Bristol is One! Disney Princesses Cake Smash, Jasmine, Moana, Snow White, Tangled, The Little Mermaid , Beauty and the Beast - Mechanicsburg PA Photographer

The day is finally here! My baby girl is now officially a toddler! I wanted to do something fun + creative for Bristol’s birthday and, well, like usual… it got out of hand, haha!

I chose to do 6 Disney Princess Cake Smashes for a few reasons (besides the fact that I’m just extra as a mom).

1. WE FREAKING LOVE DISNEY! I am so inspired by Disney movies, Walt Disney+ Disney Parks! Their attention to detail, their color, their stories - amazing! And I couldn’t just pick ONE Disney princess?! I chose the ones with the messages that I want to give to my daughter <3


2. To show YOU how creative we can get with your own sessions! It doesn’t have to just be for their first birthday either. Every child is unique + different at every age. Their portraits should show that! Help me get to know your child + we can mold a gorgeous session just for them.


3… I don’t know… maybe I am planning some Princess Mini Sessions this year? ;)


Soooo without further ado…

Happy Birthday, my beautiful Bristol Mavis! My hopes for you are that you never stop dreaming….

…That you love to learn + never judge a book by it’s cover….

… That you have the bravery to make your life your own, no matter what others are telling you…

… That you always know the importance of being kind to others…

… To follow your heart, knowing your family will always be here loving you….

… And that you always stand up for what is right.

Thank you for being ours.

Beautiful Cakes by La Bella Bakery!

Brant Greene Wedding - Historic Acres of Hershey Wedding

I’m sorry. This is going to be a huge blog post.

Tommy + Taylor …. sighhhh…. I’M. OBSESSED. WITH. THEM. This gallery is so large because everything they do together is beautiful, fun + amazing to watch. Their wedding had a team of amazing vendors at the iconic Historic Acres of Hershey + now I’m stuck with way too many favorites to share.

This wedding had THREE teary First Looks - Taylor + her dad, Taylor’s bridesmaids + brothers seeing her first the first time, + Tommy + his Mom. I can’t pick a favorite between them - can you??! As always, Historic Acres offered a dreamy bridal suite for the perfect portraits. I will never get over Taylor’s bouquet done by Amanda from Everyone Deserves Flowers (my first time working with her and if you don’t hire her, you’ll regret it!)! And Taylor’s mom made the bridesmaid bouquets and most of the decor!?!? Despite it being a rainy day, it was an incredibly happy one. Tommy + Taylor made their own sunshine wherever they went. Their ceremony, led by Tommy’s grandfather, was probably MY FAVORITE of all time. Not only because of his grandfather’s beautiful words, but also because Tommy + Taylor are downright hilarious even when they’re in the midst of getting married.

Historic Acres of Hershey has tons of overhangs for rainy day weddings + we took full advantage. With an energetic + gorgeous bridal party, we were able to make magic! Then came the real party…. a teary father daughter dance, Tommy dancing this his Mom + bringing his Grandmother in on the love, a DJ that knew how to party, flawless wedding decor, a heart felt speech and then… an entertaining one - haha!, so many moments that I was so happy to capture for Tommy + Taylor. This couple is so celebrated + it’s clear to see why. I really couldn’t pick a more perfect couple!

Enough of my mumbling - start scrolling through this (huge +) incredible wedding!!!

Venue // Historic Acres of Hershey

DJ // DJ Waitaminute

Florist/Coordinator // everyone deserves flowers.

Caterer // Strictly Catering

Make up // Samantha Rose Carangelo

Hair // Jasmine Forney

Second Shooter // Autumn Smith

Guarracino Leonard Wedding - Pleasant View Farm Bed + Breakfast Inn

Jessy and her family lived across the street from my grandmother for years and we graduated together. How surreal it was to see her as a bride!

