Megan Zeller Photography

Baby Ava

2012-02-13T00:54:00.007-05:00

Today I had the pleasure of meeting the beautiful Ava O'Connell. She was the sweetest little thing. She didn't sleep long, but I was still able to capture some precious, peaceful moments.

Thank you Mike and Jenn for sharing her with me. Enjoy your little blessing!

Lindsay and Adam's Wedding

2012-01-23T23:00:00.006-05:00

This summer I photographed Lindsay Bussey and Adam Gunn's wedding (better to post it late than never). Everything was beautiful, but what stood out to me the most was how much FUN I had. From being with the girls before the wedding, to taking photos at the photobooth, to the receptions entrances, to the toasts, and of course the dancing! I met a lot of amazing people that day. That's one part about my job I love. I've made some great friends over the years and have some awesome memories from the weddings I've photographed.Lindsay is just stunning.Love their smiles.Favorite.Adam played football for Pitt. Word on the street is he's got massive talent.The best part about Adam though is his character. The way his friends and family spoke of him was touching. He is a true gentleman and truely cares for and respects everyone close to him.The best part is they both know how blessed they are to have one another. Reception entrances had everyone entertained...baseball slide...and one major highlight was Jen and Matt switching clothes on the ride to the reception.The guests' reactions were priceless.My kind of people. Crazy.

Thank you so much Lindsay and Adam for having me as your photographer. You guys have been wonderful to work with and your love for one another reminds me of everything that's right in this world.

Baby Haevyn

2011-11-26T13:50:00.005-05:00

A few weeks ago I went and took photos of baby Haevyn. Her momma, Mary does my hair so I wanted to give her a baby gift. I'm blessed to have a gift that I can share with others. It also gives me an excuse to hang out with friends and hold babies. Never a bad deal ;) Everyone loves a baby in a salad bowl!

Beautiful sisters :)

Little head bands are the cutest!

After waiting patiently, she finally fell into such a deep sleep. So precious and peaceful. Thank you so much Mary for letting me come out and capture some photos of your little ladies!

Baby Haevyn

2011-10-29T11:27:00.005-04:00

Precious.

Got some baby headbands and tried a new look for baby photos and I think the results are beautiful. Haevyn was a joy. There are many more photos of her that I will be sharing soon.

Sneak Peek of Brion and Rebecca's Engagement Session

2011-10-15T00:21:00.000-04:00

So blessed to do this for a living... Many more awesome shots of these two are coming soon.

Ben & Luke's Outdoor Session

2011-09-02T07:17:00.001-04:00

We later did an outdoor senior portrait session for both Ben and Luke. We headed over to Messiah College, but the bridge was under contruction so we didn't get many shots with it in the background. We did however get shots with kayakers, tubers, and a fly fisherman in our backgrougnd.I was shocked when Luke's mom opened the shoe box they brought to find this...

One of their moms was nice enough to take a photo of the three of us together. Thanks for being such good subjects. I had a good time photographing you two!

Ben & Luke's Senior Portraits

2011-08-30T07:31:00.000-04:00

Ben Berry is the other winner of the senior contest I ran a few months ago. Ben is going to help me advertise my business by handing out his 100 free wallets to his friends and family. He brought along his best friend, Luke, to the photo session. They were so much to photograph! We joked back and forth the whole time.

This is Ben's selection for the yearbook.Aren't they funny. THIS should be the photo they submit for the yearbook, don't you think? And this is Luke's pick for the yearbook.

I enjoyed teasing Luke about his t-shirt having a naked man on it. Hahaha!

Ben and Luke are both really great guys. I wish them the best in their senior year and beyond. I will be posting the photos from their outdoor session soon.

Devann O'Connell's Senior Portraits

2011-08-28T07:27:00.003-04:00

A couple of months ago Devann won a contest to become one of my senior reps to help me advertise my business to others in the area for senior portraits. She was so easy to photograph! She's beautiful and posing came naturally to her. We went out on what seemed like a perfect day for photos...Gorgeous.Then the winds picked up and we keep having to dodge the rain storms that rolled through the area. After hiding in our vehicles a bit, we were able to finish the shoot.One of my favorites.Thanks Devann for entering the contest! You were a pleasure to work with.

Ashlee and Travis Get Married!

2011-08-15T10:03:00.003-04:00

I'm in the full swing of wedding season and things have been awesome. I'm really excited to share all of my favorites from Ashlee and Travis' wedding. The ceremony and reception took place at the Two Mile House in Carlisle. Everything was beautiful. I had so much fun shooting for the day for them.

I've always felt that Ashlee is one of the most beautiful girls I know. She looked stunning. Enjoy!Ashlee's family has been through a lot over the past few years so her dance with her father was pretty emotional and very sweet. The whole family has really pulled together to get through some hard times.

Congratulations to Ashlee and Travis. Thank you for letting me share your day with you to capture all of your special moments. I know you will have a beautiful life growing with one another.

Wedding Sneak Peeks

2011-08-14T10:50:00.003-04:00

Here are two sneak peeks at the last two weddings I photographed recently. I will be posting more soon!

I've been so blessed with gorgeous couples!

Rachel and Matt's Wedding

2011-06-27T17:40:00.001-04:00

Remember Rachel and Matt from the engagment session I did of them? They just got married in May in historic downtown Gettysburg and I had a blast photographing for them!

Little did I know, Rachel is just oozing with style and taste...She used turquoise and red as the colors for her wedding. At the beginning of this year I had declared this my new favorite color combination and I was SO excited to see it in action. The bridesmaides held tulips and roses, while Rachel's bouquet wasn't technically flowers- they were metalic- broaches I believe. Her whole look was creative, artistic, and I loved it!Absolutely gorgeous details- down to their shoes. Fabuouls shoes.The ceremony was rather emotional. Actually the pastor made me think about things- why get married he asked? His conclusion is to have someone with whom you can experience life :)Told you she had style- I think she naturally did this pose on her own...Rock it out!We finished up with the formal photos and walked down to the old theater in Gettysburg.It was Majestic- no really, it was.Love the facial expressions during the speech...One of Rachel's bridesmaids sang the song for their first dance. Added a personal touch and great meaning.Shot this from outside at night through the glass. It's uh, very "different" or "artsy". Not sure how I feel about it. Looks very advertisementy- not sure for what.Congratulations to Rachel and Matt. I had a great time with you guys and you were so much fun to photograph for the day! Capturing your love for one another was my honor.

