Mimi is a senior at Penn Hills who I had the honor of photographing last week at all of the best spots in Oakland! She hopes to study Criminology (hence the fun set up in one of the photos below!) and is, as you can see from the photos, absolutely stunning!
Her outfit choices were totally on point, too - we were even able to find some beautiful pink flowers to perfectly match her bright pink top!
Mimi, congratulations on your senior year. You are stunning and will do amazing things! 💛
Friends, I have to admit, I didn’t think I would be writing a wedding blog post so soon since everything shut down in March due to Covid, and Pennsylvania’s regulations to combat it. But man does it feel good to be sharing this new beginning with you up on the blog!!
Katie and Paul’s wedding day was a complete whirlwind! When Katie first contacted me (less than 2 weeks before her wedding date!), she wasn’t sure where her wedding would be taking place (it was supposed to be out of state, originally), because no one was sure what would be allowed at that point in terms of a wedding ceremony! But everything quickly fell into place the week-of, and Polymath Park in Acme, PA was kind enough to host Katie, Paul, and their friends and family for their beautiful wedding ceremony!
The house where the ceremony took place (built by Frank Wright) ended up being the perfect space - there was an outdoor patio, where the ceremony was held, and an indoor space with lots of natural light in case of rain (which thankfully, stayed away!). The rings had been left behind at home, so the pair used a sharpie to draw rings on each other’s ring finger in lieu of the exchange of rings. It was so sweet (and so creative!). The pair even had matching masks made out of the train from Katie’s wedding dress (SO smart!), so of course, we had to stage a few photos in those!
I am so thankful to have been a part of this wedding day, and I am so happy that these two were able to celebrate their relationship and union on the date that they had originally planned. It may not have looked how they had originally thought, but it was beyond beautiful, nonetheless, and so very personal!
ALSO, they had one of my favorite details I’ve ever seen: a “Pittsburgh cookie table book,” featuring the recipe of each cookie that was going to be at their original wedding! Pittsburgh people - isn’t this an amazing idea?! I just had to share!
Anyways - Katie and Paul, a HUGE congratulations to you on your marriage. Thank you a million times for letting me be a part of it! 💛
Jeremy was my first guy senior post-COVID, and we had the best time walking around Harmony for his senior photos! BUT, we did forget to get a photo of him with his mask on to commemorate a very interesting senior year!
Jeremy is a senior at Seneca Valley who hopes to be an animator, and who loves all things dinosaurs and fossils! He even wore some subtle dinosaur-themed garb for his photos, which ended up being the perfect color & style for all of Harmony’s colorful backdrops!
Jeremy, congratulations on your senior year. You are going to do amazing things! So thankful to have been able to take these photos for you!!
There's something so special about getting to see a couple get engaged, get married, and then start their family together! 💛
I am SO thankful to have had the pleasure of being a part of this season with Kayla & Colin as they start growing their family! They are just two of the sweetest people and are going to be the best parents. Congratulations, Kayla & Colin!!!
Emily & Sam are having a baby! 💛 And I had the immense pleasure of photographing them around the cutest town, Zelienople - which also happens to be where I live! Talk about a short commute 😉
A HUGE thanks to The Strand for changing their marquee to welcome the newest member of the Huff family! And a HUGE congratulations to Emily & Sam!!!
Caroline just might win longest awaited senior session. This sweet lady had her senior photo session scheduled for November of 2019 originally, and because of the cold (and rain!), we pushed her session back to the spring. Well, then COVID-19 hit, and we had to push her session back AGAIN! Finally, after we got the “green light” for outdoor photo sessions to begin again, we literally scheduled her session for the very next day!!
Caroline is an absolutely incredible figure skater, and one of the sweetest humans to boot! She recently committed to NYU, and can’t wait to live in the city. She was a trooper in the cold (that ice skating background came in handy!), and made my job so easy! Caroline, you are a gem, and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with you 💛
Before you see this family’s adorable photos, you have to hear a small piece of their incredible story.
