TURVILLE FAMILY | FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER | FREDERICKSBURG VA

The absolute best part of my job is meeting clients that you have an instant connection with! When I first talked to Jen we hit it off immediately and she has been one of my favorite people to work with! Our first session was in the creek and this time we went in the opposite direction with a very formal look in downtown Fredericksburg. Our original date was rained out and ended up pushing our session into the middle of HOT July. July in Virginia is not a pleasant time, but these 3 were absolute troopers! Being our second session together I already knew I could really get creative and they would be all for it! We also got to celebrate their daughter’s 4th birthday and she came ready to shine! She is a natural little model and such a sweetheart!!!<3

We explored several spots throughout the city and took advantage of the amazing textures, the gorgeous buildings, and the glowy golden light. Everything about this session was magical and we captured SO much. Literally every photo was incredible and impossible to narrow down! I adore these 3 so much and am always looking forward to our next adventure together!! Here are some of my favorites from their session.

If you are interested in a session with me shoot me a message! I would love to capture your family!!

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE FALL!!

Hello everyone and happy Wednesday!! I am feeling rejuvenated after a long holiday weekend and wanted to quickly introduce myself to any new followers! Im Laura, the face behind Laura Lou Photography. I am portrait photographer who specializes in newborn, maternity, and family photography. Im in my 10th year of business and am based in Stafford county Virginia. I am married to Jeremy, my hubby of 12 years and we have a 6 year old daughter named Finley and a 15 year old pup named Layla. Thanks so much for everyone taking the time to read my fall update and for following along as I TRY to blog more!!

SO lets talk about the FALL!! We may be having a heat advisory today but that is NOT going to stop me from getting SUPER PUMPED about fall being ALMOST HERE!!! As far as Im concerned September is the green light to decorate for halloween and celebrate ALL the fun things that the crisp fall weather brings! It is by far my favorite season and also the time of year that I get the most creative energy. There is just something about the fall light, blaring music with your windows down and sunroof open, watching scary movies and the smell of pumpkin and apple pie. GAH I love it ALL!! BUT with all of the fun comes LOTS and LOTS of incredible sessions and is another reason why I love the season so much.

I know I have had a lot of people reach out about my fall sessions and I wanted to give a little update and a peak into the amazing families I got to photograph last year! This season flies by and books fast and with a kiddo in school and activities my availability has gotten a little slimmer. Here is a little recap of the questions I’ve been getting:

Where are you located? I am based in Stafford, Virginia BUT I travel all over from Fredericksburg to Northern Virginia. I also travel out of state to the outer banks frequently and other areas in Virginia. If you are unsure if I will come your way email me! Im always looking for a new adventure!

Do you offer mini session? YES! This is the most asked question especially since I know our wallets are getting a little bit tighter these days! I do offer mini sessions and am offering 3 weekends of minis during peak fall colors. I only have a few spots left so if you are interested make sure you reach out ASAP!

Whats the difference between a mini and a full session? Minis are quick 15 minute sessions that are great for families who want multiple sessions throughout the year or for families who just want to grab a few updated family photos for their Christmas cards! Minis are only offered a few times a year and always sell out!

Full sessions are about 45 minutes and are a great way to really capture your family’s personality in a fun, laid back way! I grab those yearly photos but I also make sure we really freeze this moment in time and where your family is in the season of life. We will laugh, play, run around, throw some leaves, and have a great time.

Do you still have fall availability? YES! But the dates I have are getting slimmer each week! SO if you are wanting fall colors this year GRAB your date ASAP because these dates won’t last long!

BABY EOWYN | NEWBORN SESSION | STAFFORD, VIRGINIA

CUTEST FAMILY EVER!! Sweet baby Eowyn’s newborn session was a DREAM come true! Not only was this little beauty a good sleeper, but her bothers and sister were equally as AMAZING! We flew through family and sibling photos in no time and it is very clear that these 4 kiddos are going to be best buddies as they grow up. The love and joy radiating from this family was such a blessing and I am so lucky they came to me to capture these first moments as a family of 6!

