Harrisburg Newborn Photography: 3 Reasons Why Parents Don’t Book Newborn Photos (And Why You Should!)

04.08.25

As a photographer with a specialty in Harrisburg newborn photography, I have the privilege of working with new parents month after month and seeing the joy and love on their faces when I reveal their newborn portraits. That reveal is always one of my favorite moments! But there are so many families who don’t have newborn photos taken. What are their concerns and should you worry about them too? These are some of the top reasons why some parents don’t book newborn photos.

A sleeping newborn baby boy displays a sweet little smile during his studio newborn photo session.

They Think It’ll Be Too Much Work

I’m a mom too, and I completely get it! Preparing for a baby takes so much thought and work, and the idea of getting yourself together for a photo shoot just days after giving birth, when you’re probably getting very little sleep, sounds daunting. But trust me when I tell you that it’s less work than you might expect!

As a photographer, one of my focuses is on making your session stress-free or as close to it as possible. I’ll take care of the planning and the styling, and I already have all the props, wraps, and accessories we need.

A new mom and new dad pose with the tiny baby boy and kiss him on his head during their first portrait session as new parents with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Harrisburg Newborn Photography Isn’t a Family Tradition

Maybe your parents didn’t have newborn photos of you and your siblings, or you didn’t take newborn photos for your first child so you worry that starting with your youngest child will be unfair. But it’s never too late to start a new family tradition! Newborn portraits are a beautiful gift to your future self and your family, whether you have them for one child or all your children.

tiny newborn baby boys photographed in all orange in Harrisburg Newborn photography studio

They Expect to Have Enough of Their Own Photos

You and your family and friends will take tons of photos of your new baby, of course, and that’s wonderful! But professional portraits fill a different need. Not only will they be expertly crafted and high-quality, but with professional newborn portraits, you’ll have baby photos of your baby with you. There are so few times when your entire growing family is in a photo together because someone’s always behind the camera, but a newborn photo shoot gives you these precious memories forever.

Newborn Photographer near Harrisburg PA captures sweet pose of a newborn baby boy posed on a little bed prop and dressed in blue

Booking Your Harrisburg Newborn Photography

Ultimately, there are always reasons why it might seem practical or reasonable to skip newborn photos. But those reasons will all feel so small when you have personalized, professional portraits of your baby at their tiniest (and of you with your newborn baby) in the years to come as you watch your child grow and change by the day. Reach out to Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s get your photo session in the books!

Baby boy is photographed in a bucket with an orange blanket during his first photoshoot with Best Newborn Photographer near Harrisburg PA

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How Central PA Cake Smash Photos Can Complete Your Baby Album

03.15.25

Your little one’s first year is an experience like no other, and you deserve to capture the memories to look back on with professional baby photography. Portraits for the milestones of your baby’s first year are always precious, but a custom photo shoot for central PA cake smash photos is the perfect way to close out your little one’s baby album.

Baby's First Birthday Photos on winter white setup

Tell the Story of Your Baby’s First Year

As a photographer and a parent, I know that every photo shoot for a young family is special and one of a kind. But they take on such a new life when you can see portraits from several milestones one after the other. Suddenly you’re reliving those moments and the moments in between, watching your baby grow all over again.

That’s the beauty of finishing your baby’s photo album with cake smash portraits for their first birthday. When you put them together with your baby’s other portraits like their newborn photos and sitter session portraits, they tell the story of this magical first year of life and all of its new experiences and discoveries.

Central PA First Birthday Photography

Aligning with the Aesthetic of Your Baby’s Other Portraits

This is particularly the case if you hire the same professional baby photographer for all of your baby’s photo sessions. Not only do your cake smash photos and your baby’s other portraits come together to tell a story but they do it in a cohesive and beautifully coordinated way. Home snapshots will always have their place in your heart, but professional portraits have the quality and lighting to really bring their image to life.

A custom wall portrait grouping by full service portrait photographer, Karissa Zimmer.

