Megan & Sean: Butler Country Club Wedding Photos

I knew I was in for a treat from the moment I met Megan and Sean for their Historic Harmony engagement session this past winter! (Click here to check it out!) Kind, gracious, generous are just a few of the words I would use to describe this pair, and let me tell you - their friends and family fall right into that same category!

Megan and Sean's wedding day began with the ladies getting ready at Megan's parents' house - which just so happens to sit right on the edge of the Butler Country Club golf course! Her parents' house made the perfect backdrop for her gorgeous and classic bridal details - ranging from a dress bought at Kleinfeld's to the most beautiful jewelry and accessories! Though the threat of rain loomed throughout the day, it only sprinkled for all of five minutes on their day - regardless, Megan's parents have the most BEAUTIFUL front porch that we used from practically every angle for photos!

The ceremony took place at First United Methodist Church in the heart of Butler, which included a few personal touches, including a song sung by the bride's brother. It was beautiful!

After their formal exit, we headed back to the Butler Country Club for photos around the property, followed by a reception in the grand ballroom. The room was decked out in beautiful florals (by Julie James) and The Elite Show Band brought so much life to the party! There's nothing quite like a live band at a wedding!

Congratulations on your wedding day, and more importantly, on your marriage, Megan and Sean! Praying all the best for you two as you move forward into this next adventure!

Vendors:

Bride's Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal

Church: First United Methodist Church

Florist: Julie James

Cake: Pennies Bakery

Band/Entertainment: The Elite Show Band

Hair & Makeup: Salon Vivace

Reception: Butler Country Club

Videography: Nathan Kesneck Wedding Videography

Second Shooter: Ashley McLaughlin

Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer: Jenna Hidinger Photography

4 Easy Tips for Improving the Photos You Take of Your Kids

An estimated 2,500 photos are taken every second. (Via source), and 90% of people have only ever taken a photo with a camera phone. With the quality of camera phones improving year by year, some camera phones are beginning to rival DSLRs in their quality and capabilities. But besides measuring levels of quality, such as megapixels or noticeable distortion, how can one improve their picture taking habits to create better, more engaging images?

One specific group who often seek guidance on the subject of photo snapping are parents of young children. Every parent wants to take photos that catch their child in their truest form, just simply being themselves. Here are my top four tips for taking better photos of your kids:

1.  Get down on their level.

Whether it means taking a knee or laying fully on the ground, getting down on a child’s level is the best way to change up the perspective of a photograph, and makes them feel instantly more comfortable.

2.  Put them in shade.

For good reason, many people believe that it’s best to take photos in the middle of the day when the sun is “at it’s brightest.” However, taking photos with kids facing into the bright, harsh sun often result in squinty eyes and harsh shadows. A better method is to find some open shade, where the light is even (resulting in less contrast between bright highlights and dark shadows) where kids don’t have to squint.

3.  Let them move.

Kids NEED to move. They can only sit still for so long before they start squirming. But you know what? Some of my FAVORITE photographs of children are the ones where they’re doing their own thing – whether it’s running around, climbing something, making funny faces, or being tickled, kids are comfortable when they’re moving – not when they’re asked to sit still. So give your child something to do, whether it’s running from one side of the yard to the other, jumping on a trampoline, making funny faces, reading a book out loud, or playing pretend (i.e., the ground is hot lava!), there are so many different ways to keep kids engaged and preoccupied without them even realizing what’s happening – giving you a chance to snap some great action shots!

4.  Don’t just tell them to “smile!”

One sure-fire way to get an awkward looking portrait of a child is to tell them to smile. Time after time, I’ve found that kids whom Mom tells to “smile really big for the camera!” have squinty eyes and a big, tight smile. Much like point number three above, the best way to approach photographing a child is to 1) give them something to do, and 2) talk to them. Never stop asking them questions! Children will engage with your camera when they’re engaging and connecting with you.

What are your favorite tips for taking photos of kids? Add to my list in the comments below!

