My editing style has one goal: make your photos look exactly how your day felt. Vibrant. Alive. Authentic. No moody filters that'll look dated in five years. No trendy presets that scream "2020 something." Just bold, beautiful, true-to-life images you'll still swoon over when you're flipping through your album at your 25th anniversary.
I capture the genuine stuff—the ugly-cry during vows, the chaotic dance floor energy, the quiet moment when you finally exhale and realize holy crap, we're married. These are the photos your future kids will fight over.
My
Style
Bold Colors. Real Moments. Zero Cringe.
Your marriage is the important part
Both of you matter
Your wedding is not a photoshoot
What I do is an Honor
All Couples are welcome
Things I Believe
Let's be real here: I'm absolutely obsessed with weddings! Like, borderline unhealthy levels of obsessed. Whether I'm capturing every magical moment for hours on end, styling those dreamy engagement sessions, coordinating with my amazing second shooter and vendor team, crafting gorgeous albums, or setting up those picture-perfect guest portrait sets—I'm in my happy place.
But wait, there's more! I'm also your unofficial wedding day superhero. Need someone to hold your bouquet while you ugly-cry during vows? That's me. Require emergency champagne delivery after surviving family photos? I've got you covered. Want someone to wrangle all your vendors like a boss? One couple literally called me the "leader of the vendor pack" (and yes, I'm putting that on my business cards).
Bottom line? I'm not just here to take pretty pictures—I'm here to make your day absolutely incredible from start to finish.
Approach
My
But what is it REALLY like to work with me?
Yes, I'll keep you laughing. Yes, I'll make your wedding party actually enjoy photos. But I'm also the photographer who shows up with a detailed timeline, scouts your venue in advance, and coordinates with your other vendors like a boss. (One couple called me "the leader of the vendor pack" and honestly, I've never recovered from that compliment.)
You get the best of both worlds: the organized professional who ensures nothing gets missed, wrapped in the energy of a friend who genuinely can't wait to celebrate your day with you.
BEFORE YOUR WEDDING: We'll dive into your vision together. Whether you know exactly what you want or you're still figuring it out, I'm here to help guide you through the process. I love sharing timeline tips that actually make sense and answering all your questions in a completely judgment-free zone. Seriously, ask me anything – from vendor recommendations to "is this idea totally crazy?" – I'm here for all of it.
ON YOUR WEDDING DAY: I become your behind-the-scenes logistics coordinator and biggest cheerleader rolled into one. I arrive early, work my magic, and handle all the photo coordination so you can focus on what matters most. My goal is keeping you enjoying your day, laughing, and completely present with each other. Even that partner, parent or guest who swears they "hate getting their picture taken" will find themselves actually enjoying the experience. I have this way of blending seamlessly into your celebration while making sure every important moment gets captured.
AFTER YOUR WEDDING: the magic continues with sneak peek photos delivered before you even hit that post-wedding brunch, because honestly, who can wait weeks to relive those incredible moments? Your full gallery will be ready in just 6-8 weeks with beautiful print-ready images that look stunning whether you're sharing them online or hanging them on your walls. But here's the best part – you don't just get amazing photos; you get a photographer who becomes a lifelong cheerleader for your marriage.
-Amy and JD
"Hiring Dawn was absolutely the BEST decision we made in all of wedding planning! Her incredibly stunning photos are just the beginning. We loved her energy from the moment we met her, she has a magical ability to connect with others, make you feel at ease, and ENJOY the process, which are invaluable skills for a photographer. Her many years of experience and attention to detail truly shone on the wedding day. We can't emphasize enough how much of a difference it made to have a photographer who knows EXACTLY what she's doing! The expertise and effort she provided towards preparatory steps (photo spot scouting, getting to know what's important to us), time management, posing guidelines, high efficiency while maintaining high quality, and overall energetic and positive nature made a huge impact on our day. Our photos, both engagement and wedding photos, surpassed our greatest expectations."
