golden hour

Tea for Two Summer Photo Session in the Rose Garden at Buchanan Park

I absolutely love it when families come to me with an idea or vision for their family photo session. Little Nola was turning 2 and so her mom came up with the idea to have a “tea for two” theme. I knew the rose garden at Buchanan Park in Lancaster City would be a the perfect location. Roses of all colors bloom in this perfectly landscaped rose garden from June to September. The garden is surrounded on one side by tall pine trees where the light hits just right at golden hour. Incorporating a theme or activity into your family photo session with toddlers is always a great idea. I love the photos of the family together sipping their tea on the blanket in the rose garden.

Another favorite location of mine at Buchanan Park is the willow tree that sits just below the hill. We were able to capture some tender moments between mother and daughter under the willow tree to document and remember their bond shared during breastfeeding. It is so magical to wander under the branches that create a big tent above and the golden backlight during this session made it even more ethereal. The hillside also provides the perfect opportunity for a sunset silhouette, as you will see below.

As an added sidenote, I have to give a shout out to Sam Hernandez (mom) for doing such a great job pulling together all of the outfits and props for this tea party session. Her gingham dress and her daughter Nola’s frilly dress fit the occasion perfectly. I have photographed their family several times over the last couple of years and every time they nail their outfits spot on. Also worth noting is that Sam is a professional hair stylist who specializes in curly hair and she is the owner of CRWN’d Salon here in Lancaster so check her out if you’ve got curly hair!

If you are looking for a family photographer to capture some of your favorite things to do together as a family, I hope you’ll reach out! I would love to tell your story in a setting that feels natural and fun. Having a themed photo session also creates a memorable experience for kids and provides more opportunities for genuine expression and play. And if you’re looking for ideas, I’m always happy to help! Depending on the season there are lots of possibilities; picking apples in an orchard, creek stomping, a fall picnic in the park, an evening at the local fair, eating ice cream together at your favorite ice cream shop, roasting marshmallows in the backyard and catching fireflies, carving pumpkins, I could go on and on…

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 Late Summer Maternity Session at Wildflower Lookout in Lancaster, PA

I have been meaning to blog a session from Wildflower Lookout for a least a year now and I’m finally getting around to it! This photo location has really blown up since it opened about 3 years ago and every summer people from all over Lancaster County and beyond flock here for the beautiful photo opportunities. This session was taken in late August when the sunflowers were in bloom. We also spent a lot of time in a field of long grasses that were beautifully illuminated by the sun at golden hour.

Lea and Daniel are expecting their first baby this fall and they were so at ease in front of the camera despite the hot, humid, muggy August weather. At Wildflower Lookout you can rent a private field in advance for an additional fee or just pay a general admission fee to photograph in a variety of fields. I prefer to wander to the different fields and do the general admission fee but renting a private field is great, especially for mini sessions. Another fun aspect of Wildflower Lookout is that they often have props such as a wagon or a wicker chair in the field to use for photo ops. They have picnic tables as well if you’d like to take a picnic and enjoy the views!

If you think you might want to use Wildflower Lookout as a location for your session, you can check their website and social media for field bloom updates starting as early as late May. I have found that it is key to get there about an hour before sunset. Any earlier than that and the sun is too high in the sky and this creates stark shadows. There is a sweet spot shortly before sunset when the golden backlight hits just right and that is my favorite time to shoot.

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!