I recently had the opportunity to work with Lincoln Crossing Dental Care to create a full library of commercial branding photography for their practice. We spent the day creating everything from professional team portraits and patient interactions to candid moments, environmental images and all those little details that help tell the story of what it actually feels like to walk through their doors.

And the best part? These photographs weren’t created just to sit in a gallery looking pretty. They were created to work. Lincoln Crossing Dental Care has incorporated the images throughout their website and marketing, which is exactly the point of a commercial branding session. If you’d like to see what that looks like in the real world, check out the Lincoln Crossing Dental Care website to see how they’re putting their images to use.

What Is a Commercial Branding Photography Session?

When people hear commercial photography, I think a lot of them immediately picture a headshot. You know the one: stand here, shoulders this way, smile, click. And yes, headshots are important. But your business is a whole lot more than everyone’s face from the shoulders up.

I’m a commercial and branding photographer based in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, serving businesses throughout Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania. One of my favorite things about commercial photography is creating images that don’t just show what a business looks like, they show people what it feels like to work with that business. That’s exactly what we set out to do during this recent full-day commercial content shoot. And spoiler alert: we made a whole lot more than headshots.

Think of a commercial branding session as creating your own custom stock photography library, except instead of random people laughing suspiciously hard over a salad, it’s actually your people, your space, your clients and your brand. A full commercial content day can include traditional headshots and team photographs, but it can also include your employees working, interactions with customers or patients, environmental portraits, office details, equipment, behind-the-scenes moments and all the little things that make your business different from the one down the street. The goal is to create useful marketing assets. Images you can pull from months later when you’re redesigning a page on your website, writing a social media post, creating an ad, announcing a new employee or realizing at 9 p.m. that you need a photograph for tomorrow morning’s email. Ask me how many business owners have probably been in that last situation.

Professional Headshots Are Only the Beginning

Of course, we photographed individual team members and created the more polished images every business needs. Those photographs are perfect for employee bios, About pages, LinkedIn profiles, press releases and marketing materials. But I don’t want to stop there. Because if someone is considering doing business with you, they’re probably wondering about more than what you look like. Who are these people? What is it going to feel like when I walk through their door? Do they seem approachable? Can I trust them? That’s where the rest of the story becomes incredibly valuable.

Commercial Photography Should Still Feel Human

This might be the biggest thing I want businesses to understand about the way I photograph commercial work. I don’t want to walk into your business, line everybody against a wall, take the obligatory photographs and leave. I want to understand what makes the place tick. Who are the personalities? How do you interact with the people you serve? What do you want someone to feel when they land on your website? What makes your business different? Because branding isn’t just your logo or your colors. Your people are your brand, too. And when someone sees photographs of your business online, they’re already forming an impression before they’ve ever spoken to you. I want those photographs to feel polished enough to represent your business professionally, but real enough that when someone eventually walks through the door, they recognize the people they saw online. That’s the sweet spot.

Commercial & Branding Photography in Western Pennsylvania

Your business has probably spent years building its reputation. Your photographs should look like it. Whether you need updated professional headshots, team photographs, environmental portraits or an entire library of custom marketing imagery, I offer commercial and branding photography for businesses in Blairsville, Indiana County, the Pittsburgh region and throughout Western Pennsylvania. And while I’ll absolutely make sure we get the polished photographs you need, I’m also going to be watching for the things you might not realize you need, the personalities, interactions and tiny moments that show people who you actually are. Because I don’t just want to photograph what your business looks like. I want to photograph what it feels like to work with you.

Does Your Business Actually Look Like Your Business Online?

If your website is still relying on outdated headshots, stock photography or a random assortment of phone photos, let’s change that. From individual professional headshots to full-day commercial content libraries, we can create photography specifically around how your business actually markets itself. Let’s plan your commercial content day.

One Commercial Photography Day = A Whole Lot of Content

This is one of the biggest advantages of planning a full commercial content day instead of calling a photographer every time you suddenly need a picture. We’re intentionally creating variety.

One session can provide photography for your:

• Website and landing pages
• Social media
• Google Business Profile
• Digital and print advertising
• Employee bios and headshots
• Recruiting and hiring materials
• Brochures and printed marketing
• Email campaigns
• Presentations
• Press releases and media features
• Future marketing campaigns

And because the imagery was created together, it all looks like it belongs to the same brand. Same visual quality. Same overall feeling. Same people. Same story. That’s a whole lot different than a website pieced together from professional headshots, three-year-old cell phone pictures and a stock photo of people you’ve never met shaking hands in a conference room.

Show People What It Actually Feels Like to Work With You

This is probably my favorite part. I come from more than 20 years of photographing people, not just businesses and I’ve learned that some of the strongest images happen when people stop thinking about being photographed. It’s the employee who makes everyone laugh. The way someone naturally interacts with a client. The conversation happening between appointments. The little gestures you’d never think to put on a shot list. I’m always watching for those moments. During a commercial session, I’m creating polished marketing imagery while also looking for the real interactions happening around me. Because professional doesn’t have to mean stiff. Your potential customers want to see real people. They want to picture themselves walking through your door. And in a world where businesses have access to endless stock photography and increasingly perfect AI-generated imagery, I think photographs of your actual people doing the actual work have become even more valuable.

The Little Details Matter, Too

Not every photograph needs a face in it. In fact, some of the most useful commercial photographs don’t. Hands working. Equipment. Products. Signage. Workspaces. Architectural details. Someone walking down a hallway. A computer screen over someone’s shoulder. The little pieces of your environment that immediately tell someone, this is what we do here. I intentionally photograph these details because they’re incredibly useful for website design and marketing. Your web designer needs banner images. Your social media manager needs something behind text. Your marketing company needs vertical images. Your Google Business Profile needs fresh content. Suddenly, that photograph of someone doing their job that didn’t seem terribly exciting while I was taking it becomes exactly what you needed six months later. That’s why I’m thinking beyond individual photographs and looking at the entire visual library we’re building.

Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Photography

How long does a commercial branding photography session take?

It depends entirely on the business and what we’re creating. A smaller headshot or branding project may only require a few hours, while a full commercial content day may last 6–8 hours. For larger projects, we’ll create a schedule ahead of time so we can photograph efficiently without unnecessarily disrupting your business.

What types of businesses do you photograph?

Commercial branding photography can work for nearly any business that needs professional imagery, from medical and professional offices to contractors, financial institutions, restaurants, small businesses, manufacturers and larger corporations. The photography plan is built around how your particular business needs to use the images.

