Lancaster Senior Photography: A Winter Downtown Lancaster City Portrait Session with Mekai

Most of my photo sessions these days revolve around growing families, but every now and then I get requests for senior portraits. My approach to senior portrait photography is a little different than documenting families because I get to focus on just one person instead of multiple people interacting together. I think the thing I like most about senior sessions is that I get to incorporate the senior’s personality and get to know them a bit since the session is one on one. They also allow for a little more creative experimentation whereas with families and young kids there is a lot more action and movement and fewer patience and attention spans.

Because Mekai’s senior portrait session happened in December, we chose Lancaster City as the location for the shoot. As you know, winter landscapes can be pretty sparse and the colors and textures of the city are fabulous year round. There is a lot of beauty to be found in the historic architecture, murals and roof tops around Lancaster City. And as a bonus, I’m just a 10 minute walk from the center of town. For this session we met at the Lancaster Central Market, a classic Lancaster City icon, and then headed up West King Street to one of my favorite roof top parking garages. I really wanted to sneak a mural in somewhere so we stopped at one of the newly painted murals sponsored by Music For Everyone, painted by local artist Keisha Finnie.

I think my favorite image of Mekai has to be him sitting on the concrete ledge of the rooftop parking garage with the stark sunlight and perfect blue sky with puffy clouds behind him. Which one is your favorite?

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 Maternity Photography: A Fall Maternity Session at Muddy Run Park with Drea and Dani

One of my besties is having a baby! Drea and Dani are taking on a some huge life changing milestones in 2020: getting married and having a baby. They got married on 3.14.2020 (pi day) just in the knick of time before our world shut down due to the Covid19 pandemic. About a month later they found out they were expecting a wee ‘quarantini’ baby.

I have known Drea since we became roommates the year I graduated from college and moved to Lancaster for my first real adult professional job. I only knew a couple people in Lancaster at the time so she became one of my first Lancaster friends. We eventually started our own jewelry making business and traveled to Morocco together and for the past 8+ years we have lived just a few blocks apart in the Cabbage Hill neighborhood of Lancaster City. My kids call her “Tia” (auntie in Spanish) and we adore her (and Dani too of course).

Because she is so dear to me, of course she and Dani’s maternity photos had to be epic so we went to Muddy Run where the fall foliage was in it’s full glory in mid-October. I can not wait to meet their little baby boy or girl Rodriguez in December!

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 Lifestyle Photography: Move It Studio Fitness

If you know me well, you know that I love to dance. I can’t say that I put my dancing skills into practice much these days other than dance parties in the living room with my kids but it is an art form that I have always loved. Dance and movement speak to my soul and any time I have an opportunity to photograph it, I’m all in.

Marie, owner of Move It Studio, asked if I would like to do some photography for the fitness studio’s rebrand launch this past summer where they offer barre, pilates and dance classes. Of course I said “yes!”

Years ago when her studio first launched and we were both pregnant with our first babies, we collaborated on a project together called Lancaster Moves. We captured various dancers in public places around Lancaster City and the images were displayed in her studio for an art gallery opening event.

For the rebrand, Marie wanted to capture both portraits and action shots of the studio teachers along with images in the studio and of clients in their everyday workout wear hanging with their gal pals. I had such a blast photographing these ladies and I am amazed by their skills and strength. I myself have been enjoying classes, both virtually and in person since they reopened this summer. If you are local to Lancaster and looking for a place to join a barre, pilates or dance class, I highly recommend Move It Studio. They have both a downtown Lancaster and a Lititz studio and even offer outdoor classes.

Enjoy the images of movement below. Because Move It Studio is located downtown next to the Lancaster Central Market we decided to take all the photos around that area. I loved seeing how creative the teachers got with movement in the alleyways, on the railings, bike racks, walls and window ledges. I would love to hear which one(s) is your favorite!

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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York Maternity Photography: A Summer Sunflower Session at Gray Apple Market

Jacinta got in touch with me just a few weeks before her due date in August and wanted to schedule a maternity session in a sunflower field. There are several locations in the Lancaster and York area that have sunflowers every year, but timing can be tricky to catch the blooms at their best. I have always wanted to check out Gray Apple Market in York and it just so happened that their field was at peak bloom when we scheduled this maternity photo session.

I honestly could not stop taking photos of this beautiful mama and her family. She was absolutely glowing in that field of sunshine. Their dear little boy kept trying to escape amongst the tall sunflowers and at the end of the session he plopped right down in a big puddle of mud. Jacinta told me when she arrived to the photo session that evening that she was already 3 centimeters dilated and could go into labor at any time! Lucky for us we squeezed in this maternity session just in time! As I write this she now has a newborn baby girl just over a week old.

The field at Gray Apple Market is a feast for the eyes, and there are nicely mowed paths weaving through it so you can easily be in among the sunflowers. I hope I get to go back again next year!

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 Summer Session with the Hernandez Family in the Wildflowers

This field and this family combined made the perfect setting for this summer wildflower photo session at Buchmiller Park. I first discovered this field last summer and could not wait to return this year. This was one of my first official photo sessions after 3 months of quarantine due to the coronavirus and it did not disappoint!

I have photographed the Hernandez family a few times now and it’s always hard to choose favorites because I have so many. Their daughters Ava and Amelia are so precious in their lacy pink dresses. And their parents are equally photogenic and they radiate love towards each other and their girls. The light was golden on this June evening and the sea of yellow wildflowers made the perfect idyllic backdrop for this summer family session. I could go on and on raving about how perfect it was, but I’ll let you feast your eyes upon the beauty below.

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 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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