A Spring Maternity Session in the Weeping Cherry Trees at Lancaster County Park

A golden hour spring maternity session in the weeping cherry trees at Lancaster County Park

This was my first official spring maternity session of 2021 and I have to say it is a hard one to beat. My dear friend Magdiel is absolutely stunning and when she asked me to take her maternity photos for her fourth and final baby I was immediately on board.

For her maternity session, I had her model a unique vintage bohemian lace dress that I have in my client closet by Cora and Violet. The golden hour light was perfect and the way the sun came through the weeping pink cherry tree at Lancaster County Park was heavenly. As I type this, the family is now at home adjusting to life with their newborn baby girl who joined the family in May. I will let the images below speak for themselves because honestly I could gush about them forever. If you are an expectant mama looking to do a maternity photo session in Lancaster, PA, I hope you’ll reach out!

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 Creative Celestial Branding & Lifestyle Photo Shoot with She Was Blue Jewelry in Lancaster, PA

A creative celestial themed photo shoot with She Was Blue Jewelry at Anthology Salon in Lancaster, PA by Melissa Engle Photography

This past winter I had the opportunity to participate in a couple creative photo shoots with some local vendors and artists. This celestial themed shoot for She Was Blue Jewelry was by far one of my favorites. Allison, a local Lancaster creative, took her vision and brought it to life. She dyed the blue backdrop, created the moon, brought the wardrobe (and jewelry of course) along with the gold stars and moons streamers.

When Allison of She Was Blue Jewelry told me about her vision for the shoot, I immediately thought of fairy lights to add some extra dazzle and depth to the images. The combination of golds and blues along with a very talented artist and model Taylor Holmes made for some stunning images! And all the credit for hair and makeup goes to the ladies of Anthology Salon & Style Bar in Lancaster City. Feast your eyes on the stellar images below!

Location/Hair & Makeup: Anthology Salon & Style Bar

Jewelry: She Was Blue Jewelry

Creative Direction: Allison Rohland Art

Photography: Melissa Engle Photography

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 Spring Milk Bath Maternity Session at Renew On Walnut Airbnb in Lancaster City

A milk bath maternity session at Renew on Walnut Airbnb in Lancaster City

I don’t often get the opportunity to do milk bath maternity sessions for my clients, but they are beautiful to photograph and I’m always excited when I get requests for one of these unique maternity sessions. Lila had a specific color palette in mind for this shoot and the flowers she chose were perfect for this creamy soft romantic spring milk bath session.

I can’t say enough about how important the tub and lighting is for these shoots and Renew on Walnut has the perfect space for these. This Airbnb in Lancaster City has been beautifully renovated and furnished and along with the amazing claw foot tub, there is a beautiful attic bedroom where we took the photos of Lila in the red dress.

To create a milk bath, you just need a bit of powdered milk, but don’t make the mistake I did and add the milk as the tub is filling because it will cause foaming and bubbles. You must fill the tub first, then add the milk little by little, mixing it around until you have the desired cloudiness for your bath. Also, be sure to use real flowers and not fake ones because fake ones may not float.

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

A Senior portrait session in downtown Lancaster City on the King Street garage rooftop 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!


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

A fall family photo session at Lancaster County Park by Melissa Engle Photography

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!


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

A dad lifts his toddler in the air with his feet while lying on the couch during a Lancaster lifestyle photography session

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!


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

A winter family photo session in the evergreens at Roland Park in Akron, PA by Melissa Engle Photography

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!


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

A fall maternity session at Muddy Run Park in Holtwood, PA by Melissa Engle Photography

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!


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

A fall family photo session at Long’s Park in Lancaster, PA by Melissa Engle Photography

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!


Lancaster Lifestyle Photography: Move It Studio Fitness

Move It Studio fitness photo including barre, pilates and dance in downtown Lancaster City

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!


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

A summer sunflower maternity photo session at Gray Apple Market in York, PA by Melissa Engle Photography

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!


Lancaster Family Photography: A Summer Session with the Hernandez Family in the Wildflowers

A summer family photo session by Melissa Engle Photography in a yellow wildflower field

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!


Lancaster Portrait Photography: Spring Peeps Backyard Tea Party

A backyard spring peeps tea party photo shoot in Lancaster, PA

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!


Harrisburg Newborn Photography: Baby Naomi

Harrisburg newborn lifestyle photography session

Photographing baby Naomi’s newborn lifestyle session was so delightful. First of all, she was the most peaceful, agreeable newborn I’ve probably ever photographed. She basically slept the entire time, despite all of the laughter and conversations going on around her. She even got some puppy kisses, along with big sister kisses of course. Also, the Parmer home has the most wonderful natural light, which made this newborn lifestyle session a dream to photograph. And there’s no doubt that there is a lot of love in this home.

As I edited these photos I was reminded that two years have already passed since I was in Hannah’s shoes, adjusting to becoming a mother of two. Remembering back to that time, I think my biggest struggle was feeling sad that I wasn’t able to give my eldest daughter the time and attention that she wanted (or was used to having as the first child). But a wise friend reminded me that my daughter had my undivided attention for the first couple years of her life, whereas my second child would never have that. Finding a new balance is hard, but I think having a sibling is one of life’s biggest blessings. And as a mother I know that there is always going to be enough love in my heart for both of my kiddos.