Hiring Dawn was absolutely the BEST decision we made
- Karlee and Dom
Booking Dawn as our wedding photographer was one of the best decisions we made during the wedding planning process. We were initially drawn to Dawn due to her solid reputation as a fun, inclusive, and professional photographer in the Pittsburgh area. What we quickly came to realize is that Dawn has the biggest heart and is so dedicated to her craft and clients. She makes shoots so easy and fun, like hanging out with a good friend you've known your whole life. From engagement photos to wedding day, Dawn made the entire process so stress-free and enjoyable. She truly goes above and beyond and even edits and sends a wedding preview on your wedding night to instantly view and share. Our entire album was done within a MONTH of the wedding and we were blown away by not only the quick turnaround, but how gorgeous each and every photo was. We highly recommend Dawn to anyone seeking a talented and professional photographer who goes the extra mile to deliver high quality services from shoot to print. We look forward to capturing more milestones with Dawn in the future!
Dawn made the entire process so stress-free and enjoyable.
-Cady Ruth and Will
"Out of all the vendors we dreamed of working with, Dawn was at the top of that list, and we're so thankful to have had the opportunity to work together! While I'm more familiar and comfortable with my photo being taken, my sweet husband was not. But right from the start of our engagement shoot, he immediately felt at ease with Dawn! The day of our wedding, Dawn's right hand gal Krista made him feel equally happy to pose, smile and smooch me without a second thought to the cameras. This alone was worth every bit of our investment! The turnaround for the preview was INSANE and when we sat at our sweetheart table for dinner… I'm not sure how it was even possible, but there were some gorgeous Polaroids of the first look pictures we took ahead of time. It made me and my husband tear up, and will be a forever happy memory from the day."
Ultimate Hype Woman
-Clare,
See Jane Blush
Do yourself a favor and hire Dawn Derbyshire as your wedding photographer NOW. Like right NOW. And if she's booked for your day, choose a day that she has open because you'll regret not hiring her. To be transparent, I am a vendor behind the scenes and I've worked with Dawn numerous times for weddings, shoots, events etc. She is a grade A, 5 star, 10/10 photographer. Her photos are alive with love and color and sparks and joy!! She goes above infinity and beyond to get that perfect shot for you and will walk miles for it if she has to. Not only is she a bomb photographer, she's one of the sweetest, kindest humans on the earth. She makes you feel ultra comfortable right away even if you are nervous around cameras, and I can see that first hand when she works with her couples
A Vendor Industry Insider's Perspective
-Miranda, Community Flower Shop
"I'll start off the review with HIRE DAWN IMMEDIATELY. We don't want anyone else to take photos of us ever! The quality of work that Dawn produces is worth every penny and more. I always describe Dawn's style as 'real life but better' because all of the colors are true to life just enhanced ever so slightly. I can't think of a better way to look back on a memory than to think of it as being real life but better! When I finally met Dawn in 2017 after being a huge fan of hers for so long, I told her that she was without a doubt going to be my wedding photographer. I felt like I was meeting a celebrity to be honest. I wasn't even engaged at the time but it was abundantly clear that she was the one for the job. I am a wedding florist so I have worked with Dawn many times on many clients weddings and the photos are always absolutely amazing. Out of the dozens and dozens of photographers I know and have worked with, I will always recommend Dawn first and will always be so excited to hear when someone tells me they're working with her!"
Real Life But Better
-Maya and Josh
"I had been following her on Instagram for a while and had found that every time I saw a wedding photo that I liked, I would check and it turned out she had taken it. Dawn takes incredible photos. They're beautiful, they don't look too stiff or posed, the lighting is always gorgeous. Working with her is an absolute breeze – she knows exactly what to say to make you laugh or smile and she will literally coach you through every element of a pose if that's what you want/need. She acknowledges the awkward feeling that is being in front of a camera and uses it to bring out laughs and smiles that lighten up your photos. When you choose Dawn, you know without a doubt that you are getting stunning photos, that they're going to be edited beautifully, and that you'll have access to all of them – no weird limits on how many you can download or print. But on top of that, you're getting someone who's been in the wedding industry for 10+ years and has literally seen it all. There is not a single thing that could happen on your wedding day that she hasn't seen already and isn't currently prepared to deal with should it happen again. She can help you with your timeline, with planning questions, or even just with talking you down from your irrational wedding jitters. Am I gushing? Yup. Do I care? Nope."
