Curious as to what you might experience at a photo session with JHP? Look no further than the video below, expertly captured by two of my videographer friends from Dorosh Documentaries! Click the play button below to check it out!
PS - Dorosh Documentaries films weddings, so if you’re in need of a wedding videographer, look no further than these two!
Ohhhhh snow. As Pittsburghers, we have a love-hate relationship with it (and that spectrum of love/hate varies widely from person to person!), but this year, I (personally) found myself missing the snow for the first year in a while! Usually, by the time mid-February rolls around, I’m more than ready for it to be over - but, before Sarah and Derek’s shoot, I had only had one snowy session this year and was craving more!
Ironically enough, what initially kept Sarah, Derek and I from our first planned meeting was a crazy snow and ice storm a few months back - the roads were so bad that one of the roads I live on completely shut down, and it took me 2 hours to move 1.5 miles! Thankfully, these two were so gracious, and we planned to meet a few weeks later (fortunately, there was no snow this time around 😉)
For their engagement session, though, we were hoping and praying for some beautiful snow! Oddly enough, we didn’t see much snow in the month leading up to their session, and I was a little concerned that we weren’t going to have any snow to work with come February. All we had really been getting was LOTS of precipitation that was just warm enough to not be snow - ick!
But then, we had the most beautiful snow storm the day before their session - just in the nick of time! And then - on top of that - when we showed up the day of their session, it was lightly snowing. And it lightly snowed for almost their ENTIRE 90 minute engagement session! I’m not sure we could have planned it any better if we had tried - but it all ended up working out exactly how we had hoped!!!
But, enough about the weather - what you really need to know after reading this blog post is how absolutely INCREDIBLE these two are! So here’s a little more about them: Sarah and Derek met on Twitter and connected over a mutual love for math. At the time, Sarah was considering going for her PhD in mathematical studies, and Derek was(is) working towards his! He offered to give her an insight into the process, and, well - now they’re engaged to be married! They have a puppy named Louisa, share a mutual love for Qdoba (over Chipotle and Moe’s!), and - maybe one of my favorite fun facts - their wedding date was chosen specifically for its mathematical reference to the Fibonacci Sequence! I mean, come on - aren’t these two just the cutest?!
Their engagement session was nothing short of easy, breezy, and way too much fun! I could photograph these two every weekend, and I’m already counting down the months until I get to photograph them again! Congratulations, Sarah and Derek - you two are just such a blessing to work with! I am so thankful for you!!! 💛
Creative business owners, you’ve probably seen a ton of different types of studio management systems, all with different features and capabilities. Today, I’d like to throw another name into the ring that you may or may not have heard of: Pixifi.
A little over two years ago, when I was looking for all-inclusive studio management software, I just wasn’t finding any that made the cut. And to be honest, I was feeling SO overwhelmed trying to figure out which management software would suit my business’ needs best. Again and again, I kept trying out a piece of software, only to realize halfway through getting it set up that it didn’t have a key feature that I felt like I needed. And I kept getting more and more frustrated!
After maybe five or six attempts at setting up different management systems, I decided to make a list of EVERYTHING I could ever want in a studio management software… even if it seemed like what I wanted was out of reach. So, I sat down, typed out a list, and, on a whim, posted that list in a few Facebook groups to see if anyone had any suggestions, not really believing that anything existed that could do exactly what I needed.
Low and behold, I was wrong! Someone commented on one of my posts: “Have you heard of Pixifi?” No, I had not – but as soon as I started researching Pixifi, I knew it was the management software for me! With robust features including automation, scheduling calendars, workflows, contracts, and invoicing capabilities, I decided right then and there to sign up for Pixifi – and I’ve never once looked back!
If you’re looking for a studio management system, I couldn’t recommend Pixifi more. And I’d love to share a little bit about exactly why I chose Pixifi with you, along with some of the pros and cons I’ve experienced with the system along the way!
There were a few specific features I was looking for when I was testing out different types of studio management software. I needed my studio management software to:
Have distinct, customizable workflows for each specific type of my business (weddings, seniors, families)
Have automation (emails, questionnaires, invoice reminders, contracts) that could be attached to specific workflows (i.e., press one button and a twenty step automatic workflow was put in place)
Give my clients the ability to book their session from my pre-set calendar
Give my clients the ability to sign their contract and view their invoice upon booking without me having to do anything (going back to automation!)
