Introducing Spring 2022 Mini Sessions at Moraine State Park!

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Introducing Spring 2022 Mini Sessions at Moraine State Park!

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be hosting a round of Spring mini sessions this year at a favorite park of mine, Moraine State Park!

These sessions will be 15 minutes in length and will take place at the Pleasant View Picnic Area on the South Shore of Moraine. These mini sessions will include 10 digital files (that you will be able to choose from your online gallery!), and will be priced at $275, +6% sales tax. We’ll be using a natural, forest-y backdrop for the photos (see example photos below!)

If you are interested in booking or in checking out what timeslots are still available, click here!

If you are someone who might be interested in a JHP mini session in the future, I’d love to encourage you to sign up for my email list! People on my email list are the first to know about upcoming mini sessions, and when my full session time slots are released, seasonally. Plus, I only send a few emails per year (I promise! 👏). Click here to join the mailing list!

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8 Tips for surviving a photo session in the hot & humid summer weather

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8 Tips for surviving a photo session in the hot & humid summer weather

Summer is one of my favorite times for photos, and one of the most popular - for good reason! Everything is green and beautiful and blooming. But there are two things that can make a summer photo session very uncomfortable… the heat & humidity!

Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to better prepare for a photo session in the heat & humidity. Below are a few of my top tips!

1 - Dress for summertime weather!

This one might be the most obvious, but make sure you dress for the summer weather! Light, breezy fabrics without too many layers are the way to go. The key is to keep you as comfortable (and not sweaty!) for as along as possible.

Ladies, consider dresses and skirts, or a cute romper. Guys, consider lighter linen pants and fabrics.

Patterned shirts and dresses can also often hide sweat - and there are some fabrics that just generally hide sweat better than others, so look for those!

Also, consider lighter colors over darker ones. The sun will reflect off of your lighter colored clothing, rather than trap the heat in darker colors!

2- Stay hydrated before, during, and after!

Make sure you are drinking a lot of water leading up to your photo session so you’re not already dehydrated going into your session! Bring a water bottle with you to your session as well so you can stay hydrated during the shoot.

3 - Consider an early morning session.

This one is certainly not for everyone, but for those who really want to beat the summer heat… this can be a great way to go! Generally, mornings can be a bit cooler than evenings, so if you really want to beat the heat, consider a sunrise photo session.

4 - Consider bringing a second change of clothes.

For a summertime shoot, this can be a game changer! If it’s really hot and humid and your clothing is starting to show the affects of that (hello, pit stains!), then having a second outfit to change into can be a breath of fresh air (literally ;) ).

5 - For the ladies, consider hiring a professional makeup artist.

Those of us who might not be super proficient in the art of makeup (including myself!), having a makeup artist that can help create a sweat-proof look can be KEY!

6 - For the ladies, start with tighter curls in your hair, or choose an up-do for the second half of your photos.

Tighter curls will loosen up as you’re out in the heat and humidity, creating a more natural look throughout your session. I’ve also had girls & women choose a secondary hair style for their photos - maybe a cute updo or braid? Or, you can just have a styled updo from the start if you don’t want to worry about how your hair may fade during your photos!

7 - Don’t wear sunglasses for the week leading up to your session.

When you’re used to wearing sunglasses and then suddenly have to be outside in the bright light for an hour to an hour and a half, you will be very squinty. This is something very common that happens ALL the time. Put those sunglasses away for the week leading up to your session so your eyes are used to the brighter summer light!

8 - Bring an extra towel with you.

This might sound kind of gross - but a towel or washcloth can come in handy at a humid photo session for all of the extra sweat that might accumulate. Even if we can’t stop the sweat, we can wipe it off so it’s out of the frame for a few shots!

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Historic Harmony Family & Maternity Photos

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Historic Harmony Family & Maternity Photos

Oh how I adore this family! I've photographed Amanda & Chris for quite a few milestones - engagement, elopement, and when they were expecting their first child - and this Spring, I had the pleasure of photographing them once again, along with their sweet girl Kennedy, as they grow their family! It is such a treat to get to work with the same families as they grow!

And you may not be able to tell from these photos (because they hide it so well!!) but it was lightly raining for the majority of their session! And they pushed through it SO well, and we still got some lovely images for them to remember this season. I am so thankful!

We took these photos in one of my favorite locations, Historic Harmony! There are so many lovely backdrops within a short walking distance that can be used while taking portraits here.

