How I Create Playful Family Photo Sessions Through Movement and Prompts

If you want to get an idea of what a family photo session might look like when you hire me, check out the photos and list of prompts below. These are some of my favorite ways to create movement during family photo sessions with young children. Most of these are prompts or games you can play. When I’m photographing families, I try to document the movement from various angles as well as up close and far away. I will often have them repeat the actions a couple of times. In my experience, this makes photo sessions playful and fun for everyone (and a good workout for parents too! 😄)

Below you will see various examples from this Lancaster family photo session at Overlook Park that show movement and play. My goal is to make everyone feel at ease by using simple guided actions, which allows both children and parents to feel comfortable and be themselves. For the most part, I allow kids to run the show. If they don’t like my suggestions or don’t want to go along with the prompts, no problem! I try to let the children be the guide and will often ask them for ideas so they can contribute and feel like they have a say in our activities. I may even offer to let them snap a photo or two!

FAVORITE PHOTO SESSION PROMPTS FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDS:

1. ring-around-the-rosie

2. superman with mom or dad flying them through the air on their belly

3. swinging variations with parents holding hands and having the child jump and swing or spinning them in a circle

4. london bridge: parents form a bridge with their arms and kids run underneath

5. kid tornado: have kids run around the parents while parents hug in the middle

6. follow the leader: have someone pull everyone in a line

7. airplane pose: have parent lift child in the air above their head or they can lie down on a blanket and lift them

8. blanket hammock or blanket parachute play. Parents hold both sides of the blanket and swish it up in the air while kids run under or use the blanket as a hammock.

9. twirling/dancing together

10. sitting on shoulders

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RING-AROUND-THE-ROSIE:

This one is a classic. Have everyone hold hands and move around in a circle. Works best for groups of 4 or more.

SUPERMAN

Parent lifts child in the air on their belly so it feels like they are flying. If there is more than one child, parents can each lift a kid and have them fly towards one another. This move can also be done lying down and lifting the child on your knees or with your arms, depending on how heavy they are.

SWINGING:

There are many variations to the swinging prompt but the basic one is where the child stands between both parents and holds their hands and then jumps or swings in the air.

LONDON BRIDGE:

Parents form a bridge with their arms and kids take turns running underneath. For added fun, parents can try to capture the kids as they pass through.

KID TORNADO:

Have parents stand in the center and hug while kids chase one another around the parents in a circle, hence the kid tornado.

FOLLOW THE LEADER:

Have someone pull everyone along in a line holding hands. I love to use this prompt for silhouettes because you can see everyone’s shape perfectly against a big open sky.

AIRPLANE POSE:

Have a parent lift their child in the air and make them fly. Very similar to superman pose, just a different name. Or you can have everyone pretend to be airplanes and ‘fly’ around with their arms out.

BLANKET HAMMOCK OR BLANKET PARACHUTE PLAY:

Parents hold both sides of the blanket and swish it up in the air while kids run under (parachute) or use the blanket as a hammock and have kids sit in the middle while parents gently swing it back and forth.

TWIRLING OR DANCING:

Twirling or do-si-do is always a fun option, especially when you’re wearing a fun twirly dress!

SITTING ON SHOULDERS:

An easy go-to prompt with young children is to put them on your shoulders. It almost always brings a big smile, especially if parents dip up and down as they walk or tilt to the side. I also like to have parents kiss while their little one(s) is on their shoulders or have kids try to kiss their parent.

Want to know how this family felt about their photo session? In her own words, this was what mom had to say upon receiving their photo gallery:

“Melissa, wow wow wow — I have about 75 favorites. I am amazed by what you were able to capture amidst the chaos. The girls’ personalities are shining loud in so many of these photos.” 

It means the world to me to hear when my clients love their photos and I always appreciate every bit of feedback! If you are looking for a fun family photo session experience, I hope you’ll reach out!

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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Best Lancaster Locations for Family Photos

A golden hour family photo session during the fall at Lancaster County Central Park.

If you are looking for a beautiful outdoor location to have your family photos taken in Lancaster County, here are some of my top favorite spots. These Lancaster photo shoot locations are all easily accessible, free and open to the public. Furry friends are welcome too! All of the parks listed below give children plenty of space to explore and have a variety of backdrops throughout the seasons.

