The Problem with Wedding Photographers...

A few weeks ago, I had an eye opening conversation with a friend.

We were walking around the mall (that’s what we have to do in Pittsburgh when it’s 6 degrees outside ;) ), and we started talking about business. We moved on to weddings. Then we moved on to our couples and to photographing them on their wedding days, one of the most significant days of their lives.

Then, we started talking about something that got my gears spinning. A question was brought up: am I shooting for my couples, or am I shooting for me?

The weight of this question hit me by surprise. Of COURSE I’m shooting for my couples, I mused. Why else would I be photographing all of these weddings if I wasn’t?

But then, the gears kept turning, and I thought back to a conversation I had with a former coworker. Recently married, I asked him what he would do differently about his wedding day, if he could. He answered “I’d insist that we take less pictures. I love how they turned out, but I missed out on a lot of my wedding day because we kept leaving to take photos. Before the ceremony, after the ceremony, during cocktail hour, and during our reception, we were pulled out multiple times for more photos. They insisted that we keep leaving our friends and family for more photos without taking our opinion into consideration.”

Whoa. As a wedding photographer, this hit me right in the gut. I began to wonder: am I putting too much pressure on my couples for the photos that I want? Or do they really want them, too?

Of course, there’s a balance, like with anything. Good photos take time.  It takes time to get a series of photos that represent who a couple is, to capture their friends and family, and to do it all in less time than an engagement session typically takes.

But, the question still remains: am I unnecessarily putting expectations on my couples to take photos that they don’t really want? Are we missing the boat as wedding photographers and camouflaging our desire to get photos that we love while sacrificing our the desires of our couples on one of the biggest days of their lives?

If wedding photography becomes about anything besides the couple, then we’re doing it wrong. We’ve missed the boat. We might say we’re in it for our couples, but in reality, we’re only in it for ourselves. That’s when wedding photography becomes selfish. And the temptation to make it about ME, the wedding photographer, is a great one. But if we can keep our eyes on what truly matters – on capturing this beautiful, sacred union and these two individuals on the first day of the rest of their lives, our focus will stay where it was always meant to be: on our couples.

Creative Outfit Ideas for Engagement Photos

Trying to find an outfit for your engagement photos?! Shopping for a whole new outfit might seem like the only option, but in reality, there are so many other ways to make a killer engagement session outfit without draining your bank account! Below are three of my top tips for getting creative with your outfits!

1.  Rent a dress or outfit from Rent the Runway!

I learned about Rent the Runway last year and I’m OBSESSED! Rent the Runway has a huge variety of expensive clothing, which can all be rented for a fraction of the original price! Lyndsay, a 2017 JHP bride, opted for a gorgeous floor length red dress that made her session come together perfectly with the neutral winter backdrop. And the best part was, she didn’t have to pay hundreds of dollars to look fabulous!

2.  Repurpose an old bridesmaid dress (or any dress, for that matter!).

So, you bought a bridesmaid dress, only to wear it once and have it sit in your closet for a number of years. There are plenty of tutorials on Pinterest about upcycling or repurposing bridesmaid dresses into pillows or dresses for your kids, but what about repurposing your dress into something that you can wear again?

One of my brides, Hilary, was in a wedding where she wore a beautiful tulle, dusty blue bridesmaid dress. After the wedding, she decided that she wanted to find another way to wear the dress – so she had it made into a floor length skirt!

For her engagement session, she paired the dusty blue skirt with a simple black top, and wa-la! The perfect, upscale, classy outfit for an engagement session! Besides the color of the skirt (which was perfect for winter engagement photos!), Hilary’s skirt was full of body and movement, which always looks gorgeous in photographs!

3.  Uplevel your accessories!

One way to get creative with an outfit for your engagement photos is to “uplevel” your accessories! One little black dress can be transformed with a hat, scarf, statement necklace, shawl, belt, or even just the right pair of shoes. Accessories are also more cost-effective than purchasing a whole new dress or outfit and can easily be worn with a variety of different pieces in any season!

Tess and Phil (pictured below) had their engagement photos taken at the camp they met at, so they dressed in clothing to match the camp experience! Tess wore a hat and the most adorable boot/sock combination. Paying attention to these seemingly small accessories can make the biggest difference in the overall final product!

Looking for more ways to prep for your engagement session? Check out “5 Ways to Pamper Yourself for Your Engagement Photos!”

Tired of Awkward Senior Photos?

I've heard a lot from seniors and soon-to-be high school seniors over the years about how painfully awkward senior sessions can be. And let me be the first to say raise my hand and agree  because MINE was!  But I truly believe that having your photo taken is mean to be a fun, encouraging experience from start to finish! Can senior photos be awkward, and boring? Absolutely. But you'll find that the mom and senior's experience below was the complete opposite! This review is to show you one thing: pictures can (and should be) be fun!