Can you photograph our employees and customers or patients?

Yes, provided the appropriate permissions and releases are in place. We’ll discuss who will be photographed during the planning process so your business can handle any necessary consent or compliance requirements ahead of the shoot.

Can you photograph individual headshots during a branding day?

Absolutely. In fact, combining employee headshots with a larger commercial content day can be incredibly efficient. We can create consistent headshots while everyone is already scheduled and camera-ready, then move into team, environmental and lifestyle imagery.

Do we need a shot list?

I recommend having one, but don’t worry, you don’t have to figure it out alone. We’ll talk about how you currently market your business, what imagery you’re missing and what you anticipate needing in the future. From there, we can build a photography plan while still leaving room for the candid, unexpected moments that happen naturally.

How often should a business update its branding photography?

There’s no universal rule, but it’s worth refreshing your imagery when your team changes significantly, your physical space changes, you’ve introduced new services or your existing photography no longer represents your business accurately. Some businesses also schedule recurring content days so they always have current imagery available for marketing.

Micro Wedding Photography vs. Traditional Wedding Coverage

Here’s an important distinction: shorter micro-wedding coverage isn’t simply traditional wedding photography squeezed into two or three hours. It’s designed for a wedding day that is actually smaller and simpler.

A traditional wedding may include getting ready in separate locations, a first look, wedding party portraits, multiple family groupings, a full ceremony, travel between locations, cocktail hour, introductions, first dances, dinner, speeches, cake cutting, sunset portraits and an open dance floor. That’s a lot of story to tell. And when those things are part of your day, having enough photography coverage matters. Trying to cram all of that into two or three hours usually means rushing through the very moments you hired me to preserve.

Micro-wedding coverage works differently. It’s best for couples whose wedding itself has fewer moving parts…not couples trying to fit a full wedding into a smaller photography package. Penny and Chris chose to have theirs at Red Barn Winery in Delmont, PA-previously the Apple Hill Playhouse. It was officiated by her children…and it was beautiful.

Who Is 2–3 Hours of Wedding Photography Best For?

Shorter coverage can be a great fit if you’re:

• Getting married at a courthouse or by a Justice of the Peace
• Planning a small ceremony with only immediate family or a handful of guests
• Getting married at home, on family property or in your backyard
• Having an intimate ceremony at a traditional wedding venue without a full reception afterward
• Planning a second marriage or vow-centered celebration where many traditional wedding-day elements aren’t important to you
• Having your ceremony followed by a small dinner, cake or champagne rather than a traditional reception
• Primarily wanting your ceremony, family photographs and portraits of the two of you documented

In those situations, two or three hours can tell the story beautifully because we’re not leaving important pieces out. There simply aren’t as many pieces to begin with.

When Would I Recommend Traditional Wedding Coverage Instead?

If you’re planning a traditional wedding day with getting-ready photographs, a wedding party, multiple locations, a larger guest list and a reception with entrances, dances, speeches, dinner and dancing, you’ll probably benefit from traditional wedding coverage. Even if your guest list isn’t huge. That’s an important distinction because guest count alone doesn’t determine how much photography coverage you need. Your timeline does.

You could have 35 guests but still have a full wedding day with everything from getting ready through dancing. Likewise, you could have 60 guests gather on your family’s property for a ceremony and dinner and only need a few hours of photography. That’s why I don’t think couples should choose wedding photography coverage based solely on a number.

I want to know: What is actually happening on your wedding day…and what parts of it would you be heartbroken not to have photographed? That’s how we figure out how much coverage makes sense.

What You Give Up With Shorter Wedding Coverage

This is also worth talking about because I never want someone choosing shorter coverage without understanding the tradeoff. With two or three hours, we’re intentionally prioritizing the essentials. That might mean we photograph your ceremony, family, couple portraits and the beginning of your celebration, but I’m not there hours earlier while you’re getting ready or later when Grandma takes over the dance floor.

And sometimes those are the photographs people didn’t realize would matter until afterward. I’ve photographed weddings for more than 20 years, and one of the things I’ve learned is that wedding photography isn’t only about documenting the scheduled events. It’s also about everything happening around them. Your mom seeing you dressed for the first time. Your dad standing off to the side before the ceremony. Your best friend fixing your veil. Your grandparents dancing. The completely ridiculous thing your college friends do at 9:47 p.m. Those moments require something that can’t be manufactured later: time.

So if those parts of the story matter to you, more coverage isn’t unnecessary. It’s what gives me the opportunity to photograph them. But if your wedding genuinely doesn’t include those things? You shouldn’t feel like you have to turn your wedding into an eight-hour event just because that’s what wedding photography traditionally looks like. That’s exactly where micro-wedding coverage makes sense.

The Goal Isn’t Less. It’s Appropriate.

I don’t look at a micro wedding as a lesser version of a “real” wedding. And I don’t look at shorter photography coverage as a budget version of traditional wedding photography. They’re simply different. A traditional wedding needs enough time to tell a larger story. A micro wedding gives us the opportunity to tell a smaller, more concentrated one.

The question isn’t: “What’s the fewest number of photography hours we can get away with?”

It’s: “How much time do we need to photograph the parts of this day we’ll actually want to remember?”

Sometimes the answer is eight hours. Sometimes it’s six. And sometimes, two or three hours really is exactly enough.

When the wedding itself is intentionally small and simple, sometimes two or three hours really is enough to tell the whole story…not just a shortened version of it. See other versions of “Micro Wedding Coverage”

• Micro Wedding on Private Property
• Courthouse Micro Wedding

There are sessions that are special because of the photographs. And then there are sessions where the photographs are almost secondary to what it means that everyone is standing in front of my camera in the first place. This was one of those.

Recently, I photographed a one-year-old in my Blairsville, Pennsylvania studio. Her mom wanted something simple, nothing elaborate, nothing overly styled. Just her baby at one year old. But there was nothing particularly ordinary about this session. I’ve been photographing her mom since she was around nine or ten years old. I photographed her growing up. I photographed her senior pictures. And now, all these years later, she walked into my studio carrying her own little girl.

I realize I’m dangerously close to becoming the photographer equivalent of the lady who says, “I remember when you were THIS big.” But that’s one of the greatest privileges of doing this for more than 20 years.

When One Year Isn’t Just One Year

This little girl’s story makes the milestone even sweeter. She was born premature. So while every first birthday deserves to be celebrated, sometimes the road to that birthday makes it feel a little different. There are babies whose first photographs happen surrounded by monitors, wires and machines. Parents who learn medical terminology they never wanted to know. Tiny diapers that don’t look like they should possibly fit a real human being. Days measured in ounces, oxygen levels and small victories. And then somehow, eventually, you’re standing in a photography studio looking at this little person who has an entire personality. One year old. That’s worth documenting.