CONSIDER THE SEASON

In addition to logistics, its also important to consider the time of year you’re having your photos taken. The season will determine what you wear and the start time for your session. The location combined with your clothing choices will set the tone and the mood. Are you running through wildflower fields in flowy dresses in summertime? Or layering with warm sweaters and scarves and walking through a colorful fall forest? Also keep in mind that the best start time for golden hour can vary from 4 p.m. in fall to as late as 7 p.m. in the summer. Timing is key for families with young children who have earlier bed times. I am open to early morning sessions, but my preference is always to photograph during evening golden hour.

TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

As a seasoned photographer, I know many of these parks like the back of my hand. I know which spots have the best golden hour light (FYI, nearly all of the photos you will see here were taken during golden hour, about 60-90 minutes before sunset). I have a good idea of bloom times in spring for flowering trees and wildflowers in summer as well as peak times for colorful fall foliage. I have also learned to recognize the “no touch plants” like poison ivy and stinging nettle and will make sure we avoid them. If you hire me to take your photos, you will get an even more extensive location guide (with some of my top secret spots in addition).

But before I dive into the list of my favorite Lancaster family photo shoot locations, I need to preface this by saying that I believe it is not the location that makes the photos great but its the people (YOU) and how you interact with one another. In addition to having a skilled photographer (ME!) who understands the importance of light, angles and composition, it is important to bring a positive attitude and just be in the moment with your loved ones. Think of your family photo session as a fun playdate with your friendly camera toting friend rather than something you have to get over with. My job is to make you feel comfortable, give you gentle guidance, and capture the real, unscripted moments that showcase who you truly are as a family. Let’s ditch the stiff poses and let your personalities shine!

And without further ado, here is the list, starting with my top location for a family photo session in Lancaster PA.

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1. LANCASTER COUNTY PARK

A family walks through a golden field in Lancaster County Park (and don’t forget to check for ticks!)

If I had to choose my number one favorite location of all, it would definitely be Lancaster County Central Park. This park is huge and there is so much variety throughout the seasons. Even during popular photo session times (spring and fall) there is still space for everyone. It has pretty much every type of backdrop you could want; from open fields to evergreen trees to magical forests, creeks and streams. It also has Historic Rock Ford which has a brick mansion with a wrap around porch and a barn (a membership is required to photograph at Rock Ford, which I have). Additional architectural structures that can be found in the park are a covered bridge as well as an old stone house where the Shuts Environmental Library is located. And a personal favorite spot is the Garden of the Five Senses which has a winding path that follows a little stream down to a waterfall. In late May there is a peony patch that blooms here. Below are some examples of family photos taken in Lancaster County Park throughout the seasons.

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2.OVERLOOK PARK

Another popular location for family photos is Overlook Park. If you go into the pine forest during golden hour in the fall, you are bound to see several photo sessions happening simultaneously. For this reason, I tend to avoid photographing there on weekends during fall. Apart from the unique tall skinny pine forest, Overlook Park has some beautiful fields throughout with long grasses and sweeping vistas. During the summer months there is a native wildflower patch that adds a pop of color. In September the goldenrod flowers bloom in abundance. There are also a couple of ponds, though they can be difficult to capture in photos. There are lots of paved walking paths throughout the park as well which make it easy for strollers and little ones to access as well as heated restrooms in the colder months. One thing to be aware of is that poison ivy abounds in the pine forest, especially during summer and fall.

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3. Long’s Park

Long’s Park is another favorite photo shoot location in spring, summer and fall. In addition to the pond with the ducks and gazebo, there is a wetlands area and several walking bridges and wildflower patches that bloom in summer. There are some stunning trees around the pond in both spring and fall as well. The main drawback to this park is that it is often crowded and the parking lot goes around the pond so it can be hard to work the angles to avoid parked cars. However it is very accessible and fun for little kids who like to watch the ducks.

