Should You Hire a Day-of Wedding Coordinator?

Day-of wedding coordinators: the heroes of wedding days.

Or, at least they are in my book. ;)

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, a day-of wedding coordinator is someone who essentially runs and manages the wedding day – they deal with day-of logistics, including execution of the timeline, day-of coordination and communication with vendors, and basically making sure everything goes off without a hitch, and take a huge amount of pressure off of the bride, groom, and their friends and family so everyone can enjoy the day.

And truly, every single wedding I work that does have a wedding day-of coordinator runs so much smoother than those that do not. Today, I’d love to share a few reasons why you might want to consider hiring a day-of wedding coordinator.

You might want to hire a day-of wedding coordinator if….

1.     You don’t want the pressure to fall on any of your friends and family members.

This is a HUGE one. When there is not a day-of coordinator, often times, last minute tasks, decisions, and questions can fall on your friends or family members. For my own wedding, we didn’t hire a day-of coordinator, and much of the responsibility for last minute details, decisions, and coordination fell on my mom (God bless her!). In hind sight, we both agreed that, if we could go back, we would 100% hire a day-of coordinator so she could’ve kicked back a bit more. Hindsight is 20/20!

2.     You don’t want to have to give lots of instruction the day of your wedding (or, in other words, if you just want to enjoy the day and let someone else make some of the decisions!).

The bride is usually the head honcho of the day, and everyone wants to make sure she’s happy – so when there’s any sort of uncertainly about how something should be/go, whether it’s how the napkins should be folded, where the photo booth should be set up, or how/when to execute a rain plan, if there’s not a wedding coordinator, these decisions will fall on the bride. And – honestly – most of my brides just want to be able to enjoy their wedding day! Having someone else who knows all of the ins and outs of the wedding day and how things need to run (especially someone who’s a professional at running a wedding day!) can be a huge asset and take lots of weight off of the bride’s shoulders, without putting them on someone else’s who is there to simply celebrate the couple!

3.     You don’t want to be the bridal party/family wrangler.

Whether it’s getting your bridal party lined up for the ceremony or getting your family together and ready to take family formals, a day-of coordinator will be the one who directs your loved ones to wherever they need to be whenever they need to be there. Let them be the one who tells your family that they can’t go to cocktail hour until they finish family formals! ;)

4.     You don’t want to worry about executing a detailed timeline to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

The truth is, weddings revolve around the wedding timeline – and every piece of the wedding day revolves around the ceremony! When wedding days don’t run on time, different parts of the day have a tendency to suffer. You might be more rushed, have less time for photos (which always makes me so sad for the couple!!), and just generally have less time to really enjoy different parts of the day. Plus, the last thing you’ll want to do on your wedding day is be the one telling everyone where they need to be and when – there are just too many moving parts, and you’ll probably just want to enjoy the day as it is! A day-of coordinator will do the timeline legwork and work to make sure all runs according to schedule so that all of your planning does not go to waste.

Even though day-of wedding coordinators are fantastic and help the day run infinitely smoother, some folks either don’t have the budget for a day-of coordinator, or just aren’t really interested in having one (maybe they have a smaller or simpler wedding). Regardless of why,

if you don’t want to hire a coordinator, here are some tips for helping your wedding run smoothly without a coordinator:

1.     Send an emergency contact list and final wedding timeline to all of your vendors ahead of time.

An emergency contact list and final wedding timeline ensures that all vendors are on the same page regarding timing and communication, eliminating any discrepancies.

As a side note, I would recommend adding in addresses for any locations vendors will be traveling to the day of your wedding – not just names. When I was first getting started in the wedding world, I had a bride tell me the name of the hotel where she was getting ready without providing the address – and I didn’t ask for an address, because I thought I knew exactly where the hotel was! It turns out, there was a newer hotel with the same name across town that I didn’t know about, so I ended up showing up to the wrong hotel!

2.     Put a bridesmaid or family member in charge of ALL day-of communication and question-answering.

Putting a bridesmaid or family member in charge of day-of communication (and communicating that in advance to all parties!), helps everyone! With this approach, the bride won’t be bombarded with questions as she focuses on preparing for the day. As a side note, I’ve been this person before in a number of weddings, and it truly does help the bride relax, knowing that there’s someone else who can answer questions when needed.

