Emily & Jared: The Atrium (Butler) Winter Wedding Photos

Ah, my first wedding blog of 2020! 🎉 It feels good to be back! And truly, I couldn’t think of a better couple to kick it off with. Emily and Jared were married at the end of February at the Atrium in Butler on one of the most beautiful February, Pittsburgh days I could’ve imagined. The skies were blue, the temperature was unseasonably warm, and there were just so many things about this wedding and this couple that made my wedding-loving heart so full!

An important (yet not defining) piece of this wedding day story: Emily and Jared were displaced from their wedding venue nearly two weeks before they were to exchange “I do’s.” They were slated to get married at another venue, which was shut down due to bankruptcy. There are so many reasons why Emily and Jared could’ve been upset, why they could’ve let it ruin their wedding day, but they did not. To them, the important thing was that they were getting MARRIED! Not even a bankrupt wedding venue could spoil their joy - and, let me tell you, there was so much joy on their wedding day.

We started out the day at Emily’s parents’ beautiful home for getting ready photos, then headed off to the Atrium. Emily wore a necklace Jared had given her, featuring blue gems from his grandmother’s engagement ring. The first event upon arriving was a first look between Emily and her dad in the ceremony space, right in front of the wooden cross he made for her and Jared to exchange their vows in front of. It was hard to imagine a better spot!

The ceremony took place in the greenhouse-turned-ceremony-space at the Atrium, and that room has THE most beautiful, natural light. I could’ve shot all day in there! They were gifted some Chick-fil-A goodies during the ceremony, too, which was a fun twist to a traditional wedding ceremony! Photos below ;)

The rest of the day went how most weddings do: photos, ceremony, reception, exit. But something special happened during the reception: Jared played and sang a song he wrote just for Emily, just for that very moment (click here to listen!). It was a beautiful moment, with few dry eyes throughout the crowd!

What I love most about this wedding day was this: it was extremely, incomprehensibly apparent that these two love each other beyond measure - that they were focused on each other, being joined before God, and that THAT is what truly mattered when it came to this day. Don’t get me wrong - this was one beautifully designed and coordinated day, but the physical beauty of the day in no way took over the most important piece as focus: the marriage. And that is what I’ll continue to pray for each and every one of my couples: that they will have a marriage and a relationship far more beautiful than their wedding day, and that they will never let the obstacles leading up to their wedding day take the place of what truly matters.

I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite images from their wedding day below!

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Vendors: The Atrium (Ceremony & Reception Venue), Laura Theme (Wedding Planner, greenery, archway), Posies by Patti (bouquets & boutonnières), 2ND II NONE PRODUCTIONS, Sorelle Bridal Salon, Bistro To Go Café & Catering, Eventioneers Event Rentals

The White Barn (Prospect, PA): Favorite Pittsburgh Wedding Venues

A PHOTOGRAPHER’S PERSPECTIVE

In this venue feature, I’m excited to introduce you to one of my all-time favorite venues: The White Barn (in Prospect, PA)! This venue is especially special to me because it’s actually where my husband and I got married in August of 2015! 💕 It is SO fun to know the venue so well, not just from a vendor/photographer perspective, but from a bride’s perspective, too!

In this venue highlight, I hope to share some of my favorite attributes of the White Barn when it comes specifically to photos – mainly, why I love shooting there, how picturesque the venue is from a photographer’s point of view, and how rain could affect your wedding photos here! My hope is to help you see the potential of this wedding venue (specifically from a photography perspective) so you can ensure that your photos will be gorgeous!

PICTURESQUE

One of the things I love most about the White Barn is the wide variety of opportunity for tons of different types of portraits! The barn itself is a beautiful backdrop - the white paneling makes for clean, bright photos! The area behind the barn (the ceremony space, pond, and field) also provide ample variety for tons of beautiful photo ops! If you’re brave, you could even use their row boat to get some portraits on the lake! (I’d recommend doing this post-ceremony, though, just in case 😉). I’ve included a few of my favorite spots for portraits below!

