Personal Travels: Disney 2021

If you’ve been following along for a longer period of time, you might know that my husband and I love going to Disney, and every once in a while, I’ll bring my camera long to take some photos and stretch my creative muscles while I’m there! It’s fun to get to take photos without any pressure - just for the pure enjoyment of seeing and creating - something I don’t often give myself time to do.

And this is a blog post featuring one of those trips! This one comes WAY later - if you’re reading this when this blog was published (February 2022), this trip actually took place in February of 2021. If you’re a fan of Disney (and even if you’re not!) I hope you enjoy this little photo-story of our trip!

And for those of you two do love Disney… here are a few of my favorite details from this trip!

• We stayed at POP Century Resort for the first time! It was on the cheaper side, which is why we went for it this time around. We always love staying “on campus” when we can for the convenience, and it was nice to have the Skyliner right there to use! We didn’t love the long walks. Pop Century is a HUGE resort, and our building was as far away from the Skyliner AND the cafeteria as you could get!

• I am, admittedly, afraid of heights and the Skyliner was most definitely not my favorite thing - ha! But it was worth facing my fear for shortened journeys to and from various locations!

• Raglan Road (Irish restaurant in Disney Springs) ended up being our favorite meal of the entire trip! They gave such good sized portions and the food was incredible!

• My new favorite must go-to place is Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs! It’s a gourmet bakery with the BEST cookies I have ever eaten in my entire life… and the best buttercream icing, too! (You can buy buttercream to dip your cookies in… heaven! 😍). We ended up waiting in a six hour virtual cue line, then a one hour in person line just to get inside. But let me tell you, it was soooo worth it!

• We were so excited to see the new French pavillion area in Epcot! The architecture was beyond beautiful.

Happy scrolling!

Best Places to Take Senior Pictures in Pittsburgh

Today, I’m breaking down the most popular locations my seniors choose for their Pittsburgh senior pictures! Over the last 9 years of taking senior portraits, I’ve found that there a few locations that stand above the rest in the Pittsburgh area when it comes to senior photos - locations that both me and my clients love!

Each of these spots listed below are popular in my opinion because for a few specific reasons. They each:

1. Have wide variety of backgrounds within a short walking distance (more backgrounds to work with = a higher amount of unique photos to choose from, and less walking means more shooting time, meaning more photos!)

2. Allow for lots of different types of posing - sitting, standing, leaning, etc. on those background elements (giving you a wider gallery of options to choose from!)

3. Have beautiful, natural light that’s easy to work with (not all light is created equal - some locations have better light than others!)

So without further ado, let me introduce you to my favorite locations for Pittsburgh senior photos! First up…

1. Hartwood Acres Mansion

Hartwood Acres Mansion is known primarily for its historic gray stone architecture… and it’s a HUGE space, which makes it easy to get lots of variety! In addition to the mansion itself, there is a large gated garden on property, as well as lots of foresty areas, and white cobblestone pathways. There are arches, doorways, balconies, a courtyard, storybook-esque glass windows, as well as many other attributes that help make this location a popular choice for seniors.

Hartwood Acres Mansion easily crosses off all three of these items, plus more! You do not need any special license or permit to take photos on Hartwood Acres’s property, either. It is open to the public! The only time they close the area around the mansion is for weddings or private events, so it’s always best to call their office ahead of time to check (they are very kind about people checking to see if there are any events!)

2. Mellon Park

Much like Hartwood Acres, Mellon Park has lots of variety in terms of architecture! It features large, gray stone architecture, balconies, black iron gates, staircases, a historic ornate fountain, and pathways lined with benches and florals in the spring & summer. It is a short drive from Oakland, nestled into Shadyside, close to Bakery Square.

Much like Hartwood, Mellon Park is open to the public, but they do shut down the park to the general public for the occasional wedding or community event. I believe Mellon Park has an online calendar for community events, but it is not always updated, and (in my experience), they aren’t very good with returning phone calls.

3. Historic Harmony

Historic Harmony is unique from Hartwood Acres and Mellon Park. While it features historic buildings, they have more “small town” feels (brick, bright colors, etc.) rather than historic stone architecture. Historic Harmony is, after all, a restored German town just North of Pittsburgh!

Historic Harmony is a small German town established in the 1800’s that has been updated with brightly colored walls and the most adorable shops and restaurants (if you have a chance to visit, my favorite spots are Wunderbar and Two Fraus Bakery!). There are an UNLIMITED number of locations for photos here! Buildings, fences, bridges, nature, a barn, a field - you name it, it’s probably here!

