Rachel & Weston | Lancaster PA Maternity and Newborn Photographer | Angie Englerth

Rachel & Weston

I first met Rachel and Ryan for their maternity photo session. They were busy with new puppies and snuck away for the session. Rachel looked beautiful in every shot and we talked in anticipation of their newborn session. Fast forward a bit and it was time to come back for their newborn session. Weston was wonderful and his session went flawlessly! Ryan and Rachel and their families are big college football fans! Scroll through the favorites to see which team they wanted to feature with Weston’s photos!

Just for fun…here’s some Q&A with Rachel herself:

How did you prepare for our photo shoot? How was your experience? Were you nervous or worried before? How did it turn out?

We didn't do much in preparation for the newborn photos besides venture outside the house. We had a great experience; Weston was totally comfortable with her and all the props and outfits. We could not have been happier with the end results!

What would be your advice to someone considering booking with AEP?

Do it! We did maternity and newborn and very thankful we did so we have those memories forever.

Have we done a session together before? If so, why did you decide to book another?

We originally booked as a package but if we didn't we would have definitely rebooked for newborn shots after our fun experience getting maternity shots done in some not so ideal weather.

What have been the most memorable parts of this pregnancy?

My pregnancy wasn't easy but having maternity shots done highlighted such a monumental time in our lives as a married couple about to welcome a new family member.

Did you have any pregnancy cravings?

Chick Fil-A everything

And now for the part you’re really here for….here are some favorites from their sessions with me!

An open letter to my {soon to be} daughter | Englerths Adopt

An open letter to my {soon to be} daughter:

I can’t wait to meet you. I can’t wait to wrap my arms around you for the first time. I can’t wait to give you the unconditional love that I already have in my heart for you. I know you haven’t had an easy start to your life. Things feel unfair and hard. It is, sweet girl. It is so unfair and I hate that for you.

When you come home with Dad and I, we will grieve the loss with you of everything you’ve known to be true. The loss of your first family. The loss of your country. The loss of the only home you’ve known. You will have lots of feelings and we promise to never stop you from feeling them. We promise to walk through it with you no matter how hard and challenging it gets. We are here for you baby girl. Always and forever.

I want you to know that one thing Dad and I are committed to is keeping your Bulgarian culture and heritage as much as possible and as much as you want. We want to celebrate all the things with you! Baba Martin day, Liberation Day, your name day and anything you want to celebrate!

I can’t wait for the day we bring you home. Your brothers and sister love you so much already! Jackson and Sawyer are excited to build Lego creations with you and show you the art of building tents. Isabel can’t wait to play dolls with you and show you around your room. Our days may have challenges, but they will also be full of so much fun and adventure together and lots of love!

On Friday nights, we have family game night. We can’t wait to add you to the crew! We take turns choosing what games we play. I look forward to seeing which ones are your favorites. We also love to have snacks out for game nights! Jackson and Izzy love goldfish, Sawyer loves pretzels and we all love popcorn! What will your favorite snack be? I can’t wait to find out!

You have lots of cousins waiting to meet you and play with you! 9 in total! We love having last minute get togethers to eat together and play. We spend holidays together and celebrate birthdays together. You already have a whole team of kids on your side and there when you need them. They love you so much already! In fact, your cousin Lynette made and sold bracelets to raise money to help bring you home. She can’t wait to meet you!

You have a Grammy and Grandpa, Grandmom and Grandpop, lots of aunts and uncles who will all fight to be your favorite, and you have five great grandparents who can’t wait to meet you!

There are so many people supporting us and helping us to bring you home. They have rallied around us and shared so much encouragement to us. So many people love you. So many people care.

Dad and I think about you all the time. We pray for peace over your heart during this waiting process. We pray for protection over you. We pray for your needs to be fully met. We pray that you feel the love of the Father that is overflowing for you.

We can’t wait to meet you baby girl! We hope to bring you home very soon!

xoxo,
Mom

Why International? | Englerths Adopt

I want to start with a statement that Ben and I had heard many different versions of since we began this process:

“Why Bulgaria? There are plenty of American babies that need homes.”

Let’s unpack this a bit.

First, as a mother on a journey to bring home a child via international adoption, this statement hurts. What I hear in a statement like this is that American children are worth more than other kids. American children are more valuable than other kids. God loves American children more than other children. As you’re reading this, I hope you realize how untrue that is. God loves ALL the children of the world. Nowhere does the bible say anything about American children being more valuable to him.