Highlighting Your Baby’s Emerging Personality with Customized Central PA Cake Smash Photos

One of the reasons that cake smash photos are so beloved is because of where your little one’s development is at their first birthday. As your child turns one year old, they’re starting to be able to show you their preferences. That could be a particular color they seem to gravitate toward (like the lovely shades of green we used for this baby girl’s cake smash photo shoot) or a song that always makes them do that adorably wiggly baby dancing. A custom photo shoot for this occasion is the perfect way to complete their baby album because it shows how your little one has changed and grown in their first year and is starting to develop their own interests.

Cake Smash First Birthday Photography near me

If your baby has their first birthday coming up, I’d love to celebrate the occasion with you with a custom cake smash photo shoot. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography in Harrisburg and let’s chat!

Central Baby Baby Cake Smash Photos by Karissa Zimmer Photography

Baby girl celebrates her first birthday with a cake smash studio photography session in Camp Hill PA

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How to Pick a Theme for Your Camp Hill PA Cake Smash Photo Shoot

02.04.25

If you’re getting ready to celebrate your baby’s first birthday - first of all, congratulations! This is an exciting milestone and your family should cherish it for the beautiful moment that it is. For many families, that means commemorating the occasion with a fun tradition: cake smash photos. If you’re making plans for a Camp Hill PA cake smash photo shoot, here are a few tips for deciding on a theme.

Baby girl smiles on little bed prop surrounded by purple balloons at her first birthday cake smash photoshoot in Camp Hill PA Cute baby girl poses on her all purple set during her studio cake smash photo session with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Think About What Your Baby Loves

At almost one year old, your baby is, of course, a little young to express genuine interest in specific topics. Still, you’ve probably noticed if there are certain things that make your baby’s eyes light up like certain toys that fascinate them or songs that bring a smile to their face. If so, any of your baby’s favorites could make a perfect theme for their cake smash photos. This can be an extra special reminder of what brought your baby joy (and brought you joy too, because who doesn’t adore those baby giggles?) at this moment.

adorable baby girl in purple at her custom first birthday cake smash photoshoot with best baby photographer near Camp Hill PA

Consider Your Decor and Aesthetics for Your Camp Hill PA Cake Smash Photo Shoot

Another great way to come up with your theme for cake smash photos - or for any photo shoot, for that matter - is to think about where you want to display the portraits. What type of decor and colors are in that room and what types of themes will complement that decor?

The adorable baby girl’s cake smash photos featured in this blog, for example, have a cute strawberry theme. They’ll look amazing in a room that has pinks or reds in its color scheme, or colors and decor that align with this look.

One year old baby girl smashes her first birthday during her photo session with Camp Hill Photographer, Karissa Zimmer

Don’t Overthink it

Your cake smash photo theme doesn’t have to be something elaborate, specific, or meaningful. Photos are meant to be aesthetic, after all, so your theme could just be something you think is cute! Or it could be something you enjoy that you’re excited to share with your child someday, like baseball or cooking.

In fact, you don’t even have to have a theme, per se. You can just choose a color scheme you love that will look wonderful in the room where you plan to display your baby’s photos.

Best baby photographer in Camp hill PA cake smash photography first birthday photography near camp Hill PA

Let’s Plan Your Camp Hill PA Cake Smash Photo Shoot!

Already have some exciting ideas in mind for your baby’s cake smash photos? I can’t wait to hear them! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s book your session and start planning your baby’s once-in-a-lifetime cake smash photos.

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How to Prepare Before Your Camp Hill PA Senior Photo Shoot

01.22.25

There are so many exciting events and milestones in your senior year of high school. You’ll have your last prom and homecoming, you might have senior night for whatever sports or activities you’re involved in, and your school probably has some fun senior-exclusive events too. Your Camp Hill PA senior photo shoot is one of those milestones, and here are some prep tips to make sure you get spectacular senior portraits.

High School senior poses with his mom and family dog during his senior portrait session

Invest Time in Skin Care

One of the best things you can do to make sure you look your best for the big day is to spend some time on your skin care. Yes, modern editing puts a lot of power in my hands to tidy things up in your photos, but still, no one wants to worry about pimples during their senior photo shoot. Plus, if you’re wearing makeup, a smoother complexion makes your makeup look better too. You don’t have to get too fancy and it’s not ideal to try out any new products too close to your photo shoot. But for a few weeks, be diligent about the basics like cleansing your skin twice a day, using any acne products you use, and applying non-acne-causing moisturizer.