She Knows What to Say to Make You Laugh
Starting at $500
While most of my clients book a boudoir sessions as a present to their partner, it is so much more than a gift to them. It's a gift to yourself. I want you to feel beautiful and empowered. I want you to wear what makes you feel sexy: Whether that’s a cute PJ set, oversized sweater, bare skin, or something in between. My sessions range from PG-13 to X rated, and the goal is for you to feel freakin’ AMAZING. I want you to see you in a new light, and embrace how drop dead gorgeous you are (and you Sexy goes way beyond Playboy, and I’m here to capture that.
"If you have ever thought you wanted to do a boudoir session with Dawn, DO IT! Not only does she make you feel so comfortable and confident while photographing, but her photos allowed me to see myself in a completely new light. These photos have given me more CONFIDENCE than I ever thought possible." - Katie B
Worried about what to wear? My pride and joy is a closet STOCKED with amazing pieces–over 100!--ranging from a size xs to 5 xl. I want every body to have something amazing to wear. I’m constantly sourcing new pieces in a wide range of sizes so all of my clients can feel like total smokeshows. Gifting the session as a present? I also offer sleek, discreetly delivered albums and fun 90s style viewfinders that make a perfect gift to open the morning of the wedding, for an anniversary, or just because
Boudoir
Starting at $5000
FIRST WE CHAT
Getting to know you (and you getting to know me!) is a BIG part of the process. I’ll give you the option to book via email, talk with me on the phone, or even have an in person meeting if yinz are local to Pittsburgh. Why? Because besides your fiance, I’m the person you spend the most time with on your wedding day. It’s important that you enjoy my company!
“Her photos are absolutely gorgeous, take a look at her website or Instagram and you already know that. What set her apart for us was her awesome personality.” - Kathryn and Tony
NEXT, WE MAKE IT OFFICIAL
The last thing I want you to feel? More wedding ~pressure.~ When it comes to booking, I hold your date for one week after we chat so you can think it over. If it’s a yes, I do a happy dance, and then the fun really begins!
“Not only is she insanely talented, but she is incredibly meticulous, extremely responsive and cares about every detail just as much as you do!” - Christine + Andrei
WANT AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION? YOU SHOULD!
To get comfy in front of my camera, I always love for my clients to invest in an engagement session before their big day. It's a great time to get some extra photos, and feel out what works and what doesn't. You get to see me at my weirdest, and I get to see how to photograph you two at your most authentic. It's not mandatory, but it results in your wedding photos being extra awesome, not gunna lie.
“She made us feel so comfortable during our engagement session, that by the time we took wedding photos, they felt seamless.” - Paige and John.
YOUR WEDDING DAY (!!!)
I start my car, blast my wedding day hype playlist, and arrive early. I’ll photograph your wedding day, and give you my whole heart through my camera.
“She was able to capture the genuine, candid moments of the day, the spirit of our relationship, and all of the little moments that elicit big emotions.” - Julia + Matt
POST-WEDDING
Midnight photos > midnight pizza. I’ll send you 100 sneak peek photos before your newlywed heads hit the pillow, a Dawn Derbyshire signature move. You can’t blame me for late thank you cards!
Then within 6-8 weeks, you’ll get your full wedding album delivered to your inbox. And they are yours, forever. So much of our relationship is based on trust and I am always honored to be the one to photograph the memories you will hand down for generations…and also post to your Instagram! Tag meeeee!
“My guests were shocked when she delivered a preview of our magical photos in 24 hours.” - Laura + Zach
Weddings
Ready to feel like the main characters in your own love story? Inquire here!