Amanda & Chris, congratulations on the growth of your family! ❤️

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Julia E: Phipp's Conservatory Broderie Room Senior Photos

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Julia E: Phipp's Conservatory Broderie Room Senior Photos

Say hello to Miss Julia, who is a part of the class of 2022! Julia plans on studying Psychology after high school, and has such a sweet spirit! She loves reading, writing, and baking.

It was such a treat to be able to photograph Julia a few weeks ago at Phipp's Conservatory in the Broderie Room! If you didn’t know, the Broderie Room at Phipp’s is modeled after a formal French garden, and (in my opinion) it’s easily one of the most beautiful rooms they have!

Phipp’s ended up working out perfectly for Julia’s senior portrait session - her photos needed to be completed with enough time to use them for senior announcements this summer, so they couldn’t be scheduled too late into the Spring. But Julia also wanted some beautiful greens and florals as a backdrop, which usually begin to pop up in the Spring timeframe. So when I suggested renting a room at Phipp’s for her senior photos, I was so excited when she and her mom jumped on the opportunity!

Did you know that you can actually rent a room at Phipp’s? It’s true! Click here to find out more about a room rental at Phipp’s. A room rental at Phipp’s might be a great idea for a senior session for you if…

  • You don’t want to have to worry about inclement weather the day of your shoot! Phipp’s is a covered, enclosed greenhouse, making it a great indoor option - which would mean that you wouldn’t have to worry about rain, cold, or snow!

  • You want to have a more private space for your session. Public spaces & parks can be busy during the summer months. Phipp’s is a private space where people won’t be able to interrupt!

Renting a room is actually the only way to have a professional photo session take place there (just so you know!). But it really is a fantastic option, even a great backup rain plan!

Congratulations on your senior year, Julia! It was such an honor to celebrate this season with you!

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Connor D: Franklin Regional High School Senior Photos in Oakland PA

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Connor D: Franklin Regional High School Senior Photos in Oakland PA

Connor is a senior at Franklin Regional High School who is graduating this Spring with the class of 2022! He is the quarterback for his school’s football team, and plans to study business post-high school.

Connor chose Oakland for his senior photos. We began at Mellon Institute, then worked our way over to the Cathedral of Learning. There are so many great locations in Oakland for senior photos right within that small area that encompass both architecture and nature!

Leading up to his session, we weren’t sure it was even going to be able to happen. Throughout the week, the forecast was calling for rain ALL day - literally! And then, when the rainy forecast finally cleared the morning of his session, a new forecast of strong winds showed up. Strong winds can sometimes be problematic during a photo session, unless you’re fully committed to that “Beyonce” wind-in-the-hair look. And while I’m sure Connor could’ve pulled it off, it wasn’t really the look he wanted to go for!

Ultimately, though - we did decide together to move forward with the session! And I’m glad we did. We had lots of buildings in Oakland to hide around, and tried to shoot between wind gusts. And Connor was a great sport through it all - we had a great time hanging out with him!

Congratulations on your senior year, Connor!

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Pittsburgh Surprise Proposal Photography – Things to Consider When Planning a Proposal

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Pittsburgh Surprise Proposal Photography – Things to Consider When Planning a Proposal

One of my absolute FAVORITE things to photograph are proposals! And when it comes to proposing, most people haven’t done it before. This blog post is meant to accomplish two things: one, to walk through the things that people might not think about considering when it comes to planning a proposal. And two, if you plan on having professional photos taken of your surprise proposal, how to set yourself up to get the best photos possible!

 1. Consider Having a Weather Rain Plan

If you’re from Pittsburgh or have lived here for any length of time, you know how crucial this point is! When planning a proposal in Pittsburgh, it is always important to consider the weather, and to consider having a backup rain plan.

If you’re planning an outdoor proposal, consider having a backup location that is shielded from the rain. This could be somewhere indoors, or an outdoor location that simply has an overhang or something blocking the rain. If you do plan to have an indoor backup location, and you plan to have a professional photographer there, consider talking to them about a location that still has good natural light. While photographers can bring artificial, off camera light to light a location, you will most likely want to keep the element of surprise, and will not want flashes firing, alerting your fiancé-to-be of what’s about to take place.

 There are lots of options to consider that would make excellent backup plans. For example:

  • Phipps Conservatory & Botanic Gardens: Did you know that you can rent a private room at Phipps for proposals? It’s true! And what’s great about Phipps is that you are shielded from the rain – and any other type of inclement weather - and there is great natural light. If you don’t want to have to worry about any sort of inclement weather right off the bat, this might be a great route to go in the first place! If you’re interested in renting a room at Phipps for a proposal, click here. And you can click here to view a proposal I’ve photographed at Phipps!