3.     Put different friends/family members in charge of specific tasks.

There are lots of little details that can slip through the cracks on a wedding day when you don’t have a day-of coordinator. Who will line you up for the ceremony, and send your bridesmaids down the aisle in a timely manner? Who is going to add the last minute touches to your outdoor ceremony space? (Bows, flowers, etc.!). Who is going to hand out final wedding payments to your hair/makeup artists? I’d suggest breaking down the different, small tasks that need to happen the day of the wedding and spreading them out between different friends/family members. That way, no one has too much they need to remember and can focus on completing their one (or two!) specific tasks!

4.     Go over the timeline for the day with your bridal party and family at the rehearsal dinner… and maybe even give everyone a copy of the timeline (or, at the very least send it to them so they can have it on their phone!)

One of the most frequent ways I see weddings fall behind is when members of the bridal party or family walk away when they’re needed for something (in my case, I see it a lot with the photography portion of the day!). You cannot over communicate where everyone needs to be on your wedding day and when enough! The easiest way to get everyone on the same page is to spend a few minutes at your rehearsal dinner giving people specific times for where they need to be – when they need to be dressed and ready to go for the ceremony, when everyone needs to line up for the ceremony, when the family formals will take place, when the bridal party photos will take place, and when everyone needs to line up to be announced into the reception are all great time points to communicate!

Whether you choose to hire a day-of coordinator or use a DIY method for coordinating your day, I hope these tips help you make the best choice for you and your loved ones! And if you’re someone who’s planned a wedding – what did you decide to do for your wedding day, and what would you recommend to others?

Happy planning!

Nervous About Having Your Photo Professionally Taken? Read This.

It’s no secret that many, MANY people feel nervous when they think about having their photo professionally taken. There are so many decisions to make and questions that don’t have a definitive answer: what will I wear? Will I look stiff? What happens if it rains? What if I see something that I don’t like about myself when I look back at the photos?!

A few months ago, I took a poll of my followers on Instagram, asking what made them most nervous when it came to having their photo professionally taken. There were so many amazing (and hilarious!) responses, but today I wanted to share the top eight concerns that came up again and again, and address how each of those could potentially be solved!

The point of this article is most definitely not to diminish any of the concerns anyone might have while having their photo taken – my hope is to provide an alternative perspective (as someone who’s been behind and in front of the camera), as well as some potential solutions to these common nerves!

Things you might be nervous about:

1.     Worried about having onlookers or too many people around?

Choose a location with less people around! If you’re having your photos taken in a city, there will naturally be a lot more people around – but choosing a small park or more secluded area will mean less people, and less on lookers!

If you’re having your photo taken in a city, don’t forget to at least check to see if there are any sports games, festivals, or concerts happening in the area your session will be taking place at! Here in Pittsburgh, we have three major sports teams, and when any one of them has a home game, it’s a must to stay away from that general area!

Opt for a morning timeslot instead of an evening one. Most photographers who shoot in “natural light” will schedule appointments either within the two hours after the sun rises, or in the two hours before the sun sets (when the daylight is easiest to manage and at its prettiest!). I’ve found that more people are out and about leisurely in cities and parks in the evenings, opposed to the mornings. One thing to consider, however, is that some locations are better (or more photogenic) in evening light versus morning light, so make sure you talk with your photographer about if a morning or evening slot would be better for your chosen location!

2.     Worried about not knowing what to expect, or having to come prepared with ideas?

The great news is: your photographer is your BEST source for figuring out what to expect! If you have any questions, just ask! Many photographers will have information about their approach to sessions on their website or their social media platforms, so don’t be afraid to do a little research yourself!

If your photographer doesn’t provide any specific ideas for what to expect beforehand, make sure you take some time to look at the work on their website, blog, and social media channels. You’ll start to get a feel for what poses they like to use, and what expressions they coax from their subjects. Having an idea of what the final product could/might be can make a huge difference!

You can also ask your photographer beforehand if you should come prepared with any ideas. Most photographers will guide and direct you throughout your session, but I’ve heard of some who say “just go be yourselves!” and then let the client do the work. That would be quite intimidating for people who aren’t used to being in front of the camera!