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4. Buchanan Park

Buchanan Park is located in Lancaster City near Franklin and Marshall College and even though it is small, I would argue that it has plenty to offer for a family photo session. The main two highlights of Buchanan Park are the rose garden which blooms May-September and the willow tree that sits just below the perfect silhouette hill. If you are looking for a family silhouette photo, this is the place to do it!

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5. Greenfield park

Greenfield Business Park is lovely if you like water and willow trees. There are paved walking paths throughout this park as well as some small footbridges and a small creek at the far end that you can wade into if desired. It also has some interesting sculptures throughout. Cons are that it can be crowded with people at times and it sits between lots of buildings and parking lots so the angles can be limited. It has a more manicured landscaped feel with mulch and perfectly trimmed hedges and fountains if that is the vibe you are looking for. As a bonus there is a wildflower field close by that flowers May through July.

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6. Landis woods park

Landis Woods is a forested location in Manheim Township with some nice easy walking trails through the woods. This location is not stroller friendly but the paths are easy to walk on. I think it is most beautiful in the fall when the leaves are changing colors. There is also a wooden fence that runs along one side of the entrance and some more open areas but for the most part this is a forest location where kids can run down paths and climb on logs.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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A Sweet Baby Girl Newborn Session in a Harry Potter Themed Nursery

As a Lancaster newborn photographer, one of the things I love most about newborn sessions is the chance to see the thought and creativity that parents put into decorating their child’s nursery. This couple is a huge fan of Harry Potter and they were able to incorporate all sorts of unique elements into their daughter’s nursery related to the series. From the accent wallpaper to the owl lamp to the framed artwork on the wall, there are signs of Harry Potter in every corner! I think my favorite part is the book mobile with the Flying Keys or Winged Keys hanging from it. I had a lot of fun taking photos through the hanging keys.

This little lady slept through most of her photo session but she did get hungry so we took a feeding break and I got some photos with her eyes open. I absolutely adore when newborns are completely zonked out after they’ve become milk drunk and they can snuggle up in a little ball in your arms. We even managed to capture a little sleep smile and a huge yawn, which happen to be two of my photo goals for every newborn lifestyle session!

And now for a little honest behind-the-scenes: There was a little mishap on my part during this session when my camera shutter completely stopped functioning. In a frenzy I had to rush home (thankfully just a 15 minute drive) and get my backup camera. This has never happened to me before in my nearly 15 years in business! The family was so patient and understanding and you would have no idea from these photos that we took a little half hour break during the session.

Enjoy the photos below of precious baby girl Rowan in her Harry Potter themed nursery! To all the fans out there, see how many different Harry Potter connections you can find! And if you want to get some Harry Potter themed decor for your own nursery or for yourself, they told me they got quite a few things from Pottery Barn Teen and the Harry Potter Collection is linked here.

Fun fact: This family was featured in the Lancaster Newspaper in an article about top trends in nursery decor and features some of my photographs.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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How to Prepare for a Newborn Lifestyle Session

An in-home newborn lifestyle session in Lancaster, PA with baby Izak and his parents and big brother Ezra.

Tips to Prepare for Your In Home Newborn Photo Session

One of my most frequently asked questions from parents for in home newborn lifestyle sessions is how they can prepare for photos. I always start out by saying there is no need to worry about tidying up (you just had a baby!) and if anything needs to be moved around, I am happy to do that when I get there. You would be surprised at the beauty that can be captured in just a small corner with good natural light!

1. Open curtains and blinds: I typically photograph in the nursery and another space that gets nice light such as a living room or bedroom. If it’s nice outside or you have a sun porch, I’m also happy to take photos outdoors. I do have a light stand I bring to sessions for dark spaces so if your room needs an extra boost of light, I’ve got you covered! Usually overhead lights and lamps cast a yellow glow so typically I will leave the lights off.

2. Keep it warm: Babies are happiest when they are warm and cozy so make sure the spaces we are in are nice and warm ahead of time. I typically recommend keeping fans off so they don’t make baby cold when/if we do outfit changes.

3. Feed the baby: If possible, I recommend getting in a feeding before I arrive; however it is not the end of the world if that doesn’t happen because I understand how families are functioning on very little sleep. We will go by baby’s cues and if they are hungry or need a burp or diaper change, we take time for that. If they are bottle fed, perhaps have a bottle on hand ready to warm up.