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!


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

A winter family photo session at Overlook Park in Lancaster, PA

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!


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

A light filled fall family photo session in the fall at Landis Woods Park in Manheim Township.

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!


Lancaster Maternity Photography: A Fall Maternity Session at Chickies Rock

A fall maternity photo session along the Susquehanna River at Chickies Rock

This fall maternity photo session at Chickies Rock almost did not happen because it had been raining for most of the day. We decided to still go for it since the rain was slowing down to a drizzle and I am so glad we did. It has been a while since I’ve done a photo session at Chickies Rock and I forgot about the variety of beautiful locations and backdrops it offers.

We did not hike the popular lookout trail; instead we started at the Chickies Rock Day Use Area which has a barn and stone walls as backdrops. Kayla and her husband Andrew were real troopers since it was still raining when we began the shoot. If you look closely at the photos in front of the barn you can see the rain drops falling.

If you venture over to the Furnace Road Day Use area, you will discover a parking lot with access to the Susquehanna River. Before venturing down to the river however, there are some amazing concrete ruins with ivy growing all over them and I think these turned out to be some of my most favorite photos from this session. It also runs along the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail which borders a beautiful field where we took some photos as well.

I will let the images speak for themselves. I think this is one of my favorite fall maternity sessions to date and I can’t wait to photograph their newborn baby girl when she arrives this December!

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: Colorful Wildflower Summer Sessions at Buchmiller Park

Colorful wildflower field summer photo session at Buchmiller Park

This summer I discovered a new favorite wildflower field that I never knew existed, less than ten minutes from my home. I have been to Buchmiller Park on several occasions but I’ve never ventured far enough back in the park to pass by this field. Thanks to a friend who happened upon it, once I discovered the beauty and color I could not get enough!

I did my first ever summer mini sessions at the Buchmiller wildflower field, along with several other family photo sessions and some with my daughter and niece, just for fun. I even did a special session for a neighbor friend who got photos taken in her mother’s wedding gown as a surprise for her mom.

Below is a compilation of my very favorite photos from all of my 2019 summer sessions in the Buchmiller Park wildflower field. If you look closely you will see that the types and colors of flowers vary over time, starting with more blues, purples and reds and changing to mostly yellow black eyed susans by the end of the summer.

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 Birth Photography: Eliora's Natural Hospital Birth Story

Lancaster birth photography of mother and baby Eliora

One of my goals for 2019 was to photograph a birth. Other than the births of my two children, I have never been present for such a sacred moment as this. I have always loved story telling with my camera and since birth is something I am passionate about I knew I would enjoy documenting it. After all, giving birth is one of the most momentous, miraculous and amazing things a human woman can do and I wanted to show just how incredible it can be.

I put the word out on social media that I was hoping to photograph a birth for a nominal fee and was surprised at the response of willing moms who came forward. One of the moms who reached out to me was Beth who was expecting her fourth baby girl at the end of August. When I discovered she lived just a few blocks from us here in Cabbage Hill, Lancaster City, I felt it was meant to be.

I don’t have the best words to describe what it was like to photograph the birth of Eliora but it moved me (to tears) watching this beautiful mama work to bring her fourth baby girl into this world. Beth endured a long tiring labor so beautifully without complaint, even laughing and making jokes throughout (and without any painkillers or epidural I might add). I should also mention that Beth had been having pretty intense contractions for a few days before she even went into labor so I can only imagine the exhaustion she must have felt.

I met Beth and her husband Jack for the first time in the delivery room. Jack had the most peaceful, calm presence the entire time. I learned that he could sense the strength of her contractions by how hard she was squeezing his hand. She later told me that this was by far her most difficult and long labor. Her pregnancy was considered high risk because of the baby having a two vessel cord instead of three (meaning less blood flow/food to baby) but Beth showed no sense of worry or fear. Honestly I could not believe how calm and quiet she was the entire time because with both of my labors I was making a LOT of noise by the time I was nearing transition.

For me it was amazing to watch how Beth knew her body so well and how Jack encouraged her and trusted her to do her thing. Watching little Eliora come into this world was by far the peak moment. She was born with a perfect knot in her umbilical cord (see photo below), which I’m told is extremely rare. The crazy thing is, my daughter was also born with a perfect knot in her cord, so once again I felt a sense of divine connection and knew that photographing my first birth story with Eliora was meant to be. What an incredible labor of love to witness and photograph, and one I’m sure never to forget.

Note: I decided to tell the story in black and white for consistency. I don’t think any of these images are too graphic but if you’ve never seen what a placenta looks like, be forewarned you will see one below. Shout out to the amazing nurses at Lancaster General Women and Babies Hospital for providing excellent care and to Dr. Eichenlaub for the delivery (and not minding a photographer in the room).

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: Creek Stomping One Year Session at Lancaster County Park

one year photo session at Lancaster County Central 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!