Anthony + Jessy’s wedding was exactly like them - bright, colorful + creative. I was constantly surprised about the things they did on their own - her hairpiece?! The flowers?! ALL THE DECOR! Pleasant View Farm Bed + Breakfast was the perfect place for them because they provided gorgeous grounds that was a blank canvas for the couple. Their food was also exquisite - both to taste and to look at!

There were a lot of moments that took our breath away but a favorite of mine is surely the tear filled vows they said to one another. I know it took 9 years to get them to their wedding day, but I have no doubt that is just a speck of time in the eternal journey they just started on together.

If you enjoy bold colors, ska, Queen, and/or Farm to Table, this wedding is just for you!

Andy + Cassandra - Married!


It was calling for thunderstorms on what ended up being one of the most beautiful Spring days this year. Andy + Cassi had their nuptials take place at the Fallen Tree Farm Bed + Breakfast which is filled with so much character! They got ready in the quaint, stone building with their closest friends + family.  Everyone was radiant! Especially the bride + their daughter Sydney who was glowing as her beautiful mama put on her wedding dress with the help of her best friends + Mother of the Bride. Andy + Cassi’s ceremony took place in a unique stone ruin where they said heart felt vows to each other (How they didn’t bawl, I have no idea - because even I was about to!)

After that it was off to do our fun portraits! (If you ask me, maybe not the guys, haha!) This wedding party was a blast! They barely even complained about frolicking through ivy ;) The guys had some hilarious shots (which wouldn’t be complete without a crazy sock picture) while the girls glowed in their dark dresses + vibrant bouquets. Shout out to Veronica of Veronique’s Creative Artistry - as usual hitting it out of the park with the most crazy, incredible make up for these girls that even lasted through extreme temps! We stole away for Andy + Cassi to have some portraits by themselves.  Literally. Seriously. Honestly. Most gorgeous couple - EVER! They prefer more candid shots so after a few poses, I just let them spend some time together. Rumor has it, this day was the most Andy has ever been seen smiling - ever. Even his Dad commented on how big he was smiling all day!

Now for the reception - talk about a party when Andy + Cassi entered the building! Now, I don’t know much about sports, but from what I gather there are some serious Steelers fans in the Casale family as they were welcomed with a parade of Terrible Towels swinging in the air.  That was followed up by the sweetest dances + speeches/toasts from MOHs + the BM. I also snapped some shots of Andy + Cassi’s ring with a butterfly that sat in her bouquet.  That butterfly was in memory of Cassi’s grandmother who was watching from Heaven, so I thought it would be sweet way to emphasize it. The rest of the night is history! They danced all night to the view of the sun setting over a gorgeous horse pasture.  Andy + Cassi - I am so honored you chose me for your special day.  You both exude so much compassion + charisma (duhhh, teachers - lol!) + I can tell your marriage is meant for great + wonderful things…. like a puppy with the best name, ever!  Enjoy many many manyyyy favorites I have from this incredible day!

Welcoming Aubriella!

Shortly after finding out I was pregnant, Amber contacted me to let me know that she was, too! It has been so fun talking about toddler life, about finally having girls after boys + all the fun photo ideas we will have for her beautiful Aubriella!  Amber has an appreciation for photography + because of that we were able to tell Aubriella’s story before she was even here! From her birth announcement to bump + now to this absolutely gorgeous baby girl. Aubriella is sweet + docile - a little different from her active big brother!  Aubriella’s big brother isn’t a fan of our photo sessions but you wouldn’t even know, would you?!  We let him do everything in his own time + without even asking he gave us a few split seconds of lovin’ on his sis. I know for certain these two will be best friends. Enjoy this sweet girl’s gallery!

Aubriella was born beautifully special! To learn more about what makes her special (+ for such fun stuff to do for/with your kiddos!!) check out her mama's blog here: http://adventuresofasher.weebly.com/home/introducing-aubriella-lynn

AJ + Jill - Married!