Uh, Yes!

2011-06-26T20:16:00.004-04:00

I know you're all wondering if I still take photographs. The answer is yes. Lately blogging had dropped to the bottom of mylist of priorities. I'm recovering from abdominal surgery and am gearing up for an epic adventure to Montery, California to visit friends, then to meet up with my family in Ocean City, Maryland for a few days. But back to the fact that I'm STILL a photographer. Here is a preview of a wedding I photographed in May. Full blog is posting tomorrow!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T08:16:00.013-04:00

Loved the shots with mom's helping hands in these photos. Thought it would be appropriete for a Mother's Day post. First mother (meaning you have children) to comment on this post will recieve $25 off of prints or products from me! Happy Mother's Day!

Rainy Days

2011-04-21T11:25:00.003-04:00

I'm so ready for summer. Ugh, all this rain is interfering with everyone's photo shoots! I will be posting some duckling shoots soon. But for now, here's my little pink and green duckling...

Check back for ducks soon!

Senior Rep Winners!

2011-04-11T16:19:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to the winners of my senior representatives contest: Ben Berry and Devann O'Connell! Devann will be helping to represent my business at Cumberland Valley High School and Ben will be promoting my photography skills at Mechanicsburg High School. I'm looking forward to working with both of them.

Keep your eyes out for their senior portaits to be posted here in the future!

Ducklings Portraits

2011-04-05T19:52:00.004-04:00

The ducklings arrive on Wednesday!

I will be photographing in Carlisle by the stream behind Quarters 1 on April 9th and 10th.

I will be in Hershey on April 16th and 17th by the Founder's Hall Pond.

I'm offering a $50 package which will include a half hour sitting, an online gallery to view your photos, 1 8x10 2 5x7s and 4 wallets. You are always welcome to order more products! Here is Andrew with the ducklings about 3 years ago.

He's so tiny and cute! So are the ducklings :)

Senior Portraits Contest

2011-03-20T11:00:00.001-04:00

I am looking to find a few students who will represent my business and help advertise for me as a senior portrait photographer. I'm hosting a contest for high school JUNIORS to compete for a free portrait session as well as some free prints & products. Spread the word because everyone LOVES free photography!
Rules:

1. You must be a junior in high school as of April, 2011.

2. You must go to somewhat local school- Carlisle, Shippensburg, Hershey, Mechanicsburg etc...

3. You must email me (at megogk@yahoo.com) a photo of yourself and a list of your activities to show your community involvement BY April 1st.

I will be selecting between 2-4 winners and will post those names on my blog on April 10th.

Here are some of my favorite shots from over the years...

Let the competition begin! Good luck everyone :)

Ducklings!

2011-03-19T13:08:00.003-04:00

The ducklings are coming!

I will be photographing children with little baby ducklings the second weekend in April and am planning to have photos by Easter for anyone who wants to give them out as gifts to relatives. Three years ago I did this and it was so much fun and a huge success. If you would like to schedule a sitting, please contact me at 717-215-2874 or email me at megogk@yahoo.com.

I will be announcing more details soon.

Email

2011-02-28T08:45:00.002-05:00

Something funky is going on with my email account. If you are trying to get in touch with me, please use my alternate email until things get straightened out.

megogk@yahoo.com

Thanks!

Little Baby Elizabeth

2011-02-09T18:14:00.001-05:00

As a surprise to everyone, little Elizabeth was introduced to this world a little early. She was still a little peanut at about 3 weeks old when I got the chance to photograph her. Luckily she was still in the SUPER sleepy stage of life so she let me do just about anything. That makes for a fun and quick photo session.

Must have been a sweet dream...Favorite.

Recent Family Photos

2011-02-06T19:55:00.011-05:00

This past holiday season I photographed about 40 families. That's an all time high for me! Most of them I shot on my gray background so the scenery isn't too exciting- but it's all about the people. Here are just a few of those families...

Sneak Peek of Baby Elizabeth

2011-02-05T15:53:00.003-05:00

Oh my goodness. I was just so excited showing this image to Elizabeth's mother on the back of my camera. I thought it was just beautiful. Just a sneak peek- more to follow.

Kaylena's Senior Portraits

2011-02-03T06:53:00.001-05:00

This past fall I had the pleasure of taking Kaylena's senior portraits. Since I get off of work at 4:30 and the timechange for daylight savings had already taken place- we crammed our session into a half hour of daylight. It made for an exciting shoot!
She's got the greatest smile...

Thanks for running around with me and having me photograph you Kaylee! It was a lot of fun to shoot with someone with such a great personality and who is so easy going :)

Baby Wolfgang

2011-01-31T06:40:00.001-05:00

Wolfgang came to visit me during the first week of life to have his photos taken. He was so precious... and so was his sister- Scarlet- who consequently doesn't like to touch her brother much, and really doesn't like it when he cries.

Loved the bear hat they bought from Etsy.

Favorite: Completely unconventional sibling photo. It's like they live on two different planets. Makes me laugh :) Can't wait to see this family again and watch their children grow through the years. Thanks for braving the cold weather and bringing your little man out to see me!

Smith Orwan

2011-01-30T10:51:00.001-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

The Byrd's Christmas Card

2011-01-18T23:40:00.003-05:00

So you know it's bad when you attempt to blog something and you totally forget where to go on the internet to do it! My two month lack of blogging reflects the amount of work I have had on my plate.

I'm starting out slow- working back into the swing of things. I wanted to share a card I designed for the Byrd family this Christmas. They are a ton of fun to photograph. We even had a tree climbing contest at the end of the shoot.

Gettysburg Engagment Session

2010-11-22T11:42:00.005-05:00

I met Rachel at a location that meant a lot to her and her fiance, Matthew. They both attended Gettysburg College and it made an ideal location to take their engament photos. I loved hearing about how different areas and buildings have different meanings to them.

Thanks guys for such a great time. It was great getting to meet you and learn more about you two. Totally stoked for Rachel and Matt's wedding in Gettysburg next year!!

Announcing Holiday Themed Pet/Family Photos!