We kept our color scheme very neutral with earth tones and the headbands and bonnets very simple. I pulled a few earthy setups for her prop photos and pulled a little pop of color for the beanbag. I absolutely love being able to create images that will fit perfectly into my client’s home. I had so much fun this session and just adored this amazing family. Here are some of my favorites!!

EMILY AND DECLAN | MOMMY AND ME | STAFFORD, VIRGINIA

I cannot believe that this summer is coming to an end! Kids will be back in school in 3 short weeks and pumpkin spice candles and fall decor will be slowly entering my house!! But until then I am having a blast going through the sessions I photographed this summer! The creek will always be one of my favorite locations and I am LOVING this mommy and me session. There is no better place than the creek for a little boy to get his feet muddy and splash and hang out with his mama!

This session didn’t go without its weather challenges though! Forecast showed scattered storms most of the day/early evening but did have a pocket of sun peeking back out around golden hour. We moved our session a teeny bit early, enjoyed watching the crazy storm roll in, and sure enough cleared off for the perfect golden glow as we arrived.

I loved everything about these 2 and our session!! Capturing their relationship is so special and am so glad the weather cooperated for us to capture these. There is still time to grab a creek session this summer if you are loving these images as much as me! Contact me for details! And take a look at my favorites!!

VALENTINE FAMILY | EXTENDED FAMILY SESSION | WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA

I have SO many people inquiring about extended family sessions lately and it makes my heart so happy! Extended family sessions can be so overwhelming for clients to plan and I totally get it! There is A LOT that goes into it. Coordinating multiple families schedules, nap time for kiddos, travel, outfits, and then there is the actual shoot itself. It is a lot and I know that. Which is why it is SO important to me that my families show up ready for an adventure! Because no matter what something unplanned is going to pop up and that is what makes our session together memorable and unique!! So let me be here to help make this time together special for your family!! From your first inquiry to delivery of photos I will be there to help you with anything you may need!

Here is a fantastic group that I had a BLAST with!! I’ve worked with the Valentine family for many years now, so when Alex called me about her in-laws anniversary I knew this session would be so meaningful to everyone! We had to navigate the crazy summer weather but Virginia’s weather pulled it together for us. And we had a gorgeous day. I always start with the big group first so the little ones are fresh! I know that every kiddo has their threshold (especially when its hot) and the most important photo is the FULL group.

From there I always break down into smaller groupings, trying to make sure we get the groupings with the kiddos first. During that I will watch to see if and when the kids need a break and focus on other groupings. We explore, capture a few photos, let the kids do their thing, capture some more, then we refocus for a another big group shot mid session. From there I like to pull each individual family for their own little special time together. Because I know getting your family together for photos is hard and I want to make sure you get that yearly photo in addition to the big group. Breaking up the session allows for the kids to take a breather, get some water, have a quick snack and then be recharged for their solo time.

For this amazing session, I def pushed this family LOL!! They were familiar with my eagerness to be adventurous so after all key photos were taken we actually went to a second location to grab one last big family water shot! When we got to our spot it was WINDY and cloudy, a totally different vibe than the first portion of our session which made it awesome. Everyone got their toes wet and in a span of maybe 6 minutes we got some great photos for the entire group. We were able to celebrate family visiting from out of town, an anniversary, and a graduation. It was honestly the best time and the photos turned out amazing.

If you have questions about an extended family session with my I’d love to chat!! Shoot me an email and we can make this happen for your family!

CATON FAMILY | FAMILY SESSION | STAFFORD VA

I had SOOOO much fun with these 5 for our spring session!! I have enjoyed capturing their photos for the last few years and every session we try to up the fun factor. We always start the session celebrating all 3 gorgeous girl’s birthday’s with their special outfit. This years was my fave :). I always love exploring a new location and this one was amazing! We got a mix of water and trees and we thankfully had the perfect temp. Of course my favorite part was getting in the water!! We have photographed at the water before but we’ve never gotten FULLY in. The kiddos splashed and even tried to wrestle mom ;). So many favorites from this day!! Cannot wait to see you guys again.