Next, let’s talk about the cultural component. We are not going to stand here and pretend that the cultural diversity our child brings into the family won’t matter. We are not going to pretend that our child won’t look different from us. She will. We aren’t going to pretend that leaving her country, the only home she has ever known, and her culture behind isn’t going to be hard. It absolutely is.

Let’s talk about international adoption in the world now. Many countries have come a long way over the last few decades when it comes to domestic adoption. They have far more resources and better programs put together to help find children families that need them. That said, there are still far too many orphanages in this world. There are far too many children left “unwanted”. To be available for international adoption, most children are first eligible for domestic adoption. When they reach eligibility for international adoption, this typically means all other paths to adoption have been exhausted and the child remains without a family. Sadly, the children left in these orphanages tend to be children that have more special needs.

God has so clearly placed adoption on our heart to lead us to this point. We don’t know what our daughter will be like or what special needs she may have, but God has softened our hearts and opened our minds to what we can do through Him. We will never succeed on our own, but through Him, we know all things are possible.

Now let’s rewind a little to exactly why we ended up in Bulgaria. When Ben and I started this process, Bulgaria wasn’t even a thought in our mind. When we thought of international adoption, Europe didn’t even appear as an option. The more we learned about Bulgaria and the children in need there, the more we felt drawn to adopt there. Once we officially decided and applied for the Bulgaria program, we felt such immeasurable peace that we were exactly where God wanted us.

I’d like to take a second to share a song that has meant a lot to us lately. You may or may not know, but Steven Curtis Chapman is an adoptive dad with a very powerful story. I’d encourage you to look that up and read about it if you don’t already know it. He recently wrote and released the song “Still”. I pray that as you listen, it encourages your heart and draws you closer to the Lord. Listen here.

Read more about our adoption journey here and follow along for updates.

November Auction | Englerths Adopt

As many of you know already, we are in the thick of the paperwork process for our international adoption. We are soon ready to submit our dossier (hopefully we will be registered by the end of the year). We have one last fundraiser planned for this year that we have been working very hard on behind the scenes. To say we are grateful to the businesses that participated would be an understatement. We had a response we never could have imagined and received donations from more than a dozen local businesses. We wanted to take a minute to spotlight them and share what will be available in the auction from their business. If you have something you’d like to donate for the auction, please see the details below or simply contact us.

Thank you!

First up is Fox Meadows Creamery. If you’re local, I’m sure you are already more than aware of Fox Meadows. They offer delicious ice cream sourced straight from their farm as well as lunch and café drinks. They also recently opened a new location in Leola so if you haven’t tried them yet, be sure to stop in! Fox Meadows generously donated three $10 gift cards for the auction.

Painting with a Twist is a fun art studio that has painting and partying mixed together in a unique experience! Ben and I took a class here together last year and had a blast! Not only do you leave with your own art, but you have so much fun while you’re there! Painting with a Twist generously donated a seat to one of their classes along with one of their paintings for the auction.

Courtyard Café in Denver has tasty treats, delicious meals and yummy café drinks! They are a local staple in Denver and have always been committed to being involved in the community. If you haven’t been there yet, I’d encourage you to stop in with a friend and take advantage of their cozy atmosphere to catch up! Courtyard Café generously donated a $25 gift certificate for the auction.

Refreshing Mountain Retreat and Adventure Center is just that – a year-round retreat and center for family friendly fun and adventure. They offer ziplines, escape rooms, a wildlife center, a community pool (seasonally), horseback riding lessons, obstacle and ropes courses, homeschool classes, school field trips and so much more! They also have a beautiful display of drive through lights at Christmastime. If you’ve never been, I highly encourage you to check out this Lancaster County gem! Refreshing Mountain generously donated a 4 pack of passes for their Wildlife experience along with a 4 pack of passes for their obstacle course.

Foxchase Golf Club is a beautiful golf course perfect for golfers of all skill levels. They also offer an Indoor Golf Simulator and a fully stocked pro shop. They have been in businesses for over 30 years and are a great resource whether you need gear or instruction. Fox Chase generously donated passes for 4 to golf on their course.

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm is a destination for kid friendly family fun! Located in Ronks, Cherry Crest offers so many fun attractions from a corn maze, discovery barn, and pedal carts to their hay chute slide, barnyard jump, duck races and cabin builders. I couldn’t possibly list all their attractions, but I encourage you to check out their website or stop in and see what they offer for yourself! Cherry Crest generously donated a 4 pack of passes to visit their farm.

Longwood Gardens is a unique destination for tourists as well as locals. Located in Kennett Square, Longwood Gardens offers beautiful displays of gardens and fountains. Whether you’re enjoying the Cascade Garden, walking the forest walk, or taking in the conservatory, there is so much beauty to take in. They offer lots of fun experiences from tours to classes and even light shows. Longwood gardens generously donated two passes to visit.