Have an online portal so each of my clients could view their contracts, invoices, scheduled sessions, and questionnaires all in one place
And Pixifi has ALL of these things (and more!)
Pixifi is an incredibly powerful software with basically any and every feature you could think of!
It is constantly being updated and worked on by the Pixifi team, which means new features are never very far away!
There is a super strong online support system via a Facebook group where you can get your questions answered in no time flat – which is really helpful for those times when technology makes me feel like my head is going to explode!
The automation feature, with integrates automatically with each different type of service I offer, has been a GAME CHANGER. Clients can automatically choose their dates, sign their contract, view their invoice, get access to their questionnaire, and receive valuable educational information about their session, all with the click of a button. The automation feature alone has saved me SO MUCH precious time, which has allowed me to work on other projects and take more sessions!
There is a pretty decent sized learning curve, but mainly because Pixifi is just so dang powerful and has so many different features. Full disclosure: it took me a lot of tears, phone calls, webinars, and mistakes to set up Pixifi correctly. I didn’t feel confident using it until after a few months of set up and trial and error. (A HUGE thanks to my extremely gracious and patient clients who were kind enough to bear with me during those first few months!
It takes a decent amount of time to set up. But for me, this was fine – being in the wedding industry in Pittsburgh means that things slow down significantly for a couple of months during the winter season. But if you are looking for a “quick fix” studio management software, this might not be the right fit for you.
Pros and cons are great and all, but when I was trying to choose a management software for my business, what I wanted to hear about from users were their results. How did their lives change or improve since implementing Pixifi? So, the very last piece of my review I’d like to share with you are some of my results!
25% Increase in Profit: Okay okay, I know that there is more that goes into this statistic than just Pixif, but I couldn’t help but put in in here. The year I started using Pixifi, my business grew in revenue by 25%. I truly believe that Pixifi gave me back a HUGE portion of time, decreasing the amount of time I allocated to invoicing, scheduling, contracts, and general workflow management. Because I had more time, I was able to take more sessions and work on parts of my business that I had been neglecting, simply because I hadn’t had time to work on them!
More Free Time: When I was looking for a studio management system, I wanted to implement a software that would give me my life back. Instead of spending hours every day behind my computer, I wanted to be able to occasionally go on walks with my husband and get lunch with friends and family. And to be honest? Before I implemented Pixifi in my business, I felt like I just didn’t have enough time (or balance) to pursue relationships the way I wanted to in my life. Now, I feel like I have so much more balance, and for that, I am forever grateful!
All in all, I could not be more thankful for how Pixifi has changed my business and how it has given me back SO much of my time! Curious to see if Pixifi could change your business? Visit their site using my referral link below!
You know what the strange/weird/amazing thing is about vacation? In my life, God always, always uses it to teach me something. Which I find to be comical, considering that I struggle with actually taking vacation and rest without feeling guilty for doing so, or like I’m falling behind!
A few years ago, there was a series of events that took place on vacation to teach me a little (read: big) lesson about grace. This year, the theme that kept popping up while we were in Orlando was the idea of not being guilty for resting or taking time off of work, which, if I’m being honest, has been a HUGE struggle for me on past vacations.
But this vacation - it was a gift in so many ways. It was a gift to walk slow, just for the fun of walking, instead of having to walk with some sort of purpose.
It was a gift to take the photos below (well, except for the ones of me! 😉), just for the fun of being a photographer.
It was a gift to be able to do things just because they were fun to do.
It was a gift to give my mind a break from obsessing over the next task that could be done, or the next thing that could be improved.
I think the real question here is: how do we make time to do all of the things above not just on vacation, but in the midst of our every day lives? How do we make the time to enjoy wherever we are present (without worrying about the future), and find joy in doing things that are just… well… fun?
Truth be told, I don’t know the answer to that question. Sometimes, in my heart of hearts, it feels like the only way to be seen or recognized as “valuable” in our world today is to be admired for how much less rest we need compared to everyone around us - or for how much more we can do than everyone else.
But what a gift it is to press pause, to relax, and to come back stronger - mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically - than before. It’s a gift to recognize each moment in each season for what it is - whether it’s a season of rest, or of hustle.
