I had no doubt we would be successful. Looking back, I definitely think we nailed it. We started at a tiny field near Blue Marsh Lake that had the perfect pops of fall color left on the trees, and then finished up at one of my favorite spots on the Penn State Berks campus. Thanks again for trusting me with your portraits, Mauro Family! And thank you for the smiles and laughs, as usual. I hope you all have the most incredible 2022.
Katelyn | Class of 2021 | Pennsylvania High School Senior Portrait Photographer
Spring has officially arrived, and Mother Nature’s colors are starting to appear. All this sunshine and warm weather has me reminiscing about my senior portrait sessions over the past few months. I think the arrival of new life each spring is so symbolic as it relates to high school seniors eagerly anticipating graduation - a new season not only for the year, but for their lives. It’s a chance to continue on a journey they have carefully mapped out, or to gain clarity if their path is still unknown. It’s full of anticipation and excitement over what is still to come, mixed with bittersweet feelings of saying farewell to familiar people and places - even if just temporarily.
I photographed so many amazing seniors this year. Every session left me feeling inspired and excited for these incredible students and their families. It really does take a village to raise a child, and I hope everyone takes a moment to celebrate the young adults in their lives who they have supported over the years. Graduation really is the culmination of a team effort.
Today, I want to recognize Katelyn. She is a member of Wilson High School’s Class of 2021. I had such a wonderful time creating these images with her in one of my favorite spots. She has such a gentle and kind soul, and is destined for some pretty amazing things. I know it. Congratulations, Katelyn!
P.S. My schedule is almost full, but I do have a few weekday openings if your high school or college senior wants some personalized photographs to capture this time in their lives!
Jim + Kate | Intimate Shillington Backyard Summer Wedding | Berks County Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer
I’ve been trying to develop more of a “make lemonade out of lemons” mindset this year. In my opinion, if there is one positive thing to come out of the wedding industry during this pandemic, it is the uptick in intimate backyard weddings that have been taking place. Even though I love wedding celebrations of all varieties and sizes, there’s just something extra special about smaller, cozy affairs - like this one. Smaller weddings have proven to provide just as many (if not more) emotional, candid moments as larger-scale events. What made this wedding even more special is that fact that the bride is one of my daughter’s favorite teachers!
While many couples are making the difficult decision to postpone their weddings these days, Jim and Kate actually moved theirs up a little bit. Fortunately for all of us, their celebration took place the same weekend that our Pennsylvania county loosened the restrictions on gatherings. (Ironically, their engagement session was my last session before the Covid stay-at-home orders were issued, and their wedding was my first to take place after the orders were lifted!) On this beautiful June Sunday, Jim and Kate’s closest family and friends gathered in their yard -and street- to witness their much-anticipated marriage. With a little help from some of their favorite local businesses, Jim and Kate’s wedding day vision went off without any hiccups. Even Mother Nature cooperated, and we were gifted the most amazing sunshine and blue skies!
Here are a few of my favorite photos of their celebration. Congratulations again, Stuckert-Rennix Family! It was such a joy to celebrate with all of you.
(But first, thank you to all of these vendors who worked together behind the scenes to make Jim and Kate’s wedding day absolutely perfect!)
Photographer: Carrie Kizuka Photography
Florist: Royer’s in Shillington
Cake: Unique Desserts Chef by Anne-Louise
Ice Cream Truck: Sweet Ride Ice Cream
Table, Tent, and Chair Rentals: Wolfe’s Rental
Boxed Lunches: Panera
Dress: BHLDN
Suits: Menguin
The Pridie Family | Outdoor Fall Family Portrait Session | Berks County Pennsylvania Photographer
This is the time of year when I get a lot of requests from potential clients for “just one quick photo for their holiday card.” I’m going to let you in on a secret - I’m not a fan of mini sessions. Yes, sometimes I cave in to peer pressure and offer them, but I try to avoid doing them except for very isolated occasions. (Like when Santa stopped by my studio a few weeks ago, because I wanted to give as many clients as possible the chance to hang out with Mr. Jolly himself!)
The real reason why I try to avoid scheduling mini sessions, especially around the holidays, is because I don’t want my clients to miss out on opportunities to unplug and temporarily forget about all of life’s distractions, and to just exist in photographs - and moments - with their loved ones. My photoshoots give them a chance to do that, so I want the experience to last longer than 10 minutes. My portrait sessions typically last between 45 and 90 minutes in length. During this time, I explore the chosen venue with my clients, as I try my best to capture them being themselves. Sometimes those interactions happen naturally, sometimes they require some prompting. I always have tricks up my sleeve to bring out the best (and most authentic) expressions and interactions in my clients. And being able to capture that amount of incredible, real moments during a full session outweighs the convenience of a rushed mini session, 100% of the time. During a mini session, parents often feel rushed and stressed, kids often feel rushed and stressed, heck… even the pets feel rushed and stressed - and all of that makes me feel sad. All of that anxiety gets thrown out the window when we have extra time to relax and to just “be.” I want you to look back on your photos with fond memories of the time we spent creating them together.
