Mars Prom Photos

This past weekend, I had a type of photo session I’ve never had before: pre-prom photos! And they were so much fun!

While lots of high schools in the area had prom, these photos are of some seniors from Mars High School.

If you’ve ever been to prom or been a parent/sibling of someone going to prom, you know that pre-prom photos can be a little chaotic - one parent (or multiple parents) have to take charge - people are looking at different cameras and giving different instructions, etc! But after the photos were over, several of the parents thanked me for taking the lead and giving clear instruction, because it gave them the opportunity to just enjoy the moment without having to worry about getting the perfect photo. And now the whole group has some photos of everyone posed well, in good light, and looking in the right direction!

If you’re interested in having pre-prom photos taken, please feel free to reach out to me by clicking here!

Christmas Themed Baby Shower

I’m so excited to share some photos featuring some of the beautiful details from my Christmas themed baby shower! (Of course, I had to bring my camera to photograph all of the beautiful details!)

My mom and mother-in-law graciously threw us a baby shower to celebrate the pending arrival of our baby, Lucy Mae. Because I am due mid-January (and because the fall timeframe is so busy with photo season!), we thought it might be fun to have a Christmas shower in early December. And it was such a sweet time!

The shower took place at the Harmony Opera House above Wunderbar in Historic Harmony, PA.

My mom was the creative force behind all of the details and signage, and it all turned out so beautifully! I am so grateful. Some of my favorite details were: Rapunzel themed cupcakes made by a friend (featuring her tower from Tangled!), a hot chocolate bar, opening gifts while sitting in the rocking chair that my mother-in-law rocked my husband in when he was a baby, and getting to have my husband there for the entirety of the shower! It was so special that he was able to enjoy the whole day, too. Lucy is just as much his kid as mine! ;)

A HUGE thank you again for our moms for throwing such a beautiful shower. We are so thankful, and Lucy is so blessed!

Bridal Shower & Baby Shower Event Venues Near Cranberry Township (North of Pittsburgh)

As a north of Pittsburgh wedding photographer, I have had lots of opportunity to get to know available event venues north of the city, in locations including: Cranberry Township, Mars, Wexford, Zelienople, Harmony, Warrendale, Butler, and Renfrew. A common question I am asked by friends, family, and clients is: what bridal shower or baby shower event spaces are available north of the city?

Thankfully, there are so many great options to chose from with a variety of price ranges and accommodations! Today, I’m going to share a few of my favorites that I’ve come across. This is by no means a completely comprehensive list, but certainly features a variety of different spots. I’ve worked events at some of these locations, and others I have only heard about, but all have their own unique features with their common thread being rentable spaces north of Pittsburgh.

With each venue listed below, I’ve listed approximately how many guests can be accommodated, if the space is indoor or outdoor, and other important notes. Each venue listed is linked to their website with additional information, including points of contact if you would like to learn more.

I hope this list is helpful to you as you plan your special event! And if you’re in need of any event photography coverage, please feel free to reach out to me by clicking here or by emailing me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com. I would love to work with you!

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP

Cranberry Highlands Golf Course

• Accommodates 24-150 guests indoors, or up to 100 guests on their outdoor patio

• Ballroom style with natural light

Domenico’s

• Features an indoor dining space and outdoor patio near their restaurant seating area

Camelot Event Center (Warrendale Location)

• Three hour space use with a 70 guests minimum

Bravo Italian Kitchen

• Features indoor dining space in a private room near their restaurant seating area

Pittsburgh Marriott North

• Accommodates 40 to 600 guests indoors, based on chosen room

• Hotel ballroom style, but also have smaller private rooms available

DoubleTree by Hilton

• Accommodates 16 to 900 guests, depending on chosen room

• Hotel ballroom style, but also have smaller private rooms available

Hilton Garden Inn

• Accommodates up to 150 guests indoors in their largest ballroom

MARS

Johnston Tea Room

• Accommodates up to 38 guests in largest room

• Intimate gathering setting inside the tea house with private rooms

Twelve Oaks Mansion

• Accommodates up to 250 guests in their ballroom, up to 80 in their library room

