This in-depth extensive location guide is meant to help you choose the perfect setting for your photo session in Lancaster, PA and surrounding areas. Because outdoor locations can vary in flora and fauna throughout the year, I’ve organized the locations below based on the seasons followed by unique and adventurous locations. You’ll see that beneath some of the photos I’ve linked to blog posts where you can see additional photos from a specific location.

Under winter, in addition to outdoor locations, I’ve also included greenhouses and studio spaces.

NOTE: I put an asterisk * next to locations that are great year round.

I also just want to remind you that I am confident that no matter where you choose, we will create some incredible photos. With 15 years of experience as a photographer in Lancaster County, I am more than happy to advise if you have any questions or want my opinion on location. I also know how to work the angles and look for the best light which can make all the difference in addition to making the experience fun and stress free.

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Summer

Fall

Winter

unique & adventurous

SPRING

If you are looking for the classic pink and white spring blossoms as a backdrop for your photos, April is the best time to find them. My favorite go-to spots for spring flowering trees are Lancaster County Park, Long’s Park, Buchmiller Park and Kauffman’s Orchards. May is a great time for peonies, rhododendrons and dogwoods. You can view examples below from my favorite spring blossom locations.

Buchmiller Park

The weeping cherry trees bloom early April and there is a magical crab apple tree that typically blooms mid April.

Lancaster County Park*

The weeping cherry trees bloom in the first half of April, followed by pink cherry trees in the later half of April. There is also a beautiful peony patch that blooms in the Garden of the Five Senses towards the end of May.

Long’s Park

Long’s Park is located just off Route 30 and has a beautiful pond, gazebo, wooden foot bridges and a native wildflower patch. During the spring time there are many beautiful magnolia, dogwood, red bud and cherry trees that bloom around the pond. The drawback to this location is that it is often crowded on weekends but kids love to watch the ducks and fish in the pond.

Kauffman’s Orchard

Kauffman’s Orchard is located in the town of Bird in Hand and offers beautiful rows of flowering trees in April. The blossoms are light pink or white depend on the type of trees in bloom. They do charge a $35/hour fee for photo sessions.

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Summer is the best time for wildflower fields, sunflowers and water sessions. Below you will see various locations organized by these categories. Some locations, as noted below, require a fee and advanced reservation to secure a spot.

There are some gorgeous locations along the Susquehanna River that make for beautiful vistas and summer sunsets. Creek stomping sessions are also popular for the little ones and you’ll find a section with some location recommendations for that. I always LOVE any opportunity to photograph pregnant mamas in the water.

Wildflower Lookout in Ronks, PA

This field charges an entry fee per person, or you can rent a private field. It blooms June-September. Pink and red poppies bloom in June, followed by daisies early July and sunflowers bloom in August/September. FYI they are cash only and not open on Sundays. See their website for more information.

Greenfield Park and Wildflower Field

This location offers various ponds surrounded by willow trees, paved walking paths and also has a small creek for wading. Just across the road there is a wildflower field that blooms in June.

Buchanan Park

Buchanan Park in Lancaster City has a beautiful rose garden that blooms June through September, though June is the best time for blooms in my opinion. In addition, there is a beautiful willow tree that gets gorgeous golden hour light and there is a perfect hill just above it for sunset silhouettes.

Overlook Park*

Overlook Park is located in Manheim Township and has become very popular for photo sessions in recent years because of the tall skinny pine forest that sits in the middle of the park. In summer time there is a native wildflower patch that blooms beautifully and there are also some field options in addition to the pine forest.

If you choose this location, I highly recommend a week day session only, especially for summer or fall due to popularity on the weekends. Also there is LOTS of poison ivy throughout this park (especially in the pine forest) and I am always very mindful of this at photo sessions.

Long’s Park

Long’s Park has a beautiful yellow wildflower field next to a wetlands area that blooms in June/July. The pond is always a nice backdrop as well.

Conestoga House and Gardens

This is a beautiful unique venue located just west of Lancaster City full of colorful exotic plants and flowers along with a mansion, pool, ponds and a rose garden as well as an indoor conservatory. They are open seasonally from May to October and have very limited session dates. There is a $150/hr fee and advance reservation required for private photo sessions. You can view rates, hours and information here on their website.

Lancaster History & Wheatland Mansion*

This location is just outside Lancaster City and has a variety of mature trees, a brick mansion with a covered porch and a hidden fish pond. In summer time the meadow of long grasses is beautiful and there are a variety of flowers in bloom. Large hydrangea bushes circle the fish pond and there are brick walkways throughout. This location is hardly ever crowded and is one of my favorite hidden gems for photo sessions.

Grubb Lake

This is a lesser known location but offers easy access to the water and has a cool bamboo forest and path around the lake. There are often fisherman here and the bugs and poison ivy can be pesky drawbacks in summer. Swimming is not allowed here.

