BABY ELIZABETH | NEWBORN SESSION | STAFFORD, VA

Meet Elizabeth! This little bright eyed red haired beauty was my first newborn of 2023 and it was a fun one!! I am SO incredibly lucky to photograph my amazing friend’s second baby! I love everything about these 4 and am very thankful for them being a big part of my life. When this mama and I worked together at Panera many many years ago it was clear we were going to have a lifelong friendship. BUT I could have never imagined all these years later I would be a photographer and photographing her perfect little babies!! Getting to live so close to them has been such a blessing. They truly are a gem of a family and could not be happier seeing them become a family of 4.

I had a blast being able to create some different family/sibling photos with my lifestyle setup. And I think big brother Jackson also loved getting to play on the bouncy bed because he was all smiles. I always start a newborn session with the family portion because it is so important to capture that updated family photo.

After family photos we always move on to baby’s shining moment. Sweet little Elizabeth slept like a dream. We captured so many setups and I absolutely loved the fact her mama wanted lots of purples!!! I have certainly missed snuggling these teeny tiny babies and CANNOT wait for all the upcoming newborn sessions I have locked on for this year! If you are interested in learning more about my newborn sessions send me a message!! Here are some of my favorites from this session. <3

MAGGIE IS ONE | MILESTONE SESSION | STAFFORD VIRGINIA

OH MAGGIE! I cannot believe you are one!! My nickname for her is Mags and she is the youngest of 4! Her mama is one of my best friends and I have had the joy of photographing her family for several years now! I am so happy I was able to photograph their last baby and watch them complete their beautiful family. From her mama’s belly to her one year session I have been lucky to photograph her every 3 months. And seeing her change from month to month has been extra special.

Mags is a little fireball and SO much fun to photograph because of her smiles and constant giggles. Seeing her graduate from her one year plan is bittersweet but I know I will be able to continue watching her grow and look forward to creating so many more memories with this family. I love this part of my job so much and am thankful for clients who allow me to be such a large part of their babies first year!! If you are interested in learning more about milestone sessions don’t hesitate to send me an email!

She was born on Valentine’s day and is the most lovable little thing!! She was loving those big hearts and felt great on her teething gums! <3 For her cake smash we opted for a boho rainbow theme for the most perfect little rainbow baby! She was a little unsure of the cake at first and very carefully took itty bitty bites of the frosting. Mom had to encourage her with some chunks of cake but eventually she got curious to smash on her own! This session was so much fun and a great way to conclude a wonderful year working together!! Cannot wait to continue photographing this sweetie pie for years to come!

The Olive Family’s Beach Family Session | Beach Family Photography | Fun Family Portraits

The Olive family reached out to me to be their beach family photographer, and I’m so happy that I finally got to meet them in person! They purchased a maternity session for a friend several years ago, and I’ve talked to them through emails. Now we had the chance to meet face to face for a lovely family photography session! 

Great Weather and Great Fashion Sense

This photoshoot was one of my favorite beach family photography sessions this year! The beach was still, with no crazy winds throwing up sand or waves, the water was super blue, and the sky was clear as glass! Usually, June and July in Virginia give us some weather that’s hard to stay outside for, but not for these photos!

The Olive’s chose some beautiful outfits that complemented the location perfectly! The two girls had on little sleeveless seafoam green and cream white dresses, respectively, and they both looked super cute! Mom had a pastel floral dress, and dad had a blue button-down short-sleeved shirt with khaki shorts, all summer vacation vibes! 

With Beach Family Photography, You Gotta Get Into the Water

Anytime I get to shoot beach family photography, I encourage my clients to get in for some pictures! If they don’t want to, that’s always okay, but the Olive family was all in! The girls got into the shallows, and I got some fantastic photos of the whole family in a big group hug in the surf! 

The girls were very cooperative and sweet, and they loved having their pictures taken. The parents were naturals in front of the camera as well! The whole family showed each other so much love and affection, and capturing that in their smiles, hugs, and kisses was so satisfying and rewarding!

This session was so much fun. I’m grateful to the Olive family for letting me share a great beach day with excellent weather for pictures! 
If you need someone to capture beach family photography for you, please contact me, and I’d be happy to chat with you!

Megan’s Maternity Photoshoot at Leesylvania Park | Maternity Photography

Megan originally hired me for my Belly to Baby maternity photography package, so this was my first time getting to meet her and her husband! We all met up at Leesylvania Park for her maternity session, and the mid-July day gave us some pretty fantastic weather for the season! 

