Emily & Dave: Italian Inspired Bella Sera Event Villa Wedding Photos

Emily & Dave had the perfect Italian villa inspired summer wedding day at the most gorgeous Bella Sera!

While it may have been one of the hottest days of the year at that point, it surely did not dampen this epic celebration! Emily & Dave really wanted to enjoy cocktail hour with their friends and family, so they decided to opt for a first look, which allowed us to complete the vast majority of their portraits (bride & groom, bridal party, and family formals) prior to the ceremony. It also allowed us to get some candids of cocktail hour, and gave us a solid chunk of time to photograph all of the gorgeous reception details at Bella Sera!

Right after dinner, we snuck back out into a grassy area for a few extra portraits of just Emily & Dave! I always LOVE this part of the day, when (if) couples decide to sneak out during sunset or golden hour for a few photos. Couples are typically so much more relaxed at this point in the day, and it really lets us get some different types of images!

After their golden hour photos, we headed back into the reception for parent dances and for LOTS more dancing. Emily & Dave had a huge dancing crowd, and we got so many fun photos of Emily & Dave with their guests on the dance floor (don’t worry… you’ll see!)

We absolutely LOVED getting to be a part of Emily & Dave’s day and capture the beginning of this next chapter. A HUGE thank you to Emily, Dave, and their friends & family for braving the heat for photos and for just being amazing to work with!

Congratulations, Emily & Dave! ❤️

In addition to having a wonderful couple, bridal party, and family members to work with, we were able to work with an incredible vendor team, too… check them out below!

Vendors: Bella Sera, AConti Media (Videographer), Fragile Paradise Florist, Bethel Bakery (Cake), Kevin H. Redford (DJ), Dana Burns (hair), Bridal Beginning Pittsburgh (Bride's dress), AZAZIE (bridesmaid dresses)

I love when we are able to get a photo with our couples! ❤️ A big thank you to the guest who took on my “fancy camera” for this sweet shot!

Fallon & Seth: Vibrant Fall White Barn Wedding Day

This might be one of my favorite fall weddings ever… I’m not sure I’ve ever photographed such a vibrant, wide array of beautiful fall colors on a wedding day! 😍 Fallon & Seth chose the perfect date for the most beautiful peek fall color!

You may remember these two from their engagement session last year at Preston Park in Butler. We had the most beautiful weather that day for their session! But as their wedding day approached, rain loomed in the forecast. Very VERY thankfully, it did not rain for the ceremony OR photo portion of their day! In fact… I’m not sure if it rained at all! Which was a HUGE blessing. It would’ve been a bummer to miss out on the beautiful fall colors if we hadn’t been able to shoot outside!

Another reason I adore this wedding day? My husband and I were married at the same venue (The White Barn!) back in 2015! It’s always SO FUN to come back to such a special spot - and I feel like I know the venue a bit more intimately because of my personal history there!

I feel like so much of this day speaks for itself. You will easily be able to see the joy in the photos below radiating from Fallon & Seth! Their joy truly radiates from within, and is reflective of the love that they’ve received in Christ.

Congratulations on your wedding day, Fallon & Seth! It was truly, TRULY an honor to be a part of your beautiful wedding day. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to celebrate with you two and your friends & family!

Vendors: The White Barn, All About Reclaimed (Florist), Rob Pifemaster (DJ), Pennie’s Bake Shop (Cake), Denny Pry (Videographer), Carleigh Stoner (Hair Artist), One Enchanted Evening (Bride’s Dress), Azazie (Bridesmaid Dresses), Zazzle (Invitations), Medure’s Catering, Bob Zonts (Officiant)

Fallon & Seth: Preston Park Engagement Photos

She was in ninth grade, he was in tenth grade - and, after switching to a friend’s lunch period, Fallon noticed Seth, a tall boy in the grade above who she had never met before! Because they were both introverts, it took a while for them to begin talking, but finally began doing so after school basketball games where Seth played, and Fallon cheered. They hit it off - and in May of 2018, Seth asked Fallon to marry him! And here we are, summer of 2019, taking their engagement photos at Preston Park in Butler, PA!

This location wasn’t a random choice for their engagement photos, though - Preston Park is a spot this pair has frequented since high school, and it holds so much special meaning to them, as it’s been home to countless walks and conversations throughout their relationship together!

