There is a lot going on in the world, to say the least. Today, I'm thankful for a small sense of normalcy with this sweet family's mini session this past weekend, celebrating this little lady's first birthday! 🎉
We refrained from hugs and kept some distance with longer lenses, but still had a wonderful time in the beautiful light at the Historic Harmony Barn in Harmony, PA!
I’ve always felt #blessed living just a half hour from a major city like Pittsburgh. It has so much to offer in terms of photography backdrops, and provides the perfect personal space for couples, seniors, and families who call Pittsburgh home!
I’ve realized, however, that taking photos in the city is a bit different than somewhere like Hartwood Acres, Historic Harmony, or McConnell’s Mill. There’s a bit of extra planning and preparation that goes into a photo session in the city - things like sporting events, parking, and walking distance to and from locations all have the ability to impact your session. Below, I’ve compiled a list of four important things to note about photo sessions in the city!
1. Planning to arrive early (leaving time for traffic, parking, and walking to our starting point) is key.
It usually takes a little longer to get to where you need to be when having a photo session in the city. Unexpected traffic, hard-to-find parking, and having to park a few blocks from your intended destination can all add extra time onto the beginning of a session. If you’re having your photos taken in the city, it’s important to leave ample extra time prior to your session start time for unexpected surprises! Once I had to park so far from a session starting point that I walked for fifteen minutes straight before actually arriving, due to lack of parking. Give yourself extra time!
2. Choosing a date and time when there isn’t some other major event going on is oh-so vital.
In Pittsburgh, we love our sports, and when there’s a sporting event going on (especially a Pirates game!), certain parts of the city (i.e., the North Shore!) are SO hard to get to. Often times bridges and streets are closed down, too, which means lots more traffic! Not to mention, all of the extra people walking around make clean backdrops a bit more difficult.
Some other events to consider checking on specifically for Pittsburgh: Steeler games, Pens games, Pirate games, music concerts, the Arts Festival, parades, etc.
3. You might be walking… a lot!
A lot of times, locations I use in the city for photos require a bit of extra walking! It’s often easier to walk from place to place rather than going back to the parking garage to get your car, to try to find parking again. Walking from place to place is usually much quicker!
I often suggest seniors, couples, and families bring an extra pair of “comfortable shoes” for walking longer distances – especially if you’re a female who’s planning to wear heels!
4. You might garner a bit of an audience.
Cities are generally busier than other popular photo locations (like parks!), and sometimes people like to stop and stare. If you’re uncomfortable with the thought of having your photo taken in front of people, consider choosing a more private location (or at least starting at a more private location, like a park inside the city, then moving to the busier parts!) Or, consider a less busy season (like winter!) where people aren’t hanging around the city leisurely!
Finally, know this: you can’t go wrong with a session in the city, and with a photo session in Pittsburgh, your photos will, without a doubt, be so epic!
Do you have any questions about photo sessions in the city? Comment your q’s below!
Kam is my very first senior of the season, and we had one of the nicest March days ever for his senior portraits in Historic Harmony!
Kam is a senior at Knoch High School and is graduating this spring! He plans on attending IUP in the fall. Congratulations on your senior year, Kam! You are going to do amazing things!
So you’re interested in a photo session, but unsure of what the process will look like. If you’ve never had your photo professionally taken before, the process can seem a bit elusive and daunting!
Today, I’m excited to make things a little less mysterious by sharing a timeline of what to expect when you book a portrait (senior, family, maternity, or engagement) session with JHP from beginning to end!
I’ve broken the process down in two different ways: first, a short “at a glance” version, and after, a more detailed breakdown! Happy reading, and if you have any specific questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com !
1. Book your session and sign your contract online via a private booking link.
2. Get access to your client portal and answer your online questionnaire.
3. I’ll reach out a week or two before your session to confirm your location and our meeting spot for the day of your session!
4. We’ll meet 15 minutes before your schedule session time to chat and check out any props/outfits you might’ve brought with you.
5. I’ll collect payment via check or cash at the time of the session (before we begin, or after we finish). If you would rather pay via bank transfer, just let me know in advance!
6. We’ll have a relaxed, low-stress session. No need to come prepared with any poses, I’ll direct and guide you! J
7. You’ll get a few sneak peeks about a week after your session.
8. You’ll receive your full gallery and featured blog post about six weeks after your session.
1. First, you’ll reach out about your interest in a particular type of session (yay!), and I’ll respond with some information about whichever type of session you’re interested in, along with a booking link, where you can view my schedule, choose your session date, and virtually sign your contract!
2. Now that you’re officially booked, you’ll receive an email that will grant you access to your personal client portal, housing everything relating to your session – the time of your session, your invoice, your contract, and your questionnaire! You’ll also receive a Senior/Family/Couple experience and styling guide via email, which will walk you through everything pertaining to your session – including how to prepare, what to expect at the session itself, a timeframe of what to expect after your session, and what to (and not to!) wear!
3. You’ll fill out your questionnaire (also sent in a link via email), which will give me information about the style of your session, locations you might be interested in, and a little more information about who I’ll be photographing and what is important to you when it comes to your photos!
4. I’ll reach out a week or two before your session to finalize the time, location, and where we’ll be meeting to begin.
5. The week of your session, I’ll be watching the weather to make sure it won’t interfere with your chosen timeslot! If it does look like there could be any inclement weather, I’ll reach out to discuss a game plan. I typically try to not reschedule until the day of the session, if at all possible, just to see if the weather changes (if you live in Pittsburgh, you know how fast it can change!). However, if you have hair or makeup appointments that would need to be rescheduled sooner than the day of, we can make the call the day before (or earlier in the week!).
6. The day of your session, we’ll plan to meet 15 minutes before your scheduled start time. This will give us a few minutes to chat, check out any props or outfits you might’ve brought, and walk to our first spot! Because my sessions are scheduled so close to sunset, it’s important for us to begin right on time, so we don’t lose any precious daylight!
7. I love taking a relaxed approach to sessions. I love for sessions to be low-key and fun! Whoever is having their photo taken can come without having any idea of how to pose. I’ll guide you through every pose and movement with direction – and don’t worry, we’ll keep it fun!!
8. Payment is due by cash or check at the time of your session (either before we begin or after we are finished!). You are also welcome to pay via bank transfer (just let me know if this is something you would prefer!)
9. Within a week after your session, you’ll receive a few “sneak peeks” from our time together via email!
10. About six weeks after your session, you’ll receive your full, online gallery (and featured blog post) via email! You’ll be able to download your photos straight to your computer, and print them wherever you’d like. Or, you’ll be able to order print products straight from your gallery!
Now that you’re a JHP experience pro, if you’re interested in booking a senior, family, maternity, or engagement session, click here! I hope to hear from you soon!
Oh March - you never quite know what you’ll get in Pittsburgh this month! But very, VERY lucky for Lauren and Nick - we had a beautiful, sunny, and unseasonably warm day for their downtown Pittsburgh engagement session right at the beginning of March!
Photographing Lauren and Nick felt like getting to hang out with two old friends from the minute we met! The two met here, in Pittsburgh, when Lauren was living on the North Shore - so it was only fitting that we headed back to their old stomping grounds for their session, including Point State Park and the North Shore!
Lauren and Nick, I am so thankful to have the opportunity to come alongside you both during this newest season of your lives! 🎉 And I cannot WAIT for your wedding day!!!!
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!
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
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!
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!
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).
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!
Look no further than the links below!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!!! 💛