Another advantage of scheduling one session per morning and one per evening is that all of my clients are scheduled during the best light of the day - not just the lucky one who happens to snag that mini session timeslot on that given day. (You’ll see what I mean when you get to the images I’m sharing!)
My photoshoots don’t just involve asking my clients to stand (or sit) and smile at the camera in unison. They are so much more than that. As a very busy wife, mother of three, recent Ph.D. graduate, business owner, and consultant, I know how hard it is to find a date and time when everyone is available. And on top of that, trying to perfectly coordinate outfits provides a completely different set of challenges and stressors (for most of us, at least). So, it is my hope and ultimate goal to capitalize on the valuable time you have chiseled out of your schedule to spend with me, and to provide you with the best photographs - and memories - that I am able to during our time together.
So, if you are looking for a photographer who will “take just one photo for your holiday card” at a super-discounted price, that’s not me. I value my time, and I value yours, and I schedule (and price) myself accordingly. If you are looking for a photographer who will take the time to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera, and who will provide you with not just images, but also memories of time spent laughing and smiling and hugging and playing together, then I’m your girl.
In conclusion, I will leave you with the original reason for this post - some images from one of my recent “non-mini” sessions with the Pridie Family. Their session took place at a friend’s private property in Oley, and it was the perfect spot for them to stretch their legs, open up their arms, and chase that Golden Hour sun. Thank you, Pridie Family, for giving me the honor of freezing time for your family on that chilly afternoon! And, thank you to all of my clients (like these) who continue to trust me and my artistic vision. I am so grateful for you. These sessions fill my heart so much more than you know. I hope to see even more of you in front of my camera next year! (P.S. If this was a mini-session, about 3/4 of these images would not have been possible due to the time restriction placed on the session. I can’t decide which images I would eliminate - can you??)
The Roccamanta Family | A Berks County Newborn Session | Pennsylvania Family Photographer
This summer, I got to know Kristen and Maxx a lot better during their incredible maternity session. We spent a few hours together, starting out in my Shillington studio and ending in downtown West Reading. (Click here to see it.) It is one of my absolute favorite sessions ever - we had great locations, wonderful weather, and amazing light on our sides… but what made the session perfect was Kristen and Maxx’s incredible love for each other. Seriously, I don’t think it’s possible to take a bad portrait of the two of them together! I really treasured the time we spent together chatting about life and their excitement to meet their little miracle baby.
Well, a few weeks ago, their daughter Marley made her grand entrance earthside, and I had the pleasure of photographing her in my studio. Kristen, Maxx, Marley, and Kristen’s mom Eileen ventured over to my studio for a few hours, and it was such a fabulous reunion! It’s so hard for me to find the words to describe the love they have for this little girl, and their excitement to be on this lifelong adventure called parenthood. So, I’m going to let the photos speak for themselves.
Thank you again for this honor, Roccamanta Family. I’m happy to call you clients - but so appreciative to call you friends.
Congratulations, and welcome, Marley!
The Maria Family | Studio Newborn Session | Berks County Pennsylvania Family Photographer
Waaaaay back around Christmas time, I photographed the Marias, shortly after they welcomed their son Donato into their family. Jimmy is one of my favorite local tattoo artists, an incredible painter, and a fellow GoggleWorks studio renter. I was honored when he asked me to capture these images for their family. You can tell by looking at these images how in love Jimmy and Abby are with each other, and with their handsome little boy. (You can also tell by looking at these images how long ago this session took place, and how bad I have been about blogging the past few months…)
Thanks again for the visit, Maria family!
Macy + Merlin | Reading Museum Engagement Session | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer
Next up on the blog-catch-up marathon are Macy and Merlin! We met up at the Reading Museum for their engagement session this past fall - you can tell by their outfits that this photoshoot didn’t take place recently! This is another session that fell victim to my crazy fall photography and dissertation schedule and was skipped over on my blog - until now!
Macy and Merlin are getting married this coming November, and I am so excited to be able to celebrate with them! They were so relaxed during their session, and so easy to work with. They were also incredibly fun - and even more in love - which is going to make for fantastic wedding day photos! I’m so honored to be the one capturing their love story for them, and I hope you enjoy these photos from their engagement session.
Patsy + Michael | Heritage Center, Gring's Mill Maternity Session | Pennsylvania Portrait Photographer
I met up with Patsy and Michael at the Red Covered Bridge (aka Gring’s Mill, aka Heritage Center) last Sunday for their long-awaited maternity session! (If you follow my blog, you may recognize them from their Alvernia University/Heidelberg Country Club wedding photos here.) I was so excited when they reached out to me and asked me to capture this wonderful time in their lives, and was looking forward to seeing them again.
