McConnell's Mill Spring Family Photos

I had the pleasure of photographing this beautiful family at McConnell’s Mill State Park in the early Spring during my Spring Mini Session Event in May!

We had a beautiful evening, and it was just the right temperature - not too hot or too cold! And how beautiful are their outfits?! These kids were so well behaved and sweet towards one another, they made my job SO easy! A huge thanks to this sweet family for letting me capture this sweet season of their lives!

Martha & Sam: Greystone Fields Wedding Photos

It’s hard to believe it, but here we are… the first wedding blog post of the year! 🎉

Martha & Sam’s wedding was not only my first wedding of 2023, but also my first wedding back from maternity leave! It truly felt so good to be back to work… even if it was hard to leave my little one for such a long period of time!

Before Martha & Sam’s wedding day, the weather forecast was ominous (at best). The forecast was calling for 90-100% chance of rain all day. We had talked through rain plans, packed our clear bubble umbrellas in the car (a must have for peace of mind if you photograph weddings in Pittsburgh), and even unloaded our gear into the church in the rain - and then, the clouds parted and the skies cleared exactly when we needed them to for photos! That was a HUGE blessing, considering the fact that Martha & Sam wanted to showcase the beauty of Oakland (the place where they went to school, met, got to know each other, and became husband and wife!) in their photos. I was (and am) so thankful!

The ceremony itself took place at Bellefield Presbyterian Church in Oakland, where Martha & Sam met. The church ministers to the Oakland area (including many Pitt students), which is how Martha & Sam became involved. Not only is the church one that is on mission to reach its community.. but it’s also so beautiful, with stained glass decorating its walls. It was the most beautiful backdrop for their vows!

After the ceremony, we headed over to the Cathedral of Learning for bridal party and bride & groom photos, and then over to their reception venue, Greystone Fields in Gibsonia (which we absolutely LOVE!). After an evening full of dancing, food, and cookies, Martha & Sam ended their night with a “last dance,” with just the two of them in the reception space, and then made their getaway exit through lines of guests holding Chinese lanterns.

Martha & Sam had the most beautiful day and I am so thankful to have been a part of it. Congratulations on your marriage, Martha & Sam!

Vendors: Bellefield Presbyterian Church (Ceremony), Greystone Fields (Reception), Yinz Getting Married (Planning & Coordination), Tolman Media / Reflections Media Pennsylvania (Videographer), Weischedel Florist & Ghse (Florals), Oakmont Bakery (Cake), Bridal by Bre (Makeup & Hair), One White Lane (Wedding Dress), Sophia Tolli Australia (Wedding Dress Designer), Stephen’s Kitchen & Catering, Joyce Gindlesperger (Pianist), Rev. Joshua Brown (Officiant)

Josh K: Hartwood Acres Mansion Senior Photos

Josh is graduating this Spring with the class of 2023!

He's a super smart guy who's planning on studying biomedical engineering after high school at Duquesne University. And as you can tell, he came dressed to impressed in a suit and one of his favorite bow ties!

Congratulations on your senior year, Josh, and thanks so much for letting us celebrate with you!

Spring 2023 Mini Sessions on May 2nd!

I'm excited to announce that I'll be holding some limited mini sessions this Spring on Tuesday, May 2nd at McConnell's Mill State Park!

These sessions will take place at McConnell's Mill State Park (Kildoo Picnic Area), only on Tuesday, May 2nd in the evening, and availability is limited (rain date: Thursday, May 4th). Each mini session includes...

• 15 minutes of on location photography at Moraine State Park (with a forest backdrop, as pictured in this email!)

• Up to 25 high resolution digital files (delivered via online gallery)

• A print release (To print your photos wherever you would like! Note that professional print products are also available for purchase through your online gallery)

These mini sessions are perfect for...

• Updated immediate family photos

• Mom + children photos (perfect for Mother's Day!)

• Senior photos

• Photos in your prom dress

• Photos with your friends!

• Senior cap and gown photos

• An extended family photo

• Engagement photos

• Photos with grandparents

• Maternity photos

• Updated headshots

• Photos with your favorite furry friend(s)!

• And so much more!

These sessions are priced at $300 + 6% sales tax.