Fallon and Seth - you are an incredible pair! It’s so easy to see your love and admiration for each other - and that you’re truly best friends! I cannot wait to celebrate you two on your wedding day next year!!! 💛

Tamra & Chad: The Grand Estate at Hidden Acres Wedding Photos

Chad and Tamra’s summer pink and navy wedding took place at the Grand Estate at Hidden Acres on one of the most beautiful, summer July days! These two Office loving, dog parents had one of the most FUN wedding days we’ve seen from beginning to end!

Some of my favorite details included some subtle Office details - like the signature drinks, named after two main characters in the show, Jim & Pam - and the entrance into their reception, which was taken from Jim & Pam’s wedding (in the show)! Not to mention the beautiful invitation suite & signage, designed by the groom himself!

Chad and Tamra, it was such an honor to be a part of your wedding day! I hope these photos serve you well for many years to come! 💛

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Vendors: The Grand Estate at Hidden Acres (Ceremony & Reception), Posies by Patti (Florist), Debi Maker (Makeup), Cheri Parise from Profiles Salon (Hair), Sorelle Bridal (Bride’s Dress), Oakmont Bakery (Cake), DJ Steve Maffei Jr., Nate Cully (Ceremony Music, Violin), Chad Parise (Invitations), David’s Bridal (Bridesmaid Dresses), Men’s Warehouse (Menswear), Hoffstot's Café Monaco (Caterer), Classic Tent Rentals (Linens & Ceremony Decor), Adorkable Weddings (Officiant)

3 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Wedding Photography Investment

The definition of “investment,” according to Google, is a “thing that is worth buying because it may be profitable or useful in the future,” as well as “an act of devoting time, effort, or energy to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result.”

If there’s one thing in relation to your wedding day that you’ll spend money on that could be seen as an investment, per the definition above, I think wedding photography would be it! Wedding photos are one of the few things you’ll have left from your wedding day that will allow you to re-experience everything that happened on your wedding day - the emotions, the joy, the tears, and even the decor and details that you put so much thought and love into! And most importantly, your photos will let you experience the beginning of a new adventure with your now-spouse!

As a wedding photographer, if you’re one of my brides (or considering becoming one of my brides! 😉) one of the most important things to me is that you get the most out of your investment. But how, exactly, can you maximize your investment? I’m all about practical steps, so below, I’m sharing three practical ways to maximize your wedding photography investment and get the most ‘bang for your buck’ (one of my mom’s favorite sayings!) when it comes to your wedding photos!

1.     Have all of your wedding events in the same location… or at least within close proximity.

Having all of your wedding events in the same central location has some major benefits! Going from location to location takes time, which will eat into your wedding day photography coverage. For example, many brides book between 8 to 10 hours of “continuous” wedding day coverage, meaning that if your coverage begins at 12PM, it will end at 8PM, regardless of what events happen during that timeframe, whether ther e are events for your photographer to take photos of or not. If you book 8 hours of wedding day coverage, but are driving between different locations (getting ready location, ceremony location, photo location, and reception), and all are about 20 minutes from each other, that’s 60 minutes of wedding day coverage you’re paying for that your photographer is not taking photos during! However, if you book 8 hours of coverage and do not have to travel between locations, you’ll actually get the full worth of your 8 hour coverage investment!

2.     Ask your photographer how much time to leave for photos… then plan for that amount of time!

A full time wedding photographer will typically photograph anywhere from 20 to 40 weddings each year, dealing with and planning the logistics of each of those weddings. If you’re planning a wedding, you’re more than likely pretty brand-spanking-new to this, and you’ve probably never had to think about things like how long you should leave for things like family photos, bridal party portraits, and/or photos of you with your new spouse on your wedding day! Lucky for you, your photographer has ample amounts of experience in this area – so be sure to ask for their help when planning your timeline! As photographers, we want you to ask for our help, because we want to make sure we have enough time to take the dreamy wedding photos you’ve always wanted!