This family of five just moved up to Pittsburgh (where they knew no one) from South Carolina, and were just a few months out from welcoming their third child into the world. Specifically, they came up here to the North Hills of Pittsburgh to plant a church!
We met them, of all places, through my husband’s job, and through a turn of events and God’s leading, we will be coming alongside this incredible family as they look to plant New Horizons Church here in the North Hills! So of course, we needed to get them a couple of photo with their newest family member that they could use on their new church website!
We were even lucky enough to catch some beautiful spring color. Welcome to Pittsburgh, yinz! 💛We are so thankful to know you!
Today, I’m here to give you the skinny on albums, and to help you figure out if an album will be worth an investment for you, and what your options are with JHP if you do decide to invest in one!
When many people think of albums, they think of the wedding album their parents (or grandparents) would pull out of the attic or the basement from time to time, featuring familiar faces with younger features. While wedding albums are still an extremely popular way to showcase photos, and double as a family heirloom, albums are not just for wedding couples. Albums can also be for:
Parents of the Bride or Groom: They play a huge role in a wedding day and want to remember it, too!
Grandparents of the Bride or Groom: Grandparents are so proud of their grandchildren, and the gift of photos (and something physical they can show their friends and family!) is priceless!
Parents of High School Seniors: An album is an excellent way to showcase photos from a senior session. Think of it as a more “upscale” yearbook, featuring just the senior! I’ve also seen beautiful albums featuring a senior throughout the years - from an infant, to high school senior! Those are sure to bring some happy tears!
Grandparents of High School Seniors: Tell me what grandparent wouldn’t absolutely ADORE an album filled with their precious grandchild’s senior photos?! This one’s a given!
Families: Ever heard of a “family year book?” While scrapbooking might not be as popular as it once was, beautifully crafted yearly family photo albums are gaining in popularity! Yearly photo albums are a great way to showcase family highlights throughout the year, and create a legacy and “history” of sorts, for your family to look back on! (Note: not all of the photos in an album have to be professional! I’ve had some families mix personal and phone photos into their professional shots to feature the full year!)
Albums are a wonderful way to showcase all of life’s highlights. By investing in an album, you are investing in remembering your history. You’re creating an heirloom that will stand the test of changes in technology, and can be passed down from generation to generation. We might not know how long digital photographs will last if they’re simply living on a computer or a phone - technology could change at any moment! But albums? They stand the test of time.
If you’ve read this far and you’re interested preserving your legacy with an album (yay!) I’d love to share some options with you for the albums I offer to my clients!
All of the albums JHP offers feature:
Custom interior photo design
Linen or Leatherette album covering
20 pages, or 10 spreads (with the option to add additional pages/spreads)
Thick pages for durability (0.05" thick with a black core)
A Luster page surface for maximum shine and vibrant colors
Below, I’ll be offering some additional details on size and cover style and materials. Albums are customizable in color, cover, and are made durably to stand the test of time!
8x8” - The perfect “coffee table” size! If you want this album to be a piece that remains on display in your living room (but doesn’t take up too much room), this size is perfect! The only caveat about the 8x8” album is that you can’t put too many photos on each spread or page - because the pages are quite small!
10x10” - This is my most popular size for parent albums! While the 12x12” is large (and sometimes bulky to handle) and the 8x8” is a little small (and holds less photos) the 10x10” is the perfect in between. It can easily stay on a coffee table, or can be kept on a bookshelf. It’s large enough to feature multiple photos on each spread, but small enough to easily handle. It is the perfect size for reminiscing over your photos with friends and family!
12x12” - This is my most popular size among my wedding couples! My 12x12” albums are robust and can hold lots of photos per page (or spread). Many of my couples love this size because they can have beautiful spreads featuring portraits and details together, in a cohesive format, all on one page! This is a big album, so it doesn’t always fit on standard bookshelves or coffee tables. It’s less for display purposes, and more for pulling out on special occasions!
Linen: A cloth-like material for a modern look! There are 14 colors of linen to choose from (see below), making the material a popular choice for parents and couples who want a cover color to match the colors of the wedding!