This One Hit Close to Home for Me

There’s another reason sessions like this stay with me. My daughter, Mallory, was also born severely premature, weighing just a little over one pound. I know what it feels like when your baby is so tiny that the future feels very far away. And I also know what happens next. They grow. The baby you once worried over becomes a toddler. Then a kid. Then somehow, without asking your permission, a grown human with a life of her own. When you’re in the middle of those difficult early days, it’s almost impossible to imagine that someday you’ll look back at them from years away. But you do. That’s probably part of the reason I’ve always believed photographs become more valuable with time.

Why I Love Simple One-Year Milestone Sessions

There is a temptation with first birthdays to make everything more. More decorations. More props. More themes. More stuff. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with a fun birthday setup. But there’s also something beautiful about stripping all of that away. For this session, Mom wanted simple. And simple meant the focus stayed exactly where it belonged: on her.

Her expressions. Her tiny features. The way she moves right now. The personality she’s beginning to show. The things her mom probably sees every single day and doesn’t yet realize she’ll someday struggle to remember. Because that’s the strange thing about parenthood: the ordinary things disappear first. You remember the birthdays and Christmas mornings. But you forget exactly how their cheeks looked when they smiled. The way they scrunched their nose. Their little hands. The expressions they made before they had words for everything. Those are the things I want photographs to hold onto.

One-year photography sessions don’t need an elaborate theme or Pinterest-worthy set to be meaningful. Sometimes a simple studio session creates photographs that will age better precisely because there isn’t much competing for your attention. Your baby is the story. That’s especially true if your goal is to create photographs that still feel meaningful hanging on your wall ten, twenty or thirty years from now. Trends will change. That little face won’t ever exist exactly this way again.

Photographing Generations Is One of the Best Parts of Being Here This Long

I’ve been a photographer in Western Pennsylvania for more than 20 years now, and something has started happening that I couldn’t fully appreciate when I first began. The kids I photographed are coming back with kids. And it is WILD.

I’ve photographed childhoods, senior years, engagements, weddings, pregnancies and babies. Sometimes I’ve watched entire families change through my camera. There is something incredibly meaningful about being trusted with someone’s memories once. Being trusted with them again, decades later, feels different.

I knew this baby’s mom when she was still somebody’s little girl. Now I get to photograph hers. There aren’t many jobs that let you see time quite like that.

The Photographs Aren’t Really for Right Now

We tend to think we’re taking photographs for today. I don’t think we are. I think we’re taking them for the mom who will someday find one while cleaning out a drawer and suddenly remember exactly what her baby looked like at one. We’re taking them for the child who will grow up and want to see herself before she can remember herself. We’re taking them for the people we’ll become. And sometimes we’re documenting something even bigger: proof of how far someone has come.

For a little girl whose story began far earlier, and far smaller, than anyone expected, one year old is more than another birthday. It’s a whole year of becoming. And getting to photograph that? Yeah. That one meant a little more.

If your baby’s first year has flown by…or if getting to this milestone feels like something your family fought especially hard for, it’s worth remembering. Not because everything was perfect. Because they were this little once. And they won’t be for long. Reach out…I’d love to document that for you.

Frequently Asked Questions About One-Year Photography Sessions

When should I schedule a one-year milestone session?

A one-year session can be photographed right around your baby’s first birthday, but it doesn’t have to happen on the exact date. Scheduling a little before or after the birthday is completely fine. The goal is to document this particular stage, not hit a date on the calendar perfectly.

Do one-year photos need a cake smash?

Not at all. Cake smashes can be fun, but they aren’t required for meaningful first-birthday photographs. A simple studio milestone session keeps the focus on your baby’s expressions, personality and all those little details you’ll want to remember.

What should my baby wear for simple milestone photos?

Simple clothing usually photographs beautifully, soft textures, classic pieces and outfits that don’t overwhelm your baby’s face or personality. I can also help you decide what will photograph well before your session.

What if my baby was premature?

For babies who arrived early, families sometimes have complicated feelings around milestones and developmental timelines. Your photography session doesn’t need to follow anyone else’s schedule. We can photograph your child exactly as they are, whenever the timing feels right for your family.

Where are baby milestone sessions photographed?

I photograph simple milestone and children’s portrait sessions in my studio in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, serving families throughout Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania.

Jen McKen Photography | Blairsville, PA
Baby, child and family photography serving Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania.

Real Is the New Luxury: Photographing the Childhood You’ll Actually Miss

There was no elaborate location. No perfectly styled set. No need to convince a three-year-old to sit still, look at me and smile on command. We photographed this family at home, inside the house they love, in the backyard where they actually spend their time, with their two senior dogs nearby and little Miss A doing what three-year-olds do best: being completely, unapologetically three.

This is exactly the kind of photography I think is becoming more valuable by the day.

I’m a family photographer based in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, and after more than 20 years of photographing people throughout Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania, I’ve watched photography trends come and go. But lately I’ve been thinking a lot about what photographs will mean as we move deeper into a world where almost anything can be generated, altered, perfected or completely invented. I keep coming back to the same thought: Real is the new luxury.

Because Perfect Is Getting Really Easy to Make

We live in a world where AI can create a perfect sunset. It can give you perfect skin, perfect hair, a perfect house and probably a perfectly behaved toddler, which is how you know it’s fake. We can remove distractions. Swap backgrounds. Smooth skin. Fix skies. Manufacture moments that never actually happened. And I’m not anti-technology. I use technology in my business every single day.

But the easier perfection becomes to manufacture, the more valuable I think truth becomes. A photograph of your daughter laughing so hard that her entire body gets involved. The way she dances right now with absolutely zero concern for rhythm, personal space or public opinion. The backyard where she spent her third summer. Her tiny hand inside yours. The old dogs who have been part of your family for 12 and 14 years. Mom actually being in the photograph instead of taking it. Those things can’t be recreated later. And someday, those may be the photographs that hurt a little bit…in the very best way.

This Wasn’t About Getting Kids to Cooperate

Before this session, Mom told me that little Miss A is a little ham who will happily perform for them. Perfect. Let her.

