What an Online Clothing Store Taught Me About Giving Undeserved Grace

I’ve never been one to enjoy shopping for “formal wear,” but I didn’t realize how much I really despised it until May of 2018.

 You see, we were going out of town for my cousin’s wedding (as guests!) and I realized that I had absolutely NOTHING to wear (though my husband might say differently!). A few months prior, I had ordered a few things online that I ended up not loving, but a week before we were supposed to leave for the wedding, I realized that I should maybe get the show on the road!!

I pulled up one of my favorite clothing sites (Modcloth) and within ten minutes, found three dresses that I absolutely loved. I put them all in my cart, went to check out, and realized that, if I wanted my dressed to come on time, I should probably upgrade my shipping.

 I’m a bit of a penny pincher when it comes to online shopping, so I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I paid the $30 overnight shipping charge. I reasoned to myself (and my husband ;) ) that I deserved to feel confident at that wedding – so the $30 shipping charge, though annoying, would be worth it when my clothes made it on time!

Since I ordered my dresses on a Friday, they were set to arrive the next business day, on Monday. I waited alllllll weekend with GREAT anticipation, and when Monday finally rolled around, I couldn’t wait for the FedEx guy to deliver my greatly anticipated package! But for some reason – it never showed.

Feeling slightly frustrated, I emailed Modcloth and told them I had paid extra for overnight shipping, but that I hadn’t received my package. Immediately, they refunded my card with the full amount (they are an excellent company!) and they assured me that my package should be there by Tuesday, at the very latest. And so, I waited.

On Tuesday, as SOON as I received an email that my package had been delivered, I raced downstairs, flung open the door – only to find that my porch was, in fact, empty. Confused, I walked outside, looking on our front stairs, on the side walk, and on my neighbor’s stoops, wondering if the package had been mistakenly delivered to someone nearby. Starting to feel a bit of anxiety over the whole situation, I called FedEx – who told me that my package had been delivered. I assured them that it had in fact not been delivered, and the confused employee said he would do a little digging to see what was going on.

The next day (Wednesday – two days before we had to leave!!!) I received a call – my package had, in fact, been delivered, but they weren’t sure to whom it had been delivered. OF COURSE this would happen! I remember thinking to myself. The one time I pay extra for shipping and I NEED something to arrive by a specific time!! The FedEx employee assured me that he would do everything in his power to make sure I received my lost package by the time I left for the wedding. I never heard from him again.

I was SO frustrated by this point. All I could think was: why me?! Why would this happen to me, the girl who HATES shopping for formal clothes, who has nothing to wear to this upscale wedding?!

Right in that moment, I felt a twinge of guilt. I was only thinking about myself in all of this, and I was letting it affect my work (which, as you might be able to imagine, was NOT getting done), my attitude towards my husband (who was being SO patient with me while I threw angry and short responses towards his kind and helpful words), and my general demeanor, which was incredibly poor. I had let something so small and SO out of control, well - control me.

After realizing this, I decided that it didn’t really matter if the package made it. What mattered was my attitude in this situation. Obviously, my heart needs a little bit of work. I decided that I would give one last attempt at tracking down this package, and if it didn’t work out, I would accept it, graciously – so I reached out to Modcloth directly. I told them the whole situation, knowing full well (and reiterating to them again and again) that none of it was their fault. They were able to control FedEx as much as I was! But I figured, the best thing I could do was ask to see if they had a solution that I couldn’t think of. The worst that could happen was a bit “no” – but at least I would know I tried!

“Who might need a little undeserved grace from you today?”

After they heard my story, the incredibly kind voice on the other line told me that they would overnight a new package to me, free of charge, with everything I had previously purchased. My jaw basically dropped to the floor. I couldn’t believe their outrageous kindness! It wasn’t their fault my package had been lost, but they went over and above to make sure that I would receive exactly what I ordered exactly when I needed it.