4. Choose outfits in advance: I recommend laying aside a few outfits or favorite swaddles that you might want baby to wear during the session. I love using various cozy textures with newborns such as chunky knit blankets or stretchy muslin swaddles. For moms I recommend something comfortable and nursing friendly (if you are nursing). I do not recommend black simply because it shows every hair or speck of dust. I feel that lighter softer neutral colors typically photograph best with baby. This is not a hard and fast rule however, and ultimately you should wear what feels like you! Just keep in mind that the colors you wear will reflect off of baby’s skin so if you wear bright pink for example, their face is probably going to have a pink hue.

5. Minimal and meaningful props: As a newborn lifestyle photographer, I prefer a more documentary approach to newborn sessions so I don’t prefer to incorporate a lot of props. That said, I do bring along a moses basket and some faux fur mats and swaddles that you may use for your session. I do encourage you to think about any heirloom items that you might want to include such as a stuffy from your childhood or hand knitted blanket from a special family member.

6. Helpers welcome: If it is helpful to have a family member present during the session to help you get ready, prepare some coffee or lunch for afterwards, or just have an extra set of hands, feel free to invite them over!

If there are older siblings involved, often I’ll ask them to give me a tour of baby’s room, or their room or play room so they can get used to me. I’ve got three children of my own and am very experienced and comfortable with toddlers. I also completely understand the weariness of being newly postpartum and not knowing what day or time it is. I have been photographing newborn sessions in Lancaster for at least ten years now and I can assure you that despite all your worries, I will make your session a calm and stress-free experience.

Below are some photos of this brand new family of four! Little Izak did absolutely great for his session, and he mostly slept and peeked at us for a few photos towards the end. Seeing a tiny baby in an oversized chunky knit sweater is just the cutest! And I love the soft pastel color palette they chose for their outfits contrasted with mom and dad’s tattoos.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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A Spring Cherry Blossom Family Photo Session at Lancaster County Park

Lancaster County Central Park is one of my favorite locations for photo sessions during all seasons of the year, but especially in spring time. If you time it right, you can find flowering dogwoods, red bud trees and cherry blossoms all in bloom at the same time and it is simply glorious.

For this family photo session we began at the Garden of the Five Senses and then wandered over to a row of pink cherry blossom trees. The kids picked flowers, blew dandelion puffs and rolled around in the grass. To end the session, we went to one of my favorite hill top locations in the park for sunset silhouettes.

Spring photo sessions are not quite as popular as fall, but in my opinion they should be! It’s the perfect time for Mother’s Day portraits (hint hint: I do offer gift certificates!) and photos before the weather gets super hot. If you’re thinking about scheduling a spring session, I recommend reaching out in February/March to book.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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Lancaster Family Photography: A Snowy Winter Family Photo Session at Overlook Park

It was my birthday weekend mid-March and we got one last beautiful winter snow. This was probably the only time I have ever seen Overlook Park so empty. There was not a soul in sight. The snow was still untouched and the pine forest was covered in white and was so serene.

In my lifetime thus far I have had 3 birthday blizzards. I’ll always remember the one we had when I was in 5th grade because I was supposed to have a slumber party with all my friends but due to the oncoming snow, no one was allowed to stay overnight. This wasn’t quite a blizzard, but it was very gusty so even with minimal snow there was some drifting.

I could hardly wait to get out and take pictures in the winter wonderland and when Andrea asked if I would do a 6 month session for her son Griffin in the snow I was thrilled! He was so adorable wearing the bright red gnome hat and his big brother Bailey got a kick out of pulling him around in the sled. I am SO very thankful that the timing worked out perfectly for this snowy family winter photo session.

At the end of this session, I was able to grab some silhouette images of the boys and then I photographed some of the snow covered evergreen trees around the park. Later in Photoshop I overlaid the portraits of the boys with some of the tree images to create some unique black and white double exposure silhouettes. I am always happy to get creative with double exposures if time allows (and if the client has interest).

