Audrey + Trenton
Phipps Conservatory Engagement Session
Yeah yeah yeah, we know what you’re thinking. We blogged this Phipps Conservatory wedding before the Phipps Conservatory engagement session. So sue us. “Occasionally I’ll hit someone with my car, so sue me” – Michael Scott. <– Literally the exact same thing here.
Well, anyways. Audrey and Trenton freaking rocked this engagement session. Not only did we hit up Phipps Conservatory, but we also went to an abandoned restaurant next to a couple of abandoned overpasses and to finish it off, we stopped by Mount Washington, all around the Pittsburgh area.
This engagement session started off at Phipps Conservatory (which is where Audrey and Trenton were later married). We started off by exploring the never ending, floraly, planty, thorny, cactusy, huge, small, hot, and super hot, 1000000 degree rooms that Phipps has to offer (August at noon is not an ideal time of year/day to be exploring a greenhouse, just sayin’, but we did it anyways because we’re gluttons for punishment and loveeee that sunshine and shadow contrast). Just feel for Trenton and Audrey because they had to hang out with our sweaty, stinky hot mess selves for the WHOLE stinkin’ day. Y I K E S.
We started in the Palm Court (where Audrey and Trenton would later share the first dance #awwww), with the sun blazin’ and the fronds of different palm species and tropical plants bowing, creating the perfect color and texture. Audrey and Trenton are pros at looking cute (as you can probably tell), so our job was a piece of (vegan) cake (is it really a “job” if you have this much fun doing it?).
We were mesmerized by the butterfly room experience. Even with it being so warm and toasty, we gazed as a dozen different species of butterflies flitted about at different speeds. So many colors, shapes and sizes. As we were walking out of the butterfly zone, we came across a chain curtain (meant to keep butterflies within their room). Initially, we stood by it because a small, cool breeze was being blown through the doorway (we were desperate okay? feelin’ hot hot hot). Luke noticed that it created a beautiful textured shadow all over Audrey and Trenton.
And thus, some more cool, moody portraits were born. Moody to the max, ya’ll. Being sweaty hot messes paid off, see? (v special thanks to Phipps Conservatory for being so awesome and magical and Willy Wonka-esque and letting all of us wander around and take pictures there) Next up, we headed to a secret spot on the outskirts of Pittsburgh (its not really a secret, we just have absolutely no idea where it was). We pulled up to an abandoned restaurant on the river with underpasses leading up to the driveway. It was quiet, and still, and the light shining through the underpasses made harsh, funky shadows everywhere.
Audrey and Trenton let us be our weird, funky creative selves, and didn’t make (too much) fun of us as we discussed (argued) about our separate artistic visions. I mean, look at that light, right?! All the heart eyes for that dreamy, harsh light (and the cute couple).
Our last stop of the day was meant to be the Dusquesne Incline. Trenton had proposed to Audrey at the top of the incline (awwww) on a trip to Pittsburgh. We pulled up to the entrance for the incline and immediately pulled right outta that parking lot because woooowwwwweeee such a long line! Ain’t nobody got time for that. You’ll have that with touristy things sometimes, and that’s okay. We took the windy roads up to the top of Mount Washington (Pittsburgh people…HOW DO YOU DRIVE THESE TINY, SKINNY ROADS?).
At the top, we wandered down the sidewalk for the perfect vantage point of the downtown skyline. Audrey and Trenton did some more of the cute thangs (piggy back rides, gazing into the distance with purpose, you know). With it being such a sentimental place to these two, it was a sweet, meaningful ending to the shoot.
We headed to a fantastic vegan restaurant (we’ve spoke of this before…Onion Maiden…highly recommend) and scarfed down all the calories we had just sweat off during the shoot. Thank you again, to the wonderful Trenton and Audrey, for choosing us and putting up with our quirkiness. You da real MVPs.
Recently engaged and planning a wedding (maybe even in Pittsburgh or at Phipps Conservatory)? Or just in need of some rad photographers to grab some slices with and hang? Shoot us a message and talk to our cats (aka the office administrators) for information!