Complete in Box is a local family-owned game store in Ephrata. They are more than just a game store though; they offer an experience. My kids are always begging to go visit! They have a lounge area with a mini arcade to enjoy. They carry all kinds of video games from vintage to brand new. They are also very knowledgeable and will help you track something down even if they don’t currently have what you are looking for. In addition to video games, they have an entire section of their store dedicated to comic books. If you’ve never been in Complete in Box, I highly recommend stopping in and seeing what all they have to offer! Complete in Box generously donated a $25 gift card and a tee shirt for the auction.

Javateas is a welcoming café in Ephrata, with another location in Wellspan Hospital, that offers delicious gourmet coffee along with some light fares. Javateas is a great place to grab and friend or two and meet up to catch up! They also offer live music at times as well as free Wi-Fi if you want to stop in and get some work done. Javateas generously donated a $25 gift card for the auction.

Bounce Kraze is a family operated business providing fun for kids of all ages! They are Lancaster County’s only indoor Inflatable Park. They offer bounce houses, slides and obstacle courses as well as a dedicated toddler area. They also have an arcade, snacks and coffee, offer birthday parties and events, as well as rentals of the inflatables! It’s a great place to stop in with your kids and let them burn off some energy! Bounce Kraze generously donated 2 passes to stop in and see what they offer! These will be available in the auction.

Peaceful Valley Furniture is a staple of Lancaster County. With locations in Intercourse, Strasburg and Green Dragon in Ephrata, Peaceful Valley Furniture offers quality Amish made furniture. Peaceful Valley Furniture generously donated a $50 gift card for the auction.

Dairy Queen needs no introduction. It’s classic, nostalgic and delicious and located right in Ephrata. Dairy Queen in Ephrata generously donated 2 gift certificates for their signature ice cream cakes.

Weaver Markets is a staple to those in the Adamstown area. They are more than a grocery store offering a small restaurant in house, rentals for events on their lower level and the most delicious deli salads you’ll ever have! Weaver Markets generously donated a $30 gift card for the auction.

Laser Dome is a full recreation center unlike any other. They offer Laser tag, a laser maze, a rollercoaster simulator, Xbox zone, pinball alley and so much more! They make a great place for a birthday party or just a fun place to take the family for a night of fun! Laser Dome generously donated two all day passes for the auction.

Freckled Pear Co. is small business based out of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They are two friends with the same artistic passion who not only love creating beautiful pieces of jewelry but also love creating items with meaning. If you haven’t already, go check out their shop! Freckled Pear graciously donated a gift bag including earrings, a necklace and bookmark.

Smucker Village is a truly unique shopping experience in the heart of PA Dutch Country! With Corner West, The Treasure Place and The Corner Coffee Shop, you will get the full shopping experience! Smucker Village has generously donated a $25 gift card along with four coffee cards to The Corner Coffee Shop.

Angie Englerth Photography - Of course I will also be adding a session with me to the auction items! This will include the session fee as well as print credit toward whatever you’d like.

We also have friends and family that have generously donated themed gift baskets in the following categories: Men’s Spa, Women’s Spa, Baking and Cooking, Local Flavor.

Want to get involved?

If you’d like to donate an item or themed basket to our auction, please contact Angie at amenglerth@yahoo.com or by phone at 717-799-0901. We appreciate all the donations we’ve received so far and hope you’ll join us for the online auction to get some Christmas shopping done and shop local all while supporting our family’s adoption journey!

The Home Study | Englerths Adopt

The Home Study

If you are familiar with the adoption process, then you know all about the home study. If not, let me give you a brief rundown.

The home study is basically a written report on our family. It covers everything from our family history, our work life, our home layout, our community resources, our hobbies, how we deal with stress, how our friends feel about our parenting/marriage/adoption and so much more!

This process takes time. We needed to have our fingerprints taken, background checks done, a water test on our well, lots and lots and lots of training and education, as well as doctor appointments with letters of recommendation. We also needed to submit a mountain of paperwork from birth certificates, passports, social security reports, income statements, pet vaccinations and so much more! Part of the process also includes interviews with our social worker (individual, couple, and our older kids) and a visit to the house for a walk through home and safety check. The process is very thorough (as it should be).

When we began our journey, we were told this process can take 4-6 months. Much to our surprise, our wonderful case worker had our first draft written after about 6 weeks! That brings us to where we are now. We have a few more pieces to finish to complete our dossier and then we are ready to send it in!