2010-11-16T06:46:00.004-05:00

I will be shooting on Saturday, November 20th in Carlisle at my home from 11-3

located at 1880 Mary Ln Carlisle 17013

On November the 21st I will be set up in Hummelstown from 2-5

at 860 Fairhaven Rd Hummelstown 17036

A portion of the procedes will support the Andy Zeller Scholarship in memory of my brother.

I'm not charging a sitting fee and there is no obligation to buy. Prints and products will be available for purchase and will be ready for the Holidays!

XC States 2010

2010-11-16T06:30:00.003-05:00

Recently I had the pleasure of shooting the Cross Country States in Hershey for PennTrackXC.com. Here are a few good shots of some amazing runners!

I had an interesting day though. While I was waiting in between races, I heard what sounded like someone falling into the quary next to the bridge where I was sitting. I walked over to see 5 deer swimming. They jumped out right near where I was standing and tried to ram their ways through the fence. Ever see a deer swim? I never had. Sorry it's not the best photo!Later, a deer came running down the trail, came within a few feet of me, scrambled across the bridge then went leaping across the stream. Turns out a deer ran right into a runner and hit her in the face. Wild!

One of the top male runners for the day. Ryan Gil.Congrats to all of the runners!

Erin's Boudiors

2010-11-08T09:02:00.006-05:00

I've been waiting for quite some time to share these with my blog viewers. We were waiting until after she gave her groom his album as a gift on the day of their wedding. I had a blast with Erin. She was so excited to give such an awesome gift to the man of her dreams. Afterwards, she sent me the sweetest messages about how I made her feel so comfortable, but most importantly, BEAUTIFUL. I'm sure you'll agree on the beautiful part!!

A big thank you goes to Brandy who did Erin's hair and make-up for the day. Awesome job!

The month of November only, if you come in for boudoirs you will recieve $25 off your package price. If you bring a friend, you both will recieve $50 off your packages. The regular package is $250. Calendars are an awesome holiday present ladies! I'm also entertaining boudoir bachelorette parties. If you come in with 4-6 girls, the future bride gets her entire package for free. We'll have drinks, music, relax and have a ton of fun with hair, make-up and some hott photos!

Sneak Peeks

2010-10-25T02:29:00.003-04:00

Here is a glimpse into the weddings I've done over the past 3 weeks. 3 weddings and 3 amazing couples.

October 9th, 2010

October 23rd, 2010 October 24th, 2010

Abbey's Sr Portraits

2010-10-22T00:02:00.006-04:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of working with Abbey McConnell taking her senior portraits. She did awesome- especially for not being too thrilled about having her photo taken!

Abbey photographed beautifully! Rock it Abbey!
These fields are beautiful this time of year!

Thank you to my husband for coming out and holding my reflector for the day and thank you to Abbey for being such a great sport all morning!

Published

2010-10-12T23:20:00.005-04:00

After seeing many of my photography mentors post blogs about getting published in magazines, I dreamt of the day it would happen to me. It seems almost like rising to a new level with your business. As if to say, I have arrived. Well, I can finally say it.

I have arrived.

I was recently informed that a couple I took engagement photos of had a picture published in the Patriot News' Wedding Style magazine Fall 2010 edition. They are now in the running to have their wedding published in an up and coming issue which would feature the photos I just took this past Saturday. I'm trying to play it cool, but I'm so overly excited about having my first photo published!

Be cool. Be cool. Here is the spread...

Courtesy of The Patriot News.

Here is the photo by itself so you can see it better.

Courtesy of me.

Blasts From the Past

2010-10-02T00:50:00.000-04:00

My faithful blog reader, Charity, one of my ONLY blog readers, pointed out that she's never seen photos I've taken at the "waterfalls" in Carlisle before. It made me realize that there are a lot of families I photographed last fall that I never posted.

So here are a few blasts from the past.

A note to current Army War College families:

I will have family sessions available all fall/winter. I was VERY busy last year, so make sure you book early to get a spot!

I have studio and outdoor session options.

Maya is Tutu Cute!

2010-09-08T10:36:00.007-04:00

Tuesday morning I got out of the shower to find Maya's 6 year old brother helping her get dressed. He was slipping on her black tap shoes after dressing her in this new outfit that Grammy bought her. Immediately I thought- PHOTOSHOOT!

Most of these poses Maya came up with on her own.

Kisses to everyone!

Maya Turns 3!

2010-08-17T13:13:00.001-04:00

As I stood in Old Navy picking out pink shirts, the rain beat down on the pavement outside. Ruined. The party was ruined. I spent weeks planning the details. Maybe because I'm artsy, maybe because Maya's just so darned cute, or because you only turn 3 once. Whatever it was, I was pulling out all the stops so that this was a party to be remembered. I based the theme on the book Pinkalicious where the girl in the story eats a ton of pink cupcakes and turns pink.

Everything was pink. I got Georgie Lou's Retro Candy shop to cater a candy buffet. I bought pink flowers from George's Flowers. I rented a Cotton Candy machine from Krueger's Rental. And I bought everyone pink clothes to wear for the day.

But then it started pouring rain, and just wouldn't stop. Until 30 mins before the party was to start. The clouds parted and the day was PERFECT.I served all pink food.I read the book to the kids :)I had them decorate their own cupcakes.We sang...

Maya opened presents.Then we painted faces. Charity and I are available for hire by the way ;)Big thank you to Charity. She took most of the photos for me so that I wasn't consumed by that task. She also helped me arange the flowers and paint faces! Thanks DAWG! Haha.

Maya is STILL talking about her pink party. It was a huge success. I think I have to start two more careers. Children's party planning and face painting!

Bert's 80th Birthday

2010-08-01T10:05:00.004-04:00

The other day I photographed Bert's 80th Birthday celebration. I was asked to take a photo of the entire group- which posed a difficult situation. The was no where I could go easily that I could fit everyone into the shot. So I photographed the group in two separate photos, then later I meshed the two together. It was actually somewhat difficult to do but I'm pretty impressed with how it turned out!

The right side:

The left side: All together now:

Happy Birthday Bert!

2010-07-30T05:56:00.007-04:00

Here is a shoot that I did last fall that I never posted. I photographed the most adorable little girls, who's parents own Fallen Tree Farms Bed and Breakfast. The girls were so full of life. We had a lot of fun.

