Empowering You Photography


Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Prices start at $3,000

Elopement pricing

Prices start at $500


About Empowering You Photography

Emily Pastrana

photographer

I'm Emily - a Pittsburgh-based wedding photographer set on capturing intimate, joyful, authentic, & emotional photos. I want you to look back on your wedding photos not just love the way they look, but I want you to remember what the moment felt like. My hope is for you to feel the way your loved one hugged you as they gave you away, to laugh as you look back at the best man giving his speech...every captured moment has a feeling. I will do my best to stop those moments in time for you to experience forever. I am witty, goofy, sarcastic, open-minded, & honest. I will be your ultimate third wheel.

Most of my couples walk away asking if they can be our "real life friends" after the wedding. My husband and I shoot together, so two people who are madly in love will be capturing YOUR love. With us as your wedding photographers, it will be a breeze. And you'll get two new "real life friends."

Best of Zola 2024
Best of Zola 2023

Services

Services

  • Engagement session
  • Image editing
  • Online proofing
  • Printing rights
  • Same-day edits
  • Second photographer

Photo formats

  • Digital

Deliverables

  • Digital files
  • Digital rights
  • Same/next-day sneak-peek images

Reviews

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5.0 out of 5

20 reviews

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  • USE EMILY AS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER. PERIOD.

    Verified review
    Danielle S.Jul 12, 2024

    If I could go up to everyone to suggest Emily til my lungs gave out, I would. We used her for our engagement photos and wedding photos, and I want to use her for all my life events. Her photos are obviously what drew me in at first, but once I met her, it was her personality. She is so bright, she makes you feel like you're her new best friend. She is fun, energetic, and efficient (which we love, since my husband hates photos). Emily not only acted as my photographer the day of my wedding, but was also my hype woman, and support person. She made me feel calm in the chaos. She made me feel beautiful. I think when you are a beautiful person inside and out like her, it's an easy thing to do. You know you have a gem when everyone is coming up to you to tell you how "your photographer is so awesome". She captured some of the most beautiful, vulnerable, moments during that day and turned them into a story and I love that she could be apart of such a special day.

  • My Pinterest Board Come to LIFE

    Verified review
    Rachel W.Jun 26, 2024

    Em was so amazing to work with. Her fun and personable communication from the first initial contact email was incredible. Capturing photos with her for our special day was one of the most fun parts of our day. Emily captured EXACTLY what we were looking for and made all of our visions come to life for our small intimate wedding. If you are looking for someone to bring the vibes, the personality and the fun to your photos, you don't have to look any further. I would recommend her in a heartbeat!

  • For the love of god, HIRE HER

    Verified review
    Audrey F.May 25, 2024

    I don't even know where to begin. How do you write something as simple as an online review for someone who memorialized your wedding day in pure, authentic, gallery-worthy art? Can I give her ten stars? A hundred stars? It wouldn't be enough. We chose Emily as our photographer based on a few internet searches and vibes, and the vibes were so right. We went with the Topaz Package, so we initially met Emily for our engagement session. She immediately made us feel so relaxed, calm, and (best of all) photogenic. My husband and I were the type that never photographed well, but Emily made it happen. We went to several locations downtown Pittsburgh, and we never felt rushed or awkward for asking for certain poses or sharing ideas. I was so nervous to receive the images from the engagement shoot, but when I did, my jaw was on the floor. With our package, we also added on night-before coverage and a second shooter, which I HIGHLY recommend. Emily and David went above, beyond, and to infinity with the care and attention they gave us on our wedding weekend. Emily and I FaceTimed a few weeks out from the wedding to go through details and timeline and the picture list. Emily and David truly listened to everything that we wanted, and they made it happen. We were married in Heinz Chapel and had our reception at the Carnegie Museum of Art, and our focus was documentary-style, artistic photos. Let me tell you -- they DELIVERED. We cannot stop looking at our gallery. I've tried to pick 5 photos to get printed, but I cannot narrow it down past 164. On the personal side of things, Emily was so so supportive of every choice we made at our wedding. There was no judgment, no persuasion, she was 100% our hype girl the whole weekend (which as an anxious bride I appreciated so much). Emily brought the fun, the vibes, the party, but also she kept us on schedule when I got distracted and she ensured that we did get all of our requested photos. Her and David were essential in orchestrating our first look (which occurred at an open and quite busy art museum). Emily also kept me very calm when we were running late to said first look (and even helped buckle me into my garter belt -- a true queen). Our literal only regret is not having them there longer. I couldn't recommend Emily enough for ANY photoshoot you need; and my advice: do the big package. Do the engagement session, and the boudoir session, and the night before session, and any other chance you get to have Emily photograph you, because you won't regret it. I can't wait for our 1 year anniversary when we get to drag her back to the art museum with us.

  • I LOVE EMILY

    Verified review
    Lily Weaver May 14, 2024

    Emily is incredible. She is like no other- her work is incredible, timeless, and beautiful but the best thing about working with her is the way she makes you feel. She is the kindest, most generous and thoughtful person you will ever meet. Emily has shot my wedding, engagement session, family pictures and graduation pictures and I feel so honored she chose to capture these precious moments in my life. She has made each of these moments unforgettable because of how incredibly talented, kind and loving she is. Her work is perfect, and if I could have her shoot my whole life I would !!