We are currently waiting for approval from our placement agency. Once we receive that, we will be able to complete the rest of our paperwork for the dossier. In the meantime, we are focusing on spending time together and doing all the fall things! We went to the apple orchard for the tenth year in a row with Ben’s grandparents, we ventured to the fair, we’ve been to all of J’s soccer games, we made lots of apple pie filling and we’re in a great rhythm with homeschool!

Part of sending in our dossier includes paying a large fee, $9,000 to be exact. We so far have raised and saved a little over $5,000 so we are close! God is providing exactly what we need when we need it so we are trusting he will do the same here. If you’re interested in being a part of our journey in this way, you can read about some different things we’re doing here.

What to Wear for Family Photos | Fall Edition

Dressing for photos is always tricky! I put together a few insiration boards for you as a starting point to plan your family’s wardrobe for your family photo session.

Focus on coordinating, not matching!

Start by choosing a color scheme of 2-3 colors. I recommend choosing mom’s outfit first and building the wardrobe around that. Choose something you love, but also are comfortable in! When you’re comfortable, it shows and you’ll be much more relaxed for your session!

Other things to note: Save the graphics and logos for another time! Also avoid busy patterns. The best way to “spice” up your wardrobe a bit is to incorporate different textures!

Here are five fun wardrobes to start your planning for your Fall family photos! And if you’re looking for a photographer, I’m your girl!

Everything is linked below! Enjoy!

Warm Spices

Womens dress. Toddler Dress. Boys sweater. Boys Jeans. Mens Sweater. Mens Jeans.

Soft and Fun

Womens dress. Boys top. Boys bottoms. Girls dress. Mens sweater. Mens pants.

Super Casual

Womens sweater. Mens polo. Mens jeans. Boys bodysuit. Boys pants. Girls jumpsuit.

Boho Dream

Girls dress. Girls sweater. Womens lace dress. Baby boys overall set. Mens top. Mens bottoms.

Muted tones

Womens floral skirt. Womens tan top. Brown cardigan. Girls yellow jumpsuit. Navy one piece for baby.

Sharing our Why | Englerths Adopt

Sharing Our Why

I thought it was about time we share our why. Why are we adopting? Why international? Why Bulgaria? These are common questions so we wanted to take some time to break it down to you all.

It's no secret that our biological children did not necessarily come easily. We miscarried between Jackson and Sawyer and again between Sawyer and Isabel. Throughout those years, I (Angie) also dealt with some medical issues from a tumor in my sinuses to a kidney infection that landed me in the hospital. Ben and I felt peace in 2020 saying that we knew we were done having biological children.

Fast forward to the Fall of 2021 and I began to have a feeling of wanting another child. I brushed it off thinking it was just typical baby fever and it would pass. Fast forward again to the Spring of 2022...After time spent in prayer and in the word, I just couldn't shake the feeling. I felt God was calling us to have another child, but I knew we were done biologically. Ben and I talked about adoption back in our dating years and early in marriage, but we hadn’t talked about it in years. This was not a small feeling that was easily shaken so I finally decided to bring it up to Ben. Much to my surprise, Ben was not shocked by my idea to adopt and actually said he had been thinking the same thing, but wasn't sure how I'd feel. WOW! We were both in awe of how God was working in us personally and when we came together, we were already on the same page.

We decided to loop in our friends and family fairly early on as we were seeking wisdom for what adoption looked like for us. We didn't really know anyone who had adopted and didn't know too much about the process in general. We began attending all sorts of webinars and speaking with different agencies about the different paths we could take. We ultimatetly felt called to international adoption.

Once we chose our agency, we spent time looking into all the different country programs and praying about which would be the best fit for us. Our agency suggested Bulgaria for us and if I'm being completely transparent, I just shrugged it off. Bulgaria wasn't even on my radar. Ben was totally on board with it, but trusted God's process of getting me there. Eventually, I had an unexplainable moment of peace that I'll never forget. I was folding laundry and while I didn't hear God audibly, I felt so strongly He was telling me to go with Bulgaria. I hesitate to even share this part because I know some people will think it's crazy, but this is what happened. God so clearly wanted me to give up control here. He reminded me that this adoption wasn't my idea, but His and His plans are greater than anything I could come up with. It was such an exciting feeling I actually called Ben at work (something I hardly ever do) to tell him. He was so funny and just responded with "I was wondering when you'd come around!" That day will forever be engrained in my memory because it was such an overwhelming sense that God was calling us to adopt from Bulgaria.

