How Do I Clean My Engagement Ring at Home?

The morning after I got engaged, I remember going for a run and being distracted by my new glittering engagement ring. I also remember wondering how long the shine would last – and the answer, of course, was not very long! Within a few weeks, I noticed my ring wasn’t sparkling quite so brightly and needed a bit of a cleaning. If you’re a do-it-yourself person like me, you might be wondering if there is a way to clean your engagement ring at home. And lucky for you, there is! Here are the steps to safely cleaning your engagement ring on your own time:

1.     Fill a cup or bowl with warm water.

2.     Add a few drops of dish soap.

3.     Soak for 5 minutes.

4.     Scrub gently with an unused toothbrush.

5.     Rinse the ring in warm water.

6.     Use a soft cloth to wipe dry.

7.     Repeat every six or so weeks.

And voila – your ring is back to distracting you on your morning run! Have a tip for cleaning an engagement ring at home? Leave it in the comments below! 

2016 Best of Engagements: Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers

Engagement sessions are my favorite way to get to know my couples. This year, so many of my couples had such unique ideas for incorporating their personalities into their sessions! Check out some of my favorite engagement photos from this year below:

Best Wedding Desserts 2016: Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers

If you follow any number of wedding photographers, you might've noticed a trend: wedding photographers love to put out a "best of" blog post at the end of the year, highlighting favorite photos of amazing couples, beautiful venues, stunning florals and personal details.  I LOVE "best of" blog posts, especially from other photographers, and as I was creating my annual "best of wedding photography" blog post, I came to a realization: I was including a TON of photos of dessert (what does this say about me? ;) ). Cakes, cookies (Pittsburgh cookie table, anyone?), candy, smores, pies - you name it, I love to photograph it. So in addition to an annual "best of wedding photos" blog post, I decided to create a "best of desserts, 2016" post highlighting all of the best cakes, cookie tables, and unique desserts my awesome couples incorporated into their weddings this year! ENJOY.

2016 Best of Weddings: Wedding Photographers Pittsburgh

It's such an incredible honor to be a wedding photographer in the city of Pittsburgh. Every year, I'm humbled by the amazing couples who put their trust in me to photograph one of the best days of their lives - I don't think I'll ever get over how honored I am to be a part of so many beautiful days! To each and every couple who has given me the privilege of photographing them this year: thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Without you, none of these photos would be possible. Thank you for the opportunity to love on and encourage you as you start (and continue) your journey together as husband and wife! And now, without further ado - here are some of my very favorite images from 2016!

Janelle + Josh: Historic Harmony Engagement Photographer

There are few places near the Cranberry Township area more beautiful than Historic Harmony close to Christmas! It was a treat to take Janelle and Josh's engagement photos in this quaint little town. We started off their Historic Harmony engagement photo session at Wunderbar Coffee Shop, and gradually worked our way outside (it was freezing, but they braved the Pittsburgh cold like champs! Would it be a Pittsburgh engagement session without a little cold/rain/snow/clouds?!). We even caught a little bit of snow just as we were wrapping up (literally 20 seconds worth!). We love these two and cannot wait for their wedding!

Jenna Hidinger Photography is a Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer located north of Pittsburgh, and serving surrounding areas who has a passion for marriage and for using photography as a method to encourage those around her.

Part 4: Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer {Answered}

Have you ever wondered what happens to your images after your wedding day? Or whether it's important for a photographer to bring back up equipment to a wedding? What happens if your photographer gets deathly ill on your wedding day?!

If you've ever pondered or stressed over any of these questions, today's segment is for you! If you're joining us for the first time, we're in the middle of a series where I answer common (and not-so-common) questions from popular (and not-so-popular) online articles about the JHP wedding photography experience! If you've missed any of the previous weeks, be sure to check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 to stay up to speed!

6: Do you have your files online just in case of a fire? Do you have backup equipment?

[Question taken and answered from this article.] 

Yes and yes. All final images from every wedding, engagement shoot, senior shoot, and family shoot are loaded onto an online backup cloud. In addition, I have two matching external hard drives (one of which resides in a fire-proof box) of all final images, just for good measure!

