A Bare Belly Summer Maternity Photo Session in the Wildflowers

If you are looking for a beautiful location in Lancaster County for a summer maternity photo session, Wildflower Lookout is a great option. This carefully planned flower field blooms with a variety of flowers all summer long. Located up on a hill overlooking Lancaster County farmland, it offers beautiful views and a colorful array of wildflowers beginning in June and blooming as late as October.

This family is expecting baby number two and mom chose a simple white top and jeans that allows her bare belly to be the star of the show against the colorful sea of flowers. I photographed her first pregnancy in the fall, so it was fun to have a very different backdrop this time around. Their adorable toddler daughter also stole the show with her expressive personality and adorable curls.

Before I share more photos from this beautiful bare belly maternity photo session, here are a few of my best tips for your photo session at Wildflower Lookout in summer time:

1. Plan your session on a week day evening no earlier than 7 p.m. In June sunset is after 8:30 pm and the best golden hour light happens right around 8:00 to 8:20 pm in my opinion. Weekends can be very crowded! An early morning session could be lovely as well, though I have never photographed a morning session there.

2. Bring cash! Wildflower Lookout is cash only and you need exact change. Money is placed in a box at the entrance. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for children. Update: I learned they also accept PayPal via a QR code on a sign near the money box.

3. You have the option of renting a private field for a fee but my preference is to wander the general fields and work around others. Refer to their website for private field rental.

4. Check the Wildflower Lookout instagram page for periodic bloom updates. If you want a specific type of flower, it’s helpful to know what is in bloom. For example if you love the pink and red poppies, June is the time to find them.

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

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A Summer Maternity Session at Pinnacle Point Overlook

I am excited to share these photos from my first ever maternity session at the famed Pinnacle Point Overlook in Holtwood, Pa. If you’re looking for a dramatic backdrop for a photo session, Pinnacle Point Overlook is a great location that is easy to get to. As a Lancaster maternity photographer, I am always looking for unique an picturesque outdoor locations for photo sessions that are accessible for expectant mamas.

Kiley and Josh are expecting their first baby in July and it was so good to get to know them a bit as we wandered around taking photos. I have only been to this location once before on a hike with my family and when we went we explored the trail in the opposite direction so I had never been out on the rocky overlook before. My only words of advice are to wear comfortable shoes and watch your step. This would not be a good photo location for a family with young kids, FYI.

We also discovered a beautiful forested area covered in ferns that made for some woodsy portraits. Because this was a summer maternity session, sunset didn’t come until nearly 8:30 that day so we waited until the sun was lower in the sky to take photos at the overlook. We lucked out with blue sunny skies after a day of clouds and rain. I love the way the light filters through Kiley’s long flowy dress in these photos. If you are looking for a stunning and dramatic location for your maternity photos in Lancaster, PA, I highly recommend Pinnacle Point Overlook.

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 Maternity Photography: Conestoga House and Gardens | Sandra and Oscar

One of the best kept secrets in Lancaster, in my opinion, is the Conestoga House and Gardens, located just outside of Lancaster City. When Sandra asked me about locations for their summer maternity session, this place came to mind right away. It’s located just 5 minutes from where they live so we thought it would be perfect. I would describe the Conestoga House and Gardens as a miniature Longwood Gardens and it’s free and open to the public two days a week during the summer and fall. On any given evening you can find the grounds full of families picnicking and photo shoots happening around this beautiful garden oasis.

It was a hot humid July evening and Sandra was just weeks from her due date when we did their maternity session but she and Oscar didn’t complain one bit. Sandra was glowing in the golden summer light and I couldn’t stop exclaiming about it. We even made time to snap some photos of them with their adorable little dog outside the gardens (FYI dogs are not allowed inside the gardens).

Even though this was just a mini session, I managed to sneak in a few double exposures at the end. I love experimenting with this technique, especially to showcase silhouettes of pregnant bellies. I think it might be my new “thing” for maternity sessions. Curious to hear what you think?

As I type this, Sandra and Oscar are now adjusting to life as brand new parents with their one week old baby boy! Perhaps you’ll see more photos of him showing up soon!

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