God has moved mountains for us already and I can't wait to see what else He does as we move forward with this process.

Englerth Family Adoption | Numbers for our Daughter Fundraiser

Will you consider choosing a number (or 2!) from our "Numbers for our Daughter" board and donating that amount toward our adoption expenses? You will forever be a part of her story and your gift will have eternal impact.

As a small token of appreciation, you will also have a chance to win a prize! The Englerth kids chose 5 of the numbers to hide prizes under. If you choose a number with a heart under it, you could win a $5 coffee gift card (3), a cheesecake from Angie, or a photography session with Angie!!

UPDATE: There are currently only 14 numbers left and we still have 2 prizes hidden! One is a photoshoot with Angie and one is a gift card to Courtyard Cafe on Main in Denver!

To participate, leave a comment or send an email with your chosen number. Payment can be given through the donate buttons below, billed to your Paypal address if left in comments, or mailed/given to us. I will update the board regularly for the next several weeks to show what numbers are left.

Rachel & Stella | Lancaster PA Maternity and Newborn Photographer | Angie Englerth

Rachel & Stella

Where do I begin? When Rachel and Jared told us they were expecting, I may have let out a scream! Rachel is Ben’s younger sister and we have been looking forward to this moment for so long! After their long journey to get to this point, we were all thrilled for them! Fast forward to being able to capture Rachel’s maternity photos as well as Stella’s newborn photos, I was honored! I may be biased, but my niece is the cutest!

We had a lot of fun incorporating Mark (their first baby/fur baby) into their maternity session! Then we included their favorite sports teams into Stella’s session! My kids took advantage of the session to sneak a few extra peeks at their cousin! Let’s just get right to it, shall we?! Here are lots of favorites from Rachel’s maternity session as well as Stella’s newborn session!

What to Wear for Family Photos | Spring Edition

Dressing for photos is always tricky! I put together a few insiration boards for you as a starting point to plan your family’s wardrobe for your family photo session.

Focus on coordinating, not matching!

Start by choosing a color scheme of 2-3 colors. I recommend choosing mom’s outfit first and building the wardrobe around that. Choose something you love, but also are comfortable in! When you’re comfortable, it shows and you’ll be much more relaxed for your session!

Other things to note: Save the graphics and logos for another time! Also avoid busy patterns. The best way to “spice” up your wardrobe a bit is to incorporate different textures!

Here are five fun wardrobes to start your planning for your Spring family photos! And if you’re looking for a photographer, I’m your girl!

Everything is linked below! Enjoy!

Creamy Neutrals

Womens tan dress. Mens Linen shirt. Mens Jeans. Mens Jacket. Boys Brown shirt. Boys Ecru Jeans. Girls overalls. Girls jacket.

Spring Blooms

Boys salmon top. Boys Ecru Jeans. Girls floral dress. Girls denim jacket. Womens cream dress. Mens shirt. Mens shorts.

Mellow Yellow

Womens yellow dress. Baby overalls. Baby Yellow bodysuit. Girls yellow dress. Tan shirt. Mens cargo pants.

Going Green

Green Womens Dress. Womens Denim Jacket. Green shirt. Boys Jean Shorts. Mens plaid shirt. Mens jeans. Girls white dress.

Muted tones

Womens floral skirt. Womens tan top. Brown cardigan. Girls yellow jumpsuit. Navy one piece for baby.

Leesha | Lancaster PA Maternity Photographer | Angie Englerth

Leesha | Maternity Session

Leesha and Mark came to see me back in the fall for their maternity session while expecting twins! (Yes, I am so behind in blogging!) Leesha was like a supermodel the whole time and Mark was so kind and encouraging to her! We were blessed with beautiful weather and the best fall sunlight! I have so many favorites from Leesha’s session, but I personally think she rocked the red gown! Take a look….what do you think?

Amelia | Lancaster Newborn Photographer | Angie Englerth

Amelia

When Zach and Rebecca reached out about booking a session for their baby girl, I was thrilled! We used to go to church with these two and seeing them become parents was such a joy for me! Their baby girl Amelia is clearly their world…and rightfully so! She is the sweetest!

I asked Rebecca a few questions and would love to share what she said with you all!

What was your favorite part about our session together?
My favorite part was being able to rest and trusting Angie completely with our daughter - changing, posing, adjusting - and knowing she was safe the whole time. Even that two hours gave us a little break from the stress of being newborn parents!

