Summer Moraine State Park Family Photos

Tracie & Mark are celebrating their 10 year anniversary this year, and they wanted to do so with some updated family photos, and some updated photos of the two of them! One of their favorite places as a family of four to spend time at is Moraine State Park, so it was a no-brainer that that would be the perfect location for their photos… and it did not disappoint!

Aside from some of my usual favorite spots, I noticed some gorgeous bushes in bloom all throughout the park… and I knew we had to use them in their photos! So we parked, jumped across a ditch, and walked across the road to our first beautiful spot. Sometimes it takes a little extra work to make the magic happen, but it’s always so worth it!

From there, we drove to two other locations for photos - one spot with a small field and a wooded area, and the last spot right on the lake. While the lake location is beautiful, the light is best later in the day, when the sun isn’t shining to bright against the water. I think we hit our last spot at the perfect time, and got the most beautiful light!

As an added bonus… the kids played in the lake at the end of our session and caught a fish! (Scroll to the bottom to see the very last photo!). If you’ve ever wondered what a family session is like, I feel like that just about sums it up! Kids have limited attention spans during photos, so at some point, we have to steer into that and go for the more fun, candid, and interactive shots (you’ll see lots of fun ones in this post!). And you know what? Those ones always end up being my favorites anyways!

Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary, Tracie & Mark! Thank you so much for the honor of commemorating such a special season for you four!

Summer Moraine State Park Family Photos

Oh these three were so much fun to photograph! If you follow along on the blog, you might recognize these three from their adorable summer mini session last year. I was so thrilled to have them back in front of my camera again this year!

Even though we had to reschedule once for weather, we all checked the forecast before leaving our houses and didn’t see rain on the horizon for our second attempt. However… much to our surprise, during our time together, it started to POUR! We ran back to our cars, and when I had gotten into my vehicle, I looked out my window towards theirs and saw all three sitting in their trunk with it open. It was cutest thing! So of course, I grabbed an umbrella and took a few shots of the fam hanging out in the back of their car. They turned out to be some of my favorites from our time together!! It stopped raining soon after, and we were able to continue shooting. I was so thankful for their patience with the crazy Pittsburgh weather!

Their little one was FULL of energy (and smiles!) the day of their session, and it was so much fun letting him run around while having his parents interact with him! To any parents getting photos of their toddler - the session can seem a bit chaotic, but I’ve found that embracing that toddler energy is a great way to go about getting some fun, interactive photos while keeping the whole family happy and the mood upbeat!

Enjoy a few of my favorites from our time together at Moraine State Park! ❤️

JHP Maternity Photo Highlights 2020

2020 was a year full of maternity photos - and I’m not mad about it!!! In fact, it was an absolute joy to photograph so many growing families - more than I ever have in past years!

Many of the couples I had the privilege to photograph were past wedding clients, which made me so happy! And all of the others became fast friends. It’s always such an incredible honor to be a part of new, exciting seasons of life.

To each and every couple who allowed me to be a part of this growing season: thank you. You are a blessing, and I pray that your family is filled with joy!

If you are interested in booking a maternity session, feel free to use the “Pricing” tab above to view packages, and the “Contact” tab to reach out and say hello! Or, feel free to email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com

Location Ideas for Photo Sessions Near Cranberry Township & Zelienople

Looking for a location for photos near the Cranberry Township/Zelienople area? Look no further than this blog post! Below, you’ll find a few of my favorite locations in this specific area north of Pittsburgh. All of these locations are within a 20 minute drive of Zelienople, PA. Enjoy!

1. Historic Harmony

 

This is a long time favorite photo location of mine! Historic Harmony is a little historic German town North of Cranberry Township, right near Zelienople. It has many different backdrops with bright colored buildings and doorways. There’s also a little park area nearby that can be used to get some more nature focused shots!

I would recommend checking in with the Harmony Museum if you plan on using this location for a photo session (unless you are scheduling a session with me - then I will happily check in with them for you! ;) ). They own a few of the buildings in town and require advance permission if you wish to shoot in front of them. They can give you the full scoop!

Check out some of my favorite sample images from Historic Harmony below!

2. Moraine State Park

 

Wide open lake views paired with fields and forest - this location has so much variety to offer for a photo session! Besides lakes, fields, and forests, this location also has several docks scattered throughout the park. The park itself has a “North Shore” and a “South Shore.” Personally, I prefer the “South Shore” for photo sessions, and all of my photo sessions have taken place throughout the park area on the South Shore.

3. McConnell’s Mill

 

Thick forest, an old mill, and large rocks along the river/creek area make this location a great spot with lots of variety! McConnell’s Mill also has a covered bridge that can be utilized for photos.

4. Cleland Rock

 

While Cleland Rock is technically a part of McConnell's Mill, it’s actually about a 12 minute drive from the “central” area of McConnell’s Mill. This location features fields (at different times throughout the year - thought sometimes they are barren!), as well as some tree lines and a large rock overlooking a beautiful Pennsylvania skyline. This is a simple location, but it always has gorgeous light!