I’m happy to report that my package arrived the day before we left for vacation (woo hoo!), and yes, I was able to wear one of those dresses to my cousin’s wedding! But what REALLY floored me was the fact that Modcloth refunded every dollar of my purchase. And friends – this wasn’t a 20, 50, or even a 100 dollar order. This was a BIG “let me buy all of these things and I’ll return the ones I don’t want!” order. But Modcloth went above and beyond for me. They didn’t just refund my shipping, or ship me a new order – they completely refunded me for the inconvenience and gave me something I in NO WAY deserved. And they didn’t deserve to have to pay for someone else’s mistake. They gave me grace in my time of need.

 If you’ve been following along with some of my personal posts on the blog, you might see a theme throughout some of my posts – grace. And grace just so happens to be the word I chose to focus on in 2018 (now extending into 2019!), because Lord knows I need more of it for myself and for others.

And you know what God’s been doing? POURING grace out over me in SO many ways and in SO many lessons. I learned a big lesson about grace earlier in 2018 in a HUGE way at Disney’s Boardwalk with my husband (read that post here!) and I learned about it again when I realized what Modcloth had done for me - so undeserved. I’m finding that the more I experience those moments of grace, especially when I least deserve it, the easier it is to give it to other people – and easier to give it to myself.

Who might need a little undeserved grace from you today? Your child? Your parent? Your boss? Yourself? I don’t think grace is something we can ever give enough of or have enough of. And the good news is - if you know the source of grace - you never have to worry about having to do it in your own strength.

“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.” - Ephesians 4:7

Megan G: Oakland Senior Photos

When I heard that Megan was a Disney fan, I knew we were going to get along just fine 💛 But for real. Photographing another Disney lover always results in WAY too much geeky side-talk about favorite rides and meals in specific parks. And I can never get enough of it!!

Besides being a Disney-lover, Megan is graduating THIS MONTH (May 2019, if you’re reading this in the future!), and is planning on studying Psychology at Chatham University! She hasn’t cut her hair since 8th grade (hence the gorgeous long locks!), her favorite Disney ride is Haunted Mansion (you knew we’d circle back around to Disney!), and her favorite place to eat is Chick-fil-A. And during the session, she told me that she mostly wears black, which might seem like a random detail, but it’s one that I can totally relate to because I do the same! I’m pretty sure 90% of my wardrobe is black, so one I meet someone else with the same tendency… I love it!

Megan, you are beautiful inside and out and I know you’re going to do amazing things! Congratulations on your last month of school!!!

Jenny + Max: Carnegie Museum of Natural History Wedding Photos

Jenny and Max met in college in Melbourne, Florida, and their first date was at the beach! Definitely not something you hear about every Pittsburgh wedding 😏 But the beginning of their story was absolutely perfect (and very in character), considering that both Jenny and Max are marine biologists! Max even popped the question on their fishing boat. Knowing all of these little details going into their wedding, I knew that they would have some great details to tie their love for the sea into their day - and they did not disappoint!!

Jenny and Max chose one of the most beautiful and iconic wedding venues in all of Pittsburgh - the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. With its iconic grand staircase (voted one of the best museum staircases in the world!) and gorgeous rooms modeled after wonders of the world (you’ll see what I mean once you start looking at the images!), one detail that rose above the rest and was so important to Jenny and Max was getting photos with the fish and dinosaur fossils - because it is a true representation of their relationship and mutual love for the ocean! While we did utilize other areas of the museum for photos, it was so exciting to be able to capture images that really reflected the two of them!

Along with photos with the fish and dinosaur bones, there were a number of other unique and personal details sprinkled throughout their day: the first detail I encountered on their wedding day was an olive branch that Jenny had brought all the way from a tree in their backyard in Florida, which I was able to incorporate into some of her bridal detail photos (there are also olive branches in her bouquet!). Another bridal detail of such sweet significance is the Pandora charm bracelet you’ll see in the images below - each of the three sisters (Jenny, her twin, and their older sister) all have the same charms that represent each of their weddings. Such a sweet and sentimental detail!

