Hello! I’m Carla, a cityscape photographer born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA who has always been fascinated by city life. Some people refer to it as street or urban photography.
I’ve been shooting for as long as I can remember, ranging from a disposable camera on childhood field trips to my first point and shoot camera for vacation to buying my first DSLR for food photography. I even have a camera tattooed on my arm.
City photography has always been a part of me. Some of my earliest work is of NYC architecture from a high school field trip. Sometimes I’ll shoot landscape and travel photography, but I find cities more exciting to explore.
People often call me the Puddle Queen because I shoot a lot of reflections. If there is even a tiny bit of water, I will see if there is a photo opportunity. It often results in weird looks and awkward crouching positions, but it’s totally worth it.
Don’t see your favorite photo for sale? Need something in a different size or material? Ask and I will make it happen! I take so many photos, it’s impossible to list them all.
Background and Experience
I have my Bachelor’s degree in Multimedia with an emphasis in video. I started out as a videographer for a construction equipment company, but after realizing I didn’t love video I shifted my focus to food photography (click here to see my food photography portfolio).
I’m 80% self taught when it comes to photography. Although I learned about composition and framing in school, everything else I learned on my own through research and experience.
When I wasn’t in my studio shooting food, I was walking around Pittsburgh taking in the city, usually with my DSLR in hand. What started as a way to take a break and get more exercise turned into another passion of mine.
That’s when I launched my City Life Adventures Instagram account in April 2016. I wanted a place to share my cityscape photography that wasn’t mixed in with my food photography.
In 2019, I finally decided to sell my city prints. Now you can decorate your home or office with a piece of Pittsburgh!
Why City Life Adventures?
To be honest, the name City Life Adventures wasn’t my first choice. I was looking for a screenname not already taken on Instagram that represented my photography style without limiting me to a specific location.
My first few choices were already taken, so after hodge podging multiple words together I finally came up with City Life Adventures.
Are your reflections real?
Yes, my reflections are real and straight from the camera! I do not do any Photoshop manipulation with them. I put my camera lens right by the water and shoot.
Can you send my order to another address? I want to give it as a gift.
Yes, I can send your order to any address as a gift! Make sure you use the preferred shipping address and recipient name when checking out. I can also include a note with your print so they know who it’s from. There is a spot for messages when checking out on Etsy, but you can also message me.
Do you ship internationally?
Short answer: Yes, I ship internationally.
Long answer: With conditions and policies changing every day, shipping to other countries heavily depends on whether USPS will deliver it and what that particular country’s policies are. I highly recommend checking the USPS’s service alerts page or message me before purchasing.
I do not ship to Germany due to their packaging law and yearly registration fees. If that changes, I will reconsider this. I’m bummed to exclude you!
Will you shoot my wedding?
At this time, I do not shoot portraits or weddings. It’s not my expertise nor my passion.
Can I hire you to shoot my house/building/other project?
Yes, you can hire me for specific projects if you think it’ll be a good fit. Please contact me to start a conversation.
What is your refund policy?
I want to make sure you’re happy with your purchase! I accept returns and exchanges for anything currently in stock within 7 days of delivery. Whether you need a different size, different material, different photo altogether, or simply don’t want it anymore, please message me to start your refund.
All sales on discontinued items are final. You are responsible for return shipping cost and shipping for the new item. If the item is not returned in its original condition (e.g. mat and plastic bag), you will receive a partial refund minus cost of materials damaged or lost. Refund will be given after the item is back in my hands.
For custom request orders, I do not accept returns due to the nature of the sale. However, you may be eligible for an exchange. Please message me with your concern and I’ll do my best to make it right.
If your item is damaged after shipping, please message me within 24 hours of delivery with a photo and description of the damage so I can correct it.