Backup equipment is a must for photographing weddings! Currently, JHP has four camera bodies (but we only use two on a wedding day – that’s right, we have two extra bodies just for backup!), plus a large variety of lenses and off camera lighting, all of which have near identical backups. I firmly believe that an accident on your wedding day with a piece of our equipment should not (and will not) affect the quality of your images!

7: Will I get HIGH resolution images in my final gallery?

[Question taken and answered from this article.] 

Ah yes, this can be a deceiving one. I’ve heard horror stories of couples who book with a photographer, receive their images back, and then, when they try to print them, realize all of the images are no larger than 4 x 6 inches. That might be great for an album, but you definitely can’t make beautiful canvas prints from low-resolution photos! All of my wedding packages include high-resolution files for large format printing. Plus – I would never make you order your prints through me! You paid for the files, and you should have the ability to take them wherever you would like.

8: Do you have backup photographers who will shoot the wedding if you’re sick?

[Question taken and answered from this article.] 

YES! This is exactly why I always bring a second photographer along with me. If something happens during your wedding day, I want to be able to trust that someone excellent can seamlessly take the reigns, regardless of what current events are unfolding.

Very recently, I was forced to leave a wedding early because of extreme back pain from a chronic injury (I was taken straight from the wedding to the ER!). My second shooter stepped in for the last couple hours of the event, and because I had trained him in the way I shoot, he was able to photograph the rest of the event without a hitch. It's so important for a photographer to have a backup plan in case of an emergency!

Use the comments section below to ask your own question, or email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com to have your wedding questions answered!

Taylor + Gannon: The Pennsylvanian Wedding Photographer

One of the best parts about being a Pittsburgh wedding photographer is having the opportunity to work with couples like Taylor and Gannon and having the opportunity to photograph weddings at pittsburgh wedding venues like the Hotel Monaco and the Pennyslvanian. Taylor and Gannon's wedding was FULL of gorgeous details and pure joy!

Way back when, I actually attended elementary school with Taylor, and now, my husband works at the same church as her parents. So, as you might've guessed, it was a huge honor to be photographing her and Gannon's wedding day! We started off the day at one of my favorite pittsburgh wedding venues - the Hotel Monaco. Themed after Pittsburgh, the Hotel Monaco is packed full of bright, beautiful details, including lots of yellow (one of Pittsburgh's signature colors) and lots of bird-themed decor (inspiration was taken from the Pittsburgh Aviary, another great Pittsburgh wedding venue). After detail shots, we made our way up to the rooftop of the Hotel Monaco for group photos (with the family pup, Digsby, of course!), and for a prayer between the bride and groom.

Both the ceremony and reception were held at the Pennsylvanian, one of the most beautiful Pittsburgh wedding venues I've ever had the privilege to photograph! Every wedding photographer has a bucket list of venues they dream of photographing a wedding at, and the Pennsylvanian just so happened to be one of mine before Taylor and Gannon asked me to be their photographer. Its Beaux-Arts style of architectural decoration makes it the perfect fairytale venue! Everything from the interior ballroom to the rotunda screams elegance and class, and I'm so honored to have been a part of this day! Congratulations again, Taylor and Gannon - I pray you have many happy years together!

Vendors:

Bride’s Dress: Maggie Sottero

Bride’s Shoes: Bella Belle

Bridesmaid Dresses: Dessy After Six

Hair: Sara Reichenbach

Makeup: ModelBride - Lori Dunn (Gannon’s aunt)

Tuxes: Vera Wang

Band/DJ: Chris Beeler from Rockin’ Bob’s

Flowers: Pisarcik Greenhouse and Flower Farm

Caterer: Rania’s Catering

Cake/Desserts: Rania’s Catering (cookies by family members)

Videographer: Gonzalez Videography

Part 3: Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer {Answered}

Welcome to the third installment of "Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer: Answered!" Today's installment includes lots of good information, including the importance of being able to shoot with natural AND artificial light (and why that's important to you, as the bride), wedding day timelines, and what to do if it rains or snows on your wedding day. If you missed the last two weeks of this segment, be sure to check out part one here and part two here!