"Jenna,

I just want thank you from the bottom of my heart, for making this one of the best days ever for Meg. You made her feel so beautiful and confident during your session, she felt and looked like a movie star. I looked through these amazing photos, shedding tears of happiness and pride as to what a beautiful young woman Meg has become. I am also thankful that we picked you to share this day with all of us to capture her senior year and savor it forever. You are truly gifted and I will recommend you to everyone I know. Thank you so much. Love my Megpie - Lincoln High Class of 2018!!"

A huge thanks to this sweet mom for her incredibly kind and encouraging words. They mean so much!

Pittsburgh Area Location Ideas for Engagement Photos

It’s no secret that finding a location for engagement photos can be daunting task! I've put together a little list to share a few of my personal favorite locations for engagement photos in the Pittsburgh area!

1.     Mellon Park

Why: One of my favorite features about Mellon Park is its diversity. It includes a variety of different elements within a short walking distance, including a garden, woods, gate, and stone architecture with archways, doorways, and lots of character. There is a lot to work with in this location, and is a great spot to choose if you’re interested in having a mix of nature and classic architecture.

Best Time of Year: Year round!

Sample Sessions from Mellon Park:

Leah & Conner (Summer/Fall)

Hilary & Luke (Winter)

2.     Historic Harmony

Why: One of my favorite features about Historic Harmony is all of the different features within a short walking distance! Harmony is a historic German town that’s been preserved with beautiful brick buildings and unique features. There’s a little coffee shop nearby (Wunderbar Café) as well as a field just down the road that lights up beautifully at sunset! If you love color in photos, this place is definitely for you!

Best Time of Year: Year round! All of the different buildings and features lend themselves to being beautiful yearround.

Sample Sessions from Historic Harmony:

Melissa & Matt (Summer)

Victoria & Kevin (Winter)

Megan & Sean (Winter)

3.     Hartwood Acres

Why: One of my favorite features about Hartwood is its diversity. It includes a variety of different elements within a short walking distance, including a garden, woods, gate, and a stone mansion with archways, doorways, and lots of character. There is a lot to work with in this location, and is a great spot to choose if you’re interested in having a mix of nature and classic architecture.

Best Time of Year: Year round! However, if you’re interested in using the garden, it’s best to schedule between the spring and fall.

Sample Sessions from Hartwood Acres:

Sarah & Mike (Spring)

Jackie & Mike (Summer)

Valerie & Matt (Fall)

4.     McConnell’s Mill (and Cleland Rock)

Why: The more I shoot at McConnell’s Mill, the more I love it! There are so many different elements to work with – some within walking distance, and some within a short driving distance. In the central part of McConnell’s, there is the wood mill, river, waterfalls, rocks, and roads. Within a short driving distance, there is a field and “Cleland Rock,” which has become a personal favorite of mine for it’s West Virginia-like views!

Best Time of Year: I’ve taken photos at McConnell’s during every season and can honestly say that I love photographing clients there year ‘round! However, I do find it to be especially beautiful in the winter when everything is covered in snow!

Sample Sessions from McConnell's Mill:

Lyndsay & Justin (Winter)

Amanda & Chris (Winter)

Lauren & Bill (Summer)

5.     Allegheny Commons Park & the North Shore

Why: One of my favorite combinations of locations is Allegheny Commons Park and the North Shore in Pittsburgh! Allegheny Commons Park has the typical park setting, but also has a view of the city straight from the park and over a bridge! Also nearby (within walking distance) are the famous “Mexican War Streets” which offer some beautiful urban architecture. The North Shore is only about a ten minute drive from Allegheny Commons Park with views of the city and the iconic Pittsburgh yellow bridges!

Best Time of Year: Year round, but if you’re looking for greenery in the park, I suggest booking spring through fall!

Sample Sessions from Allegheny Commons & the North Shore:

Jenna & Tom (Winter)

Lauren & Michael (Early Fall)

6.     Phipp’s Conservatory & Oakland

Why: Oakland has lots of beautiful locations to work with within a mid to long range walking distance. Within just a few blocks of space is: the Cathedral of Learning, Frick Fountain, Mellon Institute, Phipp’s Conservatory and Heinz Chapel, as well as some beautiful spots for natural imagery.

Best Time of Year: Oakland looks beautiful yearround with it’s gorgeous architecture!

Sample Sessions from Phipp’s & Oakland:

Rebecca & Yeddie (Early Winter, Oakland - Mellon Institute, Schenley Fountain, Frick Fine Arts Building, Cathedral of Learning)

Amy & Mike (Summer, Phipp's)

Sam & Matt (Summer, Phipp's/Oakland)

Lulu & Ricky (Spring, Oakland)

7.     Fellows riverside gardens

Why: Technically, this location is not in the Pittsburgh area (it’s actually in Youngstown!) but I love it SO much that I had to put it on this list. Fellows Riverside Gardens is a beautiful park that is at its prime in the Spring! It has some gorgeous architectural elements, and, as you can tell from the photos below… lots of flowers at the right time of year!