Megan’s Outfits and The Couple’s Chemistry

When a mom books maternity photography with me, I always tell them to prepare two outfits. She chose two very different looks for each outfit, and I loved every bit of it! Her first one was a beautiful blue dress, which gave a lush tone to the photos we took in the woods. 

After that she changed into a flowing white dress that we took out onto the beach for the pictures. She looked so good in both outfits, and the two different styles represented in the different locations had me adoring every photo I took! 

The family looked so cute together, and had such great chemistry both behind and in front of the camera! I barely had to direct them, they knew what to do, and seriously looked like models! 

The River, and Why I Love Doing Maternity Photography Sessions

Hands down, my favorite part of maternity photography at Leesylvania Park is the river, and if my moms are willing, I always ask them to get into it for some photos! Megan was all for it, and she got in up to her waist! 

It was pretty windy, and it was causing some waves, but the photos were phenomenal. Overall we had a ton of fun, and both Megan and her husband gave me so much to work with. They were wonderful clients! 

One reason that I love doing maternity photography for a couple before I do their newborn session is that it gives me a chance to get to know them. Once I get an idea of their personalities, and the things that they like, I can choose the right setup and vibe for their newborn photos and also pick out the right props! 

I actually got to capture the newborn session recently and because we got to know one another through the maternity photos, I got to do so many more special things that were just “them!” You’ll get to read all about it and see the adorable pictures soon! 

If you need someone to capture your memories or milestones, please contact me, I’d love to chat with you!

The Smith Family Session in Northern Virginia | Northern Virginia Family Photographer

The Smith family reached out and picked me to be their Northern Virginia Family Photographer for their session. And they were absolute troopers during this session, in spite of the humidity! The session took place in early June, and the weather meant business! Regardless, we had such a fun time taking photos, and the kids were so cute!

The Boys in the Creek

We started the session like I normally would, with all of the posed family pictures. I got some of just the parents, and then with the two boys and each parent, all of my normal family photo fare.

After that, we got into the fun stuff! Images of the boys snuggling up to mom and dad and playing around. Family being close to each other and having a good time! These are my favorite things to capture! 

There was a small creek at the location, and of course, if you have boys and water, they have to jump into it! I snapped quite a few memorable pictures of the boys playing and splashing around; they were so adorable! 

Sunset in the Field

By the time the sun started to set, I had gotten most of the photos that I wanted, but I knew about a field down the road a bit where the Golden Hour light would be perfect! So we took a short drive and got out into a large field to get some last minute images.

The sun coming down through the grass in the field gave the whole place an ethereal, almost fantastical beauty! The pictures I got there were phenomenal, and it was the perfect end to a fun and productive family photoshoot! 

The Smiths did so well during the session, and I’m so grateful that we got to share this awesome time getting some great photos and sharing the sunset together! 

A Northern Virginia Family Photographer To Serve You!

If you need someone to be your Northern Virginia family photographer, please contact me, I’d love to have a chat with you! 

Gervasio Family Beach Session | Family Session | Woodbridge Virginia

I have been working with this gorgeous family for several years now. I have photographed both of their little ones newborn sessions and cake smashes and a few milestones in between! The first time I met them I felt like we instantly had known each other for years. Jenna and Brian are so warm and welcoming and it really reflects in how incredible their kiddos are. For this family session Jenna really wanted to do a beachy vibe and I was there for it! I love shooting along the river and knowing them I knew they would love getting in the water. :). We had an absolute blast just hanging out and chatting and capturing some great family memories. I adore these 4 so much and love what we capture every time we have a session together! Here are some of my favorites!!

What’s The Difference Between A Mini Session And A Full Session | Photographer in Virginia

With fall just around the corner, things are beginning to get busy again, so if you’re thinking of hiring a photographer in Virginia, now’s the time to do it! School is in session and schedules are filling up fast. With limited time and very busy days, some people may want to look into minis versus a full photography session. But what exactly are minis and how are they different from a normal session? I'll outline the major differences between the two in this blog! 

Mini Sessions

Mini sessions usually last about fifteen minutes and are done in a marathon format. I'll select a great, central location that I love from one of the many locations I’ve found over the years being a photographer in Virginia. It should also work for different times of day, not just at Golden Hour before sunset. I book each 15 minute mini session ten minutes apart. These sessions are fast!