Leatherette: A classic leather finish never goes out of style! I, personally, tend to love leather because it is easy to keep clean and fresh. I own a few leather albums and have accidentally spilled water and/or coffee on them, and the spills wipe right off!
Inscription (Pictured Below): Imprint names and the wedding date on the cover in your choice of gold, silver, or embossing!
Photo Cut Out Covers (Pictured below): Features a cameo window with your choice of photo in the center of the album cover.
If you would be interested in ordering an album, take a peek at the process below!
Inquire: Email me (Jenna) directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com, to let me know that you are interested in ordering an album.
Complete Order Form: I will send over an “album order form,” where you will be able to choose the size of your album, your cover material & style, and any additional features.
Choose Photos: Next, you’ll go into your gallery and “like” the photos you would like to be included in your album. The gallery software will create a folder for me to download with your favorite images! Or, if you would rather have me choose the photos to be included in your album, I’d be happy to do so!
Interior Design: Once you are finished liking your photos, I will download your selected images and design an interior layout. It can take a few days to a week to receive your first draft, depending on the time of year (i.e., if you’re ordering an album during wedding season, turn around time will be a bit slower!)
Proofing: After the initial interior design is complete, I will send you your initial design via my gallery software, where you’ll be able to make comments and request changes.
Payment: Once we finalize your design, I’ll send over an invoice for the full album amount, and once it is paid, I will place your album order!
Finished Album! You will receive your finished album in the mail within 6 to 8 weeks! Production time takes a couple of weeks from the time the order is placed, and I always have any album orders I place shipped to me first, in order to make sure the order is accurately fulfilled!
How much will my album cost?
Album prices range from $350 for the smallest size, to $750 for the largest size (plus sales tax) depending on things like size, style, and number of pages. ALL albums include 20 pages (or 10 spreads) as default, with the option of adding more.
Who chooses the photos that are going to be in my album?
I always like to encourage my clients to choose the photos that will be included in their album, but I know the photo choosing process can be overwhelming, especially for wedding albums where you’re trying to tell the story of the wedding day! If you’re having trouble choosing images, let me know and I would be happy to either (1) choose some of images for you to “fill in” the gaps in the design, or (2) choose all of the images for you. Even if I do choose all of your images for you, you’ll be able to see the interior design and ask for any to be removed or included throughout the proofing process.
How long, from inquiring to getting my album in the mail, does the process take?
Depending on the time of year you start your album ordering process, and how fast we’re able to work through the interior design proofs, the process as a whole can take anywhere from 2 to 4 months. In the winter during my “slower season” (when I’m not photographing as many sessions and/or events), my turn around time for albums is faster.
How do I know what size album to get? Is one better than the others?
It really depends on what you plan on using your album for, and the event/session you want to showcase. For example, I always recommend a 10x10” or 12x12” size album for weddings, because there are so many more photos to include than, say, a senior or family session. Most parents of brides/grooms order the 10x10” size, because it’s not too big and not too small. Many of my wedding couples order a 12x12” so they can fit lots of photos in, and many of my senior and family clients opt for the smallest size (8x8”), because it’s the perfect size for keeping on a book shelf or featuring on a coffee table!
Why are these albums priced the way they are?
These albums are made to last. They are built from the highest quality materials available on the market and are meant to be kept for years. The incredibly thick pages and durable covers make them heirloom quality.
How do I start the album ordering process?
Simply shoot me an email at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com and we can get the ball rolling! If you want to start working ahead, head over to your online photo gallery and begin “liking” the photos in your gallery you’d like to be included!
Have a question about albums that wasn’t answered in this blog post? Feel free to leave a comment below, or email me directly at: jhidingerphotography@gmail.com.
I’ll cut to the chase today: I’m excited to announce that I have *officially* opened a little Print/Digital Download and Design shop over on Etsy! (Click here to check it out!) This shop features a small variety of digital and physical products, including instant printable photo downloads, a few digital resources made specifically for photographers, and a white frame jewelry organizer! It’s a bit of a hodge podge of things - but what ties all of these items together is that they are all things I love: llamas, Disney, design, and organization. Oh my!