  • Mellon Institute: You may have seen the huge Mellon Institute columns in Oakland in a friend’s wedding photos or while driving by – but this spot makes for an excellent backup rain location! The architecture is beautiful and this location has a large area (in the columns!) that is shielded from rain. It’s also free to shoot there!

  • The Pennsylvanian Rotunda: Have you seen this place before?! There are few spots more beautiful in Pittsburgh than the rotunda at the Pennsylvanian! This train station turned event space & luxury apartment complex is what photo dreams are made of. You do have to pay to take professional photos in this space - but it meets all of the qualifications of a good rain spot! Covered, access to natural light, and oh-so beautiful. Click here if you’d like to contact them to inquire!

  • Coffee shops, bakeries, & restaurants: Many coffee shops and restaurants have large windows that give lots of natural light! If you plan on having the proposal photographed, you may just want to check with the coffee shop/bakery/restaurant ahead of time to make sure they’re okay with a photographer hanging around for a little while!

 2. Time of Day & Location Light

When it comes to photos, light is such an important factor. In fact, I would go as far as to say that good or bad light can make or break a photo! Of course, part of the fun of a proposal is that it’s candid - meaning that it’s usually unstaged and happens on the spot! But there are some things you can take into consideration if you want to have a more “picturesque” proposal!

The best time of day for natural light photography across the board (most of the time!) is 2 hours after sunrise, and 2 hours prior to sunset. Planning a proposal within one of those two time frames might help you have better overall light for photos!

Something else to talk about with your proposal photographer is how the light will look at the time of day at the particular location you chose. If you choose Point State Park fountain in Pittsburgh for your proposal spot, for example, you have a HUGE space to work with with so many different angles and spots to choose from. Your photographer can help give you some suggestions on what side of the fountain might have the best light at the time of day you’ll be proposing, as well as what angle of the fountain would make the best backdrop.

 3. Positioning on one knee

We’ve talked about rain plans, time of day, location, and now we’re here… the big moment - the moment you get down on one knee. What you’ll want to make absolutely sure of is that your photographer knows where you’ll be getting down on one knee so that they can know where to position themselves. If your photographer is in the wrong spot when you take a knee, they might miss the emotion of that special moment – which would totally be the worst! It’s so important to communicate ahead of time and have a plan that you can both be confident in, so you know without a shadow of a doubt that that moment (and the emotions that go along with it!) will be captured from the correct angle!

 4. Knowing Who You Two Are!

Chances are, if I’m photographing a surprise proposal, I’ve never actually met the couple I’m photographing - and I’m sure that’s true for many other proposal photographers. Because of that, I personally always ask for a few photos of my couple so I can pick them out of a crowd (if need be!). As well as a text to let me know that they are on their way to our meeting spot, which leads me to my last point…

 5. Communication

Communication is KEY! If you hire a photographer for your proposal, communicating in advance about where the proposal will be happening, as well as where you’ll actually be proposing, is crucial to the outcome of the images. In addition, it can be helpful to touch base with your photographer when you’re in the vicinity. Personally, I always ask my client who is proposing to shoot me a text to let me know when they arrive to the location, so I know to be looking for them.

For example, for a recent proposal I photographed at Phipps, Nate (who was proposing) sent me a text when he and his girlfriend left their house (about 5/10 minutes from Phipps), and when they arrive at Phipps. That way, I had a couple of minutes to get into position, and then start to watch for intently for them as they made their way to our agreed upon spot.

 6. Keeping Things Secret!

Lots of proposers ask me how I’ll “blend in” and go unnoticed by their soon-to-be fiance while I wait for the big moment. The great thing is, if you choose a public space, I’ll blend right in! With so many hobbyist photographers now-a-days, it’s easy to go unnoticed (or at the very least, blend in with the crowd) while waiting for a proposal to happen. I’ve even went so far as to pretend that I was with a group of tourists (for a proposal on Mount Washington in Pittsburgh) to keep my identity a secret! Overall, choosing a public location for your proposal will help your photographer blend in with the people around them, and keep things secret!

7. Choosing a Public Location vs. a Private Location

Piggy backing off of the last point, you may want to consider how receptive your soon-to-be fiance will be to getting proposed to in a crowd of people vs. in a more secluded/private location. Proposing in a public space will draw attention - which is great for those who love attention! But this method isn’t for everyone. If you feel like your fiance would prefer that moment to be more private and just between the two of you, consider choosing a low foot traffic location, or consider proposing during a time of day where a busy spot might not be so busy (for example, Point State Park in Pittsburgh isn’t as busy in the morning as it is in the evening).