I realize that winter and snowy photo sessions certainly aren’t top priority for most families; however, winter photo sessions CAN be possible, even with little kids. Here are a few tips on how to prepare and make a snowy winter session successful:

1. Bundle Up: Yes, it’s obvious, but make sure everyone wears layers and has coats, hats, boots, scarves and mittens if necessary. Bring blankets! They can be used as fun props too and you can snuggle together. You can always take coats off briefly for shots and then put them back on if you want to get photos in special sweaters or outfits.

2. Make It Short & Quick: Because winter is typically my slower season and because it’s cold out, I will only do mini sessions for winter time. We keep it brief, 30 minutes or less so you don’t freeze your butts off (though you may have cherry red noses by the time you’re done).

3. Make It Playful: We will keep moving; wrap in blankets, pull someone in a sled, hold hands and run through the snow, play ring-around-the-rosie, etc. Snowy photo sessions have got to be fun!

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

A Narnia Inspired Winter One Year Session with Luna in the Evergreens

I know that winter is not necessarily the ideal time for family photos but I had been wanting to photograph a session at this location full of tall evergreen trees for a while and was looking for an excuse. I believe that there is beauty to be found in all seasons, even the cold and barren ones. This winter family photo session turned out beautifully and we lucked out with a warmish December day and beautiful golden light.

I convinced my dear friend Drea and her husband Dani to model for a family session and it also worked out as one-year session since their daughter Luna turned one in December. And wouldn’t you be surprised to know that it also turned out to be a pregnancy announcement because Drea is expecting a baby in June! So of course it was an opportune time to announce that Luna is going to be a big sister in 2022!

I am slowly growing a client closet of mostly dresses for women, children and babies and so I was motivated to photograph Drea in this beautiful blue velvet gown that I had just purchased from Baltic Born. I also found a coordinating velvet flapper style dress with fringes for Luna that I love (thanks to Etsy!). And last of all I recently added a faux fur coat from Joyfolie to my client closet which I think will be fabulous for winter maternity sessions. I made a winter flower crown for Drea using mostly plants and herbs (rosemary!) that I found growing around our yard. The fur coat definitely gives this session a Narnia vibe and if only we had some snow covering the ground it would have been perfect!

If you are considering a winter photo session I’m happy to recommend some magical locations and figure out ways to be creative and keep the littles warm.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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A Summer Family Session by the Susquehanna River in Columbia, PA

One of my favorite river locations just outside of Columbia, PA is this spot down by the Susquehanna River near Chickies Rock. Along with easy access to the river, there is also a neat location with some old cement foundations with ivy growing all over them that makes it quite magical.

Something about this summer family session had some tropical vibes to it, even though we are far from the tropics. Stephanie was stunning in her flowy dress and this family could not be more photogenic.

Every now and then, I get surprised during a session and when Stephanie’s boyfriend secretly told me he was planning to propose I got so excited/nervous! He waited until the very end and boy was she surprised! What a beautiful way to end a family session!

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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A Spring Mommy and Me Session in the Flowers at Buchmiller Park

This past spring I photographed more sessions than I ever have at Buchmiller Park located just south of Lancaster City. It is not often crowded with photographers as some of the other local parks are, and it has a wide variety of spring budding trees that flower early April through mid-May, beginning with the weeping cherry trees. Amanda contacted me about doing a mommy and me session with her daughter (and a few with her boyfriend as well). She is an artist herself and it’s always an honor to be chosen as a photographer for a fellow creative.

This spring photo session at Buchmiller Park was one of my favorites for many reasons; the golden sun, the connection and movement between the family members and of course the colorful flowy dresses and spring flowers. Though outfits aren’t everything, they do make a huge difference in what your photos will look like. Amanda’s daughter is wearing a Joyfolie dress from my client closet that is great for twirling and flowy movement. I have a handful of girls dresses available to lend to clients for photo shoots, as well as some women’s dresses that all lend themselves to great photos. Please ask me if you are interested in borrowing something for your session! I am always happy to advise on what to wear (and not to wear) for your photos.

