Josef C: McConnell's Mill Senior Photos

You never know what sort of weather you’ll get in March in Pittsburgh, but on this particular Saturday for Josef’s senior photos… we had… wait for it… SUN! It may have been a little cold (30’s?), but the sun kept our heads and spirits high during this session!

Josef is a senior at Seneca Valley who plans on studying botany post-high school graduation! McConnell’s Mill was an easy choice as far as location goes for his senior session, considering it’s a favorite spot of his for hanging out with friends. It was easy to see his love for botany throughout the session. Even though much of the landscape was still slightly dead from winter, Josef identified plants for us as we went throughout his session - which was so much fun! Honestly, I don’t give plants very much thought when I’m out walking around, so it was cool to be able to see what I usually miss through Josef’s eyes!

A HUGE congratulations to you, Josef, on your senior year! I’m so thankful we had the opportunity to photograph you!

Garrett D: Historic Harmony Senior Photos

How is it already March?! I’m not sure about you, but January and February seemed to FLY by this year! We spent those two months moving into our new home, and going to Disney (since the winter is my “vacation” time!), but towards the end of those two months was Garrett’s senior session in Historic Harmony!

While February can be a toss up when it comes to weather, the day of Garrett’s senior session was absolutely gorgeous! The sun was shining and it was relatively warm for a Pittsburgh winter day! I know Garrett was especially thankful to not have his photos done in the snow! 👏

Garrett’s mom and sister joined us for his photos, and they were so much fun! Bringing a family member or friend along to your senior session can be a great way to feel a bit more comfortable during your session… and they can even step in front of the camera for a couple of photos towards the end of our time together!

Garrett is a Seneca Valley senior who plans on heading into the Navy post-high school graduation, and hopes to work in Marketing and Business someday! Harmony ended up being the perfect choice for his session, considering that he loves historic towns like Charleston and Williamsburg!

He also brought along a purple hat in honor of his grandma's battle with pancreatic cancer. Such a sweet tribute!

Congratulations on your senior year, Garrett!

Favorite (Non-Cheesy) Simple Props for a Senior Session

One of the most common questions I get when it comes to senior photos is: “should I bring any props?”

Props can be a great way to add personality to your senior session and make your photos your own! Many of my seniors, when thinking about props, voice that they are afraid that their photos will appear “cheesy” if any are added in.

Truth be told – some props can be a little cheesy, but fear not! Within the world of cheesy props, there are some props that never seem to go out of style – regardless of what is currently trending! And a big part of what can make a prop look cheesy is how it is incorporated. I love using props to add personality to a client’s images in the least cliche way possible!

Today, I’d love to share a few of my favorite simple, non-cheesy (at least to me!) props, and how I love to incorporate them into my client’s images without being overly cheesy!

Instruments

If playing an instrument is a big part of your life, then it could be a fun addition to your senior photos! For the center images below, we went for a VERY subtle music themed shot by throwing some old sheets of music in the air!

Sports Equipment

Have a sport that you’ve played since middle school, or that you want to pursue professionally? Or maybe just a sport that you absolutely love? Consider incorporating one or two items from that sport into your session! You don’t necessarily have to pull out your entire uniform to add a touch of “sports” to your photos - even one football or a pair of ice skates can do the trick!

Hobbies

This might be one of my favorite categories, because the possibilities really are endless, and there are ample opportunities to get creative!

Love biking? Bring an old vintage bike with you to your session! Love Harry Potter? Bring you time turner necklace or Gryffindor scarf to add a hint to the best book series of all time 😉 Or if you want to go big, have your photos taken with the airplane you’re learning to fly on! There are soooo many possibilities when it comes to incorporating your hobbies - and it’s easy to either go with more “obvious” props (like a camera, if you love photography!) or with more subtle ones (like a backpack, if you love hiking/adventuring!).

Pets

If there’s any sure-fire way to feel comfortable in front of the camera, it’s definitely by having your furry friend present! Honestly, I wish I had gotten photos with my childhood dog for my own senior photos. It can be fun to have a few quick shots of you two interacting together!

If you are interested in bringing a fury friend to your senior session, be sure to check out this blog post (technically it’s an engagement blog post, but it is a great resource for any type of session where a dog is present!) for some of my best tips!

Accessories

Do accessories count as a prop? Absolutely! A hat, a scarf, beautiful coat, umbrella, or any particular accessory you’re currently feeling can be a great way to add a little visual interest to your images! (And don’t worry, we can do some with, and some without to get a good variety!)