And below are a few of my favorite images from our time of rest 💛 Some images are from Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the Yacht Club, Beach Club, and the rooftop Coca-Cola store at Disney Springs!
I met with this sweet family on a semi-warm January day during the first week of 2020! Hartwood Acres is always one of my top picks for winter photos because it looks good all year ‘round, so I was so excited when they chose this location for their family photos. And check out that adorable red hair on the two youngest!!
Allison and Anthony are two of the kindest souls who are getting married next year!! 🎉 They met at work, their first date included dinner and fishing (bringing their fishing poles as a nod to that - love! 🎣), and they got engaged in Gettsyburg!
Allison & Anthony, I couldn't be more excited to photograph your beautiful wedding day! Thank you so much for the huge honor!!! 💛
FINALLY one of my favorite blog posts of the year is here! 🎉 We’re keeping it real for the third year in a row with the third installment of the behind the scenes blog post! (Click here for 2017, click here for 2018!) A HUGE thank you to every single person who helped behind the scenes, including my wonderful husband, Nick, and Taylor, Alisha, Ashley, Laura, Jill, Robin, and my Ma, Jean! (Some of who you won’t see in the photos below - next year, my goal is to make sure EVERYONE who helps me is in at least one photo!) This year would not have been possible without you. Each one of you is a gift to me AND my clients, and I can’t thank you enough for your time, love, and help!
Of course, these photos below are only a fraction of what really went on behind the scenes! So many other business things, like editing (SO MUCH EDITING), meetings, phone calls, problem solving, broken lenses, and more - and then, there’s the mental behind the scenes. As a photographer (and an Enneagram 3!), I tend to focus on how things look and appear to others. How my work looks, how my blog looks, how things appear to other people, and the like. Not that any of those things are bad… but, I would contend that how things feel is even more important than how they look.
And this year, things felt healthier in my business than they EVER have before. At the beginning of 2019, I wrote a blog post titled “How to Pursue a Healthier Work-Life Balance,” and while I’m far from perfect, I’m proud of how I’ve been able to stick to so many of the boundaries listed in that post. Every year, it gets a little, teeny bit easier to actually stick to those boundaries instead of overstepping them. And it allows other areas of my life to have room to flourish.
I am thankful to get to pursue a career I love, as well as a life I love. All glory to God for another year of beautiful life!
All I can say is WOW! Another wedding season is in the books, and boy was it an absolutely AMAZING one!!! This year, my first wedding of the year was the very first week of January, with a long break for a few months before starting back up in April and going through the end of October!
This was the first year I put a cap on the number of weddings I took, clocking in at a max of 21! Truthfully, with the 70 other portrait-style sessions I took this year, putting a cap on the number of weddings I took allowed me to really focus in on each one and give each couple my full attention and creativity on their big day!
Below, I’ve put together a loooong blog post of some of my favorite photos and moments from each of the weddings I photographed this year, starting with my last wedding, and ending with my first.
But first, to each and every couple (including their family and friends!) who gave me the honor of documenting their day: thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for trusting me with the immense honor and privilege of photographing your wedding day! It was my absolute privilege to come alongside you and serve you during your day. There is no shortage of amazingly talented photographers in the Pittsburgh area, and the fact that you put your trust in me blows my mind. Every one of you is an answer to prayer, and I praise God for our time together! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 💛
Without further ado, some of my favorite wedding moments from 2019. All glory to God for these moments and for these beautiful people and their life-long commitments to each other!
If you’re looking for more information about wedding packages or would like to inquire for a specific wedding date, visit my pricing page here, and my contact page here!
Let me let you in on a little secret: it rained Katie and Shane’s ENTIRE wedding day, but that did not stop us from getting some epic portraits!
Katie brought me this absolutely GORGEOUS tray to style with her details. I was in detail heaven!!!
Quite possibly the best natural light I’ve ever had in a getting ready space! I could shoot here every weekend!
This was their ceremony space 😍
Bright and colorful weddings are always some of my favorites! Alyssa and Ben had THE most beautiful details. Bouquet is by Shady Elms Farm!
They had the most beautiful, glowy light for portraits, too!
Possibly one of my favorite first looks to date! Nick and I cleared this ENTIRE balcony of tables and chairs after realizing that the spot we had originally planned for HD and Jeff’s first look was being used in a race where 2,000 people were going to run through 😂
HD’s sisters were here bridesmaids! 💕 They were just the sweetest!!!