If you are interested in a family shoot send me an email!!

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!!

Abby 6 Month Session | Milestone Photographer | Stafford, Virginia

Meet Abby!!! This adorable blue eyed girl is the baby of one of my dear friends. It was such an honor to photograph both of her little girls as newborns but even more special to follow along with their first year and beyond! For Abby’s 6 month session I pulled a few bonnets that I used for her big sisters 6 month session so mama could do side by sides of her girls. I love keeping sitter sessions simple with just a few fun props to really capture this fun stage. Six to eight months is one of my favorites because kiddos are starting to sit unassisted and their personalities really start to come out. Abby was SO smiley and fun to photograph and honestly such a sweetie pie. I cannot wait to see her again and capture her first birthday with a cake smash in just a few short months!! Here are some of my favorites.

Roy Family | Family Photographer | Manassas, Virginia

There are certain clients that will always hold a special place in your heart and this is one of those families. This mama was my FIRST paying client over 9 years ago. She trusted me to capture her daughters photos when she was just a toddler and has trusted me every year since. I have watched her family grow from 3 to 5, and captured these babies grow into some pretty incredible kids. With her oldest off to high school in the fall I cannot even believe I have captured her photos for almost a decade. When a family comes back to you year after year to support your dream and business it truly is the biggest blessing. THANK YOU Wendy for being with me from the start!!

This session like ALL of their sessions was so much fun. We had a little bit of an overcast day in May, but thankfully wasn’t too hot. We captured photos along the creek bed and then embraced the stormy, overcast clouds in the giant field. Her kids are fantastic and always up to run around the weeds with me!! We captured so many great shots and had a blast. Her kids have grown so much over the last year and I cannot wait to see them all again!! Here are some of my favorites.

Why you should book your newborn photography session early | Stafford VA

So, you found out you’re pregnant. CONGRATULATIONS! In all the scrambling and figuring out what to do and getting all the info and all the appointments lined up around Stafford VA, you decide that you want newborn photography! Awesome! But, you have no idea what to say or what to do. So, the biggest piece of advice I can give you is - Book Your Session Early! When your baby is born, there is a very short window of time, usually less than one month, where he or she changes very quickly. That first month is the perfect time to capture the innocence and beauty of your baby!

Availability

Newborn photography is very beautiful and exciting! So, it’s a popular choice for many new and expecting mothers. This means, unfortunately, that I cannot promise availability. All newborn photographers fill up fast, and while last minute availability is something that can happen, it doesn’t mean that it will. Getting your session locked on early in your second trimester is super important, so that we can adjust as needed and make sure that you don’t have to worry about finding an available date last minute.

Avoiding Stress

Avoiding stress is one of the biggest reasons why you should book your newborn session early. The first trimester will feel like it's taking forever, filled with anxiety and nervousness, but as time goes on, your life will feel like it's speeding up - faster and faster until you have your baby! So, it’s super important to secure that session before time feels like it’s speeding up! Also, once you have your baby, those first few weeks, no one wants to have to take time away from just enjoying and being with your newest family member. Making phone calls and searching for photographers while trying to do this would be difficult for anyone!

It’s an Investment

Lastly, newborn photography is an investment. After giving birth to a baby, there’s often medical bills and stress. Even with the best insurance, there’s still the fact that you will be seeing a lot of money change hands. So, by booking your session early, it’s easier to pay and forget about it for months, or even break up those payments over a several month span if you need. The point is, no one wants to have to shell out even more money when they’re already paying a hospital so much already! So, booking early gives you that peace of mind as well as some financial peace!

Lou photography does Newborn Photography in Woodbridge VA and beyond, serving clients and their babies! If you’re interested in your own photos, come get some of your own!