This is something I’ve been wanting to start up for a couple of years now, and, with being unable to take work due to the COVID-19 quarantine and restrictions, I felt that this would be the perfect time!
Like I mentioned above, this shop pays homage to a few of my favorite things - check some of my favorites out below! Or click here to check out my full Etsy shop!
This photo was taken on the Disney Boardwalk in Orlando, Florida, right outside of the ice cream parlor there! This adorable little sign welcomes ice cream connoisseurs through its doors for a sweet treat in the midst of the heat!
I feel like this photo perfectly represents Disney’s Boardwalk Resort! These green and brown benches are iconic, with the Yacht Club across Crescent lake in the background.
This subtle chic and sturdy necklace organizer holds up to 8 necklaces and is light enough to be hung on a wall by thumb tacks (but can be hung by nails, too). It features a subtle texture for simple visual interest.
The exterior of the frame measures 8" by 11" in size.
A classic view right down Disney’s Boardwalk Resort! Disney’s Boardwalk resort lies right between Epcot and Hollywood Studios, across the lake (Crescent Lake) from the Beach Club and Yacht Club.
A portrait of the Trinity Library in Dublin, Ireland! I’ve always imagined this photo looking especially excellent in a beautiful office. I took this photo with a “tilt-shift” lens, which is what gifts the “miniature” affect of the books in this image!
I created this guide for my own business – to educate my senior clients, and to take any of the guess work out of our time together. This guide is meant to walk my clients through our time together, and to answer any questions they might have. And I have to say – it has been a complete GAME CHANGER for my business!
This magazine template is available as an instant download, and can be modified in InDesign (including the “older” versions of the software).
This might be one of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken! I’ve always loved llamas, and I just so happened to capture a photo of this little guy with his ears perked up!
A unique view of Disney’s Yacht Club Lighthouse from between some palm trees! Disney’s Yacht Club sits right across from Disney’s Boardwalk Resort.
A simple, neutral photo of a field swaying in the wind with a beach and sand in the background.
Another view of the Yacht Club lighthouse, just a little closer, on a cloudy day in Orlando, Florida!
A set of four tall palm trees reaching into the blue sky on a bright, Orlando, Florida day.
Another view of Disney’s Boardwalk Resort from across Crescent lake! Also included in this photo are some of the Boardwalk’s famous restaurants and entertainment spots, including Trattoria al Forno and the Boardwalk Bakery!
Thanks for taking the time to check out my shop, friends. It means so much!
Day-of wedding coordinators: the heroes of wedding days.
Or, at least they are in my book. ;)
If you’re unfamiliar with the term, a day-of wedding coordinator is someone who essentially runs and manages the wedding day – they deal with day-of logistics, including execution of the timeline, day-of coordination and communication with vendors, and basically making sure everything goes off without a hitch, and take a huge amount of pressure off of the bride, groom, and their friends and family so everyone can enjoy the day.
And truly, every single wedding I work that does have a wedding day-of coordinator runs so much smoother than those that do not. Today, I’d love to share a few reasons why you might want to consider hiring a day-of wedding coordinator.
1. You don’t want the pressure to fall on any of your friends and family members.
This is a HUGE one. When there is not a day-of coordinator, often times, last minute tasks, decisions, and questions can fall on your friends or family members. For my own wedding, we didn’t hire a day-of coordinator, and much of the responsibility for last minute details, decisions, and coordination fell on my mom (God bless her!). In hind sight, we both agreed that, if we could go back, we would 100% hire a day-of coordinator so she could’ve kicked back a bit more. Hindsight is 20/20!
2. You don’t want to have to give lots of instruction the day of your wedding (or, in other words, if you just want to enjoy the day and let someone else make some of the decisions!).
The bride is usually the head honcho of the day, and everyone wants to make sure she’s happy – so when there’s any sort of uncertainly about how something should be/go, whether it’s how the napkins should be folded, where the photo booth should be set up, or how/when to execute a rain plan, if there’s not a wedding coordinator, these decisions will fall on the bride. And – honestly – most of my brides just want to be able to enjoy their wedding day! Having someone else who knows all of the ins and outs of the wedding day and how things need to run (especially someone who’s a professional at running a wedding day!) can be a huge asset and take lots of weight off of the bride’s shoulders, without putting them on someone else’s who is there to simply celebrate the couple!