Mother Nature attempted to throw a wrench in our plans, however, as we were receiving thunderstorm warnings throughout the day - for right about the time our photoshoot was supposed to take place.
We decided to move forward with our plans to hold the session anyway, and I am so glad that we did! The weather was on the warmer side, but we had the park practically to ourselves. The light was fabulous, and we finished the photoshoot just as the thunder began rumbling and the first drops of rain started to fall.
Here are a few of my favorite photos from our time together. It was so hard to choose just a few! Patsy has impeccable taste in fashion. She was absolutely stunning, and I know this is going to be one well-dressed - and very loved - baby! Congrats again, Patsy and Michael!!
Mika + Zach | Wilson High School Prom | Wyomissing, West Reading Pennsylvania Portrait Photographer
It’s prom season around here, and Wilson High School had its prom last night. It is rare that Mika agrees to step in front of my camera, so I had to capitalize on this opportunity to photograph her and Zach - even though I had only a small window of time to capture these images before I had to leave to photograph a Bar Mitzvah outside Philadelphia. I was determined to make it all work somehow!
Mika and Zach are creative and fun, like doing their own thing, and prefer to avoid crowds. We are very similar in those ways! Last year, they decided to have their prom portraits captured at Stoudtburg Village - and we lucked out and were the only ones there. (You can see those photos by clicking here.) This year, they wanted to use West Reading as their backdrop, specifically the murals. I was game! So, while everyone else attending Berks County proms was fighting crowds at the Reading Museum, Wyomissing Park, and Grings Mill, we had downtown West Reading all to ourselves! Those other places are lovely, and I photograph there often - but I’m impatient and don’t like waiting for my favorite portrait spots on prom day. I also don’t like having hundreds of other people in the backgrounds of my photos. And, as a couple, I think it’s nice just to be able to spread out a little bit and be yourselves during your portrait time.
When we met up in West Reading, we lucked out with both the weather and the crowds - we had great light, no rain, and no competing prom couples. Mika and Zach looked absolutely amazing! Thank you to Iron Roots Hair Salon for fitting in Mika’s makeup and hair that afternoon. (She went there directly after taking the SATs! It was quite a busy day!) Mika has only worn makeup twice in her life - and the first time was for prom last year. They do a fantastic job of bringing out Mika’s natural inner beauty. You may notice that Mika was wearing her Crocs (aka “snowboard tuning shoes) in some of her photos. She’s all about comfort - and I can’t say I blame her - but the “fancy” prom shoes did find their way onto her feet before prom started.
I hope you enjoy this selection of some of my favorite images. Mika is currently a junior at Wilson, and Zach is a freshman at West Chester. One more prom for Mika, then I think we have a few years off until it’s our youngest daughter’s turn…
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.
Owen's 6-Month Photoshoot | Milk Bath Session (with Cookies!) | Berks County Pennsylvania Children's Photographer
A few weeks ago, I had the absolute pleasure of capturing Owen’s 6-month milestone portraits. His big brother, Gavin, came along and posed for a few photos as well. I can tell that these two are going to be the most amazing friends as they grow up together. The grand finale was a milk bath, complete with Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookie cereal!
This was one of my favorite (and messiest) sessions to date, and I can’t wait to get these guys in front of my camera again. I have had the honor of not only teaching their momma in my high school math class back in the day, but also photographing their mommy and daddy’s wedding and Owen’s newborn session!
I hope you enjoy this selection of photos from our time together in my studio!
Olivia's One Year Cake Smash | Berks County Pennsylvania Family Photographer
I cut back on non-wedding sessions for a few months while I worked on finishing my PhD. As a result, there are a few sessions that I photographed but never blogged. Now that I’m nearing the end of my dissertation work (Yippee!!), I wanted to share a few of the sessions that I photographed but never had a chance to blog.
Here are a few of my favorites from Olivia’s one year cake smash session. Olivia wasn’t really a fan of cake that day, but we still managed to create a few adorable images together. Big thanks to Kakes by Kim for creating another stunning (and delicious) cake masterpiece for us!
One thing is for sure - Olivia’s big sister LOVED the cake!! ;)
Deciduous Life | Clothing Brand Commercial Shoot | Pennsylvania Photographer
I recently created a few images for my friends over at Deciduous Life. Click here to get your hands on some of this merchandise, as well as other awesome stuff.
Violet | Berks County Lifestyle Newborn Session | Pennsylvania Family Photographer
My next catch-up blog is of sweet little Violet. This family is near and dear to my heart, and I was so happy to be able to capture these portraits for them while Violet and her mama were in town visiting Violet’s grandma. I love how relaxed and authentic lifestyle newborn sessions are. They focus on the bond between baby and family, and I think this session demonstrates just that.