We snagged this shot right before the ceremony. The light was just too perfect!
It was HOT in this room, but it was so worth it for Kayla and Donny’s portraits!
The sweetest father daughter first look, ever. I cried.
Thankful these two let us steal them away for some epic night shots!
We lucked out and the bridge was closed on Krista and Brent’s wedding day! 🎉
The most beautiful ceremony space in all of Pittsburgh. I’m convinced.
This shot is a MUST if you have a wedding at the Pennsylvanian! So thankful that these two made this a priority!
When a rug makes the perfect backdrop for the invitation suite 😍
The getting ready space at Shady Elms Farm is just too beautiful!
A fake first look with the best man!
Ohhhh these two were naturals! 😍
The Grand Estate at Hidden Acres has THE most picturesque staircase!
How absolutely perfect is this bridal party? And these colors?!
One of the most fun exits from any reception ever!
It rained and it poured for this wedding day - but epic photos were still made! 🎉 And these two had the best attitudes about it all!
Literally can’t get over this wedding. It was too beautiful!
White Barn coming in clutch with some clean backdrops!
I am so thankful that these two trusted me - they jumped in fields and walked all over the White Barn’s property to find the best light and locations! Cait and Brian, you two are champs!!
The couple who eats tacos together, stays together 💕
My second shooter took this shot and it’s one of my favorites from Val and Matt’s day! (Photo cred to my husband, Nick!)
Megan brought me this tray for her details and I almost cried tears of joy when I saw it!
Um HELLO! Megan you are stunning!
Loved getting to play with perspective here!
We adore these two! 💕
We had the best day ever with these two fellow Disney lovers! 😍
And they had a fun visitor at their reception!
Photos in the museum with the dinosaurs - a fun challenge!
Becca with the perfect veil hold!
The sweetest downtown courthouse elopement 💕
And last but not least, a January wedding with one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve seen!
And some of the most beautiful details!
What an absolute joy it was to spend an afternoon with these two exploring Oakland! We had the most beautiful and uncharacteristically sunny (and somewhat warm!) Pittsburgh day for Mary Beth and Patrick’s engagement session!
Their first official date was in February of 2018, when they met to eat dinner and watch the Pens game together at restaurant in Sewickley. They ended up spending seven hours sitting at their table, just talking. I think that’s when you know you have something special! 💛
Fast forward to this past November - Patrick asked Mary Beth to marry him at one of their favorite restaurants in a private room that he had decorated with flowers and pictures of them throughout their time together! And of course, Mary Beth said yes!!
Also, fun fact: Mary Beth and I went to the same high school. She was just a year (or maybe two?!) younger than me, so it was a lot of fun to reconnect!
Mary Beth and Patrick, a HUGE congratulations to you two on your engagement. I am so honored to have been the one to take these photos for you and wish you two nothing but the best on your wedding day and in your marriage!
Engagement sessions are one of my favorite types of sessions EVER! It is so much fun to have people in love in front of my camera, and this year, there were some seriously amazing ones! 💛
To all of the couples who trusted me with their engagement photos: You are the BEST! I am so thankful to be the one you’ve trusted with these precious memories!
If you’re looking for more information about engagement portraits or would like to schedule a session, visit my pricing page here, and my contact page here!
This was my first time photographing a couple at Fellows Riverside Gardens and I totally fell in LOVE! Props to my couple for introducing me to this epic location!
Brielle and Stephen came dressed to kill! An engagement session is always a good time to kick up the style a notch!
Photographing my cousin and his fiance was definitely one of the biggest highlights of all of my engagement sessions this year! And getting to take photos in the sunflower fields at Soergel’s was just icing on the cake!
I mean, have you ever seen flower bushes so beautiful?!
I was wondering why all of the sunflowers were facing in one direction, and learned that they grow facing towards the rising sun. Fun fact!
Winter engagement sessions are always, ALWAYS my favorite. 💕 Specifically when there’s snow!
Technically this was an anniversary session, but we adore these two so I had to include them!
Ed and Meghan incorporated a car that’s been in Ed’s family for quite a few generations. It was so much fun!
This was one of my favorite locations of the entire year! Everything just came together seamlessly - the sky, the light, the couple.