RAIN PLAN

• Ceremony: One thing that sold the White Barn to me as a bride was that everything could be done inside, if needed. Typically, ceremonies at the White Barn are held behind the barn, in front of the pond, but if it’s too cold, too hot, or too windy or rainy, the ceremony can easily be held indoors in the same space as the reception.

• Portraits: As far as a rain plan for portraits at the White Barn goes, there are a few different options that provide great coverage! On the back and lower level of the barn, there is an overhang area with natural light and a white backdrop that could work in the case of rain! The ceremony space arbor is also covered and could shield people from the rain (while also having some natural light to work with!), while still getting an outdoor “look.” And, if the reception space is clear of guests, the interior of the barn could be used for portraits, too! (Below are a few sample images of potential rain spots! From left to right: (1) the covered ceremony arbor, (2) the inside of the reception space, and (3 + 4) the covered area on the lower level back of the barn).

OTHER MENTIONABLES

When I was a bride here back in August of 2015, one of the non negotiable items when choosing where to have our ceremony and reception was that everything had to happen on the same property. I wanted to get ready where my ceremony and reception would be because I had seen from photographing weddings how much more at ease my couples were when everything happened in the same place! No need to worry about driving from one place to the next, losing people in traffic or being late, because everything was right in the same place! That is yet another reason why I LOVE White Barn. The bride, groom, and entire bridal party can all get ready ON property, then just walk outside to the ceremony and into the barn for the reception. Talk about convenient!

If you are a bride who is looking into the White Barn as a potential wedding venue, I would love to chat with you more! Feel free to email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com with any questions you might have!

FEATURED WHITE BARN WEDDING IMAGES

WANT TO SEE MORE WHITE BARN WEDDINGS?

Look no further than the links below!

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Favorite (Non-Cheesy) Simple Props for an Engagement Session

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

Props can be a great way to add personality to your engagement session and make your photos your own! Many of my couples, when thinking about props, voice that they’re afraid their engagement photos will appear “cheesy.”

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!

Today, I’d love to share a few of my favorite simple, non-cheesy (at least to me!) props.

Champagne & Flutes

Ever shaken a bottle of champagne and let the cork fly?! If not… you’re missing out! Champagne is a fun and fitting prop that is perfect for couples who want to keep it classy… but fun! And as a perk, if you’re nervous about having your photos taken, you can have a bit of liquid courage!

Confetti or Petals

Engagements mean celebration, which means it’s time to cue the confetti! Being engaged is something to be excited about, and personally, when I think of excitement, I think of confetti! There are some great biodegradable options for confetti out there to choose from. If you’d like to go a little more natural with your celebratory toss – consider flower petals instead!

Your Engagement Ring (duh!)

Possibly the most obvious (and best!) prop of all is your new bling  - your ring! Don’t forget to take your ring to be cleaned (or clean it yourself!) before your engagement photos. I love snapping a few quick “macro” (or super close up!) shots, and my camera always picks up on dust or hairs that is caught in the prongs!

Floral Bouquet

You don’t have to limit your bouquet carrying to just the wedding day! A bouquet of flowers can be a fun way to add a pop of color to your engagement portraits, and to make them slightly more upscale! And if you have a favorite flower, or a type of flower that your S.O. often gets for you, it could be the perfect personal touch to add in!

Blanket

There’s something about a blanket that makes things extra cozy and close! A blanket is an easy prop to bring that will 1) keep you warmer if you’re having your photos taken during a colder season, and 2) can add a pop of color or a neutral compliment to your outfits!

Something that Represents Your Relationship, Specifically

Was your first date at an ice cream shop? Ice cream and photos totally mix! Do you love going on picnics together in the summer? Pack a cute little picnic basket for your engagement photos! Love to fish together? Grab your fishing poles and bring ‘em along! Sometimes props like this can be cheesy, but if you have a prop you would love to bring that you feel could be cheesy, just communicate that fear to your photographer! I love when people bring props that I’ve seen in “cheesy” engagement photos and let me create something that’s not cheesy with them – just something that’s personal and representative of who they are!

