If you’ve been thinking about booking a family session but the idea of a scenic overlook, a color-coordinated outfit, and a stranger telling you where to stand makes you want to close the tab – this one’s for you. The Home Sweet Home session exists for exactly that feeling. It’s built around your actual home, kids, partnership, and the small everyday things that make your family yours. No sweeping backdrop required. Just your people and the place you feel most yourselves + a little bit of intention that goes a long way.

What is a Home Sweet Home Session?

This is for the family who wants some space to sink in with the comfort and familiarity of home. It’s for you if you want photos that feel natural and true, with your kids being kids and the pieces of life that feel treasured, beyond just a pretty backdrop you happen to be standing in front of in dress clothes.

It’s a shorter, simpler session than my Story Session, which can span multiple locations, longer activities, and a fuller slice of your family’s world. The Home Sweet Home session is more focused. One place. One or two things you already love doing. Timeless but natural portraits that feel relaxed and natural – maybe on the front porch, in the grass, on the playground, around the firepit.

What You Don’t Need to Over-Plan

Baking pancakes from scratch sounds lovely and it can be great and super special to photograph that tradition – but it’s also the kind of activity that can take an hour in itself and leave little room for anything else. That’s better suited to a Story Session, where we have more time and space to let something like that breathe.

For a Home Sweet Home session, we’re looking for the smaller, everyday things. The stuff that would probably happen on a Saturday even if I weren’t there to photograph it. One or two simple activities woven into portraits of your family together – that’s the rhythm we’re going for.

Think less “what’s our biggest family tradition?” and more “what do we actually do around here?”

Activity Ideas to Make Your Session Feel Personal

A few examples of the kinds of activities that work beautifully for a Home Sweet Home session:

In the Yard or Driveway

• Sidewalk chalk, scooters, or shooting hoops in the driveway
• A backyard game of baseball, or whatever sport your family likes to play together
• Popsicles or ice cream on the front porch or back deck
• Playing in a leaf pile in the fall
• Drinking coffee or having breakfast on the patio
• S’mores or time around the backyard fire pit

Inside the House

• A favorite card game or puzzle at the kitchen table
• Time in the kids’ rooms doing whatever they actually do in there – jumping on the bed, building a fort, playing guitar, working at a sewing machine. These personality-driven moments in their own spaces are some of my favorites to photograph and are really special keepsakes as they grow.
• Playing with the dog
• Playing the piano or having a big dance party

The through-line in all of these ideas is that they’re things your family would do anyway.

They don’t require prep, props you don’t own, or a family meeting to organize. They just require showing up in your own home and doing what you already love doing together.

What to Wear

This is one of my favorite things to talk about for home sessions, because the wardrobe question trips people up more than it should.

Dress the way you would if you were just hanging out at home – but maybe one small step above your most worn-in pajamas.

• No shoes. You probably don’t walk around your house in shoes, so you don’t have to do it for photos either.
• No collared, buttoned shirts, belts, or slacks required. This isn’t a traditional family portrait. It’s a Saturday at home, so you can dress like it.
• Comfortable, everyday clothes that feel like you (and your kids). Worn-in jeans, a favorite sweater, your kids favorite bright red beanie. Yes to all of it.

The wardrobe should match the feeling of the whole session: relaxed, real, and at home.

What’s Included

The Home Sweet Home session includes one hour of time together making pictures in and around your home. You’ll get a full gallery of around 60 final images to view and savor, then the opportunity to narrow your favorite 25 pictures to receive as digital files.

Twenty-five images is enough to use for your holiday card, print as gifs for family, and others to hang around the home. It’s variety without overwhelm. You get a full gallery to browse and then pick the ones that you love most to keep and put around where you’ll see and enjoy.

It’s a wonderful starting point if you’ve been a little unsure about booking a session or trying how photos feel at home. And it’s the kind you can return to year after year.

Your next steps

If you’ve been putting off booking because the whole thing felt like too much – too much planning, too many outfits, too much pressure to make it look a certain way – the Home Sweet Home session was designed with that feeling in mind.