Favorite!

The Coyne/Corbet Wedding

2010-07-19T23:47:00.000-04:00

Here is a wedding I never got a chance to post from the end of last year. It was an amazing day filled with TONS of family and guest. I started taking photos of Maura at her parents' home where I met her sisters. It felt like we had known one another for years. Maura was stunning. Handsome young guest.We took formals at the Star Barn. I thought it would make a great backdrop for photos, and I think I may have been right...Joe was awesome and a bit of a jokester, but he was able to keep a straight face for a few more serious and romantic photos.
Minus all the goose poop, it was pretty awesome to shoot there.

After a fancy shmancy coctail hour where several guest changed into evening attire, the reception started. And this was no ordinary reception. The party was insane. I was asked to stay a little longer and did not mind one bit!

I've never seen so many crazy dancers!
The dance floor was packed all night long.Joe, or "Corbs" as they call him, was the life of the party! I believe this was a Billy Joel number.A family tradition- everyone sings together arm in arm at the end of the reception. It was pretty awesome to have everyone so involved through the entire day. Maura and Joe, thank you so much for sharing a part of yourselves and the best day of your lives (so far) with me. It was such an honor!

Long Hill Wedding- June 19th, 2010

2010-07-08T10:05:00.003-04:00

I arrived at the Conewago Mannor Inn in Elizabethtown and was in awe. Not only was the location perfect with the most beautiful rooms and antique details, but Lindsey had everything planned and set up so beautifully along with the help of Jonnaysa Kirkham of Planned Perfection in Lancaster. The elegantance and flare she gave to her details completely distracted me that day from the humidity and heat.

The use of feathers to accent the flowers were gorgeous!Don't you just love her hair piece?!One thing I loved about photographing Lindsey and Josh's wedding is knowing how meant they are for one another. They are so in love and everyone knows it. They are the center of eachother's world. Very romantic.I just love when every centerpiece has it's own individual personality.The two signature drinks- The Punky and The Mister- Lindsey and Josh's nicknames for one another. Adorable.

Thank you Lindsey and Josh for having me capture your beautiful day. It was an honor and a pleasure. I wish you love and happyness in the future!

Proud Momma

2010-07-07T12:08:00.001-04:00

I'm a bit of a Tom Boy. I used to play men's lacrosse. I started playing the women's version of the sport when I hit college. After a year on the field, I stepped in as our only goalie and at one point was ranked in the top 20 goalies for DIII women's lacrosse. So needless to say, you can imagine how proud I am that my son, at the mere age of 6, attended his first ever lacrosse camp at Messiah College this past week. He was several feet shorter than the rest, but every bit aggressive. That's my boy!
That's a catch!

And I'm sure this is about to become a GOAL!! Whoot whoot!

Not going to lie, I got a little choked up watching him.

It was an awesome experience and the coaches were very supportive of my little man. Thanks to everyone who helped to mold his skills, but most importantly his confidence, over the last week.

Independance Day Weekend

2010-07-06T13:34:00.000-04:00

I hope that everyone had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. We spent a lot of time by the pool and partaking in firework activities. Here are a few we set off at home last night.AJ with his sparkler.Maya with hers- double fisted.

Happy birthday USA!

Rehersal Dinner for Megan Williams

2010-06-25T19:12:00.009-04:00

I had the honor of spending the evening with Megan Williams and her family capturing her rehersal dinner for her marriage to Michael Blanton. She was SO much fun to photograph. My kind of girl. You'll see in the photos that she has a great sense of humor.

Megan with her maid of honor. Some couples shots I took of Megan and Michael.

Making a shot into the crab shell bucket.

Good luck you two! Here's to a long and happy life together!

Lindsey and Josh- Sneak Peek

2010-06-20T09:04:00.002-04:00

Last night I photographed a wedding for Lindsey Hill and Josh Long. A little hot, but Lindsey cooled us down with some ice cream. Thanks Lindsey and Josh for a great day! You two looked AWESOME. (More to come.)

June's Whimsical Promotion

2010-05-27T22:35:00.012-04:00

Back lit edges, frilly tutus, tall grasses, fairy wands, sun flare, artsy photojornalistic action shots, majestic dreaminess (whatever that means)... I've been developing this promotion for quite some time and I'm finally announcing the details. I'm having a whimsically themed photo shoot for adorable little girls this month. Sittings are available in Carlisle and the Hershey area by appointment.

I will be providing most of the apparel and props, you just have to provide the adorable little girl or girls. I could even photograph besties or sisters being cuties together. The initial investment is $100 which covers the experience with an online gallery where you can view your photos and an 8x10 print of your choice. You are more than welcome to order whatever you want after the shoot, however I have set up 3 suggested options featuring a promotional price.

1. 20x24 gallery wrap for only $200 (love these- saves you all the $ on an obsolete frame)

2. 10 page flushmount album $200
3. Scrapbookers package 50 4x6s for $200

Get the disk for $100 (with a minimum print order of $200)

Maya had a blast during this photo experience. Minimal posing, just playing. I even let her run in a field when we were done. Give me a call 717-215-2874 or email megan@meganzellerphotography.comn today to book your spot so your little cutie can come hang out to create whimsically beautiful portraits!

Ben's Eagle Scout Ceremony

2010-05-27T07:12:00.006-04:00

Lately I've had the honor of doing a few Eagle Scout ceremonies. Ben Fetter rose to the ranks of Eagle on Sunday and I was there to capture all the festivities. So many people came to support him and I've never seen so many presentations!

Congratulations Ben!

Engagement Session at Boling Springs and Carlisle

2010-05-21T07:47:00.001-04:00

I met with Kristin and Travis, who's wedding I will be shooting this October, at Children's Lake in Boiling Springs for their engagement session. We had a blast and did some different things. The ducks are always entertaining at the lake!

There were so many ducklings when we were there.
This duck seemed to be running a daycare. Cracked me up. She had even more than this- they are in the water.Back to Kristin and Travis being totally adorable.Favorite The scenery there is breath taking.

Then we moved on to the streets of Carlisle. A few areas I've spotted where I've always wanted to shoot.