At the end of the session we went over to a wildflower field close by. It was my first time photographing there, and we discovered that the field was scattered with stinging nettle, whoops! But we managed to capture some beautiful images regardless.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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Lancaster Family Photography: A Sunny Fall Session in the Evergreen Field with the Gehman Family at Lancaster County Park

I have so many favorite 2020 photo sessions from this field in Lancaster County Central Park. This fall session with the Gehman family is one of my favorites. In the late spring through the end of summer, the field is full of tall wildflowers that change from white to yellow. You can often see deer here in the evenings (and lots of poop evidence of their presence in the grass-ha ha). I think probably the best thing about this field though, is the way the sunlight hits it in the evening. It casts a warm glow through the tall evergreen trees and has become my go to location throughout the seasons because even in the starkness of winter it is lovely. And lately, especially on the weekends, you can often see horses heading out on trails from the parking lot across the street.

This fall family session with the Gehman family was taken at the very end of November. I had so much fun with their two children as they frolicked through this field and raced and romped. They had no trouble warming up to me and the camera and were happy to play while I took photos. I always try to make my family sessions with young kids about play because I think it is so important in capturing their personalities and helps them to relax. When parents are stiff and strict and yelling at their kids to sit still and smile, they often want to do just the opposite or they look unhappy and smiles are not genuine.

As you will see from the photos below, these kiddos were right up in the camera, and mom and dad were happy to play along. I think the reason this session gives me all the feels is because it does a great job of portraying my favorite elements to capture in my work: joy, movement and color!

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Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

Lancaster Family Photography: A Playful Light Hearted In Home Family Session with the Hostetler Family

Family lifestyle photo sessions have my heart these days, especially as a stay-at-home-mom who wants to document not only the beautiful perfect moments but the in between moments of my active, sometimes emotional, sometimes messy toddlers’ lives. Right now I have a five-year-old and a two-and-a-half-year-old and most days they can keep themselves entertained without my help for a good while. I love watching them play together and hearing their giggles as they chase one another throughout the house.

Hiring a photographer to document the memories you make in your home is something you will not regret, especially while your children are small. As my wise friend Shelby would say, these photographs are an investment that will only grow in value with time. You and your children will treasure these photos even more years from now when you realize how quickly those baby and toddler days flew by.

When my friend and neighbor Shelby approached me about doing a family photo swap, I agreed right away! Shelby is a fabulous photographer so it was an honor that she invited me to document her family home life. I must also add that she has a unique eye for home decor and is a talented creative in addition to being the amazing mom of two adorable children, Ezra and Daisy. She has her own Etsy shop Whisper Creative where she makes unique clay creations. I own some of her jewelry as well as a custom planter that she made for me.

I hope you can feel the love and laughter from this fun, light-hearted in home lifestyle session with the Hostetler family. There were pillow fights and bouncing on beds and flying airplanes and snuggles happening all around. And we ended with a little barefoot romp in the backyard.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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Lancaster Family Photography: A Winter Session in the Evergreens at Roland Park with the Smith Family

It’s crazy to realize that I’ve been living in Lancaster for fifteen years now and started my photography business ten years ago! Over the years I have become accustomed to my favorite locations for taking photos and I dare say a little too comfortable with my go-to spots. The forest of pine trees at Roland Park in Akron never really came across my radar as a potential location until now. It has a similar look to the pine forest at Overlook Park but is much more dense and way less popular for photographers (fingers crossed it stays that way!)

I’m so glad I ventured out to this beautiful evergreen forest earlier this summer for a maternity session because it really is a lovely spot. In the summer time you have to watch out for poison ivy, but in the winter there is a nice ground cover of English ivy that brings a lush fairytale vibe to this location. I actually worked in Akron for four years and had been to this park numerous times but never really explored the pine forest.

I have been photographing Bill and Rhianna since they got engaged a handful of years ago and now they have 3 beautiful, active children that are always a delight to photograph. I can not get over how adorable their little girl is, and how much her older brothers adore and care for her. The light was just perfect on this November morning as we walked through the forest.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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Lancaster Family Photography: The Edwards Fall Family Session at Long's Park

One of the things I hear so many parents say when considering a photo session is “my kids never sit still, how will we get good photos?”. Well I am here to tell you that you do not have to sit still for a photo session with me! I firmly believe that the best, most genuine expressions of joy and wonder come from allowing kids to just be themselves. Sometimes it’s the art of distraction (Elmo always comes along with me), sometimes it’s about creating a game that kids will enjoy like ring-around-the-rosie or holding hands and having a race. One of my favorites, especially for fall, is using a blanket to create a hammock swing or a parachute for the kids to run under.