After getting ready at her childhood home, we hopped over to the Museum for the ceremony in the Museum’s Hall of Architecture, which, according to the Museum’s website, was created with 140 plaster casts from architectural masterpieces from the past, both in Europe and the United States. As a whole, the room was “inspired by one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.” Talk about the perfect place for a wedding ceremony!

After the ceremony and photos around the museum, we headed over to the grand Carnegie Museum Music Hall Foyer for their reception. Its large, marble columns and scenic balcony overlooks make it the perfect spot for a dream reception! And here is where even more meaningful details came to life! Just to name a few: the groom’s cake, modeled to look like crabs in an ocean with Old Bay Seasoning; Old Bay Seasoning on the cookie table for guests to take home; the most adorable fish, mermaid, and sloth cookies; signature drinks, including the “Captain’s Tea” and “Mermaid Mule”; and to top it all off, Max and his mom danced during their mother-son dance in fishing boots!

The attention to detail and thought behind each piece of the wedding day completely blew my mind! What an incredible honor it was to be a part of this beautiful day. Congratulations on your marriage, Jenny and Max! There are officially two less fish in the sea 🐟🐠 (I couldn’t resist!). Enjoy a sampling of their images below!

Vendors:

Ceremony: Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Hall of Architecture

Reception: Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Music Hall Foyer

Bride’s Dress: The Exquisite Bride, Maggie Sottero Designs

Bridesmaid Dresses: Joanna August

Invitation Design: Nicky Armstrong

Menswear: Jack’s Tuxedo

Hair: EnV Hair Studios

Floral Design: Dan’s Florals

Cake: Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Groom’s Cake: Tasty Bakery

DJ: Andy Booth Productions

Videographer: Dorosh Documentaries

3 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Wedding Photography Investment

The definition of “investment,” according to Google, is a “thing that is worth buying because it may be profitable or useful in the future,” as well as “an act of devoting time, effort, or energy to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result.”

If there’s one thing in relation to your wedding day that you’ll spend money on that could be seen as an investment, per the definition above, I think wedding photography would be it! Wedding photos are one of the few things you’ll have left from your wedding day that will allow you to re-experience everything that happened on your wedding day - the emotions, the joy, the tears, and even the decor and details that you put so much thought and love into! And most importantly, your photos will let you experience the beginning of a new adventure with your now-spouse!

As a wedding photographer, if you’re one of my brides (or considering becoming one of my brides! 😉) one of the most important things to me is that you get the most out of your investment. But how, exactly, can you maximize your investment? I’m all about practical steps, so below, I’m sharing three practical ways to maximize your wedding photography investment and get the most ‘bang for your buck’ (one of my mom’s favorite sayings!) when it comes to your wedding photos!

1.     Have all of your wedding events in the same location… or at least within close proximity.

Having all of your wedding events in the same central location has some major benefits! Going from location to location takes time, which will eat into your wedding day photography coverage. For example, many brides book between 8 to 10 hours of “continuous” wedding day coverage, meaning that if your coverage begins at 12PM, it will end at 8PM, regardless of what events happen during that timeframe, whether ther e are events for your photographer to take photos of or not. If you book 8 hours of wedding day coverage, but are driving between different locations (getting ready location, ceremony location, photo location, and reception), and all are about 20 minutes from each other, that’s 60 minutes of wedding day coverage you’re paying for that your photographer is not taking photos during! However, if you book 8 hours of coverage and do not have to travel between locations, you’ll actually get the full worth of your 8 hour coverage investment!

2.     Ask your photographer how much time to leave for photos… then plan for that amount of time!

A full time wedding photographer will typically photograph anywhere from 20 to 40 weddings each year, dealing with and planning the logistics of each of those weddings. If you’re planning a wedding, you’re more than likely pretty brand-spanking-new to this, and you’ve probably never had to think about things like how long you should leave for things like family photos, bridal party portraits, and/or photos of you with your new spouse on your wedding day! Lucky for you, your photographer has ample amounts of experience in this area – so be sure to ask for their help when planning your timeline! As photographers, we want you to ask for our help, because we want to make sure we have enough time to take the dreamy wedding photos you’ve always wanted!