4: Do you shoot natural light or artificial light? Or both?

[Question taken and answered from this article.] 

Both. I prefer natural light, but over the years, I’ve learned the necessity of using both to my advantage on a wedding day. Because weddings are booked so far in advance, you never truly know what the day is going to be like, so you have to be prepared on all fronts. For example – what if you’re planning on getting married outside on the most beautiful farm with an outdoor ceremony and reception, but the day of the wedding rolls around and it’s pouring outside, and the only option is to have your ceremony and portraits taken inside a dark barn with little to no natural light? That definitely changes the outcome of your wedding images, and if I’m a natural light photographer who’s afraid of using artificial light – it changes them for the worst! But, if I’m a photographer who loves and utilizes both natural light and artificial light, it’s not a big deal. Pop open a couple of flashes, and boom – beautiful, bright images, even on a dreary day!

5: Will you help me with the timeline for my wedding day?

[Question taken and answered from this article.] 

I love helping my brides plan their wedding day timeline – I have an odd personality that loves all things creative, but all things organized, too, which makes wedding photography the perfect job for me! In fact, I love helping my brides plan their timeline so much that I've created an 80 page wedding magazine of helpful wedding tips that includes a very comprehensive sample timeline. All brides receive the magazine, complimentary, upon booking! Just to give a couple of quick benefits of having a photographer help you with your timeline:

• You’ll have more time for photos (couples who haven’t planned a wedding before are unaware of how much time it takes to get those stunning portraits they're cherish for years to come!)
• You won’t be rushed throughout the day (For example - too many family formals can lead to rushed bridal party/bride & groom portraits, which is always a bummer!)

6: What will we do if it rains or snows?

[Question taken and answered from this article.] 

Pittsburgh weather can be so unpredictable, which is why I always like to discuss a back up plan with my couples prior to the wedding day – just so we’re all on the same page from the get-go! There are lots of ways to combat a rainy day, one of which is by using umbrellas, and another of which is by having a secondary covered (or indoor) location. In Pittsburgh, there are lots of outdoor areas with coverage (Mellon Institute, the Convention Center, to name a few), and lots of scenic indoor areas to take photos as well. No matter the weather, no matter the location, we can (and will) still get awesome photos!

As always, feel free to leave a question in the comments below to be answered in a future segment, or send your questions directly to jhidingerphotography@gmail.com. See you next week, and happy wedding planning!

Part 2: Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer {Answered}

I am PUMPED about today's installment of "Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer" because these two questions feature two things that clients sometimes feel, understandably, awkward and apprehensive about when they think of wedding and engagement photography. Many couples I've talked to in the past have almost let these unanswered questions dissuade them from having engagement photos taken and/or hiring a wedding photographer! (PS - If you missed last week's question and answer, "What is your heart behind wedding photography?" be sure to check it out HERE.)

2: How do you make us feel relaxed in front of the camera?

[Question taken and answered from this article.] 

YES. This might be my favorite question so far. This is literally the goal of every single shoot for me! My goal is to help you feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera and my favorite approach to this is to utilize movement. If you’re doing any kind of session with me, don’t expect to stand still the entire time. I love giving my couples actions and things to do, even if they might feel silly. Ultimately, posing through movement (going for a walk, tackling your loved one in a hug, whispering funny things in each other’s ear, practicing your first dance) lets my couples loosen up and (hopefully) forget for a moment that they’re getting their picture taken!

This is why I love engagement sessions – an engagement session gives you the chance to experience what it’s like to be in front of my camera before your wedding day! That way, on the day of your wedding you’re not worrying about how the photo portions are going to go, or stressing about what it’s going to be like.

Another tip I love to give to couples is to leave an ample amount of time for photos on their wedding day. This is especially true if a couple is going into a wedding day without already having an engagement session with me. Leaving extra time for photos puts less pressure on the two of you to move quickly and lets you enjoy being with each other without the added pressure of having to stick to a tight timeline.