And there you have it! Six prop ideas for non-cheesy engagement photos. But if you decide to bring a pizza as a prop… beware. Your photos will definitely be cheesy.

Happy prop planning!

Behind the Scenes: JHP Promo Video by Dorosh Documentaries

Curious as to what you might experience at a photo session with JHP? Look no further than the video below, expertly captured by two of my videographer friends from Dorosh Documentaries! Click the play button below to check it out!

PS - Dorosh Documentaries films weddings, so if you’re in need of a wedding videographer, look no further than these two!

Sarah & Derek: Winter Wonderland Mellon Park Engagement Photos

Ohhhhh snow. As Pittsburghers, we have a love-hate relationship with it (and that spectrum of love/hate varies widely from person to person!), but this year, I (personally) found myself missing the snow for the first year in a while! Usually, by the time mid-February rolls around, I’m more than ready for it to be over - but, before Sarah and Derek’s shoot, I had only had one snowy session this year and was craving more!

Ironically enough, what initially kept Sarah, Derek and I from our first planned meeting was a crazy snow and ice storm a few months back - the roads were so bad that one of the roads I live on completely shut down, and it took me 2 hours to move 1.5 miles! Thankfully, these two were so gracious, and we planned to meet a few weeks later (fortunately, there was no snow this time around 😉)

For their engagement session, though, we were hoping and praying for some beautiful snow! Oddly enough, we didn’t see much snow in the month leading up to their session, and I was a little concerned that we weren’t going to have any snow to work with come February. All we had really been getting was LOTS of precipitation that was just warm enough to not be snow - ick!

But then, we had the most beautiful snow storm the day before their session - just in the nick of time! And then - on top of that - when we showed up the day of their session, it was lightly snowing. And it lightly snowed for almost their ENTIRE 90 minute engagement session! I’m not sure we could have planned it any better if we had tried - but it all ended up working out exactly how we had hoped!!!

But, enough about the weather - what you really need to know after reading this blog post is how absolutely INCREDIBLE these two are! So here’s a little more about them: Sarah and Derek met on Twitter and connected over a mutual love for math. At the time, Sarah was considering going for her PhD in mathematical studies, and Derek was(is) working towards his! He offered to give her an insight into the process, and, well - now they’re engaged to be married! They have a puppy named Louisa, share a mutual love for Qdoba (over Chipotle and Moe’s!), and - maybe one of my favorite fun facts - their wedding date was chosen specifically for its mathematical reference to the Fibonacci Sequence! I mean, come on - aren’t these two just the cutest?!

Their engagement session was nothing short of easy, breezy, and way too much fun! I could photograph these two every weekend, and I’m already counting down the months until I get to photograph them again! Congratulations, Sarah and Derek - you two are just such a blessing to work with! I am so thankful for you!!! 💛

Pixifi: Business Management Software Review

Creative business owners, you’ve probably seen a ton of different types of studio management systems, all with different features and capabilities. Today, I’d like to throw another name into the ring that you may or may not have heard of: Pixifi.

A little over two years ago, when I was looking for all-inclusive studio management software, I just wasn’t finding any that made the cut. And to be honest, I was feeling SO overwhelmed trying to figure out which management software would suit my business’ needs best. Again and again, I kept trying out a piece of software, only to realize halfway through getting it set up that it didn’t have a key feature that I felt like I needed. And I kept getting more and more frustrated!

After maybe five or six attempts at setting up different management systems, I decided to make a list of EVERYTHING I could ever want in a studio management software… even if it seemed like what I wanted was out of reach. So, I sat down, typed out a list, and, on a whim, posted that list in a few Facebook groups to see if anyone had any suggestions, not really believing that anything existed that could do exactly what I needed.

Low and behold, I was wrong! Someone commented on one of my posts: “Have you heard of Pixifi?” No, I had not – but as soon as I started researching Pixifi, I knew it was the management software for me! With robust features including automation, scheduling calendars, workflows, contracts, and invoicing capabilities, I decided right then and there to sign up for Pixifi – and I’ve never once looked back!