Trinity high school senior pictures by Karissa Zimmer Photography High School Senior photoshoot with Trinity High school senior boy

Think About How You Want to Represent Yourself for Your Camp Hill PA Senior Photo Shoot

Senior photography is an amazing milestone that you’ll only get once, so even though you probably have plenty of other things keeping you busy, spend a little bit of time thinking on it. Think about how you want to represent yourself at this exciting juncture in your life. What interests and passions do you want to highlight? What’s most important to you at this time in your life? What do you want the general feel and look to be?

Senior photos next to graffiti wall downtown Harrisburg Senior Photos in downtown Harrisburg PA

Get a Fresh Haircut…But Not Too Fresh

One of the most common mistakes for photo sessions is getting a haircut a day or two before the photo shoot. You want it to be fresh, sure, but haircuts often need some time to settle in before they really look natural. Plus, if it doesn’t look the way you wanted, you need time to get it fixed. I recommend getting your haircut a week or two before the session.

High School senior boy photos near Harrisburg PA with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Plan Ahead for Props

In a senior photo session, props are a great way to create snapshots of what your life is like at this age. But you don’t want to be scrambling to get your props together at the last minute so plan ahead to decide what you want to bring and to make sure they’re ready. For example, make sure your athletic jersey will be clean and wrinkle-free, have your musical instrument polished, and so on.

Best High School Senior Photographer in Harrisburg PA captures black and white image of senior boy with his violin Trinity High School senior Boy poses with his violin at his senior photo session in Harrisburg PA

Preparing for Your Camp Hill PA Senior Photo Shoot

These tips will get you started, but part of the benefit of hiring a professional photographer is the guidance we can give. You don’t have to worry about a thing! At Karissa Zimmer Photography, I’ll guide you through a checklist and help you plan the perfect Camp Hill PA senior photo shoot.

Mom poses for a shot with her son during his Harrisburg Senior Photo session with Karissa Zimmer Photography

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What to Know Before an In-Studio Session for Hershey PA Newborn Photography

01.02.25

Newborn photography is one type of photography that’s especially near and dear to my heart. I know how incredibly special these portraits are to your family and how much more special they’ll become as the years go by and your baby grows up, so I make sure your portraits are truly amazing and one of a kind. The magic happens in my studio, here are a few tidbits you’ll want to know for your Hershey PA newborn photography.

Newborn Baby girl posed studio photography on silver in newborn photo studio near Hershey

You Don’t Have to Bring Your Own Baby Outfits for Hershey PA Newborn Photography

Preparing for a newborn photo shoot is easier than you might think, especially when you come to my fully equipped studio. I have plenty of wraps and accessories to dress up your little one for their portraits as well as everything else we’ll need for your session. The only outfits you need to pick out are your own outfits you and your spouse or partner will wear in your portraits with your baby. Of course, you’re always welcome to bring anything specific that you want to incorporate into the session too like a homemade blanket or a sentimental outfit.

Hershey PA studio newborn Photography by Karissa Zimmer

I’ll Set Up the Studio for Your Baby’s Comfort

During your photo session, we want your baby to be sleepy and relaxed. I’ll set up my studio to be the perfect environment for a napping newborn. In fact, you’re welcome to take a nap if you like, too! You’ll be able to see your baby at all times during the session and you can just relax while I create your beautiful portraits.

Baby girl is posed in a bucket prop during a studio newborn photography session near Hershey PA

We’ll Follow Your Baby’s Lead

During your baby’s photo session, your baby calls the shots. While I’ll have plenty of ideas and options for poses, I won’t force your baby into any poses that are uncomfortable for them. I’ll also take as many breaks as they need for feeding and soothing. Not only does this ensure your baby’s safety but it also lets us get the beautiful and peaceful newborn photos you want.

Best Newborn Photographer near Hershey PA captures image of a newborn baby girl in a blue prop set.