3.     Worried about choosing the wrong outfits and regretting it later?

I have a couple of blog posts (Click here, and here!) that give some additional information for how to choose outfits for your session, but if you’re nervous about choosing outfits that you will regret later, here are some of my best tips:

• Go for classic looks. Classic looks never go out of style and stand the test of time! For women, an A-line dress paired with some sort of heel is almost always in style. For men, a close-toed shoe with fitted pants and a blazer is always a great choice!

• Make sure it “feels” like you. Whatever that means for you… make sure the outfits “feel” like something you would actually wear! Now, that doesn’t mean that you should wear your old t-shirt and 10 year old jeans (sorry!), but it does mean that if you are the type of person who never gets “super” dressed up, don’t feel like you have to get super dressed up for your photos! You can certainly kick it up a notch, but you don’t have to look like a completely different person or sacrifice your personal style in the process.

• Make sure whatever you choose is flattering to your shape! Sometimes, oversized sweaters, shirts, and/or dresses (particularly those that don’t accentuate the waist or any part of your figure) can actually add weight on camera.

When it comes down to it, there’s no way you’ll know for sure whether you will love or hate the outfits you chose for your photo session ten, twenty, or even thirty years later. Make the best choice you can in the moment, and trust that, no matter what you choose, the outfits you DO choose represent you at this time in your life!

4.     Worried about the rain?

Living in Pittsburgh means that rain can be a real threat when it comes to taking photos outside! So, how oh how do you handle things when it looks like it might rain the day of your session?!

There are basically two options: work with the rain, or reschedule! If you decide to work with the rain, you’ll most likely want at least some photos where you aren’t directly in the rain or holding an umbrella. The key: look for locations with natural light that are out of the rain. This could be as simple as finding a large (or small) covered outdoor area (Mellon Institute columns and the David Lawrence Convention Center are popular rain spots in the Pittsburgh area because they have large amounts of natural light AND are covered!). Or, you could use a clear umbrella (clear umbrellas work best cause they let in the most natural light!) to get some shots in areas that do not have an overhang!

5.     Worried about seeing things about yourself that make you feel self-conscious?

We all have things we’re self-conscious about when it comes to how we look. The biggest piece of advice I could give when it comes to this worry is to communicate your insecurity with your photographer. It might feel weird, embarrassing, or awkward – but, while some insecurities might be more obvious, others might be more in the beholders eye. I personally always appreciate when a client communicates an insecurity so that I can be EXTRA mindful to pose them or move them in a way that minimizes what they’re worried about.

6.     Worried about looking heavy, or being seen from unflattering angles?

So much of this comes down to how a person is posed and the angle from which they are photographed. Certain angles are less flattering, while others are more flattering. For example, shooting from below someone’s eye line or face (with the camera pointed up towards the subject) usually exaggerates features from a negative point of view – the jaw line, hips, thighs, etc. Shooting from a slightly higher angle creates a more flattering silhouette, slimming the face, jaw, hips, and other body parts. Whatever is closer to the camera will appear larger; whatever is further away will appear smaller. Photographers aren’t trying to distort truth by doing this, they’re just trying to find the very best way to flatter their subjects!

Posing is another huge piece of the puzzle. Naturally, there are some poses that are more slimming, and some that are not. Part of the reason why I’m not solely a candid photographer (or, someone who constantly gives movement prompts without any posing at all) is because good posing is VERY flattering – and people want to look good in photos! It’s as simple as that. The key, for me, is to strike a balance between helping people look good, but feel natural. Because of this, my approach is not purely candid nor purely posed – it’s a combination of both!

7.     Worried about looking too posed, or not natural?

And this next question perfectly flows from the last! The two biggest worries I’ve heard when it comes to people having their photo taken is the fear of looking too “posed” or “unnatural.” The great thing about living in the era we currently live in is that you can go online and see TONS of samples from (almost) any given photographer. So before you decide on who you want to photograph you, make sure you are familiar with the photographer’s style so you can determine who might be too posey for you – I think the answer is truly different for everyone!