Let's chat about making your wedding day as fun, authentic, and stress-free as possible. I promise you'll leave our consultation feeling excited about your photos instead of worried about them.
I hear this at least once a week. And honestly? It's my favorite challenge.
That partner who's already dreading the photos? By the end of our engagement session, they're usually the one asking for "just one more shot." No stiff posing. No awkward "say cheese" moments. Just you two being yourselves while I capture the magic.
My superpower is making camera-shy partners feel like natural-born models—and making the whole experience so fun you'll forget there's even a camera pointed at you.
"My Partner Hates Getting Their Picture Taken"
-Abbie and Kurt
I booked Dawn (in my head) 2 years before I was even engaged to be married. She was my first vendor email; "Dawn, I don't know where you will be taking our pictures yet, but I want you as my photographer." I wanted Dawn because when you look at the photos she takes they are timeless. The colors you see are the same colors you saw on the day with your own eyes. She is detailed and meticulous, and nothing is forgotten. She is trustworthy and an exceptional human. She will make your wedding party laugh and enjoy the day. And most importantly, she will look at you through her lens without discrimination. Without any hesitation, I will scream from the hilltops, book her as your photographer.
"Without any hesitation, I will scream from the hilltops, book her as your photographer."
-Ashley and Dayne
My husband and I literally booked Dawn as our photographer before we had our wedding venue- that is how much we love/loved her work! From the moment we saw her photographs, we knew that we wanted her to be there to capture the most important day of our lives. She is so talented and our photos are simply amazing! The way Dawn was able to capture our love and happiness on our wedding day is something that my husband and I will be forever grateful to her for. The photos are absolutely stunning to say the least. Dawn is also an absolutely amazing person- so genuine, warm, funny, and kind. Having people with you during very intimate moments like first looks, private vows, etc. is intimidating but Dawn made us and our bridal party feel so comfortable the entire time. Dawn also was able to keep everyone on track and was very fast paced when it came to getting bridal party and family portraits. The way she managed to keep everyone and everything organized during the photographs was truly amazing. My husband and I will be lifelong customers and cannot wait for Dawn to take portraits of our future children and important life events. Do yourself a favor and hire Dawn for all of your photography needs!
"My husband and I will be lifelong customers"
-Briana and Travis
I do not know where to even begin other than to encourage all brides or grooms to HIRE DAWN!!! She is a gem of a human and pours her heart and soul into photographing engagement shoots or weddings. Her talent and experience was obvious from the moment we met her. My now husband absolutely hates PDA and being photographed but was instantly comfortable with any kissing pose Dawn prompted us to do (which if you know Travis is the best compliment anyone could receive). She is so kind, flexible, and up for any adventure - like standing on a step ladder on her tip toes to snag a photo of us with all our guests or soaked in champagne to capture the perfect champagne popping shot! We hope to have other opportunities to work with Dawn in the future and cannot praise her enough for a positive wedding experience.
"She is a gem of a human"
-Victoria and Jake
There aren't enough words to explain just how amazing Dawn is! We were so lucky to have Dawn photograph our engagement photos and wedding day. Not only are Dawn's photos INCREDIBLE, she puts so much heart, soul, and passion into every session, especially the wedding day. Her fun and charismatic personality makes your nerves melt away and helps to perfectly bring out your own personalities in the photos! When we got our wedding gallery, we were honestly SPEECHLESS! We feel so blessed to have had Dawn as such a huge part of our journey to marriage, and feel even more blessed to call her a friend!
"She puts so much heart, soul, and passion into every session"
In spring of 2021, Sunlight Studio opened in West View, PA. I share it with another amazing photographer, and it is open to all clients (and their pets!) for sessions. It's perfect for boudoir, maternity, branding, and couples sessions, with flower walls, streamer walls, funky furniture and a homey feel. I have all in-person meetings here and am always happy to sit down, grab you some wine, and chat in this space. It's my home away from home and I love having clients here to enjoy the space with me (and to get cute, colorful photos of couples on the giant purple couch)!
Studio
The