3. You don’t want to be the bridal party/family wrangler.
Whether it’s getting your bridal party lined up for the ceremony or getting your family together and ready to take family formals, a day-of coordinator will be the one who directs your loved ones to wherever they need to be whenever they need to be there. Let them be the one who tells your family that they can’t go to cocktail hour until they finish family formals! ;)
4. You don’t want to worry about executing a detailed timeline to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.
The truth is, weddings revolve around the wedding timeline – and every piece of the wedding day revolves around the ceremony! When wedding days don’t run on time, different parts of the day have a tendency to suffer. You might be more rushed, have less time for photos (which always makes me so sad for the couple!!), and just generally have less time to really enjoy different parts of the day. Plus, the last thing you’ll want to do on your wedding day is be the one telling everyone where they need to be and when – there are just too many moving parts, and you’ll probably just want to enjoy the day as it is! A day-of coordinator will do the timeline legwork and work to make sure all runs according to schedule so that all of your planning does not go to waste.
Even though day-of wedding coordinators are fantastic and help the day run infinitely smoother, some folks either don’t have the budget for a day-of coordinator, or just aren’t really interested in having one (maybe they have a smaller or simpler wedding). Regardless of why,
1. Send an emergency contact list and final wedding timeline to all of your vendors ahead of time.
An emergency contact list and final wedding timeline ensures that all vendors are on the same page regarding timing and communication, eliminating any discrepancies.
As a side note, I would recommend adding in addresses for any locations vendors will be traveling to the day of your wedding – not just names. When I was first getting started in the wedding world, I had a bride tell me the name of the hotel where she was getting ready without providing the address – and I didn’t ask for an address, because I thought I knew exactly where the hotel was! It turns out, there was a newer hotel with the same name across town that I didn’t know about, so I ended up showing up to the wrong hotel!
2. Put a bridesmaid or family member in charge of ALL day-of communication and question-answering.
Putting a bridesmaid or family member in charge of day-of communication (and communicating that in advance to all parties!), helps everyone! With this approach, the bride won’t be bombarded with questions as she focuses on preparing for the day. As a side note, I’ve been this person before in a number of weddings, and it truly does help the bride relax, knowing that there’s someone else who can answer questions when needed.
3. Put different friends/family members in charge of specific tasks.
There are lots of little details that can slip through the cracks on a wedding day when you don’t have a day-of coordinator. Who will line you up for the ceremony, and send your bridesmaids down the aisle in a timely manner? Who is going to add the last minute touches to your outdoor ceremony space? (Bows, flowers, etc.!). Who is going to hand out final wedding payments to your hair/makeup artists? I’d suggest breaking down the different, small tasks that need to happen the day of the wedding and spreading them out between different friends/family members. That way, no one has too much they need to remember and can focus on completing their one (or two!) specific tasks!
4. Go over the timeline for the day with your bridal party and family at the rehearsal dinner… and maybe even give everyone a copy of the timeline (or, at the very least send it to them so they can have it on their phone!)
One of the most frequent ways I see weddings fall behind is when members of the bridal party or family walk away when they’re needed for something (in my case, I see it a lot with the photography portion of the day!). You cannot over communicate where everyone needs to be on your wedding day and when enough! The easiest way to get everyone on the same page is to spend a few minutes at your rehearsal dinner giving people specific times for where they need to be – when they need to be dressed and ready to go for the ceremony, when everyone needs to line up for the ceremony, when the family formals will take place, when the bridal party photos will take place, and when everyone needs to line up to be announced into the reception are all great time points to communicate!
Whether you choose to hire a day-of coordinator or use a DIY method for coordinating your day, I hope these tips help you make the best choice for you and your loved ones! And if you’re someone who’s planned a wedding – what did you decide to do for your wedding day, and what would you recommend to others?
Happy planning!