I’m so glad that I started the season with this phenomenal wedding. AJ + Jill are an amazing pair. They’re both kind, adventurous + you can tell they don’t take much seriously - I mean only the coolest of couples high fives after they are pronounced married! Their Big Day happened at Overlook Golf Course in Lancaster which was blooming with beautiful Spring flowers everywhere. AJ + Jill were all about traveling around the property to get the best shots which, if you ask me, was definitely worth it. Their reception hall was beautifully decorated + my favorite little touch was how each table was named after places the pair have traveled together.

Their wedding was full of warm sunshine (rare for Spring Weddings, especially this year!), the cutest little Bridal Party, touching speeches from AJ's big brother, Jill's best friend + mom, + a big party at the end of the night with friends + family. And who can forget Jill + her dad stopping halfway through their dance to bust a move?!  Lastly we also captured a successful Sparkler Exit! (Successful = great pictures + I didn’t get caught on fire).  I’m excited to share Mr. + Mrs. Enck’s wedding with you!  Enjoy some of my favorites!

Welcoming Bristol Mavis!

Exactly a month ago on April 17th we welcomed our beautiful baby girl, Bristol.  She came flying into this world within an hour and has been keeping us on our toes ever since.

Bristol is already the perfect fit for our family with her sassy-but-sweet attitude. She loves her big brothers (yes, even when they’re screaming), being held, eating (constantly) + when we make crazy sounds. She can sleep up to 6 hour stretches at night.  I adore her big blue eyes + how excited she gets when I talk to her. The jury is out which parent she looks like right now … if you ask me, she looks exactly like daddy but I have baby pictures to prove otherwise ;) You can blame her for the fact it took me this long to post her newborn portraits!

Please welcome Bristol to the Jessica Snider Photography family!  

I grew up with a bit of an obsession with unicorns + horses - here's hoping Bristol loves them, too! Haha!

Fun fact: We let the boys pick Bristol's middle name.  If you have ever watched the movie Hotel Transylvania, you may have heard the name Mavis before ;)

Another fun fact: Bristol had ONE SINGLE TEENIE TINY eyelash during her Newborn Session (pictured here). Literally the day after her session these big beautiful lashes popped out!

In honor of her grandfather who is no longer with us <3 We have a shot like this with all of his grandchildren when they were babies.

Adalynn - Cake Smash

Mothers of baby girls beware! This post is most likely going to convince you to go buy everything unicorn! When Adalynn’s mom said she wanted a Unicorn Cake Smash, I died a little of happiness. Her session couldn’t have turned out more perfect. Isn't she her mama's gorgeous twin?!

Sweet Adalynn - I can’t believe I am writing about your One Year Pictures! I remember when your mama told me she was pregnant with you + your family prayed for you. Now, look! You are the most precious, sweet thing + it’s no surprise that your mama is your best friend. It’s been a blessing watching you grow this past year.

Enjoy SO many favorites!

Shawn + Shelbey - Married!

It was divine intervention that Shawn + Shelbey found + chose me to be their wedding photographer. Firstly, they are so beautifully unique to photograph but I also LOVE being around them! I could laugh with them all day!

There were so many opportunities for me to be creative with their portraits at their winter Harmony Hall Wedding. The flower girl dresses were the most gorgeous I had ever seen (oh, + of course so were the girls themselves!) + what’s crazy about that is Shelbey made them! I had to have a little extra fun with the flower girls because of that. The reception + ceremony was meticulously decorated with a gorgeous evergreen backdrop with dangling lights - SO UNIQUE but that’s exactly what I would expect from them!  Also, the day before their wedding we had a snowfall so we still had some snow to photograph in + a beautiful winter glow in their portraits. The best part of Shawn + Shelbey’s day was the tears shed at their ceremony + the easy connection these two have with each other. There wasn’t a moment in the day where they weren’t smiling + holding each other close.

This was the last wedding of my 2017 season. Somehow, each wedding has become a favorite of mine.  This one is no different.  My heart bursts seeing the happiness + flawless love between Shawn + Shelbey. I hope this gallery I’m delivering to them will always remind them of that!

Enjoy some favorites of my final 2017 wedding!

Jonathan + Shawnika - Married!