• Features an outdoor patio space

• Ballroom style with lots of windows for natural light

Springfield Grille

• Accommodates up to 20 guests in their private dining room near their restaurant seating area

• Indoor space only

Bloom Cafe at Quality Gardens

• Garden patio available for rental

ZELIENOPLE/HARMONY

The Center of Harmony & Opera Hall Venue (Located in Harmony, PA)

• Accommodates up to 150 guests

• Important note: no kitchen available, but you can bring your own caterer

• No handicap entrance available (all stairs leading up to the second floor Opera House space)

• Indoor space only

• **Note: I had my own baby shower here, so if you have any specific questions for someone who has rented this space before, please feel free to reach out!

Steamfitters (Located in Harmony, PA)

• Accommodates up to 600 people in their largest ballroom style room

ShuBrew (Located in Zelienople, PA on Main Street)

• Accommodates 36 to 50 guests comfortably, depending on the event

• Indoor private room separate from restaurant space

ELLWOOD CITY

Chapel Valley Estate Bed & Breakfast

• Indoor multipurpose room holds up to 70 guests

• Outdoor patio space can hold many more guests!

• Outdoor tented option available

Shakespeare’s Restaurant & Pub

• Accommodates 25 to 250 people indoors

• Event space is located on the second floor (restaurant on first floor) but is handicap accessible

• Also features an outdoor patio space off of the main ballroom area

WEXFORD

Camelot Event Center (Wexford Location)

• Accommodates up to 250 guests

• Indoor only

The Chadwick

• Accommodates groups of 15 to 500

• Ballroom style

• Indoor and outdoor spaces available

RENFREW

The Stables at Conoquenessing

• Rustic two story barn with indoor and outdoor spaces available

• Accommodates groups of 50 (outdoor patio) to 175 (indoor space)

BUTLER

The Atrium

• Accommodates groups of up to 300 in their main banquet area

• Other spaces available include: the greenhouse, the atrium, and the outdoor gardens

Succop Nature Park

• Indoor mansion/house area and outdoor covered patio area available for event rentals

• Medure’s Catering is the exclusive caterer

Are there any venues that you would add to the list? Let me know in the comments below! And thanks so much for reading!

Pittsburgh Christmas Tree Farm Mini Sessions 2022

This year marked the third annual Pittsburgh Christmas Tree Farm Mini Session Event for Jenna Hidinger Photography at Lake Forest Gardens in Fombell, PA! These sessions have become some of my favorites that I look forward to each year and are one of my favorite ways to ring in the holiday season!

This year, we hosted 9 couples and families at Lake Forest Gardens - many of whom I’ve had the privilege of photographing before (some even this year!) The weather was surprisingly warm, reaching a high of 76°F - so it may not have felt like Christmas, but it was nice to not be too cold - even if it was a little windy at times! Praise the Lord for providing some beautiful weather for us!

I want to say a HUGE thank you first and foremost to Lake Forest Gardens, who has let me host these sessions three times now. They have the most beautiful tree farm, in my opinion!

I also want to say a huge thank you to my husband Nick, and my mom Jean for helping. I photographed these sweet families while in the third trimester of my first pregnancy, and I most definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it without their help!

If you have any interest in future mini session offerings, please feel free to sign up for my email newsletter by clicking here!! This is where I announce mini session dates, as well as regular session booking availability.

Past Christmas Mini Session Photos - 2019 // 2020

Cranberry Township Graduation Party Photos

The first time I photographed this sweet family was at the VERY beginning of my career - possibly more than a decade ago!

I had the honor of taking Lauren’s senior photos this past fall, and was so honored to be invited back to photograph her grad party this summer! I love photographing grad parties - it’s fun to document the decor, the relationships, and even a few quick portraits of family (and of the senior!). Below are a few of my favorite images from Lauren’s grad party!

Congratulations on your graduation, Lauren! ❤️

Summer Graduation Party in Cranberry Township

Graduation parties can be a great time to hire a photographer! Not only will you have one less thing to worry about when it comes to the party itself (taking photos of all of your hard work!), but you can also get a few updated family portraits in the process!