She also told me that she  has the biggest smile, laughs with her whole body and is the “silliest, most enthusiastic dancer.” Those are exactly the things I don’t want to photograph out of a child. I don’t need a three-year-old to suddenly become a tiny corporate professional because I showed up with a camera. I want the three-year-old. I want the movement and the weirdness and the belly laughs and the expressions that happen for half a second before they’re gone. My job isn’t always to create the moment. Sometimes my job is simply to recognize it fast enough.

Your Home Doesn’t Have to Be Pinterest-Worthy

When I asked Mom if there was a place she wanted to remember because life changes so quickly, her answer was wonderfully simple: Their house and yard. They love walking around town and spending time together outside. They paint and make art. They walk the dogs. They listen to Disney, ABBA, Pink Pony Club and KPop Demon Hunters. In other words, they have a life there. That’s what makes a location meaningful.

You don’t necessarily need a field at golden hour or an elaborate backdrop for beautiful family photographs. Sometimes the most important location is the place where your actual life is happening. The couch everybody piles onto. The kitchen where pancakes happen. The backyard with the toys scattered around. The porch where the dog always sleeps. The bedroom your child will eventually move out of. We tend to think ordinary means not important. Then ten years pass. And suddenly the ordinary is exactly what we’d give anything to see again.

The Photographs Parents Usually Don’t Realize They’re Missing

Mom told me something I hear from moms all the time: She’s usually the one taking the pictures. Which means she’s documenting little Miss A ‘s childhood beautifully…but there’s a good chance that when she looks back through those photographs someday, she’ll see a whole lot of her childhood and not nearly enough of her mom inside it. That’s one reason documentary and lifestyle family photography matters so much to me. I don’t only want photographs of what your child looked like. I want evidence of what it felt like to love them at this age.

How they fit against you. How they looked at Dad. How everybody laughed when something went completely sideways. How small they were compared to the dog. How they reached for you without thinking. Those aren’t necessarily the photographs you frame as 30×40 artwork over the fireplace. But they may become the photographs you can’t stop looking at 20 years from now.

Photograph the Dogs, Too

There was another important reason Suzan wanted this particular chapter documented. Their dogs are 12 and 14. If you’ve ever loved an old dog, I probably don’t have to explain this part. They’re woven into the family’s story, the walks, the backyard, the routines, the fur permanently attached to things it has no business being attached to. We know they won’t be here forever. That’s precisely why they belong in the photographs now. Not when everyone loses ten pounds. Not when the house is finished. Not when life gets less busy. Now.

Childhood Isn’t Polished. That’s Why It’s So Good.

I think we’ve spent years being taught that professional photographs should represent the prettiest version of our lives. And yes, I still want beautiful light. Composition matters. Experience matters. Knowing when to direct and when to disappear matters. Beautiful and real aren’t opposites. But I don’t want to polish a family so much that I accidentally remove the very things they’ll miss.

Little Miss A won’t always dance like this. She won’t always laugh with her entire body. Those old dogs won’t always wander through the backyard. She won’t always be small enough to scoop up. And someday that house may look completely different…or belong to somebody else. That’s the strange thing about childhood. While you’re living it, so much of it feels incredibly ordinary. Then one day you realize it wasn’t ordinary at all. It was your life.And you wish you could walk back into it for five minutes.

Maybe photographs can’t actually take us back. But the good ones can get us pretty damn close. That’s why I believe real is the new luxury. Not because real life is perfect. Because it’s yours. And unlike everything we’re learning how to manufacture, you can’t generate it again once it’s gone.

Photograph It Before It Becomes the Part You Miss

Your house doesn’t have to be perfect. Your kids don’t have to behave. You don’t have to lose ten pounds, figure out what to do with your hands or wait until life feels a little less chaotic. This version of your family is already worth remembering. If you’re looking for family photography in Blairsville, Indiana County or Western Pennsylvania that feels less like posing for pictures and more like preserving what your life actually feels like, let’s photograph it while you’re still living it. Get in touch about a family session →

View other family photography sessions here.

Frequently Asked Questions About At-Home Family Photography

Does my house need to be perfectly decorated or spotless?

Absolutely not. Your home is the setting, not the subject. Good light and meaningful spaces matter far more than whether your house looks like it belongs in a magazine. I’ll help determine which areas photograph well, and we can work around normal household clutter. Please do not remodel your house because I’m coming over.

What if my kids won’t cooperate for family pictures?

That’s often where the good stuff begins. I don’t expect young children to sit still and perform on command. Especially with documentary and lifestyle family sessions, I want children to move, play, interact and show me who they actually are. I’ll guide things when necessary, but “perfect behavior” isn’t a requirement.

Can we include our pets in an at-home family session?

Absolutely. Pets are family, and photographing them in their normal environment can make the images even more meaningful—especially senior pets. We’ll build in time for photographs with them without expecting them to magically understand that I’ve arrived with a shot list.

What if my partner or I feel awkward in photographs?

You don’t need any experience in front of a camera. Most people I photograph aren’t models and don’t naturally know what to do with their hands. That’s completely normal. I’ll give enough direction that you don’t feel lost while still leaving room for genuine interactions to happen.

Where can an at-home documentary family session take place?

I photograph families in Blairsville, Indiana and throughout Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania. Sessions can happen entirely at home or incorporate meaningful nearby places—a backyard, family property, neighborhood walk or another location that’s genuinely part of your family’s story.

Your Life Doesn’t Need to Look More Interesting First

If you’ve been putting off family photographs because your house isn’t finished, your body has changed, your kids are wild, your dog is old or life just doesn’t feel quite “picture perfect” right now…

Maybe that’s exactly why you should photograph it.

Because five or ten or twenty years from now, I don’t think perfection is what you’re going to be looking for.

You’re going to look for them.

The way they were.

The way you were.

The life you had together.

If you’re looking for documentary or lifestyle family photography in Blairsville, Indiana County or Western Pennsylvania, I’d love to help you preserve the chapter you’re living right now—before it quietly becomes the one you miss.

Some couples fall in love over candlelit dinners and long walks on the beach.Lauren and Damien apparently decided to test their compatibility through a never-ending series of competitive sporting events. Bowling. Putt-putt. Cornhole. Darts. Rummy. Pretty much anything that can produce a winner and a loser has, at some point, become a competition between these two.Eventually, they discovered the secret to a happy relationship: put them on the same team.That little detail tells you quite a bit about Lauren and Damien.