My last wedding of the 2017 Fall Season! Whoaaa, what an amazing one!  Jonathan + Shawnika’s wedding was at the beautiful Harmony Hall on one of the most gorgeous days of the year. Their wedding was filled with so much love from their friends + family + ended with a party that was out of this world. When I had met with Shawnika at her wedding consultation she had stressed how important family was to her + how that is what she wanted to focus on in her wedding gallery. Well, Shawnika - we definitely accomplished that! I kind of feel like after editing this wedding that the whole dang Santana family needs to enroll in modeling because HOLY GORGEOUS!

Most importantly, Jonathan + Shawnika’s wedding was filled with so much joy. They didn’t wipe the giant grins of their face the whole night + I’ve never seen friends + family SO happy for a couple. The new Mr. + Mrs. Santana got ready in Harmony Hall’s beautiful farmhouse which was extra special as Jonathan + Shawnika’s children helped them get dressed. And then there wasn’t a dry eye as Shawnika’s dad walked her to Jonathan at the top of the small waterfall on the property. Picture time was, of course, soooo easy with this good looking crew! And MAN - let me tell you about this reception… Their reception gallery is bigger than some wedding galleries combined! I’ve never seen people have so much fun in my life!

So to wrap up the final wedding I will posting this year, I just have to say what a privilege it was working with these beautiful individuals and the family they have created. They have a beautiful life together ahead of them + I am so happy I could tell a little part of their story. Enjoy some of my favorites!

 

Andrew + Emily - Married!


I have had such a good time with Andrew + Emily ever since I met them at their beautiful Hershey engagement session. I love their style. They’re classy, hilarious + just downright good looking! Most of all, they are the most beautiful people inside + out + as I often say in these blog posts - that shows in their portraits!

They had a gorgeous fall day starting with getting ready portraits. I diedddd over their wedding look. Elegant, classic.  They both shared sweet gifts from each other + gifts to their parents, as well as many portraits with their wedding party. Their ceremony was at a beautiful old church that had such unique character, perfectly fitting the style of their wedding. They even arranged a visit from their fur baby for a few shots at the church! Lastly we ended at The Links of Gettysburg where we snapped some of my favorite wedding day portraits, ever! (Their gallery is definitely a contender to end up on my studio wall!)  Their reception was so full of energy + some of the best toasts of this wedding season.

As I’m starting to finish up my 2017 wedding galleries, I can’t help but feel so blessed that I was chosen to work with couples like Andrew + Emily.  I was able to capture such a beautiful gallery because Andrew + Emily’s relationship IS the epitome of beautiful - even if Emily is a golf widow some of the time ;)  I have no question that they are going to have a strong marriage + I can’t wait to stalk their lives along the way! :)  Enjoy favorites from one of my all time favorite weddings. Congrats, Andrew + Emily!!!

Colin + Chelsea - Married!


Colin + Chelsea are two of my favorite people to photograph + Drumore Estate is one of my new favorite venues to photograph now, too! I knew this wedding was going to be something special.  I know from chatting with Chelsea how terribly hard they worked to make this day perfect. And I’ve got to say - it was exactly that. PERFECT.

Colin + Chelsea arranged for several sweet moments to take place on their Big Day. Colin reading Chelsea’s card + opening her gift, Chelsea’s First Look with her dad + Chelsea’s dance with her brother are just a handful of wonderful moments that we captured. Drumore Estate made for a stunning backdrop for their ceremony. Once portraits started - we couldn’t stop! The lighting was just so beautiful + we could not get enough of the grounds! The reception was equally flawless with tons of personalized decor from the bride + groom including a beautiful memoriam to family that were watching from Heaven that day. There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience as Chelsea’ dad, her MOH + Colin’s BM gave their toasts… and don’t even get me started on the emotional parent/brother dances! We ended the night with Chelsea getting a few shots of portraits of her mother as a beautiful tribute to a woman that was dearly missed that night.