The one caveat with Historic Harmony is that you have to know where you are allowed to shoot, and where you are not allowed to shoot. Many of the buildings are owned privately and don’t take kindly to people shooting on their property, so it’s best to check with them beforehand if you have specific spots in mind that you want to use. You can also contact the Harmony Museum, who owns some of the buildings in town (including the barn) to retrieve a day pass photo permit (currently priced at $20 per shoot/day as of January 2022). This is a fee I take care of for my clients who want to shoot there because I love the location so much!

Thanks for reading, friend! I hope you found this blog post helpful in your search for the perfect spot for senior photos. If you are in need of a senior photographer in the Pittsburgh area, I’d love to connect with you! Feel free to reach out via my Contact form (click here!), or email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com. I hope to hear from you!

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Megan & Frankie: Circuit Center Ballroom Wedding Photos

The morning of Megan & Frankie’s wedding, I woke up and immediately checked the temperature, knowing that it was going to be a cold one… and was met with a reading of -8°F, with a high for the day of 15°F.

I’ve only ever photographed two weddings prior to Megan & Frankie’s in January here in Pittsburgh. One had a high of 6°F for the day, and the other had a high of 56°F! It goes to show that you never truly know what weather will be like here in the Burgh for any Pittsburgh winter wedding.

Thankfully, Megan & Frankie were not afraid of the cold (it never bothered them anyway! ;) ), and actually had the vast majority of their portraits taken outside! They, along with their fantastic bridal party members, were all troopers in the frigid temperatures… and I have to say, I think it was well worth it! It may have been cold, but the sun was shining and provided some gorgeous light for us to work with!

The wedding day began with getting ready photos at the Springhill Suites in the Southside, after which Megan and her bridesmaids WALKED the two blocks to the wedding venue… in the cold. One was in shorts! These ladies were committed!!!

After arriving at the Circuit Center Ballroom, Megan put on her dress, her “something borrowed” (grandma’s pearl bracelet), and her and Frankie had their first look in the courtyard of the event venue, while friends & family watched from the windows (so sweet!). We headed straight over to the Hot Metal Bridge for photos of the bride & groom afterward… and again, they walked the 3+ blocks there! Honestly, they deserve some sort of winter wedding MVP award for the amount of time they spent outside without any complaints. I was so impressed!

We headed back to the venue for bridal party & family photos, followed by a short and sweet ceremony, then a cocktail hour and reception. One of my favorite details from the wedding day was the coolest “guest book” I’ve ever seen! Guests could leave the bride & groom voicemails on an old rotary phone. I loved it, and the guests did, too! Another favorite detail was a live painting of their first dance during the reception by a local artist. It was so fun to see the painting come together throughout the evening! They also had a “to infinity & beyond” wedding cake topper, as a nod towards when they met (when they were 12!).

It was an absolute pleasure to get to come alongside Megan & Frankie as they celebrated their wedding day this weekend! They are two of the kindest, most laid back people, and their wedding day was truly so much fun to photograph!

Congratulations on your wedding day, Megan & Frankie! Thank you for the huge honor of documenting your day!

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Vendors: Circuit Center Ballroom, Just Hitched Wedding Films, Prantl's Bakery, Modern Era Weddings, Makeup Design Studio & Day Spa, MB Bride & Special Occasion, Minted, The Fluted Mushroom Catering, Steph Moraca Fine Art

If you enjoyed Megan & Frankie’s winter wonderland wedding, you might also enjoy…

Emily & Jared’s Winter Wedding at the Atrium

Kirsten & Travis’s Winter Wedding in Saxonburg

Sarah & Derek’s Winter Mellon Park Engagement Session

And be sure to check out some of my latest work on the blog below!

5 Location Ideas in Butler County, Pennsylvania for Senior Photos

If you’re looking for photo location ideas within the Butler County area for senior pictures, you’ve come to the right place! You don’t have to drive far to find beautiful backdrops for your senior photos, whether you go to Seneca Valley High School, Mars High School, Portersville Christian Academy or Butler Area High School!

Below, you’ll find five of my favorite Buttler County photo spots. This post is specifically geared towards senior photos, so I’ll be sharing some of my favorite photos I’ve taken at each location, as well as any other pertinent information!

If you have any questions about any of these locations, feel free to reach out to me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com. And if you are in need of some senior photos at any one of these locations, I would love to work with you! I am a local resident of Butler County and know all of these locations so well!

1. MORAINE STATE PARK SENIOR PHOTOS

A beautiful, nature-centric location in Butler County for senior portraits is Moraine State Park! Moraine features a large lake, docks, forest, trails, fields, and even small beaches, all of which make for a scenic location for senior pictures.