My Funniest / Most Embarrassing Moments: Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

Wedding photography (and photography in general) can sometimes be seen as a glamorous “picture perfect” profession (pun intended). Sure, there a lot of fun, glamorous parts of wedding photography - like the out-of-this-world venues, perfect light, cookie tables, and fantastic cakes (I’m hungry, can you tell?). But nothing is perfect, even if the photos might make things look that way. So today, I want to share my top embarrassing/funny moments from my photography career thus far – the not so picturesque side of what I do. But really, I just want to promote the fact that we’re all human. We all make mistakes, we all have embarrassing stories, and we all have moments we can look back on and (now) laugh at! So without further ado, here are my top 6 funniest/most embarrassing moments on the job:

1.  A Bird Pooped on my Head

Once, right before one of my engagement sessions was going to begin, a bird pooped on my head. And this wasn’t just a little bit of bird crap. This was a giant, heaping, hot pile of bird crap. That’s right, folks – this is real life.

2.  Laid in Goose Poop

During an engagement session last summer, while I was trying to lay down on the ground to get a different perspective, and laid right in a heap of goose poop. It was all over my pants.

3.  Got Caught Facebook Creeping

When I schedule a consultation with a couple to discuss the possibility of photographing their wedding, I usually look them up on social media so I know what they look like (and can flag them down) before the meeting. On this particular occasion at this particular meeting, I looked up the bride at our meeting location, then clicked the lock button and set my phone on the table. During our meeting, I went to open my phone to look up a photo to show, and BAM – there was the bride’s Facebook page, open on my phone… and they, without a doubt, saw that I had been creeping, because my phone was face up on the table between us!

4.  Stepped on the Dress

During a beautiful bubble ceremony exit from the church, I accidentally stepped on the tail edge of bride’s dress. In front of all of her guests.

5.  Walked into an Invisible Wall

The other day, right after a meeting with one of the sweetest couples at one of my favorite wedding venues (the Omni William Penn Hotel), I walked straight into a glass wall, face first… with my couple still sitting there watching it unfold!

6.  Fell Victim to a Groomsmen Prank

Every once in a while, I photograph weddings with other photographers as a “second shooter” – basically, to aid the main photographer on the wedding day. Typically, while the main photographer is photographing the bride and the bridal party, the second photographer photographs the groom and the groomsmen. Once, when I was working with another photographer and had arrived to photograph the groom and groomsmen in their hotel suite, the groomsmen introduced me to the “groom” and let me believe that he WAS the groom for 15 minutes… before the actual groom walked in. -_-

So there they are. My top 6 most embarrassing / funny moments that have happened to me on the job! Other photographers & wedding vendors – don’t leave me hanging, bearing my embarrassed soul alone. What is one of your most embarrassing / funniest moments from a wedding, event, or photo session?!

7 Questions to Consider for Unique Engagement Photos

Choosing an engagement session location can be a daunting task. With so many options to choose from, especially in Pittsburgh, where do you even begin? As a Pittsburgh wedding photographer, there are a few specific clarifying questions I like to ask my couples to help them think outside of the box for their session to choose a location (or theme) that’s unique to them.

1. Where did you meet?

Let’s go back to where it all began. Having a session where you first met is a great way to incorporate your relationship history. Tess & Phil, in the photos below, met at Seneca Hills Bible Camp. They decided to go back for their engagement photos!

2. Where was your first date?

Was your first date in a restaurant? At the movies? In a theatre? At a bar? At an ice-cream shop or bakery? Let’s go back to that spot! In the photo below, part of Sarah and Steven's first date was at the Bartram House Bakery. Going back to that spot made for some adorable photos that have sentimental value!

3. Where was your favorite date?

Usually, there are certain dates that stand out above others. Is there an anniversary date that stood out above the rest? Did your fiancé plan an epic Valentine’s Day date that you wish you could relive? While discussing options for their engagement photos, Jess and Todd (below) mentioned that they love hanging out on the North Shore around PNC Park. The city made for a perfect backdrop - plus, with the added sentimental value, it was a no brainer for their engagement session location!