To see Colin + Chelsea together, you sense they find home in each other. There is such a warm comfort between the two of them + what could be more beautiful in a marriage? They’ve overcome so much already + I don’t believe there is anything that can ever stand in their way if they are together. Congratulations Mr. + Mrs. Plank … you are truly adored by all who know you! Enjoy some favorites!!

Jim + Hannah - Married!


I could say a lot about Jim + Hannah - like how their zest for life is contagious, how they are the most beautiful couple with the most beautiful souls. I could talk about how I traveled to Philly for their engagement session because I just KNEW we were making photography magic together. Or even about how I will never forget meeting them at my studio for their consultation + while discussing whether they would do a First Reveal or not, I made the comment “Whether you see each other before the ceremony or not, it doesn’t matter because when she’s walking down that aisle you will be seconds from being husband + wife + it is still a beautiful moment” - + Hannah’s big blue eyes welled up with tears! Everyone has a lot of wonderful things to say about these two, but words aside lets just say I’m sad to see this gallery go + was either smiling or tearing up the whole time I was editing it.

Jim + Hannah had a big wedding party which made for some really fun getting ready pictures. Historical Acres of Hershey is one my absolute favorite places to photograph, ESPECIALLY the bridesmaids in the farmhouse.  The lighting was perfect + Hannah was stunning in her bridal gown. I can’t leave out Jim + the groomsmen though - whoa, were they dapper! Jim + Hannah did opt for a First Reveal + thank gosh because it was SO sweet. Jim was literally stunned into silence over his soon-to-be beautiful bride. Afterwards we did TONSSSS of portraits. I mean TONS. I can’t even pick a favorite because the colors, venue, people - everything was perfection! The best thing is the connection the bride + groom had with each other + their family + friends. You can’t pose that magic!

It was also drizzling on Jim + Hannah’s wedding day.  Everyone was starting to chat about doing the ceremony indoors (which just tore my photographer heart apart with how beautiful the ceremony site looked!) + I casuallyyyyyy mentioned - hey, we have clear umbrellas if you’d rather try to risk it . And of course, because Jim + Hannah are just awesome, they TOTALLY did their ceremony in the drizzle with Jim’s best man holding the umbrella for them (sorry about that, buddy! I hope your arm recovered!)  This is the second time I had ever tried to sway my couples to do this and both times I did this, it made for my absolute favorite ceremony pictures. Who says rain has to ruin your Big Day? ;) Their ceremony was beautifully said + their obvious adoration for each other shows in their eyes the whole time. Then off they went to what I call The Party of the Year. Their reception had the most intoxicating live band + the party started the second they walked in!

As I said before, I’m at a loss for words when it comes to such an amazing couple. At the end of the day, my hopes are that these two never change except to grow together.  They are the epitome of all that is good —— AND THEY BETTER COME BACK TO SEE ME SOMEDAY! Enjoy many many many favorites.

Michael + Christina - Married!

 

Michael + Christina are the sweetest, smartest people I have ever met so it’s only natural that I adored photographing their wedding (and engagement session!). Their Big Day was at a beautiful venue called the Mercersburg Inn. It was full of beautiful character, history + it fit Michael + Christina’s classy style wonderfully. The Acela wedding felt like a big party among best friends + made for the sweetest gallery.

Michael + Christina were married outside surrounded by beautiful mums, family + friends. Then we explored around the beautiful property that was bursting with autumn colors.  I had a lot of favorite moments from Michael + Christina’s wedding - their First Dance song being “Nothing Else Matters”, the fact that Christina had a framed portrait of Cinderella as her bridal inspo, the fact that Michael had an extra awesome person in his grooms party - his sister!   Oh, + of course the very hardcore dance moves that happened at the end of the night ;)

Most of all, my favorite thing in Michael + Christina’s wedding is the giant smiles the two of them had while they were together.  If anyone deserved this flawless wedding, it was this incredibly brilliant + fabulous couple! I have LOVED getting to know them. Enjoy some favorites!

Wayne + Jessica - Married!