The price is $300 + 6% sales tax for 15-20 minutes of on location photography. These sessions are for families, couples, seniors, extended families, and would make a great gift for Mother's Day

Feel free to check out the available times via the booking link below! Hope to see you there!

Zelienople Family Photos & Professional Headshots

I adore this family! I first photographed Jess + Micah for their engagement photos back in 2014... nearly 9 years ago! Their family as doubled in size since then. I am so very grateful that they continue to trust me with their memories!

We had a little mini session in Zelienople (so many great backdrops to work with here ) and got a few family photos, and some new headshots for Micah! It's hard to believe that this was my first session back since Lucy joined our family... and spending it with these four was such a joy!!!

What is the Best Time of Day for Senior Pictures? Answered by a Pittsburgh Senior Photographer

Is there a “best” time of day for senior photos?

The answer to this question might vary from photographer to photographer, but generally, the answer is yes! There is a “best” time of day for taking photos - or in my case, there are two times of day that are my personal favorites for taking photos! These times of day help me…

• Make sure my client’s skin looks its most flattering (almost luminescent!)

• Make sure my client is not squinting their eyes during their session

• Have an easier time controlling the available light

• Not have to use off camera lighting (my preference is natural light, paired with a reflector!)

A few important things to note: as a primarily “natural light” photographer (or in other words, as a photographer who uses the sun as her main light source usually without the addition of artificial lights!), I plan my sessions around when the natural sunlight is best. And for the way I prefer to shoot, the best light of the day is generally found within two hours of sunrise and two hours before sunset. This is when the sun is lowest in the sky, which gives me the ability to maneuver it a bit easier! It’s also softer and warmer within both of these time frames - the higher the sun gets in the sky, the harsher the light becomes, creating harsh lines, highlights, and shadows on my subjects (and makes them squint!)… and I want every person I photograph to have that beautiful, flattering soft light that can be found at those two times of day, so that is typically when I plan my sessions for!

However, on a cloudy day (we get lots of those here in Pittsburgh!), the rules can change a bit.

On a cloudy day, the clouds act as a giant soft box for the sun - meaning that the light is less harsh, and doesn’t create harsh lines, shadows, and highlights on my client’s face… so we can get that beautiful soft light throughout the entire day! There are even times when the cloud coverage is so heavy (blocking so much of the sunlight, effectively creating an “earlier” sunset) that I actually have to move my session up an hour or so.

But because I plan my sessions so far out in advance (usually a few months out), I always schedule my sessions within two hours of sunrise, or two hours before sunset. That way, we know we will always have the best light of the day whether it’s sunny or cloudy! And then I watch the sunlight and cloud coverage throughout the day to see if the timing needs to be adjusted.

Below are some photos that were taken within two hours of sunrise, or two hours before sunset!

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What Time of Year is Best for Senior Pictures? Answered by a Pittsburgh Senior Photographer

Believe it or not, there’s not a one size fits all answer to the question “what time of year is best for senior pictures?”

The most popular time of year here in Pittsburgh for senior photos is no doubt the fall, usually in October. We are blessed with some beautiful foliage in the autumn months here in Western Pennsylvania, and many seniors want to take advantage of that for their photos! And it’s always nice to not be sweating during your senior pictures, which is often the case in summer.

However, instead of telling you what the best time of the year is for senior pictures, I’d love to help you figure out when would be the best time for YOU by walking you through some questions:

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

Does being really hot or really cold bother you?

I know, kind of a weird question, but stay with me! If you aren’t a fan of hot and humid weather, you’ll probably be miserable during a summer session. On the flip side, if you aren’t a fan of the cold, waiting until mid November for your senior photos probably isn’t a great option, either. But if you’re a huge fan of summer and can’t wait to wear a sun dress or shorts and a T-shirt for your photos, then summer might be the perfect time for your photos! Which leads me to my next question…

What kind of clothing do you picture yourself wearing for your photos?

This might help you decide what season you want your photos taken in! If you aren’t fan of short sleeves/pants and prefer long sleeves and/or layers, a cooler timeframe might be better for you - think early spring or mid to late fall! However, if you really like summer attire and want to show off your summer tan, a warmer month (June, July, August) might be perfect for you!