Before these two celebrate their wedding at The Home Farm Barn in Indiana, Pennsylvania, we documented this chapter of their story with an engagement session. As a wedding and engagement photographer based in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, one of my favorite parts of photographing couples throughout Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania is getting to know who they are before the wedding day arrives. Because the good stuff usually isn’t the perfectly posed stuff. It’s the way you look at each other between photos. The inside jokes. The laugh that happens because somebody said something ridiculous. The tiny interactions you’d probably never think to put on a Pinterest board. Those are usually the photographs that matter later.

Mom Really Does Know Best

Lauren has her mom to thank for this whole thing, which means Mom now possesses the ultimate lifelong trump card: “See? Mom knows best.”

It started on the Fourth of July during the summer before Lauren’s senior year of college. Her family had planned a float trip with friends and some people from work, and Lauren was already onto the fact that her parents seemed suspiciously interested in playing matchmaker. There were interns. There were coworkers. There was apparently no shortage of eligible candidates being casually placed in Lauren’s vicinity. Then there was Damien.

He was the only coworker who actually showed up for the float trip. Lauren, however, had already decided she was absolutely not dating one of her parent’s coworkers. So naturally, she spent part of the day giving him crap. Meanwhile, a family friend was basically providing live commentary from the sidelines: Lauren, he’s pretty cute. Lauren, he likes sports too! Subtle.

Lauren describes herself that day as a Sour Patch Kid, sour first, sweet later. And the sweet part came toward the end of the trip. A family with young kids needed help getting their kayaks to the boat ramp, and Damien waded over to help. Somewhere along the way, he badly cut the bottom of his foot. When everyone got back to the house, Lauren helped clean him up and take care of his injury.

Maybe it was the Summer Shandys. Maybe it was watching him go out of his way to help someone else. Or maybe Mom actually did know best.

A few days later, Lauren and Damien went to a Pirates game together…strictly as friends, obviously. Except not long after that, Lauren found herself trying to figure out exactly how she was supposed to introduce Damien when he accompanied her to her sister’s wedding. So much for that whole I would never date my parent’s coworker thing.

When Competition Is Basically a Love Language

For Damien, one of the first clues that Lauren might be his person was realizing he’d finally met someone every bit as competitive as he was. It started the first day they met, chipping a ball around the backyard, and continued through date after date. The problem? Neither of them particularly enjoys losing.

And when two competitive people compete against each other…well… Marriage counseling is expensive, guys. Just join the same team. That’s essentially what Lauren and Damien figured out. Team activities now come with one important rule: Lauren + Damien vs. Everybody Else. Problem solved. Mostly.

The Proposal…and the Accidental Photographer

By the time Damien was ready to propose, he had the ring. He had Lauren’s dad’s permission. What he did not have was a plan. Then Lauren and her sister began organizing a group outing to a concert at a small venue outside Pittsburgh. Suddenly, Damien had a date, a location and, perhaps most importantly, people around who could document it.

There was only one problem. He hadn’t told anyone what he was doing. Eventually he recruited Lauren’s brother-in-law as the unofficial proposal photographer and convinced everyone to take one of their traditional group photos behind the stands. That’s when he went for it. Except Lauren’s first moment of shock had absolutely nothing to do with the proposal. She was apparently more concerned with why her brother-in-law was suddenly casually taking pictures of them. She turned toward Damien, ready to make a joke about it……and that’s when she realized what was actually happening. Surprise successfully executed.

Their Perfect Saturday Looks a Little Different

If you’re picturing brunch, mimosas and a leisurely trip to Target, you have the wrong couple. Lauren’s ideal Saturday morning involves a brisk autumn day, a freshly stocked pheasant field and watching Milo work back and forth ahead of them. Or they’re sitting at the edge of a lake at dawn as the ducks begin flying overhead.

Their hobbies take them everywhere, from hunting fields to volleyball courts, softball fields and golf courses. They travel for concerts, hunting trips and visits with friends who have moved away. They joke that their house becomes “the hotel with the worst cleaning service” during especially busy stretches of the year. Priorities.

Capital Four

Every relationship needs an inside joke that makes absolutely no sense to anyone else. Lauren and Damien have: Capital Four.

While setting up a new smart TV one night, both of them were already completely over the process when they needed to enter a password. Lauren’s phone wouldn’t cooperate. Damien offered to enter it from his. He asked for the password. Lauren told him. He needed part of it repeated. And in a moment of pure frustration, instead of saying whatever she was supposed to say, Lauren responded: “Capital Four.” Which is, of course, not a thing. Damien has never let her forget it.And now it’s on the internet forever.

You’re welcome, Damien.

If They Win the Lottery…

Forget the yacht. Damien already knows what they’re buying. Property.

But not just any property. We’re talking about an entire adult recess estate. Woods with deer stands. Fields stocked with pheasants. An indoor volleyball court. A softball field that can double for kickball. A pond for swimming and fishing. A luxury outdoor kitchen and fire pit. Basically summer camp for grown-ups with considerably better food and presumably no camp counselor telling anyone it’s lights-out. And after meeting these two, I assume somewhere on the property there would also need to be a scoreboard. Because obviously.

Why Lauren + Damien Chose Jen McKen Photography

One of my favorite answers from their questionnaire actually had nothing to do with how they met. It was about how they found me. Their venue recommended my work, so they started looking through photographs from previous weddings there. At first, they weren’t even paying attention to who had photographed them.

But they kept noticing the same thing. The images they were drawn to kept leading back to me. When they eventually visited my website, they noticed something even more important: I wasn’t only photographing the couple. I was paying attention to everyone around them. The little moments. The people they chose to share the day with. The interactions happening outside the obvious spotlight.And Lauren and Damien told me that’s incredibly important to them.

It is to me, too. Because someday their wedding photographs won’t just show them what everything looked like. I want them to remind them what being there felt like. The parents who cried. The friend losing it on the dance floor. The hand squeeze. The ridiculous laugh. The people who showed up for them. The things they didn’t even know were happening. That’s the emotional evidence of a life….and a wedding…well lived.

Lauren + Damien’s Wedding Is Next

Their engagement session is only the beginning of this story, and after getting to know these two a little better, I already know their wedding isn’t going to be about performing for a camera. It’s going to be about their people. Probably some competition. Almost definitely some inappropriate giggling.

And, if we’re lucky, absolutely no one will need to enter a Capital Four into anything.

FAQ: Engagement Photography in Western Pennsylvania

What should an engagement session feel like?

It should feel like you. Your engagement photos don’t have to mimic whatever happens to be trending on Pinterest. The best sessions incorporate your personalities, relationship and the way you naturally interact so the photographs still feel meaningful years from now.

Do engagement photos have to be heavily posed?