3: How do you describe your shooting style? Are you laid back or aggressive? Do you tell the whole story of a day?

[Question taken and answered from this article.] 

My shooting style is a mix of hands-on and hands-off. I try to not be obtrusive during parts of the day where events are unfolding, like the bride getting into her dress, and most definitely during the ceremony. However, if I can interject during certain events like the buttoning of the dress to direct the bride to a nearby window for better light, I will most certainly do so.  The quality of your wedding photos are certainly of extreme importance, but so are the moments that happen while I’m quietly watching for them. It takes a balanced approach, and is different with every couple. It’s important to find someone who fits the “feel” of your wedding day.

I do shoot to tell the whole story of a day. Often, it’s the little moments – like the reactions to toasts, the flower girl sleeping on a chair during the reception, or the bride’s mom’s eyes welling up while her daughter is walking down the aisle that are often the most precious. My job is to look for those moments, and it’s one my favorite parts of doing what I do.

That's all for now, folks! Feel free to submit a question in the comments below to be answered in the following weeks!

Part 1: Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer {Answered}

Wedding photography is an extremely personal endeavor from start to finish. There are few other wedding vendors who spend the entire length of a wedding day with a couple from makeup and hair to the grand exit, which is why it's so important to really know who you're hiring - to know the why behind what they do! 

Often, when I have an initial meeting with a bride, we begin by talking about the relationship - how the couple met, how they got engaged, what they've planned so far for their wedding day, etc., and then jump straight into packages and looking at photo albums. Every so often, I'll find an extremely prepared bride with a list of questions from "The Knot," titled "Questions to Ask Photographers Before You Book." Let me be honest for a moment - I LOVE these brides... seriously. Staying prepared and organized with a list of questions is the best way make sure I don't miss any important information that should be shared about photographing your wedding day, and it lets brides get a good feel for all facets of what I have to offer.

However -

While many of these questions cover important logistics, such as shooting on film vs. digital and what's included in my packages, none of the questions seem to take things a step further. None of them seem to probe for things that are just as important - like how I help my couples feel relaxed in front of my camera, or even why I do what I do. None probe for a why. And though, if you're meeting with me, I'll be sure to tell you my why, it's so important to ask your other vendors their why, too. And why is that? Because you want someone who cares about your wedding day. (Well, maybe I can't speak for everyone. But I know I wanted people surrounding me on my wedding day who truly cared for Nick and I! Not just people who were showing up to perform a job and leave.)

I recently came across an article titled "Ten REAL Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer: Written by a Real Wedding Photographer," written by Kay from Kay English Photography. I love the idea of answering these questions so much for my brides that over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to release a weekly blog post answering a few of these questions, plus a few of my own, and a few from "The Knot" article! (Just to keep things interesting ;) ). My heart through this segment is to give my current brides (and future brides) the ability to get to know me, my services, and my heart behind what I do a little better! So without further ado - here is the first question and answer!

1: What is your heart behind wedding photography? Why do you photograph weddings? 

[Question by Jenna]

Firstly, I am a huge believer in marriage. There is something so precious about a commitment between two people to spend the rest of their lives together, learning how to better love each other every step of the way. I honestly hadn’t realized my true heart behind it until I married my best friend back in August of 2015. I know it sounds cliché, but when we received our images back from our engagement photographer, and later from our wedding photographer, I realized what I was really providing for my clients: I was providing reminders of our commitment, encouragement for the not-so-easy days, and mementos of the love we share – and those three things are truly priceless.

Secondly, I love the opportunity I have to serve and encourage my brides throughout the wedding process and throughout the wedding day. I LOVE the opportunity I have to love the crap out of my couples and to find ways to make their experience (and their day) extra special.

Lastly, I love capturing the story of the relationship and of the day. While every wedding has the same general framework and timeline, each is so unique in its own way, and I love the challenge and excitement of figuring out the best possible way to showcase a couple’s day through the photographs.

Stay tuned for more answered questions next week! If you'd like to submit a question to have answered, feel free to leave it in the comments below!