Best Time of Year: It’s at its best in the spring!

Sample Sessions:

Jordan & Robbie (Spring)

How Can I Make Sure My Wedding Photos are Safe?!

My mom used to always say "if our house was burning down, the one thing I would make sure to grab (of course, after the kids!) would be my wedding album."

Lucky for those of us who tied the knot in the digital age, most of the time our photos are backed up on a cloud, or even to social media pages, allowing memories to live on even after disaster strikes. But I think there's something to be said about my mom's sentiment, and the importance of printed photos. Those photos in her wedding album tell the story of the beginning of her life with my dad, and of our lives as a family. They're precious, and priceless. They are the family legacy - an heirloom that, God willing, will be handed down generation after generation so everyone can see where, and how, it all started.

So, as a bride, what's the best way to go about making sure YOUR wedding images are safe? Below are a few tips for backing up your precious memories that will ensure - no matter what happens - that you will have them for years to come!

1. Invest in a professional wedding album.

I know what you're thinking: but they're so expensive! Trust me, I was a bride not too long ago and I can completely understand hesitancy based on price when it comes to professional wedding albums! Wedding albums are not only expensive for brides to invest in, but are also pricey for photographers to order, due to the high-quality materials used. A professional album will have thick, professional archival photo paper with the highest quality leather or linen, built to last for years to come. Some even go the extra mile to include a high quality storage box to keep it even safer! A wedding album is not only another great way to "back up" your wedding photos, but is a physical heirloom to pass down from generation to generation. That CD or USB drive you have might be great for making prints, but are you sure you'll be able to show your kids and grandkids your photos in 10, 20, or even 50 years? Technology will be much further then - you never know if those storage devices will even be around!

2. Store your photos on a cloud server.

With so many options for cloud storage nowadays, it's easier than ever to make sure your photos are somewhere safe outside of your home, in the case of fire, flood, or damage. A few of my favorites for online storage are: Dropbox, Google Drive, and Carbonite.

3. Spread the love to parents, grandparents, and other family members!

What do I mean by this? Well, in addition to investing in an album for yourself, consider investing in an album for your parents, your spouse's parents, and even your grandparents! Not only do albums (or coffee table books!) make nice gifts, but in the case of a fire or flood (God forbid!) your wedding photos are safe somewhere else. Plus - albums and coffee table books make great (and easy!) Christmas and birthday gifts after your wedding day!

4. Check to see how long your photographer keeps your wedding photos.

Some photographers keep all of the photos from your wedding day long after the event (I fall into this camp!) and some toss them after the event is over. Check with your wedding photographer to see how long they hold onto your digital files, and even ask how they back them up. Personally, I back up every wedding to two external hard drives, an online gallery system, and a cloud storage backup - mainly because I would want someone to do the same for me!

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If you are interested in creating a wedding album, shoot me a message or send me an email at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com to learn more about the albums we offer!

What's in My Bag (Part 3): Accessories

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from fellow photographers (or those looking to get into photography) is “what’s in your bag?” I decided to finally write a series of blog posts detailing the current gear that I use because, when I was starting out, I knew how much it helped to know what gear those in the field found useful, because, let’s be honest – there is SO MUCH gear out there. How are you supposed to know what will work best for YOU and the type of photos you love to shoot?

So if you just so happen to be interested in the tools I use to create photos, you are in luck! Last but not least in the "What's in my Bag" series are my favorite random accessories!

Expo Disc (White Balance Filter)

This has become my new favorite accessory that I take with me everywhere! A white balance filter allows you to easily set a custom white balance for any lighting scenario – for example, in a church with  mixed lighting, etc. It has saved me from some pretty ugly lighting many a time this year!

Fotocreat 5 in 1 43” Reflector

I cannot go to any shoot or wedding without my little pop-up reflector! I find such a HUGE difference in my work, especially for senior portraits, when I use a reflector! It just adds that extra “pop” to images by bouncing light into people’s eyes. I would go as far as to say that consistently using a reflector has been the biggest game changer in my work. I love this reflector in particular because it has a handle, so I can use it on my own if need be!

Neewer 150x200 cm Reflector

Call me crazy, but I love my reflectors so much that I invested in TWO! I love having a larger reflector because, as you may be able to deduce, it reflects more light – I can easily use it for couples, bridal parties, or full-body senior shots. I typically need an assistant to help me with this one, though, which is the only downside!

