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!

Lancaster Portrait Photography: Christmas Mini Sessions for a Cause at Frey's Greenhouse

A big part of the Christmas season for me is about giving (after all gifts are my top love language) and I have always wanted my business to give back in some way. A few years back, during the Syrian refugee crisis, a friend had the idea of getting photographers to offer their services while donating the proceeds to non profit organizations that were helping refugees. It was wildly successful and people not only got great family photos for their Christmas cards, they also felt good knowing their money was going to a good cause.

This is the third year in a row that I have offered Christmas mini sessions for a cause and this year was the biggest year yet! I had so much demand for my first round of mini sessions that I decided to offer a second round. This year I chose a local cause, The Lancaster Neighbor Fund, which supports immigrants and their families who are vulnerable to deportation in the Lancaster area. I chose this cause because of my passion and concern for immigrant and refugee issues and because I know people and families who have been detained by ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement). I have also worked in the immigration program at non profit organization CWS Lancaster and understand the difficulties that many of these families face. I am happy to say that we raised $685 for the Lancaster Neighbor Fund through our mini sessions this year!

The photos below are some of my favorites from our second round of mini sessions at Frey’s Greenhouse. It is impossible to leave Frey’s without feeling the Christmas spirit. Not only are their displays fantastic and festive, they have a fire pit outside where you can roast your own s’mores and free hot chocolate inside. They even had some vintage riding toys in the greenhouse that the kids loved.

Thank you to all the families who came out for Christmas mini sessions! You can bet I’ll be doing it again next year.

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

Hummelstown Family Photography: Sullivan's One Year Session Among the Peonies

This little blue eyed beauty turned one in May. I loved capturing Sullivan with her mom and dad (and dog) at their home, especially with my all time favorite flower, the peony. She held onto a small pink bud for most of the photo session. Sullivan will no doubt be walking completely on her own soon. I am always honored to capture these moments for families, because I know how fleeting they are. Just a year ago, I photographed Sullivan as a newborn, less than 48 hours after she was born. My how the time flies!

Lancaster Family Photography: The Smith Family at Wolf's Hollow County Park

I've been photographing the Smith family for a couple years now, from the time Bill and Rhianna got engaged, and every time it just gets better. Their boys are adorable and have grown so much since I've last seen them. It happened to be the youngest's 2nd birthday the day we had this photo shoot (we had to reschedule a couple times due to weather). Definitely a lot of love and laughter captured in this session! It was my first time at Wolf's Hollow Park and I would like to discover more there sometime. 

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: Spring Session with Janet & Kai

I have been antsy to get out and take photos to get my creative juices flowing after being cooped up all winter and adjusting to life with a newborn. With the spring blooms everywhere and Mother's Day coming up, I asked my friend Janet if she and her son Kai would model for a mother-son session with me at Buchmiller Park, just outside Lancaster City. The light was absolutely perfect and the cherry blossom curtains made for some fun playful images. I've been photographing Kai since he was a newborn and I can't believe how much he has grown into a little boy. 

I also want to take this opportunity to remind all the moms (and dads) out there to get in the frame with your kids. You won't regret it and your kids will appreciate it years from now. My mom was the picture taker and documentarian in our family. We have carefully organized photo albums from all of our childhood years, thanks to my mom, along with detailed baby books and binders of our childhood artwork and other school papers, even "love notes" that boy crushes wrote to me. I know I have appreciated looking through these memories over the years and hope that I can do just as good of a job documenting life for my own kiddos AND also make sure that I appear in the frame from time to time. So here's my pitch to you; make your spouse or your friend or your dog take some photos of you and the kiddos interacting (selfies don't count!). OR hire a photographer (pick me!) to photograph your family. In fact, I've got gift certificates available and mother's day is just around the corner...

Lancaster Family Photography: Natalie One Year Session at Stauffer's Greenhouse

Little miss Natalie is turning one at the end of March and we wanted to find a place to do her one year session that felt colorful and fun but was also warm. We decided to go to the greenhouse at Stauffer's of Kissel Hill. Since spring is on it's way, there were plenty of flowers galore, and we sat her right among them for photos. I think she probably tasted a few too. Big brother Josiah had a great time dipping in all of the fountains while Mom and Dad took turns getting photos with Natalie.