How did you prepare for our photo shoot? How was your experience? Were you nervous or worried before? How did it turn out?
We have known Angie for years and were very comfortable with her skill level and expertise. Before the shoot, we fed our daughter so she was sleepy and cooperative, knowing that even if she wasn't, Angie would be able to work with her anyway. She was the perfect client, and we were all were very happy with how the shoot went and how Angie kept it fun the whole time and worked with props we brought along.

Do you have a favorite photo from your session? If so, which one?

Yes! The pictures with Daddy's bird feathers came out beautifully. I did not even anticipate our daughter looking like an egg in a nest, so that was an awesome surprise - just a testament to Angie's eye!

What is the first thing that ran through your mind when you found out you were pregnant?
I was surprised and relieved and scared all at the same time. We underwent fertility treatments and eventually an IUI procedure and got pregnant on our first round, which I was not expecting, so when the nurse called and told us it had worked and we'd have a baby in nine months, my whole world suddenly changed. I knew my body worked, I was capable of bringing a baby into this world, and that we had gotten what we had prayed for for years!

What have been the most memorable parts of this pregnancy?
I was blessed to have a very easy pregnancy, so I really enjoyed it! I loved feeling my daughter kicking and moving around and sharing those moments with her daddy. Watching my bump get a little bigger each week and documenting it in my daughter's baby book was really fun. I also can truthfully say I loved the birth experience, meeting my girl at the end of it, and getting to see my husband become a father.

Did you have any pregnancy cravings?
In the very beginning, I wanted feta cheese on everything. Then I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes around 30 weeks and craved everything I wasn't allowed to have. Taco Bell quesadillas were a favorite throughout my pregnancy, though!

And now, the part you’re really here for…here are some favorites from Amelia’s newborn session!

What to Wear for your Maternity Photo Session | Spring Edition

What to Wear | Spring Edition

Deciding what to wear for your maternity photoshoot is stressful! One of things I pride myself on is offering a full wardrobe for my clients. Even still, I know it’s tricky to dress the whole family. Here is a guide to help you dress everyone else using some of the gowns in our wardrobe! All the links are included below!

Floral Fun

Sew Trendy Gown provided by AEP. Modern Khakis. Green Resort Shirt. Boys Dyed Pants. Boys Pink Slub Tshirt. Pink Denim Overalls. Girls Plain White Tshirt.

Feeling Blue

Sew Trendy Gown provided by AEP. Blue Mens Shirt. Mens Chino Pants. Girls Cream Dress. Boys Canvas Pants. Boys Henley Shirt.

Creamy Neutrals

Boys Pants. Boys Ecru Shirt. Sew Trendy Maternity gown provided by AEP. Mens Stone Shirt. Mens Pants. Girls Macy Dress.

Pretty in Pink

Sew Trendy Gown provided by AEP. Mens Chambray Shirt. Mens Khaki Pants. Boys Jeans. Boys Pink Shirt. Girls Pink Dress.

Very Violet

Sew Trendy Gown provided by AEP. Toddler Corduroy Dress. Mens Navy Pants. Mens Blue Top. Boys Purple Top. Boys Jeans.

Emerson & Leona | Lancaster PA Newborn Photographer | Angie Englerth

Emerson & Leona

Twins are always exciting and when Leesha reached out to schedule her maternity and newborn sessions with me, I was thrilled. Her maternity session was magical and the twins session did not disappoint!

Ellie | Lancaster Newborn Photographer | Angie Englerth

ELLIE

Better late than never, right?! When Lauren & Jeremiah reached out about booking a newborn session for their newest addition, EXCITED is an understatement! I was so happy for them to have another bundle of joy and honored that they chose me to capture her for them! Ellie was due on Christmas so I could relate to Lauren with that because my Sawyer was due and came on 12/23! Ellie ended up arriving a little ealier though! Maddie is the best big sister to sweet little Ellie and capturing them was an absolute joy! Here are some favorites from their session with me!

**Take note of one where Ellie was on the beanbag posing and sweet Maddie came to lay her hand on her as to reassure her that all is well! It was the sweetest moment!!!

Kantner Family 2021 | Lancaster Family Photographer | Angie Englerth

Kantner Family

What a joy it has been to capture this family over the last several years! When they first told me they were moving, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t selfishly sad about it, but also, very excited for them! What a gift to these girls to get to experience life in this way!

To the Kantner family, I pray that you are settling in well to your new home and that you can enjoy the photos we’ve captured together for many more years to come!

I have to start this post with the image that started it all from the session that I first worked with this sweet family! Then sprinkle in some flashbacks to previous sessions and don’t forget their feature on the Love What Matters blog! Then the latest (and hopefully not last!) session with them!