My Embarrassing Confession as a Wedding Photographer

I have a confession: I disliked planning my own wedding. Granted, the year we got married I was finishing my last year of undergrad with a double major, working part-time, building a business, and holding down an internship (while I slowly drove myself insane). I thought planning would be all cookies and taste testings, but for someone who isn't the best decision-maker on the planet (raise your hand if you can relate 🙋) , wedding planning turned into a constant wearing down of my patience. One decision after another - flowers, seating charts, tuxes, bridesmaid dresses, shoes, hair, makeup - the list went on and on, and sometimes it felt completely endless. Maybe you're in the same boat.

I remember complaining about all of the decisions I had to someone, and then it struck me: the only decision that REALLY matters at all is the decision I've already made: to marry Nick. The toughest, most important one was already done. And somehow, that one realization brought so much peace into my life, not because it made any of the other decisions go away, but because it shrunk down the importance of any other decision I WOULD make from then on out when it came to anything wedding related.

So if you're a bride and you're in a similar season, remember: your choice of venue, direction of details, and even your appearance on the day of your wedding all pales in comparison to the man you've chosen to spend the rest of your life loving, serving, and respecting.

What's in My Bag (Part 2): Lighting & Accessories

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from fellow photographers (or those looking to get into photography) is “what’s in your bag?” I decided to finally write a series of blog posts detailing the current gear that I use because, when I was starting out, I knew how much it helped to know what gear those in the field found useful, because, let’s be honest – there is SO MUCH gear out there. How are you supposed to know what will work best for YOU and the type of photos you love to shoot?

So if you just so happen to be interested in the tools I use to create photos, you are in luck! Second up in the "What's in my Bag" series are my favorite lighting tools and modifiers!

These are probably some of the least expensive lighting products on the market, but I LOVE them. These Yongnuo speedlights and transceivers are SUPER easy to use, and have always been very reliable in terms of firing (for me). I usually have to replace these every one to two years, but they are so cheap that I don’t even mind!!

Lighting Equipment:

(3) Yongnuo Speedlight YN 560 III for Canon

These speedlights can be used on Canon cameras or off camera, using a receiver or transceiver (see below for more info on those!)

(3) Yongnuo YN-622C Wireless ETTL Flash Trigger Receiver Transmitter Transceiver

These transceivers are inexpensive and work with the above speedlights!

Light Modifiers & Stands:

(2) Westcott  43" White Shoot Through Umbrella

I love these white shoot through umbrellas for clean, evenly spread light, and typically use one or two of these with speedlights for family formals at weddings!

(1)  Westcott Rapid Box 26" Octa Softbox

In addition to having a few shoot through umbrellas, I love having at least one softbox I can bust out if need be! This softbox is incredibly easy to set up and is perfect for photographing portable, on the go sessions and events. In contrast to umbrellas, softboxes provide more concentrated light. I love using this one in particular for couples or individuals!

(3) Ravelli ALS Full 10' Air Cushioned Light Stand

These air cushioned light stands are my favorite for lighting receptions and dance floors! Their height allows me to place speedlights high above guest heads for less disruption during reception activities.

More Than a Wedding Vendor

One thing I hear most from people when talking about wedding photography is their fear of choosing vendors who care only about booking more jobs, not about the couple themselves. But I truly believe that couples deserve more than just a vendor - they deserve a friend and encourager who can come alongside them before, during, and after the wedding planning process - not just on the day of!

"Jenna is absolutely AMAZING. I can't imagine any aspect of my wedding without her. From the minute I found her, to meeting with her in person, to our engagement photos, to my endless emails and her very speedy, friendly, knowledgeable responses, to her meeting me at a local coffee shop and helping me create a wedding day timeline, to my wedding day itself. Also, can we just take a minute to go back to that day at the coffee shop when Jenna met with me? Yes, this wonderful, talented photographer took an hour and a half out of her extremely busy schedule to buy me coffee and help me create a detailed wedding day timeline. Jenna is the most genuine, thoughtful, positive person. Her passion for both photography and people is very apparent. It was a true joy working with her and her husband, Nick. My husband and I consider ourselves very lucky and blessed that they captured so many special moments for us. I would hire her again in a heartbeat. We're so grateful for everything, Jenna and Nick! We truly can't thank you enough." - Lyndsay, 2017 Bride

Hilary + Luke: Mellon Park Winter Engagement Photos

I am so excited to introduce you to this couple! Hilary and Luke drove in from Ohio for their engagement session and were absolute champs in Pittsburgh's freezing temps! We started off their session at Coffee Tree Roasters in Bakery Square, then made our way to (an empty) Mellon Park where we were able to catch some of that beautiful afternoon winter light.

Hilary brought a beeeautiful dusty blue skirt, which she had tailored from a previously used bridesmaid dress. Talk about some beautiful upcycling! The blue tones complimented the wintery backdrop perfectly. I can hardly wait to photograph Hilary and Luke's wedding in just a little over two months! ♥