Flowers

This has truly become a favorite of mine over the last couple of years! Flowers can add SO MUCH to your images, especially when you coordinate them with your outfits! They can be held, thrown, arranged on the ground, carried in a basket… and more! This is a great option for adding a softer, more feminine look to your photos.

To make this one more personal, bring your favorite type of flower to your session! Or maybe a flower that is your favorite color? You could do stemmed flowers, flowers with the heads cut off (great for those “laying in the grass” shots!), or even just petals for throwing/spreading on the ground!

A Special Outfit

This is another one of my favorites! If you have a prom or homecoming dress that you want professional photos in, or a special cultural outfit you only wear on special occasions, why not bring it with you to your senior session? It will definitely make your photos different from your friends’!

What do you think… are props for senior photos cheesy, or is there still a place for them where they can look natural?

Pittsburgh Senior Photographer: Senior Photo Highlights 2020

Another year, another highlight post for the seniors I’ve photographed in 2020! Some represented the Class of 2020, some the Class of 2021 - but all were an absolute pleasure to work with!

Honestly, I wasn’t sure how many senior sessions I would get to photograph this year with the ongoing pandemic - but, thankfully, it’s easy to photograph people outdoors with long lenses, even in the midst of so many changes and regulations! 😉To all of the parents and seniors who still trusted me to capture this season for you: THANK YOU! I really can’t say it (or type it!) enough. Thank you for letting me be a part of this year with you! And a huge congratulations again to the seniors and parents of seniors who made it through this crazy year!

If you are a Class of 2021 senior who has yet to schedule their photos, or a Class of 2022 senior who is looking to have their photos taken, feel free to reach out via the contact tab above, or directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com. I’d be more than happy to give you some additional information!

Bryce W: Snowy Historic Harmony Senior Photos

Bryce is a Seneca Valley senior who loves music… and the snow! Which is great, because we had a LOT of it the day of his session. We were able to get some super unique images in one of my favorite locations for him because he was willing to push through the cold!

Congratulations on your senior year, Bryce!

Nate T: Historic Harmony Senior Phots

Nate is a 2021 senior who plays football, loves camping, and tacos! This was another cold weather session, but Nate was a champ, and I think you can barely even tell how cold it really was! Congratulations on your senior year, Nate!

Avery G: North Shore Pittsburgh Senior Photos

Avery is a senior graduating with the Class of 2021 from a local performing arts school! This lovely lady is proficient in music, makeup, and hair - and as you can see from her super FUN blue hair, she has a knack for individual style!

We had a very VERY cold day for Avery’s senior photos… but that didn’t stop us from shooting along the North Shore of Pittsburgh, and getting some great images! We visited one of Avery’s favorite spots, Stage AE, where she has seen multiple concerts throughout her life! It was a nice nod to her love for music, too.

Avery, it was such an honor to take these photos for you! Congratulations on your senior year my friend!!

Mareena P: Hartwood Acres Senior Photos

It’s rare to have the opportunity to capture the beauty of two different seasons in one session… but Mareena’s session was perfectly time to capture the end of summer (and the colorful gardens of Hartwood!) and the beginning of fall (with a few trees starting to change colors!). That’s what an end of September/early October session timeslot will get you! 😍

We also had a beautiful, overcast day for her photos, which made the sunlight extra soft and diffused through the clouds! Don’t be afraid of having your photos taken on an overcast day. Your photos will still be bright and colorful!

Mareena is a class of 2021 Seneca Valley senior who is in the JROTC, is involved in concert choir, and loves to draw and paint! We used a few music sheets from her collection to throw in the air for a couple of shots, as a very subtle ode to her love for music!

Congratulations on your senior year, Mareena! It was an honor to photograph you!

Shawn M: Historic Harmony Senior Photos

Shawn is a class of 2021 senior who just so happens to be into one of my most obvious favorite things: photography! He even brought his camera gear + bag (which was much cooler than mine) with him for a couple of shots. We had a great time photographing this guy around Historic Harmony on a beautiful fall day! Congratulations on your senior year, Shawn!!!

Sean C: Historic Harmony Senior Photos

Sean is a Pine Richland senior who plays baseball! I had the honor of taking his senior photos on one of the early fall evenings of September, and we had a great time exploring all of the different backdrops that Harmony has to offer! Congratulations on your senior year, Sean!