I hope you enjoy this selection of photos from Violet’s newborn photoshoot (even though she was actually about 1 month old here). ;)
Kirstie + Troy | Snowy Blue Marsh Lake Maternity Session | Berks County Family Photographer
Kirstie reached out to me a few months ago, wanting to book a snowy maternity session to celebrate her and Troy's growing family. This session was originally supposed to take place on a day when there was no snow to be found, and the only signs of winter were the high winds and below freezing temperatures. It would have been a brutal day to hold an outdoor photoshoot. So, we decided to take our chances and reschedule for two weeks later. Luckily, Mother Nature delivered snow a few days before our session, and the temperatures were cold enough all week that the snow actually stuck around for a while. We met up at Blue Marsh Lake, and the weather was perfect on that particular afternoon - we were gifted with reasonable temperatures, zero winds, and amazing golden hour light. Kirstie was absolutely stunning, rocking her maternity glow! (Troy was a great sport throughout it all as well!) I’m still in awe of Kirstie’s ability to change her outfit mid-session in a pickup truck and hike through the snow in her fashionable shoes! (I think she’s a ninja in disguise.) They are going to be the most amazing parents to this lucky little girl!! I’m so honored that they asked me to capture this wonderful time in their lives. I had so much fun creating these images with them, and am thankful that my husband agreed to come along and assist us that afternoon.
I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into their photoshoot.
Olivia + Paul | Intimate Stirling Mansion Wedding | Reading, Pennsylvania Photographer
Last week, Olivia and Paul got married in an intimate self-uniting wedding ceremony. Their celebration took place at the incredible Stirling Guest Hotel, located in Reading, Pennsylvania. This mansion has so much personality and charm, and I love love love photographing events there! I was honored to document Paul and Olivia’s Day #1 as husband and wife, and I can’t think of a better way to start off my 2019 wedding season. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Marten!
(Olivia, you ROCKED those wedding socks and sneakers!!)
Patsy + Michael | Alvernia University + Heidelberg Country Club | Berks County Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer
I met Patsy and Michael at a wedding that I photographed last summer. I was thrilled when Michael contacted me a few weeks later, asking me if I was available to photograph his own upcoming wedding! When I met him and Patsy at my studio to discuss their wedding day in person, I knew we were going to make a great team.
I wasn’t wrong!
Their wedding day was overflowing with excitement, energy, and LOVE! Their decorations (many of them DIY) were so colorful and full of textures - it was truly a photographer’s dream. Their wedding day vibe was an amalgamation of tradition and romance, with a touch of rustic shabby chic thrown in for good measure.
I began my day photographing the final bridal preparations that took place at Patsy’s home. (I was supposed to begin at the guys’ hotel - but that’s a story for another day. A wedding just isn’t a wedding without some last minute chaos - and believe me, we had it! Luckily, I’m great at going with the flow…)
Next, I headed to the Sacred Heart Chapel to photograph their traditional Catholic ceremony. The chapel is located on Alvernia University’s campus, and is absolutely breathtaking inside! Their ceremony was beautiful, and included mariachi music, readings, prayers, the vow exchange, the bringing of gifts, blessings, and communion - and then Michael and Patsy were officially pronounced husband and wife!
We spent some time taking bridal party portraits around the Alvernia University campus, and then boarded the trolley to head to the reception. The reception took place at the Heidelberg Country Club. Once we arrived, we took a few more photos around the trolley, and then noticed that we were in a race with Mother Nature. We finished our final bride and groom portraits seconds before the skies opened up and poured down rain.
At the reception, Michael and Patsy wowed us all with a choreographed first dance. Afterwards, many of their guests joined them on the dance floor as they celebrated their Day #1 as a married couple. Patsy and Michael went all out, adding their personal touches to their wedding ceremony and reception. It really was a beautiful day, and was perfectly reflective of their love for each other.
Here are a few of my favorite images from their wedding day. I hope you enjoy them!
Big thanks to the following people (among others) who helped make Patsy and Michael’s dream wedding day a reality:
Florist: Mary, Sycamore Springs
Cake Artist: Mother of the groom, Lizzette Rodriguez
DJ: Billy, friend of the family
Photographer: Carrie Kizuka
Second Photographer: Adam Naples
Band: Mariachi Flores
Hair Artist: Vanessa New
Wedding Dress Boutique: Pocadiz Bridal (Aime Couture and Pollardi Fashion Group)
Bridesmaid Dresses Boutique: Pocadiz Bridal (Jovani Fashion and Faviana)
Groom’s Suit Boutique: Pocadiz Bridal, Jim’s Formal
Groomsmen’s Suits Boutique: Pocadiz Bridal, Jim’s Formal
Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart Chapel, Reading, Pennsylvania
Reception Venue: Heidelberg Country Club