I schedule my mini sessions twice a year, in the spring and the fall. I always try to schedule them during the best parts of spring or early summer and during the peak times for fall colors.

Just the Basics

Each mini has three main poses and anything extra I'm able to capture is a great bonus! I focus on the full family landscape portrait, just the kids, and then each individual kid. If I have time, I'll also try to snap a few photos of mom and dad with the kids. I don't usually focus on individual shots of the parents with each of their children, but I will try if the parents only have one or two children.

For each mini my main goal is to photograph the standard photos that a family would want for things like Christmas cards! These sessions are not often full of many candid shots, or playful photos, so please consider booking a full session if you want more of those kinds of photos for your albums! A mini can be a great option for families with older kids who just want some updated family photos for their walls or to send in their Christmas cards!

Full Sessions for a photographer in Virginia

As a photographer in Virginia, I also offer Full Sessions. These usually last about forty-five minutes and I take over the task of finding a place to shoot for my clients based on their location. I always start these sessions with posed photos, the whole family, the couple, their kids and all of the normal, expected photos. I really try to crank those out to get to the fun stuff!

My full sessions give me the opportunity to capture the more casual, candid, and lovey-dovey type pictures that you may see on some of my social media posts, or on my blog! These photography sessions are the ones where I get photos of the kids playing around, or the parents lifting their kids in the air with all the smiles and laughter that come along with those things!

During a full session I have the time to photograph all of the little moments that showcase a family's dynamic. Everyones personalities have a chance to come out while they hang out, and just do what they do! Not every family is comfortable with those kinds of photos, or just want more traditional photos taken, and I am sensitive to that and will gauge that during the session and adjust based on the family.

I recommend full sessions for maternity and senior photos, as well as extended family , and for families with little kiddos.

Forming Bonds

My full length sessions are especially great for families with many kiddos and small kiddos. The extra time gives time for the littles to warm up to me and get comfortable with their new surroundings.

Creating a good rapport with each family I work with is so crucial to get those special and memorable moments.

I hope this eliminates any confusion surrounding how I do both my full and mini sessions! If you need someone to capture these special moments for you, whether in short form, or long, please contact me for more information, I'd love to chat with you!

Murrell Creek Session | Family Session | Stafford, Virginia

I absolutely adore this family! I met Jenn and Jake several years ago when they were pregnant with their baby girl. And I have had the pleasure of capturing their gorgeous family through many milestones. This session was a fun one because we got to hang out on the creek. This creek has really become one of my favorite locations to shoot and one that clients really have had a lot of fun at! Our session date was SOOOOOO hot outside. One of those days you step outside and instantly melt. But these 4 embraced the heat and looked fabulous! Their kiddos are seriously little models and really great listeners. They clearly love the camera ;) It is such a joy to be able to capture families year after year and watch their littles grow from newborns to toddlers. I just love these 4 and cannot wait to see them again in the fall!! Here are some of my favorites. :)

Beach Family Pictures With The Rao Family At King George VA Beach

The Rao family and I had a great time getting beach family pictures of their extended family! I've worked with Brittany and David, and their little one Lillian, since she was a newborn! This session gave me a wonderful opportunity to see Lillian with her grandparents, especially since I had the privilege of capturing many of her first milestones. Both sets of grandparents were present - mom and dad's side together for one photography session!

King George VA Beach Family Pictures

We photographed the session on a small beach in King George. The day was windy but the weather was still beautiful, not too hot for an outdoor session. We hung out on the beach while I took pictures of all of the different family groups. I wanted to ensure that everyone had memorable beach family pictures, especially with little Lillian!

We wanted to get as many different photos of the different groupings as possible: grandparents, parents, siblings, and kids. No easy feat with three families together, but well worth it to capture these sweet beach family pictures for them!

Brittany and David Get In The Water

Brittany and David gave me my favorite part of this session! During their couple photos, David was messing around and pulled his wife into the water, and then pretended to be injured to get her back into the surf! After a minute Brittany fell for it and he pulled her back in and they went under and came up laughing. It was a wonderful family moment, and I know that it will be something that Lillian will remember when she gets older!

One of my favorite things is getting to know the families I work with, and watching them grow as we grow together! Thank you Rao family for allowing me to capture these cherished family moments! As Lillian grows up I hope that we can capture more of her milestones together. 

If you need someone to capture these truly special beach family pictures, please contact me for more information!