8.     Worried about your significant other hating the experience and/or being mad the whole time?

I know for a fact that this is a big one for couples who are looking to have engagement, anniversary, or wedding photos taken! Even if you can avoid engagement photos or anniversary photos, chances are you’re going to have one heck of a hard time getting out of wedding photos, since it’s one of the biggest decisions in your life and one of the most important days you’ll have! And who wants to be mad on their wedding day?!

You HAVE to do your research for this one to know how the photographer you’re hiring will pose, move, and interact with your during your shoot. Liking the photographer’s work is so important, but it’s almost equally as important to read reviews about other people’s experience or see the photographer in action for yourself. Is the photographer awkward or enthusiastic? (I guess you could be both! ;) ). Do they pose their subject meticulously, or fluidly? Do they want to get you two interacting and having fun together? All of these questions are important to ask, because they’ll give you an indication of how much fun you could have during your session and how comfortable you will be!

Are there any other nervous photo concerns you would add to this list? I’d love to hear them below!

How I Got the Shot

I’m a sucker for anything labeled “behind the scenes.” It’s so much fun to see what goes into making things, and personally, I love hearing the thought process and intention that goes into a product or service!

Today, I’m excited to share the behind the scenes making of a few select photos. This post might be a bit more geared towards photographers with some of the technical detail - but regardless of if you’re a photographer or just someone who likes looking at photos, I hope you enjoy!

This shot was taken jus after sunset on the Roberto Clemente bridge in Pittsburgh! Camera left (allll the way on the sidewalk of the bridge), my assistant was holding a portable speedlight (without a modifier, like an umbrella or softbox) pointed towards my subject. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if this would work without a modifier, but I was pleasantly surprised with my results! I later figured out that because the speedlight was far enough away from my subject, the light appears a little bit softer. If my speedlight had been closer without a modifer, the light would’ve appeared harsher. I used a 70 to 200 mm lens for this shot, so I stood quite a distance away from my subject because of the longer focal length!

This was a favorite ring shot of mine from last year! It required a little extra planning, but it ended up being worth it! While my couple was changing into their second outfit (at their engagement session), I borrowed their ring to take a few shots. I noticed a bench near me with a slightly glossy/reflective surface, which is where the slight ring reflection came from. I placed a small, battery-powered portable string of lights behind the ring, which reflected nicely onto the bench! I used my Canon 100mm f/2.8 L macro lens at 2.8 to make sure I’d be able to get the creamiest bokeh possible! Click here to see/purchase the twinkle lights I use for less than $7 on Amazon Prime!

This photo was taken a few hours after sunset outside of the Morning Glory Inn on the South Side of Pittsburgh and is one of my favorite “night time” shots to date! I had been a little worried that this wedding was going to be a rain out - but it turned out that the rain came JUST at the right time, just for this photo!! To achieve this look, I placed a portable speedlight in a clear plastic bag (to protect it from the rain!) on a light stand behind my couple to light them from behind, and to “light up” some of the rain. To light them from the front, I used an off-camera speedlight with a small softbox (to soften the light on their faces) held by my second shooter camera left. I used a 50mm lens for this shot.

I knew when I took these two to the sunflower field that I wanted to REALLY make them look like they were lost in the sunflowers. To achieve the “look” of the sunflower close up in the left side of the frame, I used my Canon 70-200 f/2.8 (at 200mm) and used the high compression to my advantage, making the sunflower appear larger than life in the frame. (To learn more about lens compression, read this great article by SLR Lounge!).

This was one of my favorite invitation/bridal detail shots from all of 2019! While this may look like a simple set up, getting to the final product took a little bit of time. A good flatlay shot requires good light - and for me and my style, I like to have even, soft light across the bridal details I photograph. When I came into the bridal suite, there was a small room with couches in the back that had TONS of window light - I knew it would be the perfect spot for bridal details! Window light was coming stronger from camera left and the top of the image, so after I set up this shot, I added a silver reflector (click here to see/purchase the one I use!) camera right to soften some of the darker shadows cast by the invitation suite (which is a few inches elevated from the invitation tray by the back of a ring box). Believe it or not, the background (tan with blue dots) of this image is actually the couch that was in the getting ready space! I used a 50mm lens for this shot. I didn’t want to use too wide of a lens because I didn’t want any lens distortion, and I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t be able to see the edges of the couch here.