3.     Sneak out during your reception for some sunset photos or epic night shots!

Once the reception gets going, it can be fun to leave the party for a few minutes to get just a few more photos of you with your new spouse! I usually consider this not only “bonus” portrait time, but time for my couples to have a few minutes to themselves. And I’ve never had a couple tell me that they regretted leaving their reception for a few additional photos, whether it be an epic night photo or a few “golden hour” (or sunset) portraits! Many of these photos end up being my favorites (and my couples favorites!) from the entire day.

All of the photos in the slideshow below were taken during “bonus” portrait time!

Happy planning, friends!

Jenna

Ashley R: Hartwood Acres Mansion Senior Photos

It’s spring, and you know what that means… Pittsburgh is in bloom! 🌸 And it just so happens that Ashley’s senior session took place during April when a few of the most gorgeous Magnolia trees were in full bloom at Hartwood Acres Mansion! Which I was SO thankful for, considering that we had originally planned for Ashley’s senior photos not once, but twice in the fall, with one session date getting rained out, and the other snowed out. And if you’re more of a spring girl… you definitely do not want snow in your senior photos! So instead of pushing through the snow, we moved her session to the spring and it totally paid off!

Ashley is a senior at Eden Christian Academy who is graduating this year in just a few short weeks! After her high school graduation, she’s planning on heading to Cedarville to study nursing (go girl!). Ashley, it was such an honor to take these portraits of you! You are an incredible lady, and I know you are going to do amazing things!

8 Tips for Aspiring Photographers

I have something embarrassing to share: when I first started out in photography, I spammed the HECK out of people. Without a doubt, I would almost always ask the same question to as many photographers as I could, over and over: what advice do you have for someone starting out in photography?

 The answers very widely from “get the best gear you can!” to “gear is a waste of time and money if you don’t know how to use it!” to “don’t compare yourself” to no answer at all (that was the most popular ;) )  -  and now, this is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive from other aspiring photographers. So today I wanted to share a few of my favorite answers!

1.     If you’re just starting out - try it ALL!

One of the toughest things about starting out as a photographer? You won’t necessarily know what kind of photography you love most until you actually try different types!

When I first started getting into photography, I photographed anyone who would let me! Seniors, couples, families, newborns, young kids, professionals, products, weddings, and really, it took a couple of years for me to figure out where my “sweet spot” was, and where it wasn’t. Which is why I do not photograph newborns or products, but love seniors, couples, and families!

2.     STOP COMPARING YOURSELF.

You’ve probably heard it before, but it’s worth mentioning over and over again: don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle! You never know the story behind how someone’s gotten to where they are, or how much work they’ve put in to get there. The only person you should be comparing yourself to is yourself!

3.     Practice, practice, practice – and break that practice down into manageable goals and steps!

This might be the most obvious piece of advice, but you HAVE to put in the work to learn! Don’t be afraid to put yourself into situations where you have to learn a new skill, and don’t be hard on yourself for the time it takes to master each new skill.

For example, a few years ago, I decided that I wanted to really step up my wedding photography game – but I felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things that needed to improve. So, I wrote a list of my top 10 things I wanted to focus on and improve, and each wedding, I tried to focus on one of those improvements – not on all ten things, just on one. By the end of the year, I had ten new skills to incorporate into all of my weddings, each building on the last. And by taking it one skill at a time, one wedding at a time, I was able to improve in a way that wasn’t overwhelming!

4.     Take intentional social media breaks.

Ahhh, social media: where creativity goes to die. Social media can be inspiring, encouraging, and community-driven, but if we’re honest, many times it can leave us feeling lackluster and isolated. Social media seems to breed comparison faster than almost anything else, so taking intentional breaks can be a great way to reset and let your own creativity come to the surface.

5.     Find inspiration from other creative (or non-creative!) mediums.

Other creative endeavors can be a great way to gain inspiration and a different point of view! You never know what can spill over from one medium into another.

