Cranberry Township Graduation Party Photos

The first time I photographed this sweet family was at the VERY beginning of my career - possibly more than a decade ago!

I had the honor of taking Lauren’s senior photos this past fall, and was so honored to be invited back to photograph her grad party this summer! I love photographing grad parties - it’s fun to document the decor, the relationships, and even a few quick portraits of family (and of the senior!). Below are a few of my favorite images from Lauren’s grad party!

Congratulations on your graduation, Lauren! ❤️

Martha & Sam: Sunrise Mellon Park Engagement Photos

An empty Mellon Park can be tough to come by... unless you have your session at 6:30AM on a Saturday!

Martha & Sam are two brave souls who woke up extra early a beautiful summer Saturday for their gorgeous sunrise engagement session! And I know that sounds crazy, but it was SO worth it. We had the most beautiful morning light, and if you’re local to the Pittsburgh area and have ever been to Mellon Park on a week day or weekend evening... you know how crazy this park gets with photo sessions! So it was a treat to get to meander our way through the park without people!

Martha & Sam met a few years ago through their bible study group while they were both in college. Sam proposed at Kennywood (a true Pittsburgh proposal if you ask me!), as a nod towards their mutual love for theme parks. And they were a joy to spend an early morning with!

Congratulations to you both, Martha & Sam! We are so excited to be a part of your wedding day!!!

Summer Moraine State Park Family Photos

Tracie & Mark are celebrating their 10 year anniversary this year, and they wanted to do so with some updated family photos, and some updated photos of the two of them! One of their favorite places as a family of four to spend time at is Moraine State Park, so it was a no-brainer that that would be the perfect location for their photos… and it did not disappoint!

Aside from some of my usual favorite spots, I noticed some gorgeous bushes in bloom all throughout the park… and I knew we had to use them in their photos! So we parked, jumped across a ditch, and walked across the road to our first beautiful spot. Sometimes it takes a little extra work to make the magic happen, but it’s always so worth it!

From there, we drove to two other locations for photos - one spot with a small field and a wooded area, and the last spot right on the lake. While the lake location is beautiful, the light is best later in the day, when the sun isn’t shining to bright against the water. I think we hit our last spot at the perfect time, and got the most beautiful light!

As an added bonus… the kids played in the lake at the end of our session and caught a fish! (Scroll to the bottom to see the very last photo!). If you’ve ever wondered what a family session is like, I feel like that just about sums it up! Kids have limited attention spans during photos, so at some point, we have to steer into that and go for the more fun, candid, and interactive shots (you’ll see lots of fun ones in this post!). And you know what? Those ones always end up being my favorites anyways!

Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary, Tracie & Mark! Thank you so much for the honor of commemorating such a special season for you four!

Kathi & John: McConnell's Mill & Moraine State Park Engagement Photos

Kathi & John have been together for 8 years! Interestingly enough, Kathi & John grew up a very short distance from each other, but didn't meet until freshman orientation at St. Vincent College - which is also where John proposed back in February of this year!

Kathi & John's favorite go-to date is ordering a round of milkshakes and just talking - the simple dates are somehow always the best, and the most memorable.

For their engagement session, Kathi & John chose the combo of McConnell's Mill and Moraine State Park... two beautiful spots with so much gorgeous scenery! We had an absolute blast taking their photos and getting to know them.

Congratulations on your engagement, Kathi & John! We cannot wait to celebrate you on your wedding day!!!!

Maria & Matt: Elks Lodge #776 Up-Themed Wedding Photos

“You are my greatest adventure.”

If you are a fan of the movie, “Up,” you’re going to love Maria & Matt’s wedding!

You might recognize some hints of the classic animated film woven into the details of Maria & Matt's wedding day, including some grape soda pins on the bouquets and boutonnières, colorful florals, a cloud-covered cake, and the most beautiful and intricate card box house, designed by the father of the bride after the house in the iconic film (you have to see it!!). As a Disney lover myself… it was such a treat to get to photograph their colorful & playful wedding day! You might even want to check out their engagement photos from last spring if you’d like to see even more fun Up details!

We had such a sweet time with these two and their friends & family on their wedding day mid-May! Their wedding took place at the Elks Lodge #776, right across the street from Washington & Jefferson College… which made for the most beautiful photo backdrop for all of their portraits!