This may be one of my favorite senior photos from this past year! I love love LOVE clean, soft light, and on this particular day in the fall, we had the most beeeeautiful light for Lydia’s senior portraits! But there a few tricks that made this image really pop. Notice where the sun is - you can see it’s a little hazy in the background and hitting her hair, but it’s just out of the camera frame - which makes Lydia’s face clear (free of haze), with a nice pop! I used a higher compression lens (an 85mm) and a lower aperture (f/2) to achieve a dreamy-like look, with Lydia in focus and with the background completely knocked out. I also had my assistant holding a white reflector camera right, just out of the frame, which lit her eyes up a bit more and removed some shadows from her eye sockets!

Portraits & Pandemics: JHP COVID-19 Services Update

You’ve heard it time and time again, and you know it to be true from personal experience: we’re living through an unprecedented time in history right now! COVID-19 has changed the face of many businesses and has forced many small business owners to get creative with their offerings, and to increase communication with their client base about what they are still offering in terms of products and services.

Just to dispel as much uncertainty as possible with my service offerings for this year, I’d love to give my client base an update on how JHP will be operating over the next couple of weeks, and what we will still be doing during this quarantine time:

1.     Still booking weddings for late 2020 and 2021!

Though I had originally closed my wedding calendar to new clients before the COVID-19 quarantine (due to a packed schedule!), I am now excepting a few more weddings for 2020 due to some of my spring weddings being postponed to next year! And of course, I’m still booking weddings for 2021.

As a side note: If you’re a couple who is considering getting married in 2021, I would recommend reaching out to your favorite venues soon. I’ve found that many couples affected by the COVID-19 virus are moving their weddings to 2021, which means less space for bookings for next year!

2.     Still booking senior, family, and couple sessions for summer and fall of 2020!

Sitting at home without much to do? Take advantage of some extra down time by booking a senior, family or couples session for later this year! For more information about sessions, click here. To start the booking process or to request more information, use the “contact” tab above, or reach out to Jenna directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com. If you’re worried about money right now, don’t worry - there’s no money down to schedule. Just choose a time slot and sign a contract to reserve your spot!

3.     Still providing print products in your online gallery!

This one is specifically for clients who I’ve previously photographed! Since you’re at home a little more than usual, you might be noticing that your wall art or coffee table books need some updating! Now is the perfect time to use your online client gallery to order professional grade print products, including: photo prints, canvases, and albums. Don’t forget to use the code “TOGETHER” (all caps) in your gallery for 15% off your total purchase through April 1, 2020! (*Note: If your session took place before 18, please reach out to me directly if you would like to purchase prints).

4.     Still offering mentoring sessions (via Skype or phone call, of course!)

Did you know that I offer mentoring sessions? A few topics I’ve covered with mentees in the past include:

• How to shoot in “manual mode”

• How to take better photos of your kids

• How to shoot in natural light

• How to get creamy skin tones in-camera

• All things wedding photography!

• How to make people feel comfortable in front of your camera

• How to organize a client session

• How to organize a photo workflow

• How to use Lightroom

• How to use blogging and social media to your advantage

• And much more!

If you’re interested in a mentoring session, feel free to reach out to Jenna at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com to get more information and start the process. For the foreseeable future, all mentoring sessions will take place via Skype or phone call. Mentoring sessions are priced at $100 per hour.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out via commenting below, or directly via email. I am so excited for what the rest of this year has to offer, and can’t wait to work with all of my incredible clients later this year!

Grove City Family Photos

Welcome to the world, sweet baby Clara! 💛 I by no means claim to be a newborn photographer, but of course will (more than) happily step into the role when it comes to my niece and nephew! Congratulations, Shannon & Kyle! Love you guys!

Historic Harmony Barn Family Photos

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! 🎉 ⁠
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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!

4 Important Things to Note About Photo Sessions in the City

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 G: Historic Harmony Senior Photos

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!

The JHP Portrait Experience

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 !

The Portrait Experience at a Glance

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.

A Detailed Breakdown of the Portrait Experience

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!

Lauren & Nick: Point State Park Engagement Photos

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!!!!