If you’re looking for a studio management system, I couldn’t recommend Pixifi more. And I’d love to share a little bit about exactly why I chose Pixifi with you, along with some of the pros and cons I’ve experienced with the system along the way!

WHY I CHOSE PIXIFI

There were a few specific features I was looking for when I was testing out different types of studio management software. I needed my studio management software to:

• Have distinct, customizable workflows for each specific type of my business (weddings, seniors, families)

• Have automation (emails, questionnaires, invoice reminders, contracts) that could be attached to specific workflows (i.e., press one button and a twenty step automatic workflow was put in place)

• Give my clients the ability to book their session from my pre-set calendar

• Give my clients the ability to sign their contract and view their invoice upon booking without me having to do anything (going back to automation!)

• Have an online portal so each of my clients could view their contracts, invoices, scheduled sessions, and questionnaires all in one place

And Pixifi has ALL of these things (and more!)

PROS:

• Pixifi is an incredibly powerful software with basically any and every feature you could think of!

• It is constantly being updated and worked on by the Pixifi team, which means new features are never very far away!

• There is a super strong online support system via a Facebook group where you can get your questions answered in no time flat – which is really helpful for those times when technology makes me feel like my head is going to explode!

• The automation feature, with integrates automatically with each different type of service I offer, has been a GAME CHANGER. Clients can automatically choose their dates, sign their contract, view their invoice, get access to their questionnaire, and receive valuable educational information about their session, all with the click of a button. The automation feature alone has saved me SO MUCH precious time, which has allowed me to work on other projects and take more sessions!

CONS:

• There is a pretty decent sized learning curve, but mainly because Pixifi is just so dang powerful and has so many different features. Full disclosure: it took me a lot of tears, phone calls, webinars, and mistakes to set up Pixifi correctly. I didn’t feel confident using it until after a few months of set up and trial and error. (A HUGE thanks to my extremely gracious and patient clients who were kind enough to bear with me during those first few months!

• It takes a decent amount of time to set up. But for me, this was fine – being in the wedding industry in Pittsburgh means that things slow down significantly for a couple of months during the winter season. But if you are looking for a “quick fix” studio management software, this might not be the right fit for you.

Pros and cons are great and all, but when I was trying to choose a management software for my business, what I wanted to hear about from users were their results. How did their lives change or improve since implementing Pixifi? So, the very last piece of my review I’d like to share with you are some of my results!

MY RESULTS WITH PIXIFI

• 25% Increase in Profit: Okay okay, I know that there is more that goes into this statistic than just Pixif, but I couldn’t help but put in in here. The year I started using Pixifi, my business grew in revenue by 25%. I truly believe that Pixifi gave me back a HUGE portion of time, decreasing the amount of time I allocated to invoicing, scheduling, contracts, and general workflow management. Because I had more time, I was able to take more sessions and work on parts of my business that I had been neglecting, simply because I hadn’t had time to work on them!

• More Free Time: When I was looking for a studio management system, I wanted to implement a software that would give me my life back. Instead of spending hours every day behind my computer, I wanted to be able to occasionally go on walks with my husband and get lunch with friends and family. And to be honest? Before I implemented Pixifi in my business, I felt like I just didn’t have enough time (or balance) to pursue relationships the way I wanted to in my life. Now, I feel like I have so much more balance, and for that, I am forever grateful!

All in all, I could not be more thankful for how Pixifi has changed my business and how it has given me back SO much of my time! Curious to see if Pixifi could change your business? Visit their site using my referral link below!

Orlando Vacation 2020 (Personal)

You know what the strange/weird/amazing thing is about vacation? In my life, God always, always uses it to teach me something. Which I find to be comical, considering that I struggle with actually taking vacation and rest without feeling guilty for doing so, or like I’m falling behind!

A few years ago, there was a series of events that took place on vacation to teach me a little (read: big) lesson about grace. This year, the theme that kept popping up while we were in Orlando was the idea of not being guilty for resting or taking time off of work, which, if I’m being honest, has been a HUGE struggle for me on past vacations.