Let’s Book Your Hershey PA Newborn Photography

Whether you have a studio session or a lifestyle photo shoot in mind, I’ll put together a stunning custom photo shoot that you and your growing family can treasure. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography to book your session or to learn more.

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Why You Should Still Get Family Photos with Your Adult Children: Camp Hill PA Family Photos at Every Age

07.01.24

If you flip through my gallery of Camp Hill PA family photos (and just about any gallery of family portraits, actually), you’ll mostly see photos of parents with their young kids. And sure, young families make up most of my family photography clients. But I’ve watched so many families enjoy the magic of family portraits when their children are adults too. There are so many reasons why family photography is still so important when you have adult children.

A Mother and father pose with their adult son for family photos at a beautiful outdoor location near Camp Hill PA. — Outdoor Family Photos with grown child near Camp Hill PA

Celebrating Unique Stages of Life with Camp Hill PA Family Photos

One of the most beautiful things about families is that these are such living, dynamic relationships. Your relationships with your children (and often your relationship with your spouse or partner) are so very different when your children are adults than when they were little. Your relationships will even continue to change throughout your children’s adulthoods as each person in the family changes.

A family photo session creates lifelong mementoes of not only what your family looked at this moment in time but also mementoes of who you each are and of the bonds you share at this time in your lives. Your family should be honored and celebrated just as much at this age as you did when your children were kids.

Family Photographer captures image of a mother and father with their grown son at a beautiful outdoor location.

Photographing Your Expanding Family

As your children grow up, chances are that your family is about to expand! Maybe your children will bring a spouse or partner into the family, and/or have children of their own. Having family portraits throughout the years is a wonderful way to someday be able to look back and watch as your family grew and changed. No matter what age your child is today, you’ll one day cherish the memories of this time and you’ll be so glad to have professional portraits to bring back those memories.

Outdoor Family Photos by best Camp Hill family photographer.

Create a Shared Heirloom for Distant Family Members

It’s so common these days for young adults (and middle-aged adults) to move away from their hometown. Whether they’re moving for a new job or military orders, to be near their partner’s family, or just for a change of scenery and to strike out on new adventures, sometimes these moves can be sudden. A portrait of your family together is a fantastic way for all of you to keep a piece of each other in your homes, no matter how near or far you are.

A mother shares a moment with her adult son during their outdoor photo session

Creating New Family Memories

As your children grow up, they get busy with their new adult lives - careers, dating, friends, travel, the works! Before you know it you have less and less time to spend together. But a family photo session is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some quality time together and create fun memories while also creating an heirloom that will last.

Outdoor family photographer captures images of a college aged boy with his mother and father near Camp Hill PA

Contributing to Your Own Legacy for the Future with Camp Hill PA Family Photos

It might not be the most fun thing to think about, but one day you will leave this world and your children will want photos to remember you and all the times you shared together. They don’t only want to remember you as you were in their childhood but as you were in later years as well. It’s a beautiful gift for them to have portraits of your family across the many different chapters of your lives.

A father and son pose together at their outdoor portrait session and husband and wife are photographed together as well.

Booking Your Camp Hill PA Family Photos

If you want to celebrate the changing stages of your family’s life, it’s so important not to overlook your children’s adult years. To get your Camp Hill PA family photos on the calendar, reach out and let’s chat!

A husband and wife are photographed beautifully by Camp Hill Family Photographer, Karissa Zimmer Photography.

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When to Book First Birthday Photos in Hershey PA

06.07.24

Your little one’s first birthday is an occasion you start dreaming about as soon as your child is born. It marks the end of what might be the most life-changing year for your family, and a year of amazing growth and change for your little one. What better way to celebrate than with first birthday photos in Hershey PA?

If you’re looking ahead to your child’s first birthday cake smash photos, how soon should you book your session and start planning? As a baby photographer, I’m happy to share my advice.

Baby Girl is dressed in blue and wearing a flower crown, smiles during her first birthday photography cake smash photos with Karissa Zimmer Photography — Custom First Birthday Cake Smash Photography Sessions near Hershey PA

The Short Answer: Book a Couple Months Ahead

I accept a limited number of photo sessions each month to make sure that I can give every client my undivided attention to make their portraits special. That means my schedule tends to book up a few months in advance. If you want your baby’s photo session to be right around their first birthday, I recommend that you contact me 1-4 months in advance to schedule your session.