Moraine State Park looks beautiful at all times of year, but especially so in the fall when all of the leaves are changing! This park is open to the public and doesn’t require any reservation to take photos there.

If you are interested in seeing more photos from Moraine State Park, check out the full photo sessions below!

Oliva’s Fall Moraine State Park Senior Photos

Collin’s Early Fall Moraine State Park Senior Photos

Rachel’s Early Fall Moraine State Park Senior Photos

2. SUCCOP NATURE PARK SENIOR PHOTOS

Succop Nature Park is situated right near the Butler Airport, and has lots of variety in terms of background for photos! There is a historic building with white brick and black and red accents on the property, as well as a small old greenhouse and newly updated white and red barn. There are brick accents, as well as a willow tree and pond!

Succop Nature Park is open to the public and doesn’t require reservations to take photos there. However, they do host weddings and events on their property, so if you hope to take photos there on a weekend, you might want to call the park office to see if there are any events planned. They will ask you to leave if they see you on the property!

If you are interested in seeing more photos from succop nature park, check out the full photo sessions below!

Sarah’s Summer Succop Nature Park Senior Photos

Alex’s Spring Succop Nature Park Senior Photos

Sophie’s Summer Succop Nature Park Senior Photos

3. HISTORIC HARMONY SENIOR PHOTOS

This location is a long time favorite of mine for senior photos in Butler County! It’s a great location for Seneca Valley seniors, since it’s located very close to the high school.

Historic Harmony is a small German town established in the 1800’s that has been updated with brightly colored walls and the most adorable shops and restaurants (if you have a chance to visit, my favorite spots are Wunderbar and Two Fraus Bakery!). There are an UNLIMITED number of locations for photos here! Buildings, fences, bridges, nature, a barn, a field - you name it, it’s probably here!

The one caveat with Historic Harmony is that you have to know where you are allowed to shoot, and where you are not allowed to shoot. Many of the buildings are owned privately and don’t take kindly to people shooting on their property, so it’s best to check with them beforehand if you have specific spots in mind that you want to use. You can also contact the Harmony Museum, who owns some of the buildings in town (including the barn) to retrieve a day pass photo permit (currently priced at $20 per shoot/day as of January 2022). This is a fee I take care of for my clients who want to shoot there because I love the location so much!

If you are interested in seeing more photos from HISTORIC HARMONY, check out the full photo sessions below!

Sydney’s Fall Historic Harmony Senior Photos

Rachel’s Summer Historic Harmony Senior Photos

Bryce’s Winter Historic Harmony Senior Photos

4. ZELIENOPLE SENIOR PHOTOS

A favorite location for getting an urban vibe without having to go into Pittsburgh! Zelienople is a small town located in Butler County that has exploded within the last couple of years! It’s just north of Cranberry Township and has LOTS of variety to offer for photo locations.

In addition to senior photos below, I’ve also included some maternity photos I’ve shot here so you’re able to see added location variety! Zelienople is situated right next to Historic Harmony (from above). You could easily use both locations in one senior photo session!

If you are interested in seeing more photos from zelienople, check out the full photo sessions below!

Daniel’s Later Winter Zelienople Senior Photos

5. ADAMS TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY PARK SENIOR PHOTOS

Located in Mars, Adams Township Park has a small variety of locations for senior portraits! It’s a great location for Mars High School seniors, as it’s only a few minute drive from the high school.

If you are interested in seeing more photos from adams township community park, check out the full photo sessions below!

Trent’s Summer Adams Township Community Park Senior Photos

If you enjoyed the blog post above, you might also like these!

Erin & Ben: The Frick Engagement Photos

Engagement photos are extra cozy when it's near 20°F outside Erin & Ben didn't seem to let it phase them one bit!

These two met through Ben's sister - Erin was a friend of hers before her and Ben started dating! They got engaged last year, the day before Valentine's Day, and now they are getting married this year!

And, unless we get a surprise snow storm over the summer, I think the weather will be just a tad warmer 😉 Congratulations on your engagement, Erin & Ben! So excited to photograph your wedding day!

Winter Mellon Park Family Photos

We had a beautiful, snowy day for this lovely family’s photos! Mellon Park truly looks magical in the snow. The real feel was 10°F, so our time together did not last long, but it was so much fun, and we were still able to get some beautiful and unique images! ❤️

Pittsburgh Senior Photographer: Senior Photo Highlights 2021

I love taking the time to round up some of my favorite photos from a year of shooting - it’s easy to forget how many incredible seniors I had the privilege of photographing after such a long stretch! But in today’s blog post, that’s exactly what I want to do - remember, reminisce, and refocus towards a whole new year of seniors in 2022!