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Wyatt | Lancaster Newborn Photographer | Angie Englerth

WYATT

Cheyenne came to be just before her due date and thankfully, I was able to fit them in. I’m so glad it worked out because this family was so easy to work with and fun to chat with! Wyatt was just the sweetest and slept through his whole session. We finished everything in record time and the photos turned out wonderful! I will of course share some favorites, but first, here is a little Q&A with Cheyenne.

What was your favorite part about our session together?
Everything, watching my newborn smile and her capturing us and him.

How did you prepare for our photo shoot? How was your experience? Were you nervous or worried before? How did it turn out? 
Our experience was great. She knew her stuff, was quick, didn’t have to think, and was gentle with my son. The photos were AMAZING!!!!!

What is the first thing that ran through your mind when you found out you were pregnant?
Finally!! I am so excited and happy!!

What have been the most memorable parts of this pregnancy?
Feeling him kick. Rubbing my belly, not getting morning sickness.

Did you have any pregnancy cravings? What were they?
Rice crispy treats, lol, but I really wanted Savory foods.

Beckett | Lancaster Newborn Photographer | Angie Englerth Photography

BECKETT

Ashleigh first came to me back in 2016 (I think?) when her and Trevor were expecting their second child. They returned for more photos and then moved away for a few years. I was obviously thrilled to find out they moved back to PA and were expecting another sweet babe! This family is seriously the best and every session together just feels like hanging out with friends! Here are some favorites from Ashleigh’s latest maternity session as well as Beckett’s newborn session. Yes, these were from earlier this year. Yes, I have been a serious slacker with blogging. I’m sorry! I will try very hard to do better! Enjoy!

COMING SOON | The 5th Annual Mommy & Me {Dream Lighting} Event | Angie Englerth

The 5th Annual Mommy & Me {Dream Lighting} Event

I can't believe it's almost here, (especially considering our 4th event was postponed until August 2020), but we are almost ready to open booking for our 5th annual Mommy & Me {Dream Lighting} Event! It doesn't seem possible to put into words how amazing this event is every year! The emotions are high and mommies are always feeling beautiful and loved! If you don't know what I'm talking about, let me loop you in!

The Mommy & Me {Dream Lighting} Event is a day of pampering for mommies and their babes. Each mom will get a two hour slot - one hour for hair and makeup (which is provided to you) and one hour for the photo session. Childcare will be available at the event so mommies can get pampered without having to worry about a thing! The wardrobe is also provided by AEP so all you need to do is get here and we will take care of the rest! This event has three custom product packages available to choose from all with different heirlooms that will be able to be passed down to your children (and their children) in future generations!

What you need to know:

When is the event?
Saturday, March 27

Where is the event? 
At my home studio in Reinholds

What is the cost?

The session fee is $275. You will have three product packages to choose from at your order appointment beginning at $425.

What is included in the session fee?
The session fee includes your two hour time slot, use of wardrobe, full hair and makeup as well as childcare during your hair and makeup session.

When can I book?
Booking will open February 1. My VIPs will have first dibs to book and then I will open up any remaining spots to the public. Join the event page on Facebook to stay up to date!  Or Sign up for the newsletter!

What products are included in the packages?
When you return for your order appointment, you will view the images and choose which you love the most and what you'd like to do with them. Product packages will be announced soon, but I can tell you that each package includes a beautiful 8x8 Keepsake book to pass down to future generations.
 

Here’s a little peek at some of the previous orders from the event. 

Don't want to miss booking when it goes live? Sign up for the newsletter and/or follow our Facebook page! You can also join our event page on Facebook here!

Don't believe me with how awesome this event is? Here are a few reviews from previous clients.

"She made it effortless! I walked in, picked my gown, sat down and got pampered with hair and make up, which by the way, I loved the make up artist! She truly made me feel beautiful. Then once it came to pictures, I had to hold back tears, because I could already envision the outcome of the photos and knew that Angie was capturing the magic that I felt! The slideshow was a perfect introduction to them!!! I had such anticipation for them and it was such a Special moment for me. I wasn't in Mason's newborn photos which I incredibly regret, and the bond that you can see in these photos have definitely filled the void of not having photos of the bond between newborn photos. I had been looking forward to this event forever, and had been talking about it to friends family and co workers and Angie had truly touched my heart in capturing these beautiful photos and moments of my best bud and I, thank you again!"    -Angilee

