Pittsburgh Family & Portrait Photographer
Meet Ellen
- I always have a song stuck in my head. I'm probably humming it without even realizing it! More than likely, it's a theme song to whatever show my kids are watching. (Get out of my head Mickey Mouse!)
- My super power is being able to whip up something delicious for dinner using random ingredients around the house, with no recipe, and STILL make it taste good. (Except tapioca soup...sorry honey!)
- If it's warm out, you better believe I'll be outside on my porch, soaking up the sun, with a sudoku puzzle book in my hand. That is if the kids let me. ;)
- I straightened my hair for years only to find out later that my hair actually has beautiful curls!
- Wild ferns are my favorite kind of greenery.
Favorite TV Show: Sherlock
Favorite Color: Blush Pink
Favorite Food: Tacos
Favorite Place: Deep Creek Lake
Favorite Music Artists: Jake Scott, Parachute, Rascal Flatts, Tenth Avenue North, For King & Country, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Pittsburgh or Deep Creek Lake?
I was born and raised in Irwin, PA. It is a beautiful small town, just outside of the city of Pittsburgh! Both mine and my husband’s family lives here, so there was no reason for us to live anywhere else when we got married! But the busy city life isn’t the only way of life I’ve always known.
In 1952, my great grandfather (who was also a photographer) bought a piece of land on Deep Creek Lake in Maryland. He began taking his family there on weekends when he wasn’t working, to relax and get away from the busyness of life. This continued with my grandparents and my parents. For over 70 years now, my family has enjoyed Deep Creek Lake. We have a wonderful home there that we can spend time with our families, which just keep growing and growing! It is such a privilege to be able to take my children to enjoy this beautiful place that my great grandfather loved so much.
I greatly enjoy relaxing at the lake, but I will occasionally take on a wedding or portrait session there! If you book a wedding or session with me in the Deep Creek Area, there is no additional travel fee!
Meet My Family
Like all great love stories, ours began at a wedding. We grew up just 5 minutes apart but it took a wedding that was 281 miles away in Owego, NY for us to meet. It was love at first sight for Jonathan, but even with some liquid courage, he didn't ask me out until 10 months later. While I didn't really know him well at all, his father was my piano teacher for nearly 10 years. I had heard so many stories about what he was up to through the years since I was about 8 years old.
Our first date, he picked me up and we went to the Boulevard, a classic american restaurant, where we talked and talked for 5 hours until they were shutting the lights off in the building.
We dated for only 3.5 months, because when you know, you know. Then he proposed to me in the most beautiful spot, at the Paradise Overlook in Bear Run Nature Reserve. I said yes and a few months later, on a warm and sunny January day in 2017, we were married.
We've had two precious girls since then, Alethea and Layla. And we've lost two precious babies, Aria and Lindsey.
Each day is a new adventure as we raise our girls and live our lives to the glory of God.
Read about my life on the blog!
Lasting Memories by Ellen
Pittsburgh Photographer
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