This year, I photographed more seniors than I ever have in the previous 9 years I’ve been in business. Which I am so incredibly thankful for - considering the fact that senior photos are one of my favorite types of sessions to photograph! Also, though I will continue to photograph weddings, I do hope to transition to filling more of my schedule with senior portraits within the next few years. So getting to photograph more seniors was so exciting!

I photographed my seniors in many different locations, including Historic Harmony, McConnell’s Mill, Hartwood Acres Mansion (which was sadly closed for the majority of 2021!), Zelienople (my home town!), Moraine State Park, the Strip District, Oakland, Mellon Park, Succop Nature Park, Camp Kon-O-Kwee, North Park, the North Shore, and even on someone’s own property. There are so many fantastic options for senior photos in and around Pittsburgh!

One of my surprising favorite locations of this year was the Strip District. Shooting in the city can pose some unique challenges (limited parking, extra traffic, lots of walking, random people on the street who want to chat!), but I have truly loved getting to know the Strip District area better from a photo-perspective, and love how many unique (and colorful!) backgrounds there are within a relatively short walking distance!

More than any specific location, my favorite part (by far) of photographing seniors is getting to know them during their session, and helping them feel comfortable in front of my camera. Every senior brings something unique and different to their shoot, and it’s fun to be able to encourage them in such a pivotal time in their lives!

To all of the seniors who gave me the honor of taking their senior portraits this year - THANK YOU. Truly, I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to be a part of such a sweet season of your life!

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If you are a Class of 2022 senior who has yet to schedule their photos, or a Class of 2023 senior who is looking to have their photos taken, feel free to reach out via the contact tab above, or directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com. I’d be more than happy to give you some additional information!

Gabrielle W: North Shore Senior Photos

The very last session of 2021 - cue the confetti!!

Gabrielle's senior session on the North Shore was filled with the most perfect light... and was so much fun to photograph! She loves video games, plays the clarinet, loves peppermint hot chocolate, and wanted a true Pittsburgh session with the yellow bridges and bright city background. There was no better spot than the North Shore!

Congrats on your senior year, Gabrielle!

Behind the Scenes 2021

What a year it has been! 2021 has been FULL of weddings, seniors, engagements and families, and TONS of editing.

As I reflect on this year, I am reminded of how God provides - abundantly. He has provided this work, this job, this career path, and my goal is to continue to grow more and more grateful (especially when it feels overwhelming!) for the work that he has called me to do in this season.

This year, that work looked like 19 weddings and over 65 portrait sessions, and countless hours of editing. Moving into 2022, I’ll be taking slightly less weddings, and increasing the number of portrait sessions on my calendar!

There are so many people who have helped make this year possible… and so many that aren’t included in the photos below! Nick (my husband), Alisha, Robin, Taylor, Amelia and Jill - you have all made this year possible with your support at sessions and weddings, and I couldn’t be more grateful! And a HUGE thank you to my parents who graciously watch our “boys” (the dogs ;) ) on wedding days. It is such a blessing to know that they are taken care of!

You’ll find a compilation of random images from the year - both “professional” and cell phone quality.

And without further ado, enjoy this year’s behind the scenes blog post!

For more Behind the Scenes content: 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020

That one time a cat tried to make their getaway in our car during a shoot!

Here is what I looked like taking the shot below! I love to use trees and leaves and bushes as interesting foreground elements!

My little helper ❤️

Thankful for videographers who let us use them as our test subjects!

The cutest little parasol you've ever seen!

Can you spot Nick with the groom and groomsmen?

Enjoy this strange set of images... featuring my end of a very humid wedding day delirium!

Maria & Andrew: Blue & Blush Laube Hall Wedding Photos

Maria & Andrew were my last couple to move their wedding day due to Covid. Though they had planned for a Spring celebration, their November wedding day was just as beautiful and meaningful! We started off the day with getting ready photos at the home where Maria grew up - then, we had a first look at Maria & Andrew's new home (just a few minutes down the road!), and then a ceremony & reception where two of Maria's sisters had also celebrated their wedding days!

These two made so many decisions about the details of their wedding day that centered around their love for each other and for their family... and it made their day even more of a joy to be a part of and to tell the story of!

Maria & Andrew, congratulations on your wedding day and on your marriage! We adore you two!!!

Vendors: Laube Hall Freeport PA, Blossoms by Jilliann, Tasty Bakery, HEADLINES BY JACKIE & CO. (hair), MB Bride & Special Occasion (Bride's dress), Minted, A Grand Affair Catering, ILLUME Lighting + Event Design, Lendable Linens, Steven Vance Entertainment (violinist + photo booth), Rachel Bongiorni (makeup)