Wayne + Jessica have a special kind of love that people dream about having their whole lives. They’re gentle with each other, they’re each others’ biggest fans, she goes along with his crazy ideas + he never wants to stop kissing her. Then they have their sweet little girl who, I’m pretty sure, has the best parents in the world in her corner.  Their wedding day was wonderful. It had it’s stresses, like all weddings do, but the best thing was how they were unhindered by these things. The most important thing to them was that they got to marry their best friend that day + everything else just fell into place.

I always have a great time with these two. They love horses, joking around + having a good time - what more could you want from a couple!? Their ceremony + reception took place on their grandparents’ beautiful farm which was wonderful because their horses were able to attend, too. They had the COOLEST idea for their ceremony. They branded a piece of wood with their initials + people were later able to sign it so they could hang it in their home. The whole property was picturesque but I personally love the portraits we took in the bean field.  We had lots of romantic shots + hilarious shots that will not be shared on this family friendly blogpost - haha. Their first dance was held after the sun had set and lit by sparklers being held by their friends + family, then they shared dances with their parents + Jess even had a special dance with her Pap.

I would wish the new Mr. + Mrs. Jenkins luck for their future but I know they don’t need it. I had asked Wayne at their engagement session what poses he would want and he said, “Anything where I can kiss her.” Well, there you go. Now you get to kiss her for life, my friend. Enjoy some favs!

Quin + Karly - Married!


This wedding was so, so good for my soul. Quin + Taylor are naturally hard workers + it is no surprise they put everything into this perfect day. Gorgeous weather, gorgeous wedding party, gorgeous decor, + gorgeous new Mr. + Mrs.!

Quin + Karly chose The Susquehanna Manor Inn for their wedding day. It was unique + had great characteristics which went with their shabby chic, classy style. The getting ready suite was my favorite all year! With big windows + a stunning bride like Karly, what more could you want?! We captured some of my favorite getting ready pictures here, of all time.  Their wedding day was full of sweetness like Karly’s gifts to her parents, the fact that Quin couldn’t decide whether to get Karly pearls or diamonds so he gifted her BOTH, the cutest ring bearer + ring girls, a wedding party that was *full* of entertainment, THE BEST wedding vows I have ever heard in my life!!! (I mean, I was a bawl bag), a wedding reception that took place as the sunset began to set, + can we talk about the beautiful light during Quin + Karly’s portraits?!

Words don’t express how much I’ve enjoyed working with Quin + Karly. I knew last year, when we did their engagement session in negative temperatures + we still had a blast, that their wedding would be a favorite of mine. Here’s to the new Mr. + Mrs. Taylor + to my new favorite gallery!

Mike + Jamie - Married!

Mike + Jamie are the world’s cutest couple so it was only fitting that their wedding day was the cutest day, too! Jamie got ready at her parents’ home with her best friends, family + pup surrounding her (some of my favorite getting ready shots, ever!) while Mike was ready at the church that they attend together. Their ceremony was held at their church and beautifully decorated with 1 Corinthians 13:4 signs + mums lining the aisle. Although technically it was a fall day, it was HOT! And we just barely got their wedding portraits done as rolling clouds hung above us.  I know I say this all the time about my couples - but Mike + Jamie just flow together. To see them belly laugh + the way they seek comfort in each other is what all beautiful marriages are made of.  Jamie is now also officially the stepmom to Mike’s adorable daughters but you can tell they have already loved that woman for a long, long time (the pictures of them cuddling with her while she was getting ready - to DIE for!)

We finished off their wedding day at a nearby fire hall and words don’t express HOW MUCH decorating went into their reception! The details were endless! We all shared some laughs, some tears + before I knew the night was over for us.  When I said good-bye + congratulations to them, I felt like I was saying it to good friends. Mike + Jamie (and their family!), in the short time that we’ve known each other, have shown me such unconditional kindness + it’s obvious they give that to everyone they come across. They are truly such a blessing + how wonderful that they found each other. Enjoy some favorites of Mike + Jamie’s wedding day!