4. What do you do you love to do together?

Do you love to eat out together at a certain café? Do you have a coffee shop you visit on a weekly basis? Do you love to cook or bake together? Or maybe you love biking, hiking, or canoeing on the weekend. The options are truly endless!

5. How, when, and where did he propose?

Let’s go back to the start of your engagement.

6. What do you most admire about your fiancé?

Is your fiancé a police officer? In the military? A fire fighter? Trina wanted to incorporate Jeff's love for fire fighting into their engagement photos, and the results are stunning and so personal to the two of them!

7. What is your favorite mutual movie or book?

This one might sound crazy, but movies and books can be so inspirational. Do you love “Tangled?” Buy a couple of floating lanterns and set them off over a lake at sunset!  Love the movie “Up?” Buy a bunch of rainbow balloons for us to play with during your session!

Are there any questions you would add to this list? How did you choose your engagement session location?

5 Ways to Accommodate for Rain on Your Wedding Day

I recently was in a great debate with a friend about whether Pittsburgh is rainier than Seattle. Initially, I thought that there was no way in heck that any other place in the United States could come close to Seattle’s reputation for being rainy, dreary, and overcast. But, as it turns out, Pittsburgh is only 9 days shy of having just as many precipitation days as Seattle (Seattle having 155, Pittsburgh having 146 – source). With 146 rainy (or snowy) Pittsburgh days, a couple of precipitation days are bound to fall on a wedding day now and again. So, what do you do if there is a chance of rain on YOUR wedding day? Or if you’re a wedding photographer, how do you go about finding locations to accommodate for the rain? Here are my top 5 tips for accommodating for rain on a wedding day:

1.  Look for coverage.

In case of rain on a wedding day, it’s helpful to know if there is any large space to shield a bridal party from the rain. This could include: porches, park pavilions, bridges, doorframes, garages, or the like. Some of my personal favorite photos have been taken in spite of the weather - check out a few shots below that were all taken under coverage!

2.  Have a secondary indoor location on stand-by.

If there’s a chance of rain on a wedding day, I always like to try and have a secondary photo location or a section of the church or reception hall where indoor photos can be taken. When looking for an indoor location for photos, take into consideration the amount of natural light in the building or room. Will the photographer need to bring artificial light? If you’re a bride, be sure your photographer has ideas for naturally lit spaces or can rock some off camera flash in case of a rain out!

3.  Bring umbrellas!

The second wedding I ever photographed called for a 100% chance of rain – which scared the crap out of me, because at that point in my career, I wasn’t very comfortable shooting with artificial light (which, thankfully, has totally changed)! So, the night before the wedding, I went out and bought $100 worth of clear, see through umbrellas. Now, I bring those same umbrellas to every single wedding I photograph (yes, even if there’s no chance of rain) - just in case! I’ve only needed to use them a handful of times, but when I’m in a pinch and don’t have an overhang or secondary location to take bridal party and bride & groom portraits, my umbrellas always save the day!

4. Order camera rain gear.

This tip is specifically for photographers – a few years ago, I found out that some kind soul created rain gear for cameras! (Before that point, I used to wrap my camera in Giant Eagle bags – classy, I know!) I’ve heard horror stories of many a DSLR and lens meeting its demise during a hectic wedding day due to water logging. Be sure to protect your camera in some fashion or form, whether it be with a “cost effective” method of wrapping trash bags around your gear, or with some fancy rain gear (here’s a link to a pack of cheap camera covers).

5. Embrace it!

There's something truly beautiful about embracing and finding joy in whatever circumstances are sent your way. As they say, "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." This is especially true on a wedding day! If you're feeling brave, embrace that rain and use it to as a springboard to create something beautiful.

What are your best tips for dealing with rain on a wedding day? Leave a comment below!

5 Ways to Pamper Yourself for Your Engagement Photos

In a world of intense wedding planning, your engagement session is the perfect time to do a little bit of self-care. Below are a few of my favorite suggestions for brides who want to pamper themselves before their engagement session.