Baby girl gets ready to smash her cake during her Hershey PA first birthday photoshoot with Karissa Zimmer Photography — Hershey PA First Birthday Cake Smash Photoshoot

The Longer Answer: Taking Other Factors Into Account

Booking a couple of months before your child’s birthday is great if you don’t have a particular date you want their portraits to arrive. But if you do have specific plans for your photos, you’ll want to plan ahead further.

For example, some parents want to unveil the portraits at their baby’s first birthday party. In this case, you’ll need to plan the photo session far enough in advance to allow time for editing and for ordering your wall art or any other display you choose. How far in advance you book can vary because some displays and prints may take longer to arrive than others, and we can discuss your specific plans when you book your session.

Ultimately, if you do have a specific date when you want to have your child’s cake smash portraits or one year portraits, reach out to my studio as early as possible. That way, we can talk it through and I’ll give you a recommendation on when we should schedule your session.

Baby girl First Birthday cake smash session near Hershey PA was created with a custom, pastel balloon garland by Karissa Zimmer Photogrphy — Cake Smash Photography Session

Planning Your Baby’s First Birthday Photos in Hershey PA

Let’s chat about your vision for your baby’s one year portraits! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and we’ll start planning the fun.

One year old baby girl smiles with cake on her face at her Hershey Pa first birthday cake smash photoshoot — First Birthday Photographer near Hershey PA

Hershey PA First Birthday Cake Smash Photography baby girl balloon garland — First Birthday Photographer near Hershey PA

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How Often to Take Childhood Portraits in Camp Hill, PA

05.04.24

As a family photographer, I have the absolute pleasure of helping families capture the sweet stages of their kids’ childhoods, from those early baby days through your child’s adolescence as they grow into adulthood. Many of the families I work with will ask the same question: how often should you have professional photos taken for your kids? Here’s the advice I give about taking childhood portraits in Camp Hill, PA.

outdoor Baby photos by best Hershey photographer

The Short Answer: As Often as You Like!

At the end of the day, childhood photography is all about your family’s preferences - they’re your memories and your portraits so it’s up to you! There’s no consistent recommendation that works for every family, it all depends on how frequently you want professional portraits as well as what is reasonable for your schedule and budget.

little girl smells a flower at her family photoshoot

Is It Time for New Childhood Portraits in Camp Hill, PA?

With all of that said, I certainly understand that some families want guidance and recommendations, so I’m happy to help. While nothing is set in stone, here are a few signals that it might be time for updated childhood portraits.

Your child has reached a new developmental level since their last photo session. For example, maybe your little one was a toddler in their last portraits but now they’re elementary age - a new stage of life is a great time for fresh portraits.
You find yourself wishing you had professional photos of your child at this age, even if you love the day-to-day snapshots you take on special occasions or around the house. Both professional portraits and at-home photos have their place in your family’s prized memories.
Your child has reached or is approaching a meaningful milestone in their childhood, like starting elementary school or starting middle school, or a cultural milestone like their bar/bat mitzvah or quinceañera.

While there are no hard-and-fast rules that work for every family, these little life markers can be helpful ways to gauge when you’ll want new milestone photos.

Brother and sister outdoor family photography near 17055

Time for New Childhood Portraits? Here’s How to Get Started

If you’ve decided your family is due for some new professional photos, I can help! Contact Zimmer Photography and let’s start planning your childhood portraits in Camp Hill, PA.

A little girl smells an orange flower at her outdoor childhood portrait session with Camp Hill PA Photographer — Hershey Child Photography

Child Photographer, Karissa Zimmer, captures image of a little blond girl near flowers at an outdoor photo session near Camp Hill PA — Hershey Child Photography

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Camp Hill Newborn Photos: Should You Include Siblings?