On the next few, I took Kristin and Travis out of their comfort zone, but I assured them that the images would look awesome. I can't tell you how pleased I am with outcome. They totally rocked it. Bet you could never tell that Kristin is a little shy and that Travis doesn't like to have his photo taken!!

Shy? What? Never.

Finding beauty in the most unlikely of places...

Thanks for hanging out with me and trusting me! I had a blast and can't wait for your wedding in October!

The Bowsers

2010-05-18T07:43:00.004-04:00

I was tempted to make the title of this blog entry: The Cutest Family EVER. I loved photographing them. Two of the little ones had just woken up from naps and were just warming up in this first photo. Fully awake and ready to go.Loving the yellow field of flowers!Check out the hawk that was watching our photo shoot, and I think I know why...Haha. Just kidding.

I love these photos. Here they are separately in case you can't see them very well in this addorable triptych.And just one more.

Can't say I didn't warn you about them being the CUTEST family ever!

Word to Your Mothers

2010-05-09T10:32:00.003-04:00

Happy Mother's Day! Today is the last day to email an order to me by midnight to receive 1/2 off your prints.

These are the flowers I received from AJ and Maya.This is a rainbow from last night.

Have a great day!

McCarthy Sneak Peek

2010-05-02T21:45:00.004-04:00

Here is a little sneak peek of the McCarthy family's photo shoot. I know they are anxiously waiting to see the rest. Here's a little teaster in the meantime. Claire was a real ham :)

Word to Your Mothers

2010-04-28T19:09:00.005-04:00

From now until Mother's Day I am offering prints at 1/2 price off the original pricing on any new orders placed between now and then. Since every post is better with photos, here are some of my mother from our Disney trip...

Thanks for everything Mom! I'll print whatever you want for free ;)

Soccer season

2010-04-22T13:24:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to share some soccer photos of Andrew with you all. He has his first game today so I'll probably post more later. I need to post photos more often. I have so much to share. I need more motivation though. I guess sometimes I feel like the only one looking at my blog is my anynomous coworker "M". I would like to do a blog reader/comment poster reward of some sort. I'm open to suggestions so leave your ideas in the comments below.

That pose is Andrew's idea- not mine. Just sayin'.

Next three are an action series of him throwing the ball at my lens. We had a long talk after I finished shooting these :)

Don't worry though- no cameras were harmed in the making of these picutres.

Remembrance Photography- NILMDTS

2010-04-20T22:07:00.000-04:00

The other night I went to a 6 1/2 hr training session for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS). This non-profit organization is amazing. Their mission is to provide professional photography for families who are suffering the loss of a baby as a way to help the families grieve and begin to heal their hearts. About three years ago I joined NILMDTS and was approved to be one of the volunteer photographers.

During the night of the training I was blown about by the philosophies of the organization and how humble they are throughout the ranks above and beyond what I had expected.

photo collage from the NILMDTS site

Check out their mission statement and website if you haven't already.

Vacation

2010-04-18T11:04:00.003-04:00

Sorry folks. I've been on vacation this past week and did NOT bring my computer with me. I have tons of photos to share from DISNEY though! And I photographed a wedding Friday just before I left. We had an amazing time and I can't wait to share our trip with you all!

Happy Easter Everyone!

2010-04-04T22:40:00.005-04:00

I have no idea how we managed this. We were 1 for 1- batting 1000. I sat up the tripod for the first time to take a family photo and set the timer. We took only ONE shot- everyone was looking at the camera at least. It's not a perfect family photo, but we'll take it! This shot did NOT go as well. I tried to get some of our beautiful pink tree in the background, but this was taken shortly after Maya ripped the hem of this dress. Happy Easter everyone!

The Crayola Factory

2010-03-20T14:38:00.012-04:00

It was a rainy weekend. The wind howled. But that didn't stop us. We drove up to Easton, PA to visit The Crayola Factory.

The best part (for me) was learning how the crayons and markers are made. I love learning the science behind things. I couldn't get them to tell me what they use in Color Wonder markers though. Non-toxic, odor and colorless, and it oxidizes. If you have any guesses, let me know!

150 degree wax pours down like a river over this metal mold and fills the 100s of crayon shaped holes. Then cool water is pumped through the mold to harden the crayons quickly.

This is the machine that wraps the crayons with the paper.Serving Macaroni and Cheese to Maya. That is one of the most recent colors named by a 5 yr old little girl during a Crayola contest. In this room they give you each a pack of white clay to play with.Check out the sting ray! I drew Starry Starry Night (or something like that) on the ground in the sidewalk chalk area.
This place is pretty cool if your an artist.

These are wells of melted crayon wax that you could dip into and paint on a piece of paper.More wells... The crew.

Work it!

Finally we visited the Crayola store.

Look at all of these Crayola products!!

Here they house the worlds largest crayon.

Our family.

It's a great winter or rainy day activity. Check it out sometime!

Happy 1st Day of Spring!

2010-03-20T13:03:00.003-04:00

March 20th. The first day of spring. To celebrate, we went for free italian ice at Rita's in Carlisle.

This was the line. Not nearly the nightmare that the line was in Harrisburg last year in the freezing cold!Maya got cherry, can you tell?
AJ had mango.

Even Max got his own custard.

We've been taking some family trips so I have more photos to share. Next month we're going to Disney World again- so keep your eyes out for those photos. Next photos up: The Crayola Factory from our trip last weekend!

Remake of a Classic

2010-03-09T22:53:00.009-05:00

My parents approached me just the other day with a photo idea. They have a photo of me as a young lady in a dress my mother made. They thought if I photographed my daughter, Maya, in a similar way that we would almost look identical.

This one is of me.I bought an antique rocking chair, however, I did not have or get a background with a big old butter churn on it. So it's a remake but not a replica.Maya has more hair than me too."I'm jus weeding Mommy."Sorry little lady, the photo shoot is all over.

Such a cool idea though- maybe I'll do more in the future. What do you guys think? Does she look like me?

Las Vegas Style

2010-03-04T06:55:00.009-05:00

The other night I had the pleasure of photographing a Las Vegas themed social event put on at the Letort View Community Center by the civilians of the Army War College. I got the biggest kick out of these photos!

They had craps tables... Interesting looking people running the tables...
People winning LOTS of chips...