3.     Sneak out during your reception for some sunset photos or epic night shots!

Once the reception gets going, it can be fun to leave the party for a few minutes to get just a few more photos of you with your new spouse! I usually consider this not only “bonus” portrait time, but time for my couples to have a few minutes to themselves. And I’ve never had a couple tell me that they regretted leaving their reception for a few additional photos, whether it be an epic night photo or a few “golden hour” (or sunset) portraits! Many of these photos end up being my favorites (and my couples favorites!) from the entire day.

All of the photos in the slideshow below were taken during “bonus” portrait time!

Happy planning, friends!

Jenna

This One Thing Can Make or Break Your Wedding Day

Short answer: your timeline.

 A wedding day timeline might not be the most exciting piece of your wedding day to think about, but is the one thing that can make or break your photography experience! Leaving enough time for photos during each portion of your wedding day is essential for setting yourself (and your photographer) up for success to get all of the wedding images you’ve been dreaming of!

Today, I’d love to share a sample timeline, built from a photography perspective to give enough time for photos for each section of the wedding day (note that this might vary from photographer to photographer – this is just the amount of time I feel I need to serve my clients best!). The timeline below includes a first look (if you’re not sure what that is, click here!), and does not include travel time. Any travel time should be added in addition to the estimated times below!

BRIDAL DETAILS

Time: 30-40 minutes

Every bride loves having those beautiful shots of her bridal details. It’s an important part of the story and I love having some time to shoot the dress, shoes, jewelry, invitations, etc. These shots allow me to get warmed up for the rest of the big day. I normally like to allow at least 30-40 minutes for this part of the day.

BRIDAL PREP

Time: 45 minutes

After the details have been photographed, we will jump straight into bridal prep! After some photos of the bride hanging out with her bridesmaids and final touches of makeup, it’s time for the bride to get into her dress! I usually ask the mother of the bride and all of the bridesmaids to be dressed by the time the bride is ready to get into her dress. After the bride is in her gown, she can put on her jewelry, veil, shoes, etc. and I will shoot a few bridal portraits while hair and makeup are fresh!

 If the groom is getting ready nearby, my second photographer will begin photographing the boys close to 40 minutes before they need to leave their location since it always takes boys less time to get ready!

FIRST LOOK

Time: 15 minutes

This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day! I will make sure the location is as private and secluded as possible.  I love to give my couples a few minutes alone together after the first look to soak in the excitement!

BRIDE & GROOM PORTRAITS

Time: 40+ minutes

If there is a first look, after, we will jump straight into photos of the Bride & Groom! This is typically the most relaxing part of the day for the couple, where they have a moment just to be present with each other. Remember, the LIGHT determines where we shoot. We will work together to ensure that any locations you are hoping to incorporate into your wedding photos have the right light during the time of day we’ll be taking your portraits! Remember to add extra time in your timeline for locations separate from the ceremony and/or reception space!

BRIDAL PARTY PORTRAITS

Time: 30 minutes

Now it’s time for Bridal Party shots! During Bridal Party portraits, my second photographer and I will make sure to take some great shots of the guys and girls both separately AND together, as well as a photo of the Bride with each bridesmaid and the Groom with each groomsman.

FAMILY FORMALS:

Time: 30-45 minutes

Family formals normally take place immediately following the ceremony. It’s best to save all of the family formals until after the ceremony because ALL family members will be present at that time. We’ll need about 30 to 45 minutes for family formals (sometimes more, depending on the number of combinations!) and I will send a questionnaire before the wedding where you can list out the shots that you want. I recommend shooting portraits in the ceremony space at the altar directly following the ceremony so that all family members are in one place! However, any outdoor area within short walking distance will also look beautiful!

RECEPTION DETAILS:

Time: 30 minutes

If the ceremony and reception are in different locations, I recommend having a cocktail hour outside of the main reception area if possible so that I can grab some great shots of your reception before the night begins and guests start laying down purses and coats on their seats!

SUNSET OR NIGHT PORTRAITS:

Time: 10-15 minutes

Between 7:00 and 8:00 is the BEST time of day for portraits in the late spring, summer and early fall! This is when the sun is glowy and golden. I love having a few extra minutes with the bride and groom to take a few extra photos during this time frame! Or, if you’re looking for an epic night portrait, we can wait until the sun is completely gone to create more gorgeous images!