01.26.24

Bringing a new baby into your family is such a different experience when you already have children compared to when it’s your first baby. On one hand, you already have a lot of essentials at home like furniture, but on the other hand, there are so many new considerations to plan for and think about like preparing your children for the new baby. One of these considerations is your Camp Hill newborn photos.

If your baby will have a big brother or sister, should you include these siblings in your newborn portraits? What can you expect if you do? As your trusted neighborhood photographer, I’m happy to shed some light.

Camp Hill Newborn lifestyle Photos, lifestyle newborn photographer near me harrisburg lifestyle photographer

Should You Include Your Baby’s Siblings in Their Camp Hill Newborn Photos?

Ultimately, this is purely a matter of preference and it’s a question each family has to decide for themselves. However many of my clients do decide to capture sibling portraits and portraits of the entire family together. Sibling portraits often become parents’ favorites among their newborn photos!

Including your baby’s siblings is a way to capture a look at the one-of-a-kind bond between your little ones from their earliest days. The experience of taking newborn portraits with your baby and their big brothers or sisters can also be a bonding experience in itself, demonstrating to your older kids that you’re all welcoming this new baby together as a family.

What Does it Look Like to Include Siblings in Newborn Portraits?

If your baby’s siblings are over 5 years old, we may be able to include their portraits in your baby’s studio newborn session. For kids under 5, though, or those who might prefer having space to run around, I offer a sibling add-on session. This session will take place in your home within a week of your baby’s studio newborn session. It gives your children the opportunity to be comfortable in their environment and makes the sibling portraits smoother for the whole family.

Will You Miss Out on Solo Baby Portraits if You Include Siblings in Your Camp Hill Newborn Photos?

Don’t worry, if you opt for sibling portraits, you’ll still have plenty of newborn photos of your baby on their own. This is the primary focus of every newborn photography session. Either way, you’ll also have plenty of portraits of your newborn with both parents and each parent separately.

Planning Your Camp Hill Newborn Photos

Every member of your family has their special bond with your new baby. Newborn photography is all about capturing the beauty of these bonds and of this amazing time in your life. Whether or not you choose to add sibling portraits, I’m honored to preserve these memories for your family. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography to book your session.

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Choosing a Harrisburg Newborn Photographer: Why Your Photographer Matters

01.04.24

Newborn portraits are a special treasure for your family, and you only have one opportunity to capture these beautiful memories for your child. Every Harrisburg newborn photographer is unique, though, so the portraits and the experience will be different based on the photographer you choose. Let’s look at a few of the many reasons your choice of photographer matters.

Mother and baby posed newborn photography

Well-Composed, Quality Photos

Your baby’s newborn photos are an investment - you’re creating family treasures that you’ll cherish for decades to come. You want those treasures to be high-quality! You need a photographer who has the experience and skill to create well-composed, professional photos.

Best newborn photography studio photos in Central PA

A Keen Aesthetic Style

Photography is an art form, so of course, the artist you hire needs to have a style you love for your baby’s portraits. The camera settings, the framing, the way each pose and set is designed - all of this will combine into the finished look.

Best Newborn Photographer near Harrisburg PA

A Positive Experience with Your Harrisburg Newborn Photographer

Newborn sessions are multi-hour photo shoots, and that doesn’t even include the planning, ordering, and more - you want to enjoy the person you’re working with! The photographer you choose will affect your overall experience, not only because of how well you get along with the photographer but also because every photographer handles their planning and process differently.

Father holds baby girl for newborn photos near Harrisburg PA

Designing Display Products for Your Photos

Your choice of photographer will affect your portraits as well as what you ultimately do with those portraits. For example, I sit down with every client and help you plan, design, and order your wall art or other custom pieces to display your newborn photos. Each photographer handles the finished photos differently, with some sending digital files only.

Newborn baby girl photography by Harrisburg PA baby photographer

Choosing Your Harrisburg Newborn Photographer

You’re celebrating a beautiful new addition to your family, and you deserve to get stunning portraits with an enjoyable, attentive experience, and all of this will depend on your photographer. To find out if I’m the right fit for you, contact Karissa Zimmer Photography.

mother poses with newborn baby girl in Harrisburg newborn photography studio

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Camp Hill PA photographer