Winter Photoshoot Location Ideas Near Pittsburgh, PA

Some might call me crazy, but one of my favorite times of the year for photo sessions is Winter! The public areas are less crowded, and there is always a chance that we might catch some snow before or after a session!

If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and are looking for a great place to have a Winter photo session – fear not! I’ve compiled a few of my favorite places in the Pittsburgh area for photo sessions that I am so excited to share with you! Most of these locations will “work” for a session without snow, but all look SO much more magical with it! First up… 

1.     A Christmas Tree Farm

 

What could be more wintery than a Christmas tree farm?! A Christmas tree farm is a great choice of location because it thrives year ‘round, even (and especially) in the cold, which means that, instead of seeing dead, barren branches (like you might in a park studded with seasonal trees), you’ll have a green backdrop! Christmas tree farms also look gorgeous dusted in snow, so if you can swing your session right after a snow storm… it might be worth it!

My favorite Christmas tree farm for any type of photo session is Lake Forest Gardens in Fombell, PA (about 45 minutes north of downtown Pittsburgh). They do require advance notice for photo sessions, along with a $25 payment – but it’s so worth it for access to such a gorgeous backdrop!

2.     McConnell’s Mill

 

A favorite spot of mine North of Pittsburgh for winter shoots is McConnell’s Mill – but mostly only if there is snow on the ground.

McConnell’s Mill has some areas that can be utilized that look great with or without snow (the wood mill, covered bridge, rows of pine trees, large rocks, the river/creek area), but there are still lots of seasonal trees that lose their leaves each winter season.

Like with any location you’ll find on this list, if you are able to schedule your session after a snow storm… you could get some gorgeous and unique images with snow  and icicles!

3.     Mellon Park

 

Mellon Park is one of my favorite spots for winter sessions closer to the downtown area. Mellon Park boasts some beautiful architecture (black iron fences, grey stone archways, brick walls, a large decorative fountain, steps & benches) that look stunning any time of year. But, again, add in some snow and you’ll get a different, whimsical look!

4.     Hartwood Acres Mansion

 

Chances are, if you research “photo session locations in Pittsburgh” long enough, Hartwood Acres Mansion is bound to pop up as a favorite… and for good reason! The mansion itself provides so many different backdrops, from doorways, to stairs, to arches, to walls – there are so many great spots for photos there! This location is my all time favorite in the winter because it truly looks beautiful – with or without snow! There are also a couple of rows of pine trees in the back and front of the building that can be used when other seasonal trees have lost their leaves!

5.     North Shore

 

The city with its beautiful buildings and bright yellow bridges will always look photo ready… no matter the season! The North Shore is another favorite of mine in the winter. It boasts multiple bright yellow bridges (the Roberto Clemente and Andy Warhol are my favorites to use!), along with a great city view, all along the walkway. I once had a session there in the snow, and it looked even BETTER!

6. Historic Harmony

 

Another all-time favorite location of mine is Historic Harmony, just about 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh! Harmony is a small, historic, German town with lots of historic brightly colored buildings. Everywhere you turn, there’s another unique spot to use for photos! This location looks beautiful with or without snow, and is another great spot that you can use regardless of if there is snow on the ground or not! There are also some nature trails nearby that can be used that look gorgeous with a light dusting!

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Overall, any good winter location for a photo session will have at least one of the following three: some sort of architecture, evergreen trees, or snow! Finding backdrop elements that provide visual interest, even in the dead of winter, are oh so helpful for creating beautiful, wintery images!

What to Wear for Maternity Photos

Pregnancy – a milestone filled with joy and excitement, and a milestone often worthy of remembering with professional photos!

 When it comes to having maternity photos taken, choosing what to wear can feel like an overwhelming task – but really, when you break it down, it becomes quite simple! There are no hard and fast “rules” when it comes to choosing what to wear (don’t be afraid to mix in your own personal style!), but there are a few tips I’d love to share with those who might be wondering where to start! In this blog post, we’ll discuss three simple tips for figuring out what to wear for maternity photos:

First, find something that accentuates your bump!