What is your preferred type of scenery?

This one might be obvious, but I think it’s worth throwing in here anyways, because there are some types of scenery that are “best” during certain times of year. For example - if you want lots of beautiful blooms in your photos, spring is a must! Summer can also be a good time for photos with flowers, especially at a location like Hartwood Acres Mansion, because their garden is in full bloom by late summer. But you won’t find many flowers in the fall (obviously! ;) ).

When do you actually have time for your photo session?

Last but not least, what does your schedule look like? Is the school year super crazy for you with sports and extracurriculars? Then it might be best to have your senior photos taken over the summer! Or is summer super crazy for you? Will you be traveling all over the place without much of a break? Then consider booking a senior session for the school year! Whatever the case, having an idea of when you’ll have a bit of extra time is important. Senior photos are meant to be fun and relaxing - a celebration of the end of a season and the beginning of a new one! So if trying to schedule your session during a certain time of year stresses you out, then don’t even go there. Choose a time where you’ll actually get to enjoy the experience without being too rushed!

STILL UNSURE?

If you’ve considered all of these questions and you’re still not sure, know that you can’t go wrong with any season, really! Spring, summer, fall, and winter all have their pros and cons when it comes to scheduling a senior session during any one of them - and the “best” time is different for each senior based on their personal needs, preferences, and schedule!

MY PERSONAL OPINION

But if you want to know what I think… my (personal) favorite months for senior photos are end of April/early May (with the beautiful spring flowers!), August (right before school starts, everything is so green, and seniors are less stressed), and end of September into all of October (fall foliage and cool weather is my absolute favorite!). I also love winter senior sessions when there is snow… because it’s such a unique backdrop! The cold isn’t always so fun, but the beautiful scenery makes it worth it!

Pictured below from left to right: spring, summer, fall, winter.

4 Ways to Incorporate Fresh Flowers into Your Senior Photos

Fresh flowers are one of my favorite “props” for seniors to incorporate into their senior photos! As a senior photographer in the Pittsburgh area, there are a few locations around the Pittsburgh area that are known for having beautiful gardens to work with - including two of my favorites, Hartwood Acres Mansion and Mellon Park!

But what happens when you want to incorporate those glorious florals into your photos, but the garden isn’t in bloom? Or maybe you live in an area that just doesn’t have a lot of blooming florals.

Let me tell you a little secret… you don’t have to have access to a garden or field of flowers in order to get that pop of flower color in your photos! In fact, all of the ideas found in this blog post do not require access to a garden or a field of flowers, but will still help you get that “pop” that you want. So let’s dive in with some of my favorite ideas!

1. Hold a bouquet or single stem flower.

This might be the easiest option, because you can buy a bouquet of flowers from the local grocery store, from a farm, or from a florist! A simple bouquet of flowers never goes out of style. Just make sure to take color scheme into consideration when choosing, you’ll want to make sure the bouquet goes with your outfit choice! I often have seniors hold the bouquet or set it on the ground near where they’re sitting for a quick pop of color.

You can also opt for a single stemmed flower - I personally love a large single stem sunflower, since it has a bit more volume than some other types of flowers! But even a rose would be a beautiful addition.

2. Off with their heads!

Quite literally - cut the heads of the flowers off and lay them on the ground! This is one of my FAVORITE shots to get when someone brings fresh flowers. But of course, I would suggest doing this shot near the end of your session so you can use the stemmed flowers for other photos! I also sometimes love to have seniors throw the cut off heads in the air for something a little fun and different! (Kind of like confetti… but with flowers!)

Another option would be to use flower petals instead of full heads of flowers - if you don’t want to waste quite as many!

3. Find a cute basket or carrier.

This is another fairly easy (and fun) option! If you have a cute basket that can be slung on your elbow, or a bike with a cute basket that could fit an arrangement, those are both great options that help incorporate another prop into your photos!

4. Borrow some large potted flowers.

I’ve had a few moms of seniors bring some large potted florals to their daughter’s sessions… and they have turned out SO beautifully! You could bring large mixes in the spring/summer, or mums in the fall. As a side tip - it can be nice when the pots aren’t super visible and are more covered by overhanging flowers/greenery (unless they’re really pretty!).