Yes, I know that every family wants at least one good photo with everyone smiling and looking at the camera and I always do my best to capture that image; however, when you book a session with me you will see that the majority are candid, interactive photos. My favorite photographs tend to be the ones that capture moments and allow kids’ personalities to shine. I have two children of my own and so far it rings true that “they grow up fast” and as a stay-at-home-mom I am constantly documenting our days. My favorite photos are almost always the ones where they are interacting with me or one another.

For this session with the Edwards family, their two very active boys loved popping bubbles, swinging in the blanket and racing through the grass. Mom and Dad may or may not have bribed them with gummy worms a few times too…On the day of this session at the end of September, the fall leaves were just starting to show their color. Enjoy the fun family photos below.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, York and Harrisburg PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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Lancaster Portrait Photography: Spring Peeps Backyard Tea Party

Spring of 2020 is one that will go down in the history books because of the coronavirus/covid19. For most of the world, the virus has changed life as we know it and turned everything upside down. I will think of it as The Great Pause and looking back on this time, I will hopefully forget the hard days and remember the memories I made with my family. As I write this, we are slowly starting to emerge from a three month quarantine (March to May).

I had planned my first ever indoor studio spring mini sessions for the end of March; however, those plans all got cancelled due to the virus. I had borrowed this beautiful macrame backdrop for my mini sessions from my good friends who got married right at the start of the pandemic and wanted to use it in a photo shoot somehow before returning it. I figured why not just use it in our little city backyard somehow? Hence the idea for a peep tea party was born.

There have been a lot of new habits and trends that have emerged during this pandemic and one of them apparently is buying baby chicks (for laying eggs I presume). When a friend had the opportunity to hatch a couple dozen peeps, I asked if we could borrow a couple to babysit for a week or so. My kids named them Cheesy and Dandelion and these peeps provided so much delight and entertainment for us. They came at a time when I was feeling quarantine depression and was on crutches due to a sprained foot. Peep therapy was just what I needed at the time!

I photographed two different looks for the tea party. My dear friend let me borrow her tea sets and I used an old lace curtain for the table cloth in the first setting and the colorful vintage teal and green flower fabric for the table cloth in the second setting. The kids enjoyed sipping their tea while the peeps hopped around (don’t worry, they only pooped once!). We also tried putting them in the tea pot a couple of times.

I hope these images inspire more backyard tea parties!

P.S. if you like the macrame and want to support a local artisan, you should check out my neighbor’s Esty shop Fringe By J. She does beautiful work and last year I got to photograph her in action making some of her pieces, which you can view here.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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Lancaster Family Photography: A Sun Soaked Winter Family Session at Overlook Park

After many days of gray dreary weather, the sun decided to show its face for this winter family photo session in Overlook Park. This winter has been one of the wettest and warmest that we have had in a long time. I will be honest, I’m not a huge fan of snow but there is something beautiful about the quiet stillness of a winter wonderland versus a blah winter wetland. But I will not complain about a warm winter, especially if it means that spring is not too far away.

Diem contacted me about doing family photos in February when her eldest and youngest both celebrate their birthdays. I don’t do many outdoor sessions during the winter, but it turned out to be a fairly warm day. Overlook Park is one of my go to locations because it has a unique pine forest (which has become increasingly popular for photo shoots over the last few years). But aside from the pine forest, there are some beautiful open fields that change in beauty throughout the seasons.

I love the candid nature of these photos. I met little Lilly in the yellow dress for the first time at this photo session and we became instant friends. She told me all about her favorite things to do and how her favorite color is purple (notice her purple sparkly boots). Getting to know families and playing with kids during photo shoots is one of the things I love most about my job as a photographer. In my experience I have found that playing games like tag and chase, discovering nature, and being active rather than sitting and staring at the camera, are what bring about the best photos and genuine expressions, especially from the little ones.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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Lancaster Family Photography: A Vibrant Fall Family Session at Landis Woods Park

I love it when I leave a family photo session where I can’t wait to get home and go through the photos. This was one of those sessions. The light was perfect and though the fall colors were starting to fade, we still captured some vibrant golden beauty. More importantly, the kids were happy and we even did a little dancing as well as leaf play towards the end.