One thing that made this wedding extra sweet about this wedding day - I grew up across the street from Matt's family! I babysat for them and worked with many of the family members, and it was an absolute honor to get to document this beautiful day.

Congratulations to Maria & Matt on your wedding day and on your newest adventure! ❤️

Vendors: Elks Lodge #776, photos on Washington & Jefferson College's campus, Isababy Cakes, Dana Lynn Photos (videographer), Loyalty Entertainment LTD, Bella Sposa Bridal, Prom & Tux, Morilee by Madeline Gardner (bride's dress & bridesmaid dress designer), Zazzle (invitations)

Jake Proposes to Dana at the Point!

Secret proposals are always my favorite… and Jake and Dana’s was no different!

Jake had contacted me a few months ago inquiring about having me take some photos at Point State Park for his proposal to his then-girlfriend, Dana. The plan included Jake taking Dana to dinner in the city. After, they would walk over and he would pop the question!

Leading up to the day of the proposal, there was a threat of rain, but it seemed to subside once the actual day came. However, when we were waiting (sneakily!) at the fountain for Jake to walk Dana to our agreed upon proposal spot, we noticed some dark storm clouds starting to roll in. The sky kept getting darker and darker, and we were a little nervous, wondering if the rain would hold off for the proposal, and if we would have enough light to actually capture it.

Well… the rain did hold off, and we had just enough natural light! Jake and Dana walked across the Point State Park lawn, and as Jake went down on one knee, I pulled up my camera - and Dana started walking towards me, away from Jake! Thinking I was just a casual photographer who hopped on the moment after seeing what was happening (I think!), she said “oh, he’s just kidding!” And I replied… “I don’t think so!!! Go back!” 😂 And well, she did. And to her surprise, Jake was quite serious. And yes… she said yes!

We had a few minutes after the proposal for a few more photos before the super dark clouds rolled in and we lost the majority of our light. The winds picked up so much that they were practically blowing us over as we rain back to the parking garage (lots of camera gear + no umbrella = not a great combination for getting stuck in a rain storm!). BUT we made it, and the most important thing was that we were able to capture that sweet moment, and Jake & Dana were able to take that moment in - sans rain!

Jake & Dana, a huge congratulations to you both on your engagement! Thank you so much for the honor of being a part of such a sweet moment!

Gavin S: North Catholic High School Senior Photos at McConnell's Mill

Meet Gavin, who's graduating this Spring with the class of 2022 from North Catholic!

Gavin is heading south for college, and plans to be a part of the medical field - his choice was inspired by his own personal experience and diagnosis.

Gavin also plays hockey and has a car that he's proud of - so of course, we had to incorporate it into some photos! We had the perfect night for photos at McConnell's Mill, and were able to get lots of variety and unique shots during our time together!

Congratulations on your senior year, Gavin! And thanks so much for the honor of taking your photos!

McConnell's Mill Summer Family Photos

This sweet family had the most gorgeous day for their mini session at McConnell’s Mill!

We’ve known Darren & Kim for a number of years, all the way back to before they were married! We’ve run in many of the same circles and have had the pleasure of seeing them get engaged, married, and grow from a family of two to three, then from a family of three to four.

I love the colors these four chose for their photos! They opted for lighter, summer-themed tones, which popped perfectly against the sun-lit forest background. I’m so excited about how these images turned out!

Kim & Darren, thank you so much for the honor of taking these photos for you. You two (and your two boys!) are a blessing to our lives! ❤️

Interested in booking a family session for yourself? Feel free to click here to get some more info, or email me directly at: jhidingerphotography@gmail.com.

Riley W: North Catholic High School Senior Photos at Mellon Park

Riley is a senior at North Catholic High School who plans on attending Penn State in the fall! She is an amazing volleyball player and loves Japanese food, and was so much fun to photograph on a beautiful spring day at Mellon Park! It’s hard to believe that, three years ago, I photographed her brother at McConnell’s Mill (check it out here!)

I loved that we were able to find some blue florals to compliment Riley’s blue dress - and that her white dress went with everything else! She also brought a few of her volleyball medals, her cap and gown, and a Penn State baseball hat to incorporate into some of her photos. It’s always so fun to incorporate some personal memorabilia into senior shoots!