As a side note - if your wedding takes place during daylight savings (when the sun sets between 4 and 5PM!), make sure to factor in less daylight the day of your wedding.

BUT WHAT IF I DON’T WANT A FIRST LOOK?

If you are not planning on having a first look, Bride & Groom portraits, as well as bridal party portraits, can take place following the ceremony (after family formals).

Have questions about creating the ideal wedding day timeline? Use the contact tab in the navigation above to reach out - I’d love to help! And in the mean time, happy wedding planning!

Amanda & Chris: McConnell's Mill Winter Engagement Photos

You’ve gotta love Pittsburgh, where temperatures can go from 4 degrees to 40 degrees in less than 12 hours! We rescheduled Amanda and Chris’s engagement session twice due to the freezing temps, which ended up being a great choice with the “real feel” and wind temps dipping below zero both times ❄️And in turn, we were rewarded with an almost 40 DEGREE winter afternoon for their winter afternoon session at McConnell’s Mill! And let me tell you - these two totally rocked it!!

ABOUT AMANDA & CHRIS

Amanda and Chris met over the phone, when Chris was working as a tech support rep. Chris quickly became Amanda’s go-to teach support guy, and as they say - the rest is history! But that first call was a pretty significant one, because when I asked these two when they knew each other was ‘the one,’ Chris said: “The first support phone call I had with her. I never wanted to stop talking to her.” Cue the happy tears!

I have a lot of questions I love to ask couples, but one of my favorites is: “What do you admire most about your significant other?” And because Chris and Amanda’s answers to this question are just so sweet (and so telling of how much they love each other!), I just have to share!

Chris: “Her ability to always make me smile or laugh. She managed to do it on our very first phone call, every call after that, and even every day since."

Amanda: “His determination to teach himself anything he puts his mind to. It’s quite wonderful to watch him figure something out that he’s never done before and then successful (with some trial and error) accomplish what he set out to do. It makes me want to learn from him everyday.”

THE SESSION

One of my very favorite things about Amanda and Chris’s entire session is how much they laughed together! They literally laughed through the entire session - which, I know, sounds so simple. But it made my job so easy! It’s always so fun to see two people who are truly and genuinely best friends loving their time together!

We started off their session at the main park section of McConnell’s Mill, and did a little bit of perilous hiking throughout the snow-covered trails, then headed over to one of my favorite sections of McConnell’s Mill - Cleland Rock! It’s about a 12 minute drive from the main Mill section - but SO worth the drive, especially when it’s covered in snow 😍

Without further ado - I am so excited to share some of my favorite images from Amanda and Chris’s engagement session! 💛

Get a Dose of JHP Straight to Your Inbox!

JHP FINALLY has an email list and I couldn't be more excited about it!! Over the course of the last year, I've had numerous current, former, and soon-to-be clients ask if there is a way they could stay updated on a monthly to bi-monthly basis with things like mini-session dates, cancellations, print specials, the latest blog posts new offerings, discounts, and the like, and I'm finally excited to open up this email list to anyone who would like to join!

With all of that being said, let me tell you a few things this email list is not:

• Spam (I cannot STAND when people send me useless emails!)
• A constant sales pitch (who wants to be sold to all the time?! Not me!)

If you are someone who is looking to stay updated on all things JHP, then this email  list is certainly for you. Sign up below!

Chelsea + TJ: Irons Mill Farmstead Wedding Photos

What an absolute JOY it was to be a part of Chelsea and TJ's wedding day, from start to finish! These two threw a wedding as beautiful as their sweet relationship and I could not be more excited to share these images!

For a little background, I actually worked at my local YMCA as a lifeguard with the bride's twin sister for several years, so when Chelsea reached out to me to photograph her wedding, I was over the moon excited! You might remember these two from their spring McConnell's Mill engagement photos a few months back (see them here!).

For their wedding day, Chelsea and TJ incorporated so many beautiful, bright colors and unique details! My favorite of all of Chelsea's bridal details were her shoes, which, coincidentally, she bought on super sale for six dollars at Macy's (you would never EVER be able to tell!!). You'll also notice some antlers incorporated into the bridal details and reception details - those were added as a nod to TJ's love for hunting, which was the perfect addition to their rustic barn wedding!