Looking suave...

Dancing...

But best of all, they were taking some crazy photos at my photo booth!

Some people came in costume....
For everyone else, I provided PROPS :) Lots and lots of props!

The lovely Charity (in the purple boa) came to help out for the night. Many thanks Chair!

Here we are together :)

Shout out to the triplets who manned the coat room all night.

This is the first time I've done prop photos. I was a lot of fun. I'm predicting that this will be the start of something new. We could even set it up at your wedding!

The Davidsons

2010-02-22T06:45:00.008-05:00

This weekend I met the Davidsons. What an awesome family. I was lucky they all made it to the studio. One part of the family is visiting from Utah and was snowed in at a cabin until the day of the shoot. Talk about cabin fever.

We first started with shots inside at my house.

I was so impressed with how well behaved their children were! And so smiley!

Told you they were good! This shot was mom's idea. An action shot to capture the essence of their family. Brilliant.

We ended outside and braved the cold.

It was truely a pleasure to hang out with the Davidsons for a little while. Families like this remind me of why I love being a photographer :)

Little Baby Chase

2010-02-18T07:49:00.001-05:00

Meet Chase. This little bundle was a bit premature when he was born. He was surprisingly one month old when we took his newborn photos. He's still so TINY! He was very coopertive and didn't mind sleeping most of the time for me. He was born close to Christmas. Here he is wrapped up like a little present.

What's really cool is that I photographed the wedding of Chase's parents. I hope to continue to document their family as they grow. Best job ever!

The Nelsons

2010-02-16T10:09:00.002-05:00

After a long day of photographing children, these two were a refreshing break at the end of my day. We definately connected and I hope that this will not be the last time I get to photograph them. We started at a beautiful dark wood shed.

Then we moved down to a cascading waterfall.

Hanlin Girls

2010-02-11T13:14:00.001-05:00

I absolutely loved photographing these two sisters. They were so vibrant and full of life. I had the pleasure of taking their photos on the grounds of their family's bed and breakfast at Fallen Tree Farm. The girls were just as beautiful as the location.They have horses and fields- lots of fun stuff to shoot.

Favorite!

The Hanlin's also have an area to do weddings in an old stone foundation. It has a really cool look to it. If you're getting married and need a small venue, definately check it out by clicking HERE. The bed and breakfast is adorable and the Hanlins are amazing people to work with. In these last three shots you can see the foundation in the background.

I will be photographing a wedding at Fallen Tree Farm in October so there will be more photos of the venue in the future. Keep your eyes out!

The Turner Twins

2010-01-31T16:18:00.007-05:00

I had the best time photographing the Turner twins for their senior portraits. Their mother, Amy, was hilarious- making funny voices saying, "Oh Michael, you look SOOOOO handsome!". Isn't Meghan gorgeous?

I'll end with this one. I can see it printed huge. I've fallen in love with the movement of lines and moodyness of it.

Photoshop Skills

2010-01-30T15:06:00.004-05:00

I had a bride ask me if there was any way to remove the guy standing in the isle from this photo. To be quite honest, I wasn't so sure I could do it. But I love a challenge. So I got right to work with my clone stamp tool and the results were... ... not too shabby.
Never would have known he was there!

Christmas Photos

2010-01-19T12:09:00.003-05:00

Here are some pictures I took of Andrew and Maya over the holidays. This session literally took me only 15 mins. They are such good little posers!His eye may be a little squished, but it's one of my favorites.

I've decided that I think I should take more photos of my children. I could do so much fun stuff and I'm missing oportunities. This is a skill I should share with myself a little more than I do. Any suggestios for fun little kid sessions?

Martin Luther King Jr Ball

2010-01-19T12:00:00.007-05:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of photographing the MLK Ball for Bethel AME and invited guests. The theme this year was red white and blue.

The committee that put the event together.

This is the new pastor at Bethel in Carlisle with his wife.These young ladies get serenaded each year with a Happy Birthday song. Her jacket is not falling off by the way, it was part of her dance move.

"The Lord is GOOD"You may remember Ruth and Marcus Hodge from their 50th wedding anniversary I photographed in September.My favorite part of the night is the traditional Soul Train!
I also did posed photos for families and couples.

I'm sorry I don't have photos of me dancing, but that is the beauty of being the photographer :)

Loktah

2010-01-09T11:56:00.005-05:00

If you follow my blog, you have heard me mention them before. Loktah is an awesome, environmentally friendly company, from whom I buy my wedding CD cases. They just came out with a new line of cases. I really love them and want to buy a bunch of them for this season. Leave a comment below telling me which one you like the best! You can check out all of their products by clicking HERE. Definately check them out if you are a photographer who offers CDs- it's a beautiful way to present your product showing that you care about your work, your customer, and the environment.

This is my favorite from the new line.

Dusk

And these are my 3 favorites out of the entire line.

WhiteCranberry
And all black.Leave a comment!

Baby Julia

2010-01-05T07:38:00.003-05:00

I just love working with newborns. The final product is always SO cute. It seemed that Julia cried the whole time, but we still got a ton of great shots of her during her peaceful moments.

Being born so close to Christmas, I thought this was a cute idea. A little package from God.

Julia's mom and dad were awesome. It's amazing to see the unconditional love parents have for their children. It reminds me of when my children were babies and how I never could have imagined feeling that way about anything unil I held Andrew for the first time!

I'd like to thank my parents for letting us take over their home to do the photo shoot- you guys are great too.

The Vink Family

2010-01-04T07:20:00.001-05:00

Meet the Vink family. We took their photos at my favorite spot. Ryan looking adorable.
This little guy was a handful! He kept running away from me and seemed pretty scared of the camera. Only after I told him to NOT sit in my little wooden chair that I brought for him, did he sit down and smile. Hahaha!

The whole family.
These guys were so cute that I had to zoom in for a shot.

Thanks Vink family, I had fun!

Swartz Family

2010-01-02T07:18:00.001-05:00

Here is another family I took photos of by the gazebo.

I was loving the light during this session- sunset under a layer of clouds. I love the pastel look to the sky.

Adgie Family

2009-12-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here is one of the families I photographed a little while ago at a gazebo.

Many more family photos on the way!