6.     Find community with other photographers – beginners and pros.

This has been one of the most life-changing tips for me over the last year! It’s amazing what a simple connection can do – finding other like-minded people who are in the same boat as you, or even further along, make a huge difference in attitude and in success as a whole! We need others in order to succeed. If you don’t believe me, go read The Power of the Other by Henry Cloud!

7.     Find inspiration from other types of photography.

If you’re a portrait photographer, follow a wedding photographer. If you’re a wedding photographer, follow a landscape photographer. If you’re a landscape photographer, follow a sports photographer. You might find something interesting that you can incorporate in a unique way into your work! For example, as a wedding photographer, following food photographers has helped me learn how to better style wedding day details. Many food photographers will use stylists or incorporate their own special tricks into making their food photography stand out – some of which I’ve been able to incorporate into my wedding day detail styling! You never know where you might pick up a bit of inspiration!

8.     If you struggle with comparison but still want to follow the work of other photographers, follow photographers who teach, not just photographers who simply post their work.

A few years ago, I was so in the thick of social media comparison that I knew I either needed to totally delete my accounts or find a way to manage what I was feeling. I remember sitting down with my husband and going through the Instagram accounts I was following, one-by-one saying “yes, I compare myself to that person” or “no, I don’t compare myself to that person.” It might sound silly, but I learned something from it: the people I was following, or specifically the photographers I was following that I tended to not compare myself to were educators. Maybe it’s selfish – but the fact that those photographers posed their accounts as wanting to help me, not simply just show their work, helped me not feel the need to compare myself. And I’ve been using that “line” to judge who I should and shouldn’t follow ever since!

Looking for additional help and resources to feel more confident and comfortable behind your camera? I now offer a limited number of mentoring sessions per year, along with a few digital resources to aid other photographers on their journey! Check out my Senior Guy Posing Guide below, or to inquire about a mentoring session, use the Contact tab above!

Favorite Epic Night Photos

Epic night photos aren’t always a possibility with every wedding, due to variables like location and timeline, but when epic night shots ARE able to happen at a wedding?! They are MAGIC. And because I love them so, I wanted to share a few of my favorite “epic night shots” with you today!

If you are interested a night photo like one of these below at your wedding, here are a few quick tips:

• Make sure your photography coverage lasts past sunset. These photos are possible after the sun goes down, when it gets dark!

• Make sure both you and your new-spouse are okay with leaving your reception for a few minutes. It’s always helpful for both parties to talk about leaving the reception for a few minutes beforehand, so there are no surprises!

• Make sure either you or your photographer lets your DJ know that you’ll be leaving for a few minutes. The very first time I ever set up an “epic night shot” I completely forgot to tell the DJ, and everyone panicked because the DJ announced the garter and bouquet toss, and no one knew where the couple had went! It’s safe to say that I ALWAYS talk with the DJ now before pulling a couple away for a night photo!

And without further ado… below are a few examples of some of my all time favorite night shots! 💛

Also, be sure to check out a detailed article on Night Photography by Pixpa, covering basics of night photography, camera equipment for night time photos, various techniques and tips of night photography in detail.

Above: at Shady Elms Farm in Hickory, PA

Above: at the Pennsylvanian in downtown Pittsburgh, PA

On Mount Washington in Pittsburgh, PA

In Ridgeway, PA

At Mellon Square in Pittsburgh, PA

At Succop Nature Park in front of the mansion in Butler, PA

At the Pennsylvanian in Pittsburgh, PA

Out front of the Morning Glory Inn in Pittsburgh, PA

This one is technically more of a sunset photo, but I wanted to include it anyways! On Mackinac Island in Michigan

At Shady Elms Farm in Hickory, PA

In Pittsburgh, PA

At the Pennsylvanian in Pittsburgh, PA

In Pittsburgh, PA

In the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus in Pittsburgh, PA

Out front of the Morning Glory Inn in Pittsburgh, PA

3 Tools for Easier Location Scouting

This blog post is geared a bit more towards photographers – but brides, this could be helpful for you, too! When it comes to location scouting for wedding days (and for any other type of shoot!) I am most definitely a planner. I’m not typically the type of person who will just show up to a shoot without a plan, so one of my favorite parts of shooting in a new location is being able to scout it out beforehand!