5. Zelienople (in town)

 

Looking for a more urban look? Zelienople has so many beautiful spots to offer! Brick walls, historic buildings, and new storefronts make this location a great spot for a more urban look.

6. Lake Forest Gardens

 

This location is the perfect spot if you’re looking for a location for your Christmas cards! Lake Forest Gardens is location in Fombell, PA, right outside of Zelienople. It features rows of Christmas trees and a beautiful, mountain backdrop! You do need to call ahead for this location to get permission and pay a $25 fee for the use of their property. It is most definitely worth it, though!

7. North Boundary Park

 

North Boundary Park is located right in the heart of Cranberry Township! This park features lots of soccer fields, baseball fields, a pool, and a walking path circling around it all. Though it doesn’t have an ample amount of spots for photos, there are some willow trees that make for a great backdrop against some of the large rolling hills! There are also some fenced areas, as well as the pathway itself, that make for some cute backdrops!

8. Cranberry Township Community Park

 

This is another spot I don’t absolutely love, but it does have a few nice spots for photos! I’m going to let you in on a little secret: my favorite spot to take photos here is right across from the dog park! The trees get some beautiful light there, and there’s a large log and small pond/lake with a willow tree that can work for a shorter session! I wouldn’t say that it is full of spots for photos… but there are definitely a few spots to work with!

Leah & Connor: Moraine State Park Maternity Photos

Another dreamy fall maternity session is in the books, and on the blog today! And for another incredible couple - Leah & Connor, who I had the honor of photographing two years their gorgeous wedding day at the Morning Glory Inn! What an honor it is to get to continue celebrating my couples as they grow their families!

Leah & Connor, congratulations to you two! You will be amazing parents!!! ❤️

Fall Moraine State Park Family Photos

If you’ve been following along on the blog, you may remember this sweet family from their session last year at Moraine State Park (click here to check it out!). Lindsey (mom) was pregnant at the time of their session last year, and had the wonderful idea of recreating their family photos again this year… but with the newest addition to the family out of the womb! ❤️

I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with you all again! Congratulations on your beautiful, sweet, adorable family!!

Baby B: Moraine State Park Maternity Photos

There's something so special about getting to see a couple get engaged, get married, and then start their family together! 💛

I am SO thankful to have had the pleasure of being a part of this season with Kayla & Colin as they start growing their family! They are just two of the sweetest people and are going to be the best parents. Congratulations, Kayla & Colin!!!

Summer Moraine State Park Family Photos

This incredibly sweet family will soon become a family of FIVE with a little girl due quite soon! It was such an honor to document this sweet season of anticipation before such a big change - and we had the most beautiful day at Moraine State Park for their session! Congratulations on your growing family! 💕

Best of Family Photos 2018

I think I want to make it my goal to photograph more families in 2019, because looking back through my family sessions from this year made me realize how precious these memories are! To the families I’ve had the pleasure of photographing: taking the time to invest in memories and moments of your family is never ever a waste. I am so thankful to have been the one to document these precious and fleeting moments for you! 💛

Pittsburgh Family Session Location Ideas

1. Moraine State Park

Moraine State Park is the perfect natural setting for family portraits! With lots of space and tons of beautiful natural scenery - including a forest, a field, a gravel road, docks, and the lake, there are lots of different locations to choose from! Moraine looks particularly beautiful during the spring, summer, and fall months.

Sample Session: Lauren, Cody & Jam (Summer)

 

2. McConnell's Mill

McConnell's Mill is one of my favorite locations because there is SO much variety and it looks good in every single season! From roads to rocks to forest to the creek, McConnell's Mill has so many beautiful backdrop to choose from!

Sample Session: Goodman Family (Winter)

 

3. Hartwood Acres

Hartwood Acres might be one of my all time favorites! With a beautiful mansion, gardens, and a courtyard (surrounded by lots of forest), Hartwood has so much to offer! And the best part? It looks gorgeous all year round! However, if you're looking for lush greenery and gardens, I recommend booking in the late spring, summer or fall.

Sample Sessions:

Garland Family (Spring)

Carlson Family (Spring)

 

4. Cleland Rock

Cleland Rock is technically a part of McConnell's Mill, but it's about a 10 to 15 minute drive from the main McConnell's Park hub (near the Mill). Cleland Rock has sweeping, West Virginia-like scenery and beautiful fields. This location looks gorgeous year round!

Sample Session: Amanda & Jeff (Winter)

 

5. Cranberry Township Community Park

This location is one of my secret favorites - right near the Cranberry Community Dog Park! While this spot ALSO looks beautiful year round, it's my favorite in the fall!

Sample Session: Eagon Family (Early Winter)

 

6. Mellon Park

Mellon Park is the perfect choice if you're looking for a blend of natural and architectural scenery! This little park is nestled near Oakland and has lots of beautiful light. With the architecture, it is a great year round choice, but looks especially beautiful in the summer months!

Sample Session: Tessa's First Birthday (Summer)