The Blackwell's Flushmount Album

2009-12-28T20:29:00.009-05:00

I know what you're all waiting for- a long blog post! These are photos of a flush mounted album I just got back from Pictage for the Blackwell's wedding back in the spring/summer of this year at Crossing Vineyards. Before I shipped the album off, my dorkface, Charity, as I so lovingly call her, helped me photograph some sample photos so everyone can see what flushmounted albums look like and how they are designed. The photos are mounted flush with the pages. The pages are thick and sturdy.

Amy and Greg decided to see one another before the wedding for a "first look" which always works to the benefit of the bride and groom. They have some alone time before the day takes off in high gear. Every time I've witnessed a "first look" it has been a really special moment. This also allowed the couple to get right to the reception only a few short minutes after the ceremony concluded. Awesome concept.

I love the contrast of the warm photos with me and my heavy coat in the snow!

I'll tell you- through working with the photos on the computer and designing this album, nothing prepared me for how beautifully it turned out. Seeing the photos printed out large in the album was breath taking. This is a 20 page (40 sides) 10x13 black leather flushmounted album made by Willowbook.

What I typically do, is have the bride and groom pick out their favorite photos. Then I submit them to Pictage for design with certain specifications and directions. Then I look over it, change some things, then have my client review the book online before sending it off for printing.

Charity loved this page so she decided to take a detail shot.

The large groups we did after the ceremony. Isn't this setting ideal?!

Here I am like a proud mom about to send her kid off to college. Safe travels beautiful album!

Merry Christmas Amy and Greg!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T13:11:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Although I hope that no one is checking my blog on Dec. 25th! Santa stopped by our house and spoiled everyone this morning. Now we're headed to my parents' house to get spoiled some more!

The Tree

2009-12-12T14:15:00.003-05:00

This is an artistic representation of our Christmas tree this year. I came in from a shoot and my lens fogged up, so I thought it would be interesting to photograph the tree with the foggy lens.

Glasses Glare

2009-12-02T23:01:00.004-05:00

I'm not going to lie. This was not easy to do and it did not take me only 5 mins. I'm rather impressed with the results though. I removed some major glare from Jim's glasses at his request. I had to basically rebuild large parts of his eyes. I wanted to post it to show the endless posibilities in Photoshop. I'm always ready for a challenge!
It looks rather subtle, but when the image is larger, it's a huge difference!

Electric

2009-12-01T07:00:00.003-05:00

I was shooting some boudoirs yesterday and I just had to post this shot. There's just something about it I love. Maybe not for her album, but I love it as an image by itself.What do you think?

The Noss Family

2009-11-29T06:02:00.007-05:00

Check out this little cutie. The Noss family was so much fun to photograph. We were very busy during the shoot.Exploring...Looking adorable...Snuggling...Throwing leaves...Cheesing...And posing.I took this photo as I was driving away. You would have thought she was all out of steam! I think she's really getting the hang of the whole posing thing :)

Previews

2009-11-23T00:14:00.006-05:00

I think some much needed sneak previews are in order. After a little computer program problems, I have found myself a little behind. Today I got down to business and got A LOT done. Galleries are coming very soon for all of my patient customers!

Giving is Awesome

2009-11-19T13:28:00.006-05:00

Giving IS awesome- and I'm on board. This is a nationwide movement to award less fortunate families with the gift of custom photography.
Nominations are due by Christmas Eve and I will be announcing the winner on Christmas Day! I will be giving away a generous package including the sitting fee and print products to one lucky recipient.
Check it out. The idea is to nominate someone you know who deserves a special treat who cannot otherwise afford custom photography due to financial hardships. There are some rules with the giveaway.

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
* The nominee must reside in Pennsylvania. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
* You must e-mail me the full story : megan@meganzellerphotography.com
The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.
With love,
Megan

Keeping Up With the Cochrans

2009-11-17T21:58:00.007-05:00

I'm doing my best to stay above water with all of the work I've been shooting. Here is one of what feels like hundreds of families I've photographed recently. The Cochrans were great. I loved their 4 month old Jack Russell/Beagle mixed puppies. They had a great spirit as a family. When it came time to do a photo of just the girls, they didn't want to be real affectionate and close- but the older sister made a great point- let's just do it to make a great photo for mom and dad. I thought that was very mature and a great outlook. Let's do what it takes to get a great photo. Make the most of the experience. Let's do it for mom and dad. I think their efforts were WELL worth it. They look beautiful in this photo!

Star Barn

2009-11-10T07:10:00.002-05:00

This past Saturday I shot a wedding. I had recomended trying to take photos at the Star Barn after the ceremony. I can't tell you how pleased I was with the outcome. This place was beautiful at sunset. Even the weather was perfect. Can't wait to show you the rest from their day!

Cao Family

2009-11-02T23:26:00.006-05:00

Family photos are in full swing this fall. I met the Cao family Friday by a bridge that I love. I thought these vests were a great example of wearing something that goes together well without having to wear matching sweaters :) The colors went very well with the foliage.Jennie's sister came along as well to jump into some of the shots.

This is what I love about the bridge- the way it frames a shot.

Back to work! I have more photos coming your way. Fall is such a busy time!

Jennifer Rick's Back Yard Wedding

2009-10-27T07:56:00.002-04:00

I guess it's a blessing that I've been so busy this year. That is both good and bad for blogging- good because there's a lot to blog, bad because you get to see the photoshoots months later! This is Jen and Andy's wedding that I photographed on August 8th of this year. Charity Murtorff (aka my dork face) did the special effects and retouching for me with our handy dandy Totally Rad Actions made by the Boutwells. Thank you Charity for your help!The ceremony was very sweet and full of laughter and joy. Married!

Here's the best part- photographing the bride...
Jen has this killer look she does with her eyes.

Congratulations! We miss you Jen. Take good care of her Andy!

The Boling Gray Wedding

2009-10-25T22:53:00.001-04:00

This weekend last year, Emily and Steven were married. I never had a chance to post their photos so I though now was as good a time as any. I ran into Emily's parents who said they are doing wonderfully.

I love when couples have photo requests!
It poured rain that day so we stayed mostly indoors.

But Emily insisted that she throw on a rain coat and brave the rain for just a few shots.

One of my favorite ring shots of all time.