 I use a couple of programs that help me know exactly what I’ll be going in to, and today I wanted to share them with you!

 1. Sun Position (Demo)

I recently discovered this app and am OBSESSED. Light is king when it comes to photography – it dictates where and how I position my subject, as well as what backdrops we can utilize at particular locations. One of my biggest pain points when it comes to location scouting for wedding days is that, often, it’s hard to actually scout out a location at the exact time I’ll be photographing it, which means I don’t get a good idea of the sun’s position might be in the sky in relation to whoever I’m photographing. Which is where Sun Position comes in! Sun Position maps a course for the sun based on your geographical location so you can see exactly where the sun will be in the sky at any point of the day. This app has been a life saver for me on scouting days when conditions are overcast, or when I’m simply unable to make it to a particular location at the time I’ll be photographing it!

2. Instant Google Street View

If you have access to Google, you have access to this amazing tool! Even though I almost ALWAYS make a point to visit a photo location or venue beforehand, sometimes if it’s SUPER far away and I have to wait until the actual wedding day to do my in person scouting, I use Instant Google Street View to get a better view of what a location might look like! I’ve not only used Instant Google Street View to location scout in advance, but also on weeks where it looks like the portrait session time might get rained out so I can look for covered spots!

 3. Mile IQ

If you are a business, when you location scout you gotta be tracking that mileage so you can write it off come tax time! I used to have a little book I would try to remember to scribble down my mileage in after every drive, but really, it’s hard to make time for that on a wedding day when there are multiple locations and drives to keep track of. And it’s just so easy to forget when you’re thinking about a million other things! What I love about Mile IQ is that it tracks every single drive I take based on my phone’s GPS signal. Then, later in the week, I can categorize each drive as “business” or “personal,” and within each of those overarching categories, give a purpose for each drive, such as errands, location scouting, meetings, etc. This app (which has a mobile and desktop version) has been a HUGE time (and money) saver for me! It does have a monthly related cost, but for me, it’s worth it to know I’m saving every dollar I can come tax time!

 Happy scouting!

Bryce M: North Shore Senior Photos

Unlike last year’s incredibly rainy Pittsburgh spring, this year we have had some amazing weather in April! 🎉 Cue the angels!!! And the day of Bryce’s senior session, the weather was perfect. Sun shining, birds chirping, not too hot, not too cold. You can’t ask for much more here in the ‘burgh!

I’ve known Bryce’s family for a few years now (they are awesome!), but hadn’t had the opportunity to meet Bryce until our session - he was so much fun to work with! Bryce is graduating this spring, and is planning on going to the same college both of his parents went to to study accounting. Thank God for the accountants of the world - I don’t think I could ever do what they do, and am so thankful there are so many people that are that passionate about numbers!!

Bryce also brought his dog, Gracie, along, who makes an appearance for a couple of shots! Congratulations on your senior year, Bryce!

Todd Family: Historic Harmony Family Photos

I had the BEST time hanging out with this incredible family in Historic Harmony! Also, general PSA - feeding your children milkshakes before a photo shoot is definitely encouraged! 😉 But seriously - these kiddos had so much energy, which made our time together so much more fun!

When I first started photographing families, I used to struggle with photographing kids who had lots of energy… until I figured out how to use that energy to my advantage! One of my favorite things about photographing kids now is that they’re naturally moving allllll over the place. They want to move, laugh, talk, and giggle, so I love to lean into that with using some fun games and questions to get them laughing and having a good time. The less they feel forced to smile, the more fun they can have, and the more their natural smiles will come out! (But for any moms out there who might be reading this - don’t worry! I always make sure to get a few of everyone looking directly at the camera!)

Thank you for the incredible honor of taking these photos for you, Todd family! You all are such a blessing!