Elsa + Andrew's First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh Wedding

Abie Livesay April 29, 2016

Elsa and Andrew had their beautiful, traditional wedding ceremony at The First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh on one of the first gorgeous spring days of the year.

There is so much goodness here, we are absolutely making this a two-part post.

Elsa and Andrew, thank you for including us on your day, Heidi and I were thrilled to be a part of it and I'm so excited yours is the first wedding blog posted on my new website!

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE COMPLETE GALLERY

Ceremony: First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh
Reception: The Duquesne Club
Planner: Dana Kotwica of The Duquesne Club
Florist: Allison McGeary
Cake and caterer: The Duquesne Club
Dress: Lela Rose
Band: Sunday James Band of Philadelphia
Hair + Makeup: Beauty Justified
First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh and The Duquesne Club Wedding Photographer Abie Livesay

TELLURIDE PHOTO WORK

Abie Livesay April 26, 2016

I wasn't shooting a lot back then, 2001, but I was shooting film. To be honest I still didn't know what I was doing. But I was learning, slowly.

I had taken this shot and a few pictures of a friend's daughter. It was his birthday and I wanted to give him some beautiful pictures of his beautiful girl.

So 7 year old Little Miss and I ran all over town making pictures, precious one, she was such a blast to hang with!

So I had these black and white pictures, I was so excited to get them developed, his birthday just a few days away,

Except...

there was no where in town that could develop B&W Tri X 35mm film.

So sad, my good idea going to waste?! I think not!

Someone recommended asking around at the Telluride High School, they had a dark room maybe they could help!

Except....

I didn't know how to develop my own film! But "THIS is TELLURIDE" they said.

I walked into the school, told them my problem, they sent me towards the darkroom to find the teacher.

The teacher was on the way to teach another class so I got a 30 second crash course,

a couple of pre-teen fellow students to ask for help from and I developed my first roll of film, that I shot, in Telluride.

I love making pictures.

telluride photographer | abie Livesay Photographer

Source: Telluride Colorado Mountains

TELLURIDE 15 YEARS AGO | Abie Livesay Photographer

Abie Livesay April 24, 2016

It all started with a post card

In 2000 a dear friend moved from her beautiful Victorian home outside of Pittsburgh to Telluride Colorado.

We hadn't talked in a few months, pre cell phones, email etc. busy lives. Although I hadn't heard from her in a while, I didn't expected to get a postcard from the Rockies saying she had moved away!!

What a wild and free spirit she is.

The postcard, an invitation to visit and mention of beautiful, interesting people enticed this outdoor loving tomboy to look into it more.

And so in 2001 I moved to Telluride, knowing one person and having a very overly packed old Saab, a skill-set and enthusiasm for adventure I found a place to crash and a job, or three.

I fell in love with Telluride.

If you've been there you get it, if you haven't been, check it out...as soon as possible!

SO WHAT ABOUT BOXWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY?

Abie Livesay April 23, 2016

Boxwood Photography to Abie Livesay Photographer

I'm glad you asked!

Boxwood was exactly what I needed it to be when I started it in 2010. I'd been photographing weddings "part time" for three years at that point. I originally started Boxwood with my brother Josh, remember that?! Josh was an amazing help in getting the business end of things off the ground and I'm so glad I had his support.
He taught me so much. SO MUCH, ask me in person some time about all the embarrassing things I should have known in starting a photog biz but had NO CLUE about. That's me, Willy Nilly. Josh, not so much. He had the business end down!

Moving forward, once Boxwood got her feet on the ground my brother stepped out and onto other things. So I was flying solo, with a killer foundation and lots of support, Boxwood took off and I've never looked back.

But now, with looking at a big scale change like expanding and moving and growing, somehow it just seems fitting to also have a new start name wise. It's still me, but more of just me. And that's a lot.

So, Boxwood Photography to Abie Livesay Photographer

0-60 in seconds flat.

OK, DON'T FREAK OUT!

Abie Livesay April 21, 2016

Telluride AND Pittsburgh Photographer

Don't worry Pittsburgh! I'm not moving away yet. I'm not going away COMPLETELY either. I love Pittsburgh and I have a lot of work here. I want to keep it that way, there's a lot to come back for so don't worry, it's only a 4 hour flight.

I'll be photographing in Telluride a bit this season, I have dates in July and September right now and open to more.

I'll be relocating in June 2017.

So we have time! We have time to schedule that portrait you've been thinking about, time to get together to work on an album design and most importantly time to plan YOUR visit to see me in Telluride!

I fully expect a revolving door of guests coming to see us in Telluride. Let's schedule your portrait in Telluride! Why not?!

In the mean time, if we have a shoot on the books, let's make sure that happens before next June. And if we need to go over album details, it'll be more fun to do when we can be together, sipping wine and reminiscing your wedding day in person.

So call me!

A NEW WEBSITE + MOVING TO TELLURIDE

Abie Livesay April 6, 2016

Relocating to Telluride

Well here we go.

A lot of new changes are taking place around here! This is just one of many new, big changes in the works.

For starters, a completely new website and branding for my photo work. It's been surprisingly refreshing going through this change, revisiting old work, curating new work and bringing it all together here. This transition is ultimately rooted in a much bigger, deeper change though.

That change is Telluride.

I'll tell you the beginning of this story soon enough, but for now it's all about expanding and growing. I am expanding my photography business to Telluride Colorado. And I am growing into, transitioning into, a 15 year dream that has morphed and changed over the years. It's a perfectly aged dream of owning my business, raising my boys in Telluride and traveling. Hopefully frequently back to Pittsburgh, my favorite city.

So for now, this is just the first chapter of a new book I'm writing.

I'm glad you're here. Checking things out.

Hey and let me know if you see anything catastrophically wrong, like misspelled words or forgetting to put my email address up!