Absolutely not. I provide direction when it’s helpful, but I’m also constantly watching what happens between those directed moments. Often, the laugh after the “official” photo or the way you naturally reach for each other creates the image you’ll love most.

Why is an engagement session helpful before the wedding?

Besides giving you beautiful photographs from this season, an engagement session gives us a chance to work together before your wedding. You’ll know how I photograph, I’ll learn how the two of you naturally interact, and by wedding day the camera already feels much less like a stranger crashing the party.

Your Photos Should Feel Like Your Relationship

Whether I’m photographing an engagement session, wedding or family in Blairsville, Indiana County or somewhere else across Western Pennsylvania, my goal isn’t to make your life look like someone else’s.

It’s to notice what’s already yours. The weird jokes. The people you love. The micro-expressions. The ordinary moments you don’t realize you’ll miss someday. Because ten or twenty years from now, I don’t just want you to look at your photographs and think, we looked good. I want you to look at them and think:Yep. That was us.

If you’re planning a wedding or engagement session and want photographs that preserve the people, personality and little moments alongside all the pretty stuff, reach out- I’d love to hear your story.

A Wedding That Didn’t Look Like Everyone Else’s | Ainsley + Dylan

I’ve photographed a lot of weddings over the years, and every once in a while I walk into one and immediately think, Ohhhh…this is going to be fun. Ainsley and Dylan’s colorful wedding at Indiana Country Club in Indiana, Pennsylvania was exactly that kind of day.

There were flowers EVERYWHERE. Jewel tones and textures and color layered on top of more color. Bridesmaids in dresses that weren’t meant to make them all look the same. A dog with a pink mohawk. A putting competition. A golf cart getaway. A cookie table with a line approximately 14 miles long. Okay, maybe not actually 14 miles. But listen…Western Pennsylvania people take their cookie tables seriously.

Ainsley and Dylan’s wedding at Indiana Country Club in Indiana County, Pennsylvania was beautiful, but what I loved most was that it wasn’t beautiful because it followed some wedding formula. It was beautiful because it had personality. And there wasn’t a cookie-cutter thing about it.

Color, Texture + So. Many. Flowers.

Can we please talk about the flowers? Because GOOD LORD. The sheer amount of color and texture throughout this wedding was incredible. The florals weren’t simply something pretty sitting on the tables—they were part of the entire feeling of the day. Rich jewel tones, different shapes and textures, little explosions of color everywhere you looked. Even the bridesmaids contributed to that layered, collected feeling. Instead of putting everyone into the exact same dress, each woman wore something different that suited her own personality. It all worked together without looking like it was trying too hard to work together. That’s my favorite kind of design.

An Outdoor Ceremony by the Pond

And then there was the ceremony location. Indiana Country Club has this beautiful spot tucked away near the pond that guests are shuttled to by golf cart, and Mother Nature absolutely understood the assignment that day. Blue skies. Beautiful light. Water in the background. The kind of Western Pennsylvania day you hope for when you decide you’re brave enough to plan an outdoor wedding. Ainsley walked down the aisle with her dad, Bryan, toward Dylan with their family and friends gathered around them. For all the personality packed into the rest of the day, this part felt wonderfully simple. Just the two of them, outside, becoming husband and wife.

The Details Weren’t Just Pretty…They Meant Something

This is probably what I loved most about their reception. There were plenty of gorgeous details…the cake alone deserves its own moment because the detailing was insane, but some of my favorites were the things guests could actually participate in. At the tables were anniversary cards meant to be signed by guests and saved for Ainsley and Dylan to open on future anniversaries. Which I LOVE. Imagine opening one years from now and reading something written by someone who was sitting in that room on the very first day of your marriage. That’s the kind of wedding detail that gets better with time.

They also placed little bouquets at the settings of couples who were next in line to get married. It was such a small thing. And such a thoughtful thing. Those are always the details I remember.

Cocktail Hour Included a Little Competition

While we were off taking portraits around the golf course, their guests weren’t exactly standing around checking their watches. There was putt-putt. And apparently we weren’t playing recreationally. There was a competition. I fully support incorporating mild competition into cocktail hour.

Between that and the infamous cookie table, there was plenty happening before the reception even officially started. And speaking of that cookie table… THE LINE. If you’ve ever attended a Western Pennsylvania wedding, you already understand that the cookie table is not a decoration. It is an EVENT. People had priorities. I respect it.

They Actually Spent Their Wedding Day Together

This sounds ridiculous because obviously a bride and groom are together on their wedding day. Except… Not always.Wedding days can become such a blur of timelines, photographs, greetings, traditions, speeches and people pulling you in twelve different directions that couples can somehow spend an entire day celebrating their relationship without actually getting much time to simply be together. I noticed Ainsley and Dylan making space for that.

Little moments alone. A conversation here. A few minutes together there. And one of my favorite things? They danced together. Not just when everyone was watching during the formal dances. They actually got on the dance floor during their reception and danced with each other. I know that sounds like such a tiny observation. But those are exactly the things I notice.

We Snuck Away at Sunset

Later in the evening, we stole them away from the reception for a few minutes. No wedding party. No family. No audience. Just Ainsley and Dylan. The views around the golf course were already beautiful, but once that evening light started showing off… Chef’s kiss.

These little sunset escapes are some of my favorite parts of a wedding day, not only because the photographs are beautiful, but because I think couples need them. For ten minutes, nobody needs anything from you. You aren’t greeting a table. You aren’t listening for the DJ. You aren’t wondering where you’re supposed to stand next. You get to walk away from the noise with the person you just married and realize:Oh yeah. We did this today. And then I creep around nearby with a camera. Romantic, I know.

And Then…They Threw a Party

When Ainsley filled out her wedding questionnaire, I asked what she was most excited about. Her answer? The reception. She knew what was coming. Because these people knew how to throw a PARTY. The wedding party brought the energy, the dance floor brought the energy, and Ainsley and Dylan were right there in the middle of it. This wasn’t one of those receptions where the bride and groom disappeared after all the formalities were finished. They were part of their own party. Exactly as it should be. And when your getaway vehicle is a decorated golf cart, I feel like you’ve already won.

Ainsley + Dylan’s Wedding Vendor Dream Team

A wedding like this doesn’t magically appear, and Ainsley and Dylan had one heck of a team behind the scenes.