Chelsea's twin sister's daughter, Alivia, made her way into quite a few photos, too! She was one of two incredibly sweet flower girls who were a part of the wedding ceremony.

Reception details included the most beautiful cake stand and cupcake stand (all made by the groom himself!), along with lots more antlers, wild flowers, and even a #Nine lit up sign behind the head table. After a little bit of dancing, we took this dynamic duo out into a field for sunset photos at the perfect time. We're so thankful to have been a part of this wedding day! Congratulations on your marriage, Chelsea and TJ - we love you guys!

Vendors:

Ceremony & Reception: Irons Mill Farmstead

Bride’s Dress: Mary’s Bridal (Beaver Falls)

Bride’s Shoes: Macy's

Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstroms; Eliza J (Ross Township)

Hair & Makeup: LUSH Custom Spray Tanning and Makeup

Tuxes: Men's Warehouse (Cranberry Township)

DJ: Faraone Brothers (New Castle)

Flowers: Posies by Patti (Ellwood City)

Caterer: Medure's Catering

Cake/Desserts: Tin Man Sweets (Zelienople)

Honeymoon: Maine; Bar Harbor; Acadia National Park

Irons Mill Farmstead Photos by: Jenna Hidinger Photography

5 Commandments for Mastering Family Formals

Family formals (aka, mom’s favorite pictures from the wedding day [for good reason]) are a necessary component of any wedding day, and are sometimes one part of the day, unfortunately, that stresses brides out the most. From family members making a dash from the ceremony to cocktail hour to your niece (the flower girl) needing to use the restroom, you might be wondering: is there any way to successfully (and quickly) work through the family formals section of a wedding day?

What if I told you, bride-to-be, that family formals don’t have to be so crazy? That all family formals could be done within a short, concise timeframe? By following these five commandments of family formals, you will be sure to make it through your entire list without letting your list take the entirety of cocktail hour:

1. Have a specific list with specific names.

This is the number one most important key to mastering the family formals portion of your wedding day: have a specific list with specific names. Spending five minutes a month before your ceremony writing out exactly who you’d like to have a part of family formals can save lots of time on your wedding day. Don’t forget to touch base with your groom, your mom, and your mother-in-law to make sure their requests are on the list, too!

Our strategy for wedding days is to have a specific list to work from so nothing has to be decided on the fly the day of the wedding (i.e., one less item for the bride to have to coordinate). If we know exactly who needs to be in your formals beforehand, we can start gathering people directly after the ceremony, calling names, and putting people “on deck” for the next photo.

2. Don’t stray from the list.

Commandment number two might be just as important as number one – once you have your list finalized, don’t stray from it! I’ve seen many a list get elongated throughout the family formals timeframe from well-meaning family members who want a specific combination that the bride (and the bride’s family) aren’t interested in having. Allowing friends and family members to elongate the list during this specific timeframe can cut into bridal party portraits, as well as portraits of the bride and groom. Know what shots are important and stick to them!

3. Keep your list simple.

Simplicity is best when it comes to family formals. If you have a limited timeframe to complete formals, keep it short and sweet – keeping the list to immediate family members and grandparents is a great way to save time (less people to gather), and other larger portraits (i.e., your mom’s whole extended side of 30+ people) can be saved for the reception, where the DJ can announce: “we need all of the bride’s mother’s extended family on the dance floor for a photo!” or the like.

4. Let everyone on the list know exactly where they need to be, and when.

What takes up the most time when it comes to family formals? Gathering family members. Alerting family members ahead of time that they will be needed for a photo, whether it’s directly after the ceremony or at an alternative specific time, will save ample amounts of time. Tracking down someone in a 200-300 person crowd can be tough (especially during cocktail hour when there’s food and drink involved!).

5. Bust through your list right after the ceremony.

At your ceremony, everyone will be sitting in the same room – which means everyone is already gathered and ready for formals! After the couple has exited the ceremony, many couples have their pastor make an announcement to have family members remain in their seats so that they’re ready for photos. If no one leaves the ceremony, it’s easier to jump straight into photos!

By following these five commandments of family formals, you’re sure to breeze through your list with ease and efficiency and spend your day celebrating with family members, rather than just taking photos with them – and that’s what is truly important!

Have any tips to add? Drop them in the comments below!