Maxi Dresses: Maxi dresses are personally my favorite when it comes to maternity sessions! They are typically tighter up top, then become looser around the belly, and go all the way down to the ground. They are SO flattering (elongating the body), and make it easy to accentuate the bump! The flowy fabric can easily be held under the belly to create that classic “bump” look. Maxi’s are typically pretty comfortable for mom, too, and are still breathable in the summer months.

Form fitting dress or shirt: If you feel comfortable with it, consider a more form-fitting dress or shirt! With a maxi dress, you’ll have to hold underneath and around your belly to get the “bump” look, but a form fitting dress or shirt means that you won’t have to have your hand on your belly the whole time!

A looser garment… but belt it! If you like the look of a looser garment, consider adding a belt (or tied fabric) above the belly to give additional shape! This can easily be done with a loose top or a dress without a structured waist.

Second, make sure you choose something comfortable.

Don’t forget to keep your outfit comfortable! Opt for comfortable shoes and clothing fabrics that aren’t too hard to move around in. If you’d like to wear heels, consider bringing a pair of comfortable shoes to change in to for walking from location to location!

If you’re having maternity photos taken in the warmer/summer months, consider choosing a dress with a “lighter,” more breathable fabric.

Third, consider choosing a solid color, and/or something with a textured material.

This is a tip that applies mostly to mom! We want the bump to be the main focus of your images, and while patterns can be beautiful in photos, if they are too busy, they can distract (or minimize!) your bump! Solid colors will ensure that the viewer’s eye is drawn straight to your little bundle of joy without distraction. If you’d like to add visual interest to your overall images, though, consider having your husband/partner wear a patterned shirt that compliments your outfit.

Textures are a great way to add visual interest with a solid colored shirt or dress! Textures include things such as: lace, knit, or embroidery. They add interest without being too busy or overtaking the photo!

What about dad and/or other family members?

I recommend starting with mom’s outfit, then building upon everyone else’s from there. The goal is to choose outfits that “go” together, without being completely matchy-matchy.

Aim for each person to have a “dominant” color, then tie the outfits together visually by using other people’s dominant colors as accents. For example, if mom is wearing a blush colored maxi dress, nude flats, and gold earrings, dad could wear khaki pants, a light blue button down, a navy overcoat, and add in a blush pocket square, to visually tie the two of you together – even one small accessory (in this example, the pocket square) will tie you both together visually!

You could also make the visual connection by choosing a solid colored maxi dress for mom, then find a patterned shirt for dad with that same color in the pattern.

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Pittsburgh Senior Photographer: Senior Photo Highlights 2020

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

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

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

Extended Family Christmas Tree Farm Photos

It’s hard to believe that this was my very last photo session of 2020 - and truly, I couldn’t have asked for it to end on a better note, or with better people!

This extended family photo session was for a family who recently moved to the Pittsburgh area. Thankfully, these Washington State natives are pros when it comes to snow, so the extra snow we had for their session was warmly welcomed! Even if it was a bit chilly ;)

One thing I love most about photographing people in snow is the LIGHT! The snow is light, bright, and reflects the most beautiful, soft light. Winter might just be my favorite season for photos! And I am always SO THANKFUL for the people who are willing to go out in it for some killer (and unique!) photos!

Truly, I adore extended family photo sessions. They are such a special time to capture SO many different relationships and generations - mom, dad, kids, grandparents, and grandkids. I am so very thankful to have been the one to capture these images!

Enjoy a few (or more! ;) ) of my favorites below!

JHP Behind the Scenes 2020

Wow… what a year! 2020 will certainly be one for the books.

At the beginning of this year, all of us were unsure of many things. I, for one, was completely unsure of how wedding season (and portrait season!) would shake out. I had so many couples (for good reason!) postpone their wedding days in the spring and early summer, and I wondered if I would if I would have any clients at all. Would people be too nervous to go outside to have their photos taken? Would there be any sense of normalcy late summer/early fall when it came to events? Would I need to get another full time job?!