For this grad party and particular, we were able to take a couple of family and individual portraits towards the start on the front porch! Then the remainder of the photo coverage was focused on details and candids. It was such a beautiful day!

If you are interested in graduation party coverage, feel free to reach out to me by clicking here! Or email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com.

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Vendors: Medure’s Catering, Graeter’s Ice Cream Truck

Pittsburgh Christmas Tree Farm Mini Sessions

The second annual JHP Christmas Tree Farm Mini Session Event took place at Lake Forest Gardens in Fombell, PA - and what a beautiful day we had for the middle of November! I was so thankful to see so many familiar faces - including a few new ones, and a few faces all the way from Texas! ☺️

A HUGE thank you to each and every family and couple who came out for this event. I truly can’t tell you how much it means to photograph each and every one of you!

I hope to continue these mini sessions every single year, Lord willing! So if you are interested in being the first to know about mini session events (including Christmas Tee Farm Mini Sessions!), be sure to sign up for my newsletter by clicking here! This is where all session dates are announced for regular sessions and mini sessions!

I hope to see you there next year! ☺️ If you are interested pricing for full sessions, click here. If you would like to inquire about a full session or mini session, please click here.

Introducing Spring Photo Mini Sessions 2019!

Spring is almost upon us - which means so are spring mini sessions! This year, JHP spring mini sessions will be held in one of my favorite colorful locations: Historic Harmony!

Historic Harmony is a revitalized German town that dates back to the early 1800’s. Over the course of history, this town has had many ups and downs, but now is the perfect spot to explore with multiple bakeries, a coffee & crepe shop, restaurants, a museum, antique stores, and more!

WHY HARMONY?

I chose this spot specifically for a couple of reasons. First - I live in the neighboring town, Zelienople, and can walk to Harmony (best thing ever!). I’m a big fan of historic, colorful buildings and have a strong affinity for small town life. It has a special place in my heart! Second - I’m slightly obsessed with the bright colors for photos! Blues, reds, whites, yellows, and greens all line the streets, making it a beautiful place for photos with tons of variety!

WHO IS THIS FOR?

These sessions are perfect for…

• Families (Perfect for those with young ones who don’t have a long attention span, and for families who have a senior leaving for college in the fall!)

• Seniors

• Couples (Engagement, anniversary, or just for fun!)

• Updated headshots (Read: Why you should have a killer LinkedIn headshot)

• Just the siblings (Mother’s day is coming up!)

• Just the grandkids (Again - mother’s day is coming up!)

• And pretty much anything else you can think of!

*Mini sessions make the perfect gift, too! If you’re interested in gifting a mini session to someone, feel free to email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

• 20 minutes of on location photography around Harmony

• 5 to 10 high resolution, digital files delivered via an online gallery

• A print release, allowing you to print your photos wherever you would like!

HOW MUCH?

Each time slot is priced at $250, plus 6% sales tax. This includes the time of the session, the post-production work, your online gallery, and your high resolution files!

Spring mini sessions are only offered once or twice a year, so now is the time to take advantage of these smaller sessions! If you are interested in booking, follow the link below to claim your spot! 💛 OR, if you would be interested in a full family, senior or couple session, use the “Contact” tab above to reach out for more pricing and information!

Julia + Thomas | Hyeholde Restaurant Wedding Photography

Julia and Thomas tied the knot in mid-August with a sweet, emotional ceremony at the Hyeholde Restaurant in Coraopolis. Most of their guests were from out of town (Taiwan, China, Philippines, Switzerland, Texas - just to name a few places), and it was easy to see the love and support surrounding this couple from their friends and family throughout the entire day, and we were so blessed to have been a part of it. Congratulations to the newlyweds, and God bless! We love you guys. Venue: Hyeholde Restaurant Makeup and Hair: My Image

Christmas Photo Booth

I'm a Christmas fanatic. Everything about it makes me wish it was a year round celebration! But, then again, that wouldn't make it quite as special. This past weekend I did a photobooth at Grace Community Church's youth group Christmas party, and it was an awesome time! I even got to jump in for a few photos. Enjoy, and Merry (early) Christmas!