Introducing, Mr. and Mrs. Cowden// A Phipps Conservatory and Gateway Clipper Wedding

Maddy and Jac Cowden’s wedding took place in August 2024 in some of the most scenic areas of Pittsburg! Maddy’s original photographer was very ill with pneumonia and couldn’t make the wedding, so Maddy reached out to my friend Amanda, who owns Kurtz Photography. Amanda worked with me as a second shooter at weddings for about six years, and now has her own business!

Maddy reached out to Amanda on a Thursday and her wedding was Saturday, so we had to scramble a little bit! Amanda had a newborn shoot in the morning and an engagement session in the evening, but could cover the getting ready photos and ceremony. She called me to see if I was free, and I was miraculously able to move my schedule around to shoot from the ceremony to the end of the night! I had a video call with Amanda and Maddy on Friday and that was it – we were headed in!

As a result of both Amanda and I taking turns as the main shooter, Maddy and Jac got two wedding albums! One from me and one from Amanda. It was a blast looking through the two galleries and seeing the differences in our editing styles and the things we chose to focus on. It was also exciting

to watch Amanda go from working with me to having her own small business, one that she

runs while still teaching full-time!

Amanda met me at my car where I parked in Oakland (during Pitt move-in week), and we lugged all of our

gear inside! The venue for Maddy and Jac’s wedding ceremony was Phipps Conservatory, which is a GORGEOUS venue, even if the rooms get very hot! It was beautiful with such an elegant

atmosphere- the greenhouse diffused the light so perfectly. Phipps makes for an excellent venue and this wedding was no exception! It was a hot, sunny, beautiful day inside Phipps, but this bridal party was prepared: they brought fans and Phipps provided water for everyone!

Fans for their guests, along with tissues for those Happy Tears

I didn’t even know what the groom looked like until he was walking down the aisle to get married! The bridal party was so much fun – what a kind, loving group of people! Amanda took the lead for the formal photos, which was a fun change for me, as she’s been the second shooter when we work together. I am immensely proud of her! (Happy tears from me as well watching her be so confident and sure of herself!!)

Once we dismissed the families and the bridal party, we headed outside for the formals of Maddy and Jac.

Man, Phipps is stunning inside and out. After Amanda finished up, I had my turn with the couple. After some photos at Phipps, I snuck them across the street where I had spotted the cutest bistro tables. We got some cute shots and then the couple showed us a beautiful brick pathway behind that building. I had the brilliant idea to lay on the ground for some shots…in Schenley park. Thankfully, I didn’t contract any weird illnesses, but we had a good laugh about it!

From there, Amanda headed to her engagement session, and I headed to the Gateway Clipper

with the wedding party! Like I said, it was a hot hot hot day, and the air conditioner in my car decided to

break--I was sweating buckets, but so happy to be a part of capturing this wedding!

Once we got onto the Clipper, we all settled in for a good time. What an amazing, fun, loving crew! Jac’s

parents were some of the sweetest, most authentic people I’ve ever met – and wow, did they enjoy the party! They danced, sang, and watched their son marry the woman they’ve already seen as a daughter for many, many years! We did some more formals on the roof of the boat, and I captured a ton of candid moments, something that’s really important to me as a part of my brand. The atmosphere was light and fun, a true party!

Instead of the typical dollar dance seen at so many weddings, Maddy and Jac had their guests

take a shot and go up to take a photo with them! It was such a fun idea, and a great way to ensure

that they got a photo with every wedding guest! All night, I was running all over the boat shooting photos of the dancing. Some from up on the second floor down onto the dance floor, which was such a fun way to capture their lively crowd. I stayed until the end of the night and had such a blast! This was

the best dance floor I’ve seen at a wedding in a long time – there was even a mosh pit for a few

moments! What a fun group!

Congratultions to Mr. and Mrs. Cowden! It was an honor to capture your special day!!