I hope that this blog post was helpful as you prepare to propose to the love of your life! If you’re in need of a surprise proposal photographer in Pittsburgh, I would absolutely LOVE to help you out. Feel free to use the contact tab in the navigation above, or email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com to hear more about the proposal package I offer!

And if you liked this blog post, you might also like…

Shelby & Anthony’s Mount Washington Proposal

Allie & Nate’s Phipps Conservatory Proposal

Tess & Tyler’s Schenley Bridge Proposal

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JR: Seneca Valley Senior Photos on the North Shore of Pittsburgh

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JR: Seneca Valley Senior Photos on the North Shore of Pittsburgh

JR is a Seneca Valley High School senior who is graduating in the Spring of 2022! He chose the picturesque North Shore for his photos, which afforded LOTS of opportunity for photos with a classic Pittsburgh yellow bridge and the city background!

A few weeks ago, I discovered that the Roberto Clemente Bridge had closed starting on February 14, 2022 for the next two years. Thankfully, the Andy Warhol Bridge served as an excellent backup spot during JR’s session!

JR kept it casual and decided to wear two different sweatshirts for his senior photos - from competing schools! JR’s family is a “Penn State” family, but because JR will be attending school at Pitt for Nursing, they’ve adopted some love for their infamous rival ;)

Because of the Roberto Clemente Bridge closure, I decided to look for some new locations for photos around the North Shore… and those locations did not disappoint! We even found a colorful mural on one of the side streets that made for some vibrant & unique images. And of course, the walkways and streets themselves always serve as excellent backdrops!

In addition to having his senior photos taken, JR’s family opted to add on a “family mini session” to the beginning of his senior session! So, for the first 20 minutes we were together, we created some updated family photos for them. It was so much fun, and a good way to get JR loose before the camera was solely focused on him. You can check out photos from their family mini session here!

Congratulations on your senior year, JR!

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North Shore Pittsburgh Family Photos

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North Shore Pittsburgh Family Photos

We had a blast photographing this family in downtown Pittsburgh on a bright & beautiful March afternoon! The family’s eldest sibling, JR, was scheduled to get his senior photos taken, so the family opted to add on a “family mini session” prior to the start of JR’s senior session!

I would venture to say that senior photos are also the perfect time to update family photos, and a family mini session means that it will be quick and painless for everyone involved ;) One member of the family is already going to be photo ready, and typically one parent (and possibly a sibling) will be coming to the photo session for moral support anyways... so why not just get some photos of everyone together before your senior heads off to college or trade school?

A huge thanks to this sweet family for the honor of capturing this season for them! ❤️ We had a blast with you guys!!!

And if you’d like to see JR’s senior photo session, click here!

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Alex & Nick: Camelot Banquet Center Warrendale Wedding Photos

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Alex & Nick: Camelot Banquet Center Warrendale Wedding Photos

It was a lovely, beautiful, fairytale wedding day with Alex & Nick just a few weeks ago at the Camelot Banquet Center in Warrendale!

The Camelot Banquet Hall in Warrendale is one of my favorite small wedding venues near Cranberry Township. It has some beautifully unique features, including beautiful stain glass windows surrounding the entire reception space! I photographed one wedding here quite a few years ago, so it was fun to be back in a familiar space (that also is quite close to home!).

We've had the pleasure of knowing the bride's family for quite some time - I even took Alex's senior photos back in 2014, near the start of my photography journey! So of course, we were beyond honored to be asked to be a part of this sweet celebration!

Alex & Nick's wedding day was everything you would want an early March wedding in Pittsburgh to be. They had an unseasonably warm and sunny day, which was a huge blessing, since we took the majority of their portraits outside! Though not many trees had begun to bloom as of early March, we were still able to find some beautiful photo locations right on the Camelot’s property for photos - some out front of the Camelot, and some on an unsuspecting bridge right near the venue!

One of the sweetest parts of their day - which was a complete surprise to Alex & Nick - was the white horse drawn carriage waiting for them outside following the exit from their ceremony! An unforgettable surprise coordinated by the father of the groom.

Without further ado - I’m so excited to share Alex & Nick’s wedding photos with you!

Congratulations, Alex & Nick, on your beautiful wedding day, and on your marriage!

Vendors: The Camelot Event Center, McCandless Floral, Dj Diehlz Entertainment, David's Bridal (bride's dress), AZAZIE (bridesmaid dresses)

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