“This event was a milestone in my life. 2 years ago I decided to give it a go for the first year and trusted Angie when she encouraged me to do it even though I was very unsure. I was insecure about myself and had decided to start a journey into becoming healthier for myself and my family. She guaranteed that my daughters didn’t see the flaws that I did I myself. She captured the love that my daughters saw in me even though I had a hard time seeing it. Now 2 years later I was encouraged by my husband to have another mommy and me session after all the work I put into becoming healthier. And I am so glad I did another one. Because again I got to capture the “looks” and get all the “feels” that seeing how my girls look up to me no matter how I look.” -Jen 

"I was nervous about Wade in front of the camera since he is such a busy boy now at 6 months but Angie was perfect with him! I really loved that the time overlapped so we could share in the experience with other Moms, even if we didn't know each other, the energy was amazing. {At the order appointment, I was} Amazed! I was so glad to have such a beautiful experience and pictures to remember it by. It also meant a lot to my family to share in the ordering appointment."     -Jessica

 “{The products} are incredible! My favorite is the book! Nobody has time to sit down and make a scapbook anymore, so having the book is an awesome item to get! “ -Tiffany

"This event makes me feel like a mini celebrity... it's always nice to be pampered and feel 100% beautiful but then to share that beauty with my little girl next to me, who feels "so pretty" in her dress, just smiling, laughing and dancing, gives me such gratitude to share in these moments with her that she will be able to see as she grows up. A single picture can tell an entire story and reflect so much love, I only hope she sees, in these photos, all the love I have for her now, until forever."     -Lisa

“Just book a spot its something you won't regret! The event is a ton of fun getting your makeup and hair done with your child(ren) being taken care of during your pampering session. Angie works great with your children and is able to get wonderful shots even if your babies are being difficult! “ -Angie G.

“Definitely do it! Everyone was so inviting and it was great to be with other mommies. AND the pictures are perfection! “ -Andrea

”It was so special to have those moments with my baby and to capture this stage on film. Even though it's only been a few weeks, I'm already looking at the pictures and feeling nostalgic!” -Chelsea

2020 Highlights | A Year in Review

As I sit here to write this blog post, I’m not sure where to begin. I know I am not alone in saying that 2020 was a hard year full of challenges and obstacles that we were forced to find ways to navigate through. In my personal life alone, there were challenges.

We watched my Mother in law battle cancer and brain tumors that required surgery and radiation.
I landed in the hospital three times in March and April for kidney trouble, alone as the hospital was on lockdown.
We struggled, and are still struggling, with remote learning with our oldest.
We navigated through months of my business being closed and my income going from a substantial part of our household to nothing.

When I began to work on gathering highlights for the year, my heart sank. It truly hit me how hard this year has been. My folders for Milestone, Maternity and Family sessions that once were full of many moments captured, felt insufficient. When I began to run my numbers for the year, I felt a pit in my stomach, like I was letting my family down. This year was HARD.

That said, I also realize just how fortunate we are. God provided and we were always able to pay our bills. I was able to get the medical care I needed to avoid any permanent kidney damage. My mother in law was able to complete her treatments and is currently doing great! Our son is still struggling with school, but after actively seeking answers this year, we were able to get him the help he needs and he is on his way to being the best version of himself.

My family has grown stronger this year with all the time we’ve been forced to spend together. We’ve gone on camping adventures together, hiked and explored together, build box forces together, played games together, laughed together, cried together and grown together. That alone makes all the hardship worth it to me. I pray that I never take it for granted again to spend time with my kids while they are still kids and form bonds with them that will last a lifetime.

My sister in law recently reminded me of Hebrews 13:5 “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” That could not be more true for me this year. I am not sure what I would do if I did not have the hope that God is in control and he works all things together for my good.

Now for the highlights, which I know is why you are all here anyway. A huge highlight for me was being able to spend more time on sessions for friends and family. Instead of cramming them into my schedule where I could, I was able to dedicate time to them alone which made for some magical sessions! I gained a new niece and nephew and was able to have sessions for them as well! I also have a client, Alyssa, who definitely deserves a serious shoutout after trusting me to capture her fourth maternity and newborn sessions in a row. (Thank you Alyssa!)

The newborn aspect of my business remained fairly stable throughout the year and I cannot state enough how thankful I am for trusting me to capture these first moments for you. Sure, studio sessions looked a lot different this year, but thank you to those who accepted the new policies and just rolled with the punches to get through sessions safely!

I also feel the healthcare workers deserve a special shoutout! I am sharing some of my clients this year who are frontline workers, but there are so many more of you out there. Sincerest thanks for all you do and are doing!

I know this year isn’t going to be a magical reset button, but I am hopeful and optimistic that I will be able to see more of you this year and capture more priceless memories for your family. Cheers to 2021 and God Bless!