Congratulations on your senior year, Riley! And thanks so much for the honor of taking these photos for you!

6 Ways to Make Senior Photos Less Awkward & Uncomfortable

When I talk to people my age about their senior photo experience, they will often say things like….

“It was SO awkward.”

“I felt so uncomfortable the entire time.”

“I couldn’t wait for it to be over.”

“What am I supposed to do with my hands?!”

Let’s face it - senior photos can sometimes have a bad rep for being uncomfortable, awkward, and simply an experience that you have to “get through” in order to get what you really want in the end - the images.

Well, let it not be so for my clients! I strive to create an environment that is laid back, relaxed, and comfortable - like you have a friend taking your photos!

But I know that those pre-session nerves can sometimes still get the best of anyone. So today, I’m sharing some of my TOP tips and recommendations for ways to make your senior photos less awkward and uncomfortable! First up…

1 - Consider doing them alongside a friend!

These twins opted to have their photos taken together, simultaneously! We had such a blast!

Have a friend who needs their senior photos taken, too? Consider having your senior photos taken simultaneously! I’ve done a few “best friend” senior photo sessions, where two separate seniors have booked me together - and because they are doing their senior photos together, they can encourage each other, share outfits, and even have some photos taken together! Plus, that session will be a fun experience and memory for the two of you to have together!

2 - Bring a friend or trusted family member with you.

The person you bring to your session doesn’t necessarily have to be having their photo taken, too. Bringing a friend or trusted family member to your session is a great way to feel a bit more comfortable, rather than having your photos taken on your own.

3 - Have your senior photos taken at a familiar location.

This senior opted to have her photos taken at a camp she had attended and counseled at for years!

We all feel more comfortable in places we’re familiar with, right? The same is true for a photo session! If you want to keep things comfortable, consider locations for your session that are meaningful to you in some way. Maybe there’s a park that you visit often with your friends. Maybe you grew up visiting the Strip District with your family and feel comfortable there. Maybe your parents, grandparents, or a family friend have a picturesque property that you’ve visited many times - that could be a great spot, too! Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box!

4 - Consider a morning senior session vs. an evening senior session.

As a more natural-light style photographer (meaning that I don’t generally use off camera/artificial lights to light my senior subjects), I take senior photo sessions within two hours of sunset, and two hours of sunrise when the natural light is at its best. There are a few advantages to morning senior sessions that might help a senior feel more comfortable!

First, you can get your session done. Instead of waiting around all day for it, you can wake up, getting ready, and get it finished before lunch time! That way, you don’t have to spend the day thinking about it.

Second, there are generally less people in public spaces in the morning. Lots of popular photo locations have WAY less people early in the morning, rather than later in the day (especially on a nice evening, when we’re bound to run into lots of other photo sessions taking place!). If you want more privacy for your senior session, I would recommend a morning time slot!

5 - Look at your photographer’s work in advance.

All photographers have different ways they pose and direct images. To be more familiar with the poses your photographer might pose or direct you into during your session, be sure to look through some of their photo sessions in advance! That way, when they ask you to do something, you might be able to recall how it looks on camera based on what you’ve seen of their work - whether in their portfolio or on their blog.

Personally, I love sharing blog posts from my senior sessions with my favorite 10-25 images! I love giving upcoming seniors a feel of how they can expect to be posed/directed through the work that I share, in advance, so they can feel more comfortable and confident going into it!

6 - Talk with your photographer beforehand.

Whether it’s over the phone, by email, or by text, having a conversation with your photographer prior to your session might alleviate some of your pre-session jitters! They can reassure you, provide outfit advice, give tips for what to expect, and even quell some of your specific fears that you’re willing to share.

I always love to prep my seniors as much as possible before a session! Every senior who books with me gets digital access to a “Senior Style & Experience Guide,” which is meant to walk seniors through the process of what a shoot with me will be like, introduce who I am, and give tips for what to wear, what not to wear, and how to get the most out of their session.

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I truly hope this blog posts helps you feel more comfortable and confident heading into your senior session! Can having your photo taken be awkward and uncomfortable? Of COURSE, because it’s something we’re not always used to doing in a professional setting! But by implementing one, two, or all of these steps, you’re sure to have a great session and feel more confident going into it!

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