Lancaster County / Millersville, PA Family Photography


There’s something kind of magical about family sessions that start slow, then build into something wild and real. That’s exactly what happened when Steph and I met up with Adam, Jess, and their two little ones, Charlotte and Will, for family photos at Blue Rock Park in Millersville, PA.


But before I get to the session, let’s talk about the turtle.


On the drive over, Steph and I nearly ran over a turtle who was halfway across the road doing his slow-motion daredevil routine. We pulled over, rescued him from oncoming traffic, and placed him gently in the woods. A mile later it hit us. He was just going to turn around and cross again. And we were heading to a park with water, trees, and way less traffic. So we did what any reasonable photographer running late to a shoot would do. We turned around, scooped him into a box, and brought him with us.

Two people playing together in sand at a park playground on a sunny summer day.


Now back to the family.


Charlotte is five. Will is two. If you’ve ever photographed little ones or had them, you know it takes a little time for the stiffness and shyness to melt off. Charlotte had that “smile and look at the camera” thing going on, and Will was sizing me up pretty hard for the first few minutes. So we started slow with some family shots, a little wandering, giving them space to get used to the rhythm of things.


I asked Adam and Jess if they’d be cool with a turtle release adventure, and of course they were. So we brought him out, placed him in the grass, and let the kids ooh and ah while he took one last look at us and waddled into the creek like a champ. That moment cracked things open. Suddenly we weren’t doing a photo session anymore. We were just a bunch of regular humans having a mini adventure together.


After that, we hit the playground. The kids were all in. Swings, slides, climbing, rinse and repeat. The heat was creeping up, so we made the call to pop over to Adam and Jess’s place. Perks of living around the corner from the park. A quick outfit change, some running in the yard, and then the bikes came out. That’s when the popsicles appeared.

A happy family sitting together on a wooden park bench in a lush green outdoor setting on a sunny day.
A candid series showing playful interactions between parents and children creating joyful family moments on a bench outdoors.
A wooden boardwalk trail winds through lush green forest on a bright sunny summer day.
A cheerful family sits together on a sunny lawn enjoying a summer afternoon in the park.
A couple walks together through a sunlit park on a summer day, laughing and enjoying each other's company.
A candid black and white moment of a family playing and laughing together outdoors in a garden setting.
A loving family moment captured in black and white as they gather around a picnic table outdoors on a sunny day.
Black and white photo of a happy family spending time together outdoors under leafy trees on a sunny day.
Family relaxing together on a grassy hillside in a sunlit park on a summer afternoon.


Let me tell you, nothing captures summertime family chaos like sticky fingers, crunchy ice, and a very enthusiastic dog named Daisy sprinting back and forth trying to snag licks off everyone’s treats. The whole scene was pure chaos. It was perfect.


And that’s the thing.


This shoot was everything I hope for when photographing families. We got the portraits you frame and hang on the wall. But we also captured something deeper. The turtle rescue, the popsicle mess, the rush of summer heat and sugar. It all tells a real story about this exact moment in their lives. That’s what matters. That’s what lasts.


Because the best family photos aren’t about perfection. They’re about presence.

Young visitors play and swing on multiple yellow playground swings in an outdoor park setting.
A joyful child swings at a playground with feet in white sneakers pointed at the camera in black and white photography.
A parent pushes a happy child in a swing at a sunny playground, creating joyful outdoor memories together.
Child in a multicolored helmet plays inside a pink toy coupe car on a paved surface.
Family sitting together on lush green grass in backyard garden on sunny summer day.
Children enjoy ice cream cones while standing outdoors in a sunny garden setting.
A group of joyful people sharing in celebration outdoors on a sunny day with bright smiles and laughter.
Child plays on a wooden playground swing set with blue and yellow equipment in sunny backyard.
A close-up shot shows a person preparing food in a kitchen, expertly cutting and arranging ingredients.


If you’re in Lancaster County or nearby and looking for Millersville PA family photography that actually feels like your life, let’s make something together. Whether it's Blue Rock Park or your own backyard, I’m here for the real stuff.