They say that the third time is the charm and in this case it was! We had to reschedule this photo session twice due to rain and had talked about a different location, but I’m so glad we settled on Landis Woods Park. I have not done many photo sessions at Landis Woods, though I remember going for a hike there when my husband and I were dating. Along with a really interesting environmental center building, there are some lovely paths in the forest that are great for a short hike. It was the perfect secluded forest location for a fall family photo shoot and not overrun with other photo shoots happening at the same time (like many of the local parks are during the fall).

I have been photographing the Miller family since Candice and Shawn got engaged. Candice and I even went to college together at Messiah College (though our paths did not cross until we both moved to Lancaster post college and were attending the same church). Our kids are the same ages and so I can relate to the stage of life they are in right now. Candice is a family doctor and though she is not my doctor, she has always been there when I have needed medical advice. Shawn is a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway in Lancaster and I’ve photographed a few of his listings over the years (yes I dabble in real estate photography too!). So if you need a doctor or a realtor, you should look these two up!

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait, family and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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Lancaster Family Photography: Creek Stomping One Year Session at Lancaster County Park

I have so many favorites from this summer family mini session at Lancaster County Central Park with MJ and his parents. I don’t always get to go creek stomping for photo shoots so this was a real treat! Little MJ was such an expressive, happy little boy to photograph and I’m so glad I got to capture his personality at his one year session. It was a delight to watch him interact with his parents and he was all smiles throughout this entire photo session. Since he turned one in the summer time, we thought it would be fun to end the photo shoot with some creek stomping, which was perfect for him. Enjoy some more images of this smiley little guy below.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

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Media Newborn Photography: An In Home Newborn Lifestyle Session With Baby Henry

Say hello to baby Henry! This was my first newborn lifestyle session of 2019 and it could not have been more perfect. It took big brother Oliver a little while to warm up to the strange lady with the camera, but once he did he was excited to show me his toys and how much he loves chocolate chip cookies (me too!). I love that the family dog was even able to pose for a few photos and give baby Henry some puppy kisses. I have to say, baby Henry made my job as a photographer pretty darn easy. He was alert and happy pretty much the entire time and even dozed off for a little while towards the end before pushing out a big poop, newborn style. And look at his little forehead wrinkles!

I am looking forward to photographing many more newborn lifestyle sessions in the near future. I know for myself as a mom those first few weeks can feel like such a blur and then you blink and your baby is not so tiny anymore. I am so very thankful for the images I have from our newborn lifestyle session when my son was a few weeks old (he turns one this month!). Even though I was exhausted the morning the photographer came and still feeling overwhelmed as a new mom of two, I look back at those photos fondly and I’m so glad we have them to treasure.

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

Lancaster Family Photography: The Smith Family at Wolf's Hollow County Park

I've been photographing the Smith family for a couple years now, from the time Bill and Rhianna got engaged, and every time it just gets better. Their boys are adorable and have grown so much since I've last seen them. It happened to be the youngest's 2nd birthday the day we had this photo shoot (we had to reschedule a couple times due to weather). Definitely a lot of love and laughter captured in this session! It was my first time at Wolf's Hollow Park and I would like to discover more there sometime. 

Melissa Engle Photography offers portrait and lifestyle photography in Lancaster, PA. Please contact me if you would like to make some photo magic together!

Lancaster Family Photography: Natalie One Year Session at Stauffer's Greenhouse

Little miss Natalie is turning one at the end of March and we wanted to find a place to do her one year session that felt colorful and fun but was also warm. We decided to go to the greenhouse at Stauffer's of Kissel Hill. Since spring is on it's way, there were plenty of flowers galore, and we sat her right among them for photos. I think she probably tasted a few too. Big brother Josiah had a great time dipping in all of the fountains while Mom and Dad took turns getting photos with Natalie.