Venue + Ceremony: Indiana Country Club — Indiana, Pennsylvania
Wedding Coordination: Tara, Sparkling Pines
Wedding Dress: Anthropologie — Gigi Dress
Florals: Twig and Vine Floral Design
Makeup: JL Makeup Studio
Hair: Erin Kirsch + Brandon Pfizer, JCPenney Salon
Cake: Alex Robba Cake
Entertainment: Boomerang Sound & Lighting Co.
Videography: Bridge Perspective
Photography: Jen McKen Photography

Make It Feel Like You

If you’re planning a wedding in Blairsville, Indiana County, Pittsburgh, or anywhere throughout Western Pennsylvania, here’s my unsolicited photographer advice: Pick the things you actually love. Wear the dress. Use all the flowers. Serve the cookies.  Sneak away at sunset. Dance with the person you just married.

Twenty years from now, you aren’t going to care whether your wedding perfectly matched whatever was trending in 2026. You’re going to care how it felt. And that is the part worth photographing.

If you love these images, be sure to check out their engagement session!

Jen McKen Photography | Wedding Photographer serving Blairsville, Indiana County + Western Pennsylvania

Frequently Asked Questions About Indiana Country Club Weddings

Where is Indiana Country Club located?

Indiana Country Club is located at 495 Country Club Road in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The venue offers both ceremony and reception options, with golf course scenery that provides a variety of locations for wedding portraits without leaving the property. Ainsley and Dylan held both their ceremony and reception at Indiana Country Club.

Can you have an outdoor wedding ceremony at Indiana Country Club?

Yes. Ainsley and Dylan held their ceremony outdoors near the pond on the golf course. Guests were transported to the ceremony area by golf cart, which made it possible to have a more secluded outdoor ceremony while keeping the entire wedding celebration at one venue.

Is Indiana Country Club a good location for wedding photography?

From a photographer’s perspective, one of the advantages of an Indiana Country Club wedding is having several portrait locations available on the property. We were able to photograph Ainsley and Dylan around the course after their ceremony and then sneak away again during the reception for sunset portraits without having to travel to another location.

When should we schedule sunset wedding photos in Western Pennsylvania?

I typically recommend setting aside about 10–30 minutes near sunset, depending on the wedding timeline and location. It doesn’t need to become another huge portrait session. I actually prefer using it as a chance for my couples to sneak away from the reception, spend a few minutes alone together and let me document that little breather while the evening light is beautiful.

Do you photograph weddings in Indiana, Pennsylvania?

Yes. Jen McKen Photography is based in Blairsville, Pennsylvania and photographs weddings throughout Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania, including Indiana, Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. My approach focuses on sentimental, documentary-style storytelling alongside beautiful portraits—photographing not only what the wedding looked like, but the interactions and in-between moments that show what it actually felt like.

Do we need to leave Indiana Country Club for wedding portraits?

Not necessarily. Ainsley and Dylan planned their portraits entirely around the country club and golf course, which meant they didn’t have to spend cocktail hour driving between locations. When a venue offers enough variety, I generally prefer keeping portraits on-site because it gives couples more time with their guests and less time sitting in a vehicle on their wedding day.

Is a wedding planner worth hiring for an Indiana Country Club wedding?

A great planner can make an enormous difference, especially when a wedding includes multiple locations or activities happening across a property. Tara from Sparkling Pines coordinated Ainsley and Dylan’s wedding, and she was fantastic to work alongside. From my perspective as their photographer, the day stayed organized and flowed smoothly without ever feeling overly managed. That’s exactly what I want for my couples—a strong vendor team handling the logistics so the bride and groom can actually experience their wedding.

What makes a wedding photograph well?

It isn’t about following a specific trend or making every detail match. Ainsley and Dylan’s wedding is a perfect example. Different bridesmaid dresses, abundant colorful florals, a dog with a pink mohawk, putt-putt during cocktail hour, anniversary cards for future years and a decorated golf-cart getaway gave their wedding personality. The weddings that photograph best are usually the ones where couples choose details and experiences that genuinely feel like them.

The post Colorful Indiana Country Club Wedding | Ainsley + Dylan first appeared on Jen McKen Photography.]]> https://jenmckenphoto.com/2026/09/senior-photos-milton-pa/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 14:47:53 +0000 https://jenmckenphoto.com/?p=46917 Eleven years after I last photographed her family, I drove across Pennsylvania to photograph Adelay’s senior photos at Liberty Line Farm in Milton, PA. From horses and senior portraits to their first updated family photo since 2014, this session was one seriously special full-circle moment.

A FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT BEHIND THE LENS

There are some photography sessions that you remember because of the photos. And then there are the sessions you remember because of the story behind them. This one falls into the second category.

Long before Isabella was born, I stood on that very same property as a brand-new newspaper photographer covering a story about the restoration of a historic log cabin. It was 2004. I had just graduated from college, I was new to the job and I felt like I had everything to prove. I remember following the reporter around while experts explained the reconstruction process. I was taking photographs, trying to look confident and professional, when I suddenly started to feel sick. Not a little sick. The kind of sick where you immediately start looking for the nearest place to hide.

I quietly slipped away and ended up getting sick in the bushes, hoping no one would notice. I was absolutely convinced the reporter was going to think I was hung over. I was mortified. A week or two later, I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, Mallory.

Fast-forward 22 years. There I was again, standing on that same property, owned by her family, a place Isabella spent playing growing up, with my camera in hand. Only this time, I wasn’t a nervous 22-year-old trying to prove myself. I was photographing Isabella’s senior session. And somehow, without either of us planning it, we ended up using that exact log cabin as the backdrop for some of her photos.

People often think photography is about freezing a single moment in time. But after 24 years behind the camera, I’ve learned that it’s really about collecting stories. Sometimes those stories stretch across decades. Sometimes they connect complete strangers. And sometimes they bring you right back to the place where your own story was just beginning.

Standing in front of that cabin, I couldn’t help but smile. Because life has a funny way of bringing everything full circle.

Or should we just call it the day I accidentally marked a future senior photo location by throwing up in the landscaping?

WHO IS ISABELLA?

She’s the girl who will spend the morning at the gym, the afternoon hiking with her family and the evening finding a festival, going for a drive or hanging out with friends. She’s equal parts cheerleader, church volunteer, theater kid and psychology major-in-the-making. But more than anything, she’s someone who genuinely wants to make people happy.

She’s optimistic without being unrealistic, confident without needing to be the center of attention and grateful for the life she’s living right now. In a generation that’s constantly being told to have everything figured out, Isabella is perfectly comfortable admitting that she doesn’t have all the answers yet. She just knows she wants to help people, and honestly, that’s a pretty incredible place to start.