Creek Stomping Locations

My recommended locations for creek stomping sessions are Manor Township Park, Lancaster County Park, Silver Mine Park, Climbers Run and Drumore Park. All of these locations have easy access to streams for wading. Usually I will take images at the location first and end with photos wading in the creek. I recommend wearing water shoes in the water and wearing insect repellant because the mosquitos can be brutal.

Summer locations Outside Lancaster County

The locations below are all located just outside Lancaster County and are lovely in summer time. Depending on where you are located they may be a 20-45 minute drive from Lancaster.

Susquehanna River & Wildflowers in Marietta/Columbia

One of my favorite locations with easy access to the Susquehanna River is Musselman Vesta Furnace in Marietta/Columbia just 20-30 minutes southwest of Lancaster. In the summer there is a large wildflower field that blooms next to the rail trail. There are also some old cement ruins with ivy growing on them next to a forested area. From there it’s a short drive to the boat launch along the river.

This location is also very close to Breezyview Overlook for a vista from above the river as well as Columbia River Park which has the unique architecture of the Wrightsville Bridge.

Mount Gretna Lake

Mount Gretna Lake is located north of Lancaster in Lebanon (about 30-40 minute drive depending on where you are coming from in Lancaster). The town has some colorful and quaint cabins and houses that can make for fun photo backdrops with a campy feel. There is one spot by the water with canoes that makes for a fun backdrop and there is also a field close by where I have done sessions.

Country Joy Flowers

Country Joy Flowers is a flower farm located in Mount Joy that blooms all summer long and into fall. This location is very popular for photo sessions and you must book sessions months in advance to secure a spot because the owner does not allow more than 2 photographers on site at a time. There is also a fee required to photograph here. In the past they’ve had an old vintage truck that can be used for photos. See more info on their website

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Everybody loves fall, and I would say this is my busiest time of year for photo sessions. Below are my favorite locations to photograph in fall with peak fall being mid-October to early November.

Lancaster County Park*

Lancaster County Park is my go-to in all seasons but it is especially lovely in fall. I know this park the best and you can pretty much guarantee that there will be fall color by mid-October. There are options for fields, forests and stream backdrops. I have a membership to photograph at Historic Rock Ford which is also located in the park and has a historic brick house with a large covered porch and barn as potential backdrops.

Lancaster History & Wheatland Mansion*

This location is a top favorite in the fall because of the variety of trees and colors as well as the brick walkways and mansion as a backdrop. It is rarely crowded with other photographers and people and is one of my best kept location secrets.

Long’s Park

Long’s Park is also beautiful in the fall season and one of my favorites because of pond that reflects the autumn leaves. This is also a popular location for fall photo sessions so best to avoid weekends in fall.

Muddy Run Nature Preserve

Muddy Run Nature Preserve is another beautiful fall location in southern Lancaster County (about 30 minutes from the center of Lancaster City). The lake makes for a nice backdrop and there is also a field that sits above the reservoir.

Landis Woods Park

Landis Woods Park is a great location for a fall photo session especially if you are located north of Lancaster (Lititz, East Petersburg and Manheim Township). This park has beautiful fall foliage and some walking paths in the woods.

Speedwell Forge Lake, Lititz

This location is north of Lititz about 30 minutes from the center of Lancaster and has a beautiful pristine lake surrounded by gorgeous fall colors in the fall. There is a dock you can walk out on and there is a hill above the lake with some tall grasses and evergreen trees.

Columbia/Marietta Susquehanna River Access*

This location is about 20-30 minutes west of Lancaster off of Route 30. It is a favorite all times of year but especially in the fall when the light hits just right on the water. It is very accessible and has forest, field and waterfront backdrops as well as some cement ruins that have ivy growing on them.

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I don’t offer many outdoor sessions in winter, but there is certainly beauty to be found in this cold season as well. Listed below in no particular order are some of my favorite locations to photograph in winter time. Many of them have evergreen forests.

I’m also including some local greenhouses that offer photo sessions in wintertime for those who want lush green vibes and warmth in the middle of chilly wintertime. In addition there are some studio locations that can be rented for a fee.

Herr Park

Herr Park is located in Manor Township just west of Lancaster and has a beautiful evergreen forest where I love to photograph winter sessions. There is also a field close by. It does take about 8-10 minutes to walk from the closest parking lot (at a school) to the evergreens.

Noel Dorwart Park

Noel Dorwart Park is located just off of Good Drive and in the wintertime has lots of tall dried golden tufted grasses. There is also a very small patch of tall evergreen trees just off the parking lot that is great for photos.

Lancaster County Park*

As I mentioned earlier, this is my go-to location because of the variety. In winter there is a beautiful field that is surrounded by tall evergreen trees that gets wonderful golden hour light.