But this vacation - it was a gift in so many ways. It was a gift to walk slow, just for the fun of walking, instead of having to walk with some sort of purpose.

It was a gift to take the photos below (well, except for the ones of me! 😉), just for the fun of being a photographer.

It was a gift to be able to do things just because they were fun to do.

It was a gift to give my mind a break from obsessing over the next task that could be done, or the next thing that could be improved.

I think the real question here is: how do we make time to do all of the things above not just on vacation, but in the midst of our every day lives? How do we make the time to enjoy wherever we are present (without worrying about the future), and find joy in doing things that are just… well… fun?

Truth be told, I don’t know the answer to that question. Sometimes, in my heart of hearts, it feels like the only way to be seen or recognized as “valuable” in our world today is to be admired for how much less rest we need compared to everyone around us - or for how much more we can do than everyone else.

But what a gift it is to press pause, to relax, and to come back stronger - mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically - than before. It’s a gift to recognize each moment in each season for what it is - whether it’s a season of rest, or of hustle.

And below are a few of my favorite images from our time of rest 💛 Some images are from Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the Yacht Club, Beach Club, and the rooftop Coca-Cola store at Disney Springs!

Winter Hartwood Acres Mansion Family Photos

I met with this sweet family on a semi-warm January day during the first week of 2020! Hartwood Acres is always one of my top picks for winter photos because it looks good all year ‘round, so I was so excited when they chose this location for their family photos. And check out that adorable red hair on the two youngest!!

Allison & Anthony: McConnell's Mill Engagement Photos

Allison and Anthony are two of the kindest souls who are getting married next year!! 🎉 They met at work, their first date included dinner and fishing (bringing their fishing poles as a nod to that - love! 🎣), and they got engaged in Gettsyburg!

Allison & Anthony, I couldn't be more excited to photograph your beautiful wedding day! Thank you so much for the huge honor!!! 💛

Behind the Scenes 2019

FINALLY one of my favorite blog posts of the year is here! 🎉 We’re keeping it real for the third year in a row with the third installment of the behind the scenes blog post! (Click here for 2017, click here for 2018!) A HUGE thank you to every single person who helped behind the scenes, including my wonderful husband, Nick, and Taylor, Alisha, Ashley, Laura, Jill, Robin, and my Ma, Jean! (Some of who you won’t see in the photos below - next year, my goal is to make sure EVERYONE who helps me is in at least one photo!) This year would not have been possible without you. Each one of you is a gift to me AND my clients, and I can’t thank you enough for your time, love, and help!

Of course, these photos below are only a fraction of what really went on behind the scenes! So many other business things, like editing (SO MUCH EDITING), meetings, phone calls, problem solving, broken lenses, and more - and then, there’s the mental behind the scenes. As a photographer (and an Enneagram 3!), I tend to focus on how things look and appear to others. How my work looks, how my blog looks, how things appear to other people, and the like. Not that any of those things are bad… but, I would contend that how things feel is even more important than how they look.

And this year, things felt healthier in my business than they EVER have before. At the beginning of 2019, I wrote a blog post titled “How to Pursue a Healthier Work-Life Balance,” and while I’m far from perfect, I’m proud of how I’ve been able to stick to so many of the boundaries listed in that post. Every year, it gets a little, teeny bit easier to actually stick to those boundaries instead of overstepping them. And it allows other areas of my life to have room to flourish.

I am thankful to get to pursue a career I love, as well as a life I love. All glory to God for another year of beautiful life!

Christmas tree farm mini sessions!

Just consider us your cookie quality control!

Pre-game hype selfie!

When the venue won't feed you until after all the guests eat (when you have to be working again!) - you order in!

Nick always insists that this shot is a must-have.

See what I mean?

And there were a few times it didn't work...

When your in laws are at the wedding you're photographing!

We love working with friendors!

Best favor EVER!

When the couple requests a photo with you 💛

Nick's new favorite accessory 😅

All the things.

Trying to get my umbrella hat on right for that hands free life