In all of the uncertainty, I was reminded of the incredible, unsuspecting ways that God provides. And provide he did! From random part-time jobs to an increase in senior sessions, God truly provided for every need - and gave me many, MANY opportunities to continue doing what I love, even in the midst of a pandemic.

This year, I got to photograph 13 AMAZING wedding days, and over 70 portrait sessions. I was able to start a little Etsy shop that I’ve been dreaming up over the past year (Beyond the Boardwalk), take on a few graphic design projects (which is what my degree is in!), and dove a little bit into the world of thrifting through Mercari and Poshmark (which I love!).

More than anything, this year, I learned the value of being truly grateful for every. single. thing. that God provides for me. We’re easily tempted to compare and wallow when we are not grateful, but when we see the continual goodness of God within every opportunity and praise him for it (something I am quite imperfect at), we live in a renewed perspective - and a much better one, at that!

To every couple, senior, mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, baby, and fetus who gave me the joy of photographing them during this strange year - thank you. Your support, your encouragement, and your love mean the world to me! I am so thankful for you!

For more Behind the Scenes content: 2017 / 2018 / 2019

Our only "normal" wedding this year (without any restrictions or masks) was back in February at the Atrium. Little did we know that every other wedding would be extremely different!

Seeing if we could make a living taking cell phone photos... I think DSLR's still win 😎

Helping the FOB with his boutonnière! Nick has pretty much perfected his "pinning" skills by now!

This was riiiiight before Covid hit!

Our first wedding in the Covid era!

My little editing helpers!

Our first 2020 backyard wedding. It was absolutely beautiful!

One of the coolest senior sessions I've had to date! We shot at the Butler Airport.

Nick with his favorite movie poster at a movie themed wedding this year!

When we got to ATTEND my cousin's wedding!

Anddddd later that night, I sprained my ankle on the dance floor and couldn't walk for two weeks. 🤦🏽‍♀️

My assistant leaf thrower! I was so thrilled to have Robin join me at so many of my senior sessions this year. She is fantastic! And has the coolest hair!

Getting to take photos at this private family farm was magical! And this was the year I fell in love with fanny packs. Not mad about it.

These two!!! 😍

Professional veil fluffer. I don’t think I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing such beautiful, vibrant fall color before this wedding!

Sweet Jill! I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to work with this beauty this year! She is fantastic!

So many Nick photo bombs...

See?

Thankful when he’s able to come and carry all of the things :)

That's Jean (my mom!) helping us out at Christmas mini sessions!

Last wedding of the year selfie!

Christmas Tree Farm Maternity Photos

We had one of the most beautiful December days for this maternity/family session. I didn’t even wear a coat… which is crazy for mid-December in Pittsburgh!

This family is welcoming their second child into the family in just a few short months, and wanted some maternity photos at a local location to celebrate! We had so much fun taking these sunlit shots. Congratulations to you three on your expanding family!

Bryce W: Snowy Historic Harmony Senior Photos

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

Congratulations on your senior year, Bryce!

Nate T: Historic Harmony Senior Phots

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

Hartwood Acres Mansion Extended Family Photos

This was a very special extended family session! Katie, the eldest sibling and sister, contacted me a few months prior, inquiring about a family session for December! I don’t get many requests for December sessions, so I was initially surprised (and excited!) by her request. I soon learned that this session needed to take place while her brother was back in town from boot camp, and was a gift for her mom. These photos feature not only Katie’s immediate family (her parents, herself, and three brothers!) but also Katie’s fiancee and her brother’s wife of one day! That’s right… this session took place only a day after a family wedding, making it all the more special!

If that wasn’t enough, at the end of the session, Katie’s mom walked around to each family member with tears in her eyes, giving each a hug, thanking them for being there. How sweet is that?!

Below are a few of my favorites from our time together. Congratulations to this family on all of the exciting changes coming their way!

Hartwood Acres Family Photos

These four were TROOPERS in the cold December weather, which is no small feat with two little ones in tow! We had cold, wind, and at the very end of our session - snow! But with so much stacked against us (including a quickly setting sun!) we got SO much done during our time together!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to photograph this sweet family of four! ❤️ Enjoy a few of my favorite photos from their session below!