Her playlist jumps from Mac Miller to Stand By Me. She shops at TJ Maxx, Aerie, Hollister and Brandy Melville. She loves CAVA, ice skating, long walks and spending time with the people she loves. She’s also the girl who once tried to pet a rabid raccoon because she thought it was a cat.

Basically? Isabella is proof that happiness never goes out of style.

READY TO PLAN YOUR OWN SENIOR SESSION?

If you’re looking for senior photos that feel natural, reflect your personality and capture this season of your life exactly as it is, I’d love to work with you. Whether your vibe is wildflowers, downtown streets, football fields, coffee shops, vintage trucks or a historic log cabin with a story to tell, we’ll create a session that’s uniquely you. Because your senior photos shouldn’t look like everyone else’s.

They should look like your story. Ready to start planning? Reach out, and let’s create something you’ll still love long after your senior year is over.

There’s something pretty darn cool about having a senior travel from another state because she wants you to photograph this chapter of her life. Abby made the trip from Virginia to Blairsville, Pennsylvania for her senior photos with Jen McKen Photography, and I knew before she even stepped in front of my camera that this session was going to be a good one. She’s outgoing. Athletic. Funny. The kind of girl who loves country music, sunshine, animals, the beach, a good book, being outside—and apparently laughing so hard she cries and occasionally pees her pants. Listen, SHE put that on the questionnaire. I’m simply reporting the facts. But underneath all of that fun is a young woman who seems to have a pretty solid understanding of who she is and where she’s headed. And she’s headed somewhere pretty exciting.

Meet Abby

Abby is a rising senior at Battlefield High School in Virginia, where saying she’s “involved” feels like a bit of an understatement. She plays softball and swims, manages both football and volleyball, and participates in athletic student leadership. Oh and after graduation? She’s headed to Amherst College, where she’ll continue playing softball at the collegiate level. No big deal. Just casually balancing approximately 47 activities while the rest of us are proud of ourselves for remembering to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer.

Twelve Years of Softball…and She’s Just Getting Started

Softball isn’t something Abby picked up recently. She’s been playing for 12 years. That’s a huge part of her story, which made incorporating softball into her senior portraits feel less like bringing a “prop” and more like documenting something that has helped shape who she is. And the story doesn’t end with high school. Abby will be attending Amherst College and playing collegiate softball, so she brought along her Amherst flag to celebrate what comes next. Senior photos should do both. They should preserve the person you are right now while leaving a little room for the person you’re becoming.

A Future Psychiatric Nurse With a Big Reason Why

One of my favorite things about photographing seniors is hearing them talk about their future. When I asked Abby what she wants to do someday, she told me she hopes to become a psychiatric nurse. Her reason? She wants to help people who may not be able to help themselves or who have somehow become lost in the process. That’s a pretty meaningful answer from someone who hasn’t even graduated from high school yet. There is so much emphasis during senior year on what comes next…college, majors, careers, sports, plans. But sometimes the more interesting question is why. Abby already seems to know hers.

The Senior Photo Vision: Greenery, Water + a Long Dress

Abby had a very specific vision when we started talking about her senior session. She wanted greenery. She wanted water. She wanted something that felt outdoorsy and natural…somewhere with a river, creek or lake where she could actually step into the water wearing a long dress. Ummmm…YES. This is exactly why I love planning senior sessions around the person I’m photographing rather than recreating the same poses in the same places over and over again. Her session wasn’t about following whatever senior-photo trend is popular this year. It was about creating something that felt like Abby. Natural. Outdoorsy. Laid-back. A little adventurous. And beautiful without feeling overly staged.

From Virginia to Western Pennsylvania for Senior Photos

Having Abby and her family travel from Virginia to Western Pennsylvania for her senior portrait experience is something I don’t take lightly. There are photographers everywhere. So when someone gets in the car, crosses state lines and comes to Indiana County specifically because they connect with the way I photograph people and tell their stories, that means something to me. After all these years behind the camera, that’s still one of the biggest compliments someone can give me.

Abby, thank you for trusting me with yours. I have a feeling this next chapter is going to be a pretty darn good one. And wherever it takes you… be where your feet are.

Want Senior Photos That Actually Feel Like You?

Your senior session doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. Bring the softball. Bring the guitar. Bring the truck. Bring the dog. Bring the baby blanket you’ve had since birth. Get in the creek. Wear the dress. Tell me the weird idea you’ve been saving on Pinterest. We’ll figure out how to make it yours.

Jen McKen Photography creates personalized, storytelling-focused senior photography in Blairsville, Indiana County and throughout Western Pennsylvania and yes, apparently Virginia seniors are welcome to cross state lines and come play, too. Ready to create senior photos that tell your story? Reach out to Jen McKen Photography to start planning your session.

Five Random Things You Should Know About Abby

Because every good magazine profile needs the important investigative journalism:

1. She loves to read.
2. She has played softball for 12 years.
3. She cries when she laughs really hard.
4. She loves naps.
5. She says she loves getting sunburned.

Abby, I support four out of five of these choices.

Please wear sunscreen.

Abby, At a Glance

Three words she’d use to describe herself:
Outgoing. Funny. Athletic.

Current soundtrack:
Country—with Ella Langley, Jason Aldean, Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen making regular appearances.

Perfect day off:
Working out, hanging with friends or her boyfriend, taking a walk, watching a movie or going shopping.

Things she loves:
Animals, kids, reading, traveling, the beach, the lake, being outside…and naps.

Honestly, Abby. Same.

FAQ: Senior Photos with Jen McKen Photography

Do you photograph seniors who live outside Pennsylvania?

Absolutely. Abby traveled from Virginia for her senior session, and I’m always happy to work with seniors traveling into Western Pennsylvania. We can plan the session ahead of time so your locations, outfits and overall feel make the trip worthwhile.

Can I incorporate sports into my senior photos?

YES. If you’ve spent years playing a sport, it’s part of your story. We can incorporate uniforms, equipment, fields or other meaningful details without making your entire gallery feel like traditional sports portraits.

Can I bring sentimental items to my senior session?

Please do. Sometimes the smallest object carries the biggest story. Abby brought the baby blanket she’s had since birth, along with pieces representing softball and her future at Amherst. Those details make your photos personal instead of generic.

Can my senior session include multiple locations or different looks?

Depending on your session, absolutely. I love creating variety and choosing locations around Western Pennsylvania that complement your personality, clothing and interests rather than forcing every senior into the same setting.

What if I have a weird idea for my senior photos?

Even better. Tell me. Some of my favorite photographs begin with, “Okay, this might sound weird, but…”