And there you have it! Four of my favorite ways to incorporate fresh flowers into a senior session. Really, though - these could be easily applied to any session! An engagement session could easily be enhanced with a floral arrangement or bouquet, and even a family session could be beautiful with a few large flower pots set up in a pretty area to enhance the scene. Don’t be afraid to get creative with those beautiful blooms!

Location Ideas for Spring Senior Photos in Pittsburgh

Lots of seniors choose to have their senior photos taken the Spring of their senior year so that they’re able to get those gorgeous fresh blooms in their photos! And when it comes to locations in and around the Pittsburgh area that have beautiful blooms in the Spring, there are two to me that stand out above the rest over my 10 years of photographing seniors: Hartwood Acres Mansion and Mellon Park!

I have found that both of these locations tend to have trees that bloom late April to early May, depending on how soon it starts getting warm. All of the sample images below were taken mid-April through the first week of May, but I typically suggest those who want Spring blooms boom within the last week and a half of April through the first few days of May!

As a side note, you’re familiar with Hartwood Acres Mansion, they also have a beautiful garden area, but it usually doesn’t start really blooming until June. So if you would rather wait until the summer for senior photos, fear not - you can still get some gorgeous florals in your photos June, July, August, and September at Hartwood! AND if you weren’t aware, Phipp’s Conservatory allows room rentals of their Broderie Room for 1 hour, which is filled with beautiful florals year round. That’s another great way to get some gorgeous blooms! Click here to see a session from there!

But today, I’m here to show off the beauty of Spring at both of these iconic locations in the photos below. Enjoy!

1. HARTWOOD ACRES MANSION

2. MELLON PARK

Interested in a spring senior session in the Pittsburgh area? Feel free to click here for more information about Pittsburgh Senior Photos! Use the “Contact” tab to inquire or email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com as well to say hello and start the conversation!

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Our First Family Photos

Friends, today I’m sharing a personal post featuring some of my favorite photos from OUR first photo session as a family! 🙌

These photos were taken by the incredibly talented Taylor Elizabeth Photography in our own home when our little Lucy was just over a week old. Originally, I didn’t think much about newborn photos prior to Lucy being born. Even as I neared the 39 week mark of pregnancy, I still felt like I had soooo much time - especially as a first time mom! Everyone had told me that more than likely, she would come late. But Lucy had other plans… at my 39 week appointment, the doctor discovered that my water had broke and sent us straight to the hospital! Lucy was born the next day.

Fast forward through our hospital stay and our first few days at home. We were all adjusting to a new normal, and I had been put on bed rest for a few days due to some complications. And then it dawned on me… I hadn’t given any thought to photos of Lucy as a newborn! Of course, that brought a wave of emotion and I knew that we had to do SOMETHING to document this new season. So in the midst of that panic… I decided I would take some photos myself.

And well, what I failed to realize (which was the obvious thing) was that it’s pretty hard to take photos of your own family if you’re the mom that needs to be in the photos. DUH.

So I immediately contacted Taylor! Taylor is a sweet friend who I’ve had the privilege of getting to know and work with over the last several years. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing her and her now husband (then fiance!) while they were engaged, and we both have little girls that are just months apart! Taylor has also photographed several weddings with me and is always a joy (and encouragement) to spend time with! So she was our top choice for taking these photos for us. And thankfully… she was free and able to fit us in relatively quickly! 🙌 (If you’re reading this, Taylor, thank you SO MUCH again!!!)

It had been 6 years since Nick and I had a professional photos taken, and even as photographers, we were both a little nervous! Especially since we had to pull together our outfits and get our house photo ready within just a few days. That is no small feat while you’re on bedrest and have a newborn! But somehow, we were able to pull it off (thanks to Nick and our families!), and of course, thanks to Taylor who did the most amazing job!

Even though I was nervous about how I would feel seeing myself in photos postpartum, I am so thankful that we decided to have these photos taken. They are so precious to me… and I know we will cherish them forever!

Taylor, thank you so much again for these beautiful photos. We are so thankful for you!

And without further ado.. enjoy some of our favorite photos from our first photo session as a family!