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.

Jenny + Luke | Intimate Wyomissing Backyard Summer Wedding | Berks County Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

—Billy Crystal, from When Harry Met Sally

Anyone who has met Jenny and Luke can confirm that they are some of the most positive, optimistic people alive. Luke and I go way back, our friendship initially forged by our mutual love for snowboarding (and for my husband LOL). I met Jenny last year through Luke, and I was instantly drawn to her gentle nature and kind heart. Regardless of the curveballs life may throw their way, they navigate them fabulously, making every day a new adventure full of love, smiles, laughter, and memories. When they reached out and asked me to photograph their intimate backyard wedding, I agreed without any hesitation. I am a happier person whenever I am in their company, and I felt honored to be the one to capture this chapter of their love story in pictures.

You would never know that they brought their wedding-day vision to life in just a few short weeks, or that a surprise thunderstorm the night before forced them to quickly tear down all of their decorations and then set them up again the morning of their wedding! And they did it all with smiles and lots of love. On July 4th, in the middle of a heatwave, Jenny and Luke exchanged their vows and rings in the company of a handful of their closest loved ones in their beautifully decorated backyard. Then, we headed to the nearby Wyomissing Park for a few photos of just the newlyweds. We returned to their home for some delicious food, cold drinks, and some of the most incredible wedding cake I have ever tasted! (I still can’t believe that their red velvet cake was gluten free - it was sooo good!)

Big thanks and socially-distanced high fives go out to the following vendors who made Jenny and Luke’s wedding vision come to life!

Photographer: Carrie Kizuka Photography

Hair/Make-Up Artists: Iron Roots Salon

Florist: Events by Kelly’s Florist

Wedding Rings: Made Jewelry

Cake: The Cake Pros

Catering: Russo’s Gourmet Foods & Market

Here are a few of my favorite moments from their wedding day. Thanks again, Jenny and Luke! Congratulations!!!

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.

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…

Colleen + Chad (+ Lola) | Reading Museum Engagement Session | Wyomissing, Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

This past weekend, I met up with Colleen and Chad at the Reading Public Museum for their engagement session.  This was our third attempt, due to Mother Nature gifting us with torrential downpours and extreme heat and humidity on our other previous dates.  They brought along their newly adopted puppy, Lola, and I couldn't have been more thrilled!  I love animals, especially dogs, and Lola has just the right amount of sweetness and sass to make anyone's heart melt!

I love how their photos turned out, and I can't wait to photograph their wedding next summer.  I have the most amazing, laid back, fun couples, and I am so thankful for that!  Colleen and Chad patiently navigated through some record-breaking crowds at the museum grounds that evening... including a zombie film-making crew!  In spite of the crowds, zombies, and uninvited gnats, we made so many great photos together.  Scroll down for a few of my favorites!

(Big thanks to my mom for assisting me on this one!  It's an added treat when my own loved ones can be a part of my sessions!)

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.

Amy + John | Wyomissing Park Engagement | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

I met Amy and John a few months ago when we got together over dinner for their wedding consultation.  We immediately hit it off, and I knew we were going to make a great team!  They are about as real as two people can be - my favorite kind of people.  I was thrilled when they officially asked me to be their wedding photographer, because they are incredibly kind and over-the-top fun, and I know their wedding is going to be unique and fabulous in every way! 

Fast forward to October, when we met up at the Wyomissing Park (The Highlands) for their engagement session.  It was everything I thought it would be, and more.  I love how they make each other smile and how they make each other laugh.  Really, I just love how they love each other.  I'm guessing if you have the pleasure of knowing them in person, you already know what I mean.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from our afternoon together.  My face hurts from smiling so hard looking at them all over again!  Congratulations again, Amy and John.  I'm so looking forward to your wedding next fall.

An Extra Special Engagement Session | Wyomissing Park | Berks County Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

Last weekend, I had the honor of photographing Rachel and Mark's engagement session.  I was one of Rachel's high school math teachers more years ago than I care to share, and I was thrilled when she reached out and asked me to be her and Mark's wedding photographer.  I love how my education and photography passions continue to bring and keep amazing people in my life.

We had some extra special guests at this engagement session - Rachel and Mark's son Gavin and pup Venus decided to come along and hop into a few photos!  I'm so glad they decided to get their entire family involved, and I am so looking forward to photographing their wedding in just over one week!!  

Thanks again for this opportunity, and thank you for putting up with the extra-aggressive bugs that afternoon at the Wyomissing Park!  I love how your photos turned out, and I hope you do as well.

See you in a week!

Annabella's Baptism | Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church | Berks County Photographer

Last weekend, Annabella was baptized at the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, PA.  This was the first Greek Orthodox baptism I have observed, and it was such a beautiful ceremony!  There were so many stunning details and traditions to photograph and observe.  I could have spent hours photographing the interior architecture of the church alone!

After the ceremony, the celebration continued at Dan's Restaurant in Green Hills.  The food was incredible, and the decorations were simple yet beautiful.  I could tell that special attention was taken to make sure that all of the children in attendance had a wonderful experience!

I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to photograph Annabella's special day!  Here is a small selection of photos from her baptism and luncheon.

A First Holy Communion Session - for Twins! | Wyomissing, PA Children's Photographer

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of capturing photos for the Mauro Family, to celebrate their twin daughters' upcoming first Holy Communion.  These young ladies were so much fun to photograph!!  They were so happy, so cooperative, so full of energy, and so adorable!!  As we were getting ready to begin our photoshoot, I found out that it was their birthday, too!  I'm honored that they took time out of their celebration to come hang out with me and my camera!!

I love how these photos turned out, and I have been so eager to share these!  (I promised their mom that I would wait until the day of their first Holy Communion to share them on my website.)  I hope that their smiles, hugs, and dance moves put a smile on your face as well.

Congratulations, Mauro Family!!!