Happy anniversary you two!

October Sun

2009-10-23T15:15:00.003-04:00

As a person contstantly focused on visual perceptions of light and color- I am taken back by the beauty around me here in Carlisle at the height of the fall season. The late afternoon October sun is beautiful. Here's my little man, looking dapper- like an American Eagle model. Tomorrow we are hosting a Halloween Party for AJ and his friends (Maya too). I'm excited. It's so mom (and 30) of me to throw a party for my child for my birthday- and not mind:)

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-10-21T22:26:00.002-04:00

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I am donating 10% of my sales to the Susan G. Komen foundation. I was inspired by the woman who makes these beautiful necklaces- Lu, of Artistic Works by Lu. She is donating $10 to research for the cure for each necklace she sells. Contact Maggie at maggie@artisticworksbylu.com if you are interested in purchasing one of these beauties.

Pumpkin Carving

2009-10-19T06:43:00.002-04:00

This year my husband, Dave, wanted to carve a pumpkin representing each of us. Starting on the left is Maya, AJ, me, and Dave. I caught a lot of flack for following a pattern and taking my time on my pumpkin from Dave. AJ just loves it though- he told me that taking my time would really pay in the long run.

It didn't take much time, it's just really fragile.

PennTrack XC Races

2009-10-14T11:02:00.000-04:00

Just the other week, I phtoographed for PennTrack XC here in Carlisle for a meet. Here are some of the top runners. You can find the rest of my photos and other coverage here.This was the top female varsity runner for the day. Here is her smile as she looks back at her time crossing the finish line.

Although it rained at the end of the races, I took some shots of the awardees- and this fun shot.

Leukemia Lymphoma Society

2009-10-11T09:28:00.000-04:00

First of all, I'd like to announce that for the month of October, I have decided to donate 10% of my product sales to Breast Cancer Research. I'm also working on several Pet Day Photoshoots in the area to help out local non-profit animal organizations.

Second, I'd like to pass along an email I recieved the other day from my college roommate who loves to run and has been getting involved with several big races, such as the Boston Marathon and many others.

She writes: When I was choosing my next race, I wanted to race for something bigger than myself, so I chose to race with Team in Training to raise funds for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS).
On January 10th I will be running the Walt Disney World Marathon in the hopes that my efforts will help cure blood cancers. I would love your support in trying to reach my goal of exceeding $3800 for the cause. Here is the link to my website
http://pages.teamintraining.org/md/wdw10/mbliss5lew
I am personally touched by the LLS after loosing my brother, Andy, in 1992 to Leukemia. If you have the time and a little bit of money, please visit her page to make a donation to help her reach her goal and so we can find a cure for this devistating disease.

On a much happier note, how awesome will it be to run a marathon through Disney World?! And because every post looks better with a photo- here is a photo I took the other day of Maya- full photoshoot to come.

MacKenzie's Senior Portraits

2009-10-05T07:54:00.002-04:00

AJ and Maya

2009-10-04T15:52:00.002-04:00

I know everyone is having a little AJ and Maya withdrawl...

The Hodge's 50th Wedding Anniversary

2009-10-02T09:44:00.001-04:00

I have known the Hodges for 2 years now. Ruth has hired me for a good number of events at Shiloh Baptist Church in Carlisle. I've really enjoyed the relationship I've made with all the amazing people at that church. On September 26th, 2009, Ruth and Mark celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and I was there to capture it all. Ruth bought this hat before all the planning really began, then built the whole event around this hat. There were a few objections to the hat from others because you couldn't see her eyes when she wore it. But it was very much Ruth's style and I loved it.The groom getting preparted.I really enjoyed hearing people talk throughout the night about how Ruth and Mark are an example of how a married couple should be. An example of how we should love each other.

Marital role models.Their wedding party was so large I had to stand on the third pew to get this photo. Many of the people in their orriginal wedding party were able to be there, 50 years later. Her brother walked her down the isle both times. This time her children and grandsons were welcome additions to the wedding party. Everything was gold, even Ruth's nails. She paid close attention to every little detail. My kind of bride :)

This is her grandson, Andrew, singing a blessing. He is in a very popular boys choir and he sings like an angel. He's got a great name too.

I could not get over this cake!

This headpiece was on loan from a friend. A golden beaded queen's crown.

Possibly one of my favorite shots ever.

This is their wedding album from 1959.

Their photographer worked at the US Army War College as a photographer- Dick Nail, now deceased. This event was all about tradition. In case you're not aware, I am one of the photographers for the USAWC.
50 years later. Still going strong.
Congratulations you two! I'll plan to be there on your 75th!

Halloween is Coming!

2009-09-27T19:55:00.002-04:00

Ugh. Spider I found on the side of our house- a little larger than the size of a quarter. Yuck. Stay outside please.

Adrienne and Michael's Wedding

2009-09-18T22:53:00.016-04:00

On August 28th I photographed another fabulous wedding at Crossing Vineyards for Adrienne and Michael. They were so much fun to hang out with for the day. They had their own unique style which included walking in to the wedding ceremony together with sun glasses on. These two have endured a long distance relationship stretching from East Coast to West Coast. As soon as Michael gets a job out here, he will be joining his bride and her son, Nathan. That has to be tough when you're in love. I enjoy hear the stories of how they synchronize their TIVO to watch shows and movies together on speaker phone. I'm sure they are looking forward to the days they can go out on dates together, or snuggle up next to each other to watch a movie. Never take a single moment you have together for granted. On with the photos!

This was the first time I've been to the vineyard when the grapes were mature and purple.

Adrienne's details for this small intimate wedding were awesome.
Looking out at her rainy day. Everything worked out beautifully though.I have seen the pouring of sands rather than a unity candle quite often but I loved the way Adrienne and Michael decided to do it. Each couple who attended the wedding had their own vile of matching sand to add to the jar that will be kept as a constant memory of the love and support of their friends and family.The ring exchange.The rain let up just long enough for us to get some outdoor shots.Adrienne with her sister, who also happens to be a photographer like me!I loved photographing their first dance in the barrel room. Beautiful.This was the first time I had photographed the reception upstairs. It was small and quaint. Perfect.Adrienne's niece and father, dancing.

And they lived happily ever after. Congratulations to the two of you!