Christina was our wedding photographer (along with her second shooter and a helper). In my opinion, wedding photography is one of the most important things you'll spend your money on. When the big day is over, it's the pictures you have to sh...ow for it -- and Christina is an excellent choice.
From our first meeting, she was always very professional and prompt in her responses. She is easily accessible for questions. She is very responsible and will be in touch with you for details about your wedding day -- this is very helpful, since the last few weeks beforehand can get very busy -- but she is there to keep following up with you so that details about your requests aren't missed!
During the actual wedding day, she is working hard, from start to finish. We gave her a list of specific photos we wanted (formal) and she had a game plan ahead of time. She'll do whatever it takes to get the best shot, whether it's standing on a ladder or getting low to the ground. She's not afraid to put herself in the middle of the action -- without getting in the way -- to get the perfect shot.
The photos themselves are of extremely high quality. There is a mix of artistic shots and formal photos. She has experience throughout the whole Pittsburgh area, and has been to many venues. This allows her to offer suggestions on where to get the best shots! Note, because she has been photographing weddings in the Pittsburgh area for several years, she is familiar with many of the vendors, which can be helpful on the wedding day. It was very reassuring when we told our venue who our photographer was, and they replied, "Great choice -- she does a wonderful job!"
After the wedding, she put up a preview of our pictures on her blog, which was a great way for us to see some of our pictures within the week of the wedding. We were able to share these with family and friends -- many who commented that they were the most professional, beautiful wedding photographs they've ever seen.
I would strongly recommend a second shooter, if your budget allows for one. The second shooter can get other angles for pictures, as well as help with lighting and organization throughout the day. Well worth the investment. Plus, her second shooter Alisa was very professional and kind! She was able to catch the groom's photos while they were getting ready, all while Christina was with the brides' side of things.
With regards to price, Christina's prices are about average for the Pittsburgh area. She is very fair and reasonable in her pricing. We bought the package that includes rights to all the photos -- I would definitely recommend that. She puts them in a secure, online gallery where you can download them as soon as they're available. Very convenient.
Lastly, when picking out our photo album, she is very modern in her approach. She had an iPad with her to quickly show us options from the album vendors (specifically for album cover layouts). She had many in-person examples of albums as well!
Without a doubt, hiring Christina as our wedding photographer was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. If you are thinking about hiring her, just do it. You won't regret it, and you'll have beautiful pictures to show!!