Overlook Park*

Overlook park is a great spot in winter because of the tall skinny pine forest and also the dried winter grasses in the fields. It is easily accessible with paved walking paths and close to the parking lot.

Roland Park

Roland Park is located in Akron and has a beautiful pine forest that is great for winter photo sessions. There is usually a bright green ground cover of English ivy as well and a paved walking path through the forest. If you get lucky and catch it with snow covered ground it is quite magical.

Greenhouses

There are a few greenhouses I recommend that are open in the wintertime for photo sessions. One is a private greenhouse in Lancaster with hanging ferns and twinkle lights called July Sunshine. There are various wicker chairs and sofas for sitting and tropical plants galore. They do charge a fee for photo sessions but this is a great option for greenery in a warm indoor space in winter. You can also rent this space for events and they have several wooden tables and chairs for hosting guests.

Another seasonal greenhouse is Frey’s Greenhouse in Lancaster which is great for Christmas and holiday sessions and is open from Thanksgiving through mid-December for winter sessions. They are also open for about a month in spring and summer.

The third greenhouse is Hueter’s Greenhouse located in York and they also charge a fee for photo sessions. They have lots of succulents and interesting pottery and decor. Below are some samples from these locations.

Studio Locations

Perhaps you are not feeling up for braving the cold and would rather have a beautiful indoor heated studio space with lovely natural light. There are several options in Lancaster for studio spaces that will rent to photographers.

I personally love Haven Studios in Millersville. It is a small space with white walls and natural light and also offers colored backdrop options and you can bring your own furniture or use options they have available. Recommended for couples or small family groupings only. They open their studio for mini sessions typically around the holidays and in the spring.

Another popular studio location is The White Room in Lancaster City. It is a large space with painted white brick, twinkle lights and gray colored floors. No furniture or backdrops provided but there is a kitchen available for use. They also have a rustic brick and wood lobby area that is full of texture and plants if you want a different look.

Another studio option for rent in Lancaster City is Leaf & Loft Studio. I do have connections to a couple local photographers who also rent their studio spaces if you’re interested.

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Below are some of my favorite locations if you’re looking for something different and more adventurous. Starting with dramatic vistas, followed by some spots that are unique to Lancaster County and ending with Lancaster City that has a variety of textures, colorful murals and evokes a historic urban feel.

White Cliffs of Conoy

This location offers dramatic views of the Susquehanna River and unique white rock formations that you can climb on. It is however a 1.5 mile walk from the closest parking lot. The path is paved and part of a rail trail so I have had clients ride their bike for a faster trip. It would be fine for a stroller but I do not necessarily recommend bringing small children to this location because it is a bit of a hike and the cliffs are steep. You definitely need good walking shoes for this one but the views are amazing! You can also take a fairly easy hike down to the water’s edge. There is a porta-potty on site as well but no bathrooms or changing areas otherwise.

Pinnacle Point Overlook

Pinnacle Point Overlook is a favorite for anyone who wants a dramatic overlook that is easy to get to. Located in southern Lancaster County, this spot is a very short walk from the parking lot. It is however often crowded on weekend evenings so I recommend going on a week day. Also you must wear good shoes (no heels!) because it is rocky. It’s a great spot for maternity sessions if you’re feeling adventurous. I do not recommend this location for families with young children.

Falmouth Boat Launch

This location is in the Elizabethtown area and though it is a bit of a trek, it is worth it for the stunning views of the Susquehanna and the unique rock formations that go out into the water. If you’re feeling adventurous you can climb out on these rocks in the water. The parking lot is right next to the boat launch area and there is also a rail trail that connects here if you want to take some photos in a forested area in addition to the waterfront.

Red Caboose Motel

For those who like trains, the Red Caboose Motel is a unique and colorful backdrop for a photo session. There is no fee to take photos here but you must be mindful of guests. There is also a small wooden train for kids to climb on, a small petting zoo and a willow tree on the property that gets nice light. It is also right near the Strasburg Railroad which allows photo sessions after hours if you want a more vintage train feel.

Urban Photo Locations around Lancaster City

Lancaster City has many historic buildings and backdrops that make for unique and colorful photo opportunities. Central Market is especially popular which is just around the corner from the white stone courthouse steps and Steinman Park.

There are so many colorful murals around town and more continue to pop up each year. It’s on my photography bucket list to do a murals photo session, so if you like color and want to do this with me, let me know!

In addition there are a number of cafes and unique shops that would be really fun for an experience or activity photo session. You could add to your vinyl collection at Stans Records, have coffee in the courtyard behind Square One Coffee, go vintage thrift shopping on the 300 block of North Queen St, or enjoy ice cream, vintage arcade games and bowling at Decades…I could go on! Parking garage rooftops also make for unique photo opportunities at sunset.

Congratulations, you have made it to the end of my location guide! I’m always growing my list so if you think there is an awesome location that should be here, I’d love to know about it!

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