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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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!