1. Have your nails done

Show off your new ring with confidence – typically, during engagement photos, I like to photograph the ring up close on the bride’s hand. Having well groomed nails can make a big difference in those close up ring shots! 

2. Have makeup done

Not many brides consider having their makeup done for their engagement session, but doing so is a great way to pamper yourself! If you are planning on having your makeup done for your wedding, ask your artist if you can schedule your wedding day makeup trial for the day of your engagement session. Typically, a pre-trial is included in your wedding makeup package, so most of the time it won’t even cost you an extra penny!

3. Treat yourself to buying (or renting) a new dress or outfit

This might be my favorite tip of them all! The right outfit makes a HUGE difference in the outcome of the photos. A fun way to treat yourself for your engagement photos could be by buying a new outfit, or by renting one. I recently learned about Rent the Runway and I’m OBSESSED! Rent the Runway has a huge variety of expensive clothing, allowing you to rent for a small fraction of the original price. Lyndsay, my soon-to-be-bride in the photo below, opted for a gorgeous floor length red dress that made her session come together perfectly. And the best part was, she didn’t have to pay hundreds of dollars to look fabulous!

4. Plan to go out to dinner together afterwards

One of my favorite things my husband and I did after our engagement session was to plan to grab a bite to eat after our session ended. Planning to go out to dinner gives you and your soon-to-be-husband something else to look forward to afterwards, and makes the whole evening feel like a date!

By using one (or all) of these tips, you’re sure to have a relaxing, pampered engagement experience!

Becca + Frank: Cathedral of Learning Engagement Session

There's something about freezing winter temperatures that make a shoot feel all the cozier! Becca and Frank's Pittsburgh engagement session started off inside the Cathedral of Learning, then gradually moved outside to the Mellon Institute (where they dealt with the cold like champs!). These two were so natural in front of the camera - I could've photographed them all day! They talked, laughed, and just enjoyed each other (plus, Frank is awesome at what I like to call the "tackle hug," which you will see below :) ). I loved working with these two and couldn't be more excited to photograph their wedding in 2017!

How Do I Clean My Engagement Ring at Home?

The morning after I got engaged, I remember going for a run and being distracted by my new glittering engagement ring. I also remember wondering how long the shine would last – and the answer, of course, was not very long! Within a few weeks, I noticed my ring wasn’t sparkling quite so brightly and needed a bit of a cleaning. If you’re a do-it-yourself person like me, you might be wondering if there is a way to clean your engagement ring at home. And lucky for you, there is! Here are the steps to safely cleaning your engagement ring on your own time:

1.     Fill a cup or bowl with warm water.

2.     Add a few drops of dish soap.

3.     Soak for 5 minutes.

4.     Scrub gently with an unused toothbrush.

5.     Rinse the ring in warm water.

6.     Use a soft cloth to wipe dry.

7.     Repeat every six or so weeks.

And voila – your ring is back to distracting you on your morning run! Have a tip for cleaning an engagement ring at home? Leave it in the comments below! 

2016 Best of Engagements: Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers

Engagement sessions are my favorite way to get to know my couples. This year, so many of my couples had such unique ideas for incorporating their personalities into their sessions! Check out some of my favorite engagement photos from this year below:

Best Wedding Desserts 2016: Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers

If you follow any number of wedding photographers, you might've noticed a trend: wedding photographers love to put out a "best of" blog post at the end of the year, highlighting favorite photos of amazing couples, beautiful venues, stunning florals and personal details.  I LOVE "best of" blog posts, especially from other photographers, and as I was creating my annual "best of wedding photography" blog post, I came to a realization: I was including a TON of photos of dessert (what does this say about me? ;) ). Cakes, cookies (Pittsburgh cookie table, anyone?), candy, smores, pies - you name it, I love to photograph it. So in addition to an annual "best of wedding photos" blog post, I decided to create a "best of desserts, 2016" post highlighting all of the best cakes, cookie tables, and unique desserts my awesome couples incorporated into their weddings this year! ENJOY.