Your house. Your kids doing their things. A few simple moments to capture and treasure.

If you’re curious about what this could look like for your family, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach out through the contact form here and we’ can start there.

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There are some collaborations that make immediate sense, and brand photos with children’s shoe brand Common Tread was one of them. Common Tread makes barefoot shoes for kids that are designed by an occupational therapist and engineer, handcrafted in South Africa, and made for the way children actually move. They’ve recently brought their brand stateside, located right here in Charlottesville, and I was fortunate enough to connect with one of the founders. We first worked together in the winter for a short studio session, but when she came to me with the idea for this back-to-school shoot idea, I knew it was going to be next-level.

We pulled the shoot together in under a week, from gathering willing kiddos to participate, to styling, props, and location. It all fell together with some dedicated effort and could not have gone more beautifully.

Sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in over-thinking and over-planning – but it was the organic nature of this whole thing that made it feel like just that: organic.

The Concept

We envisioned photos with a children’s shoe brand to actually show the shoes in action, the way kids really play. Common Tread doesn’t want their shoes to be dainty or reserved – even though they are elevated in style, they’re made for climbing, riding, and running in all conditions. And even though we were leaning into school for a timely message for families, it needed to feel grounded and natural as well to emphasize the natural materials and handcrafted nature of the shoes themselves.

For this shoot, kids played on the blacktop and the playground, climbed in the treehouses, gathered leaves along the wooded trails, and laid on a blanket in the dewy grass with their books and markers. It was bright, unhurried, and genuinely fun.

The Location

The location was a huge part of the session’s success. We chose to do the shoot at Free Union Country School, a nostalgic and warm early childhood & elementary school nestled just 10 minutes from Charlottesville. It is absolutely charming, with outdoor trails, treehouses, and little log cabin classrooms – making the perfect setting for this nature-oriented brand. We utilized many of the outdoor spaces around the campus for variety and to keep things interesting for the kids. The whole feel of this location lended itself beautifully to showcasing the shoes in lots of different environments and uses.

Styling

Common Tread’s marketing lead, Sarah, pulled in much of the clothing from closet pieces they already owned and a few incredible local boutiques we’re so lucky to have nearby. Our oldest model was also a natural stylist in assisting the choices for each child. It was a team effort, and the clothing was all so comfortable and breathable and soft, that all of the kids were perfectly happy playing in their fits.

All these pieces together became a golden combination that made for an hour and a half of natural play and light direction that showcased the shoes in all the wonderful ways they’re used in the real world by real kids.

About This Collaboration

• Barefoot leather shoes: Common Tread
• Location: Free Union Country School
• Styling: Leah O’Connell and Sarah Donovan

Children’s clothing brands featured alongside Common Tread shoes. All brands in italics are local to Charlottesville.

• Green Jacket: L.L. Bean
• Overalls: Fostered Collection
• Socks: Escuyer from Black Pepper Trading Co.
• Antique books, baskets, and badminton racquets: Hey Day Antiques & Vintage (recent)
• Toolbox as crayon box, socks, notebook: Black Pepper Trading Co.
• Red Sweater: Wild Wawa from Whimsies
• Yellow Dress: Little Cotton Clothes
• Blue Gingham Dress: Pink Chicken
• Navy Sweater: Two x Two
• Backpack: Crate & Kids
• Denim cargo jacket: Fostered Collection
• Cardigan and long sleeve blue dress: Rylee & Cru (older)

Working Together

Brand photography for small businesses and children’s brands is a natural extension of what I do with families. I love the challenge of bridging direction with natural play, intentional planning with creativity and spontaneity. At the end of the day, the purpose of brand photography is to help the brand communicate their message and aesthetic to attract the right customers. If you’re a small business or brand looking to collaborate, I’d love to hear about what you’re building and make pictures that represent it well.

GET IN TOUCH

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Brand Photography Session Details

Sometimes, the only setup for the session you need is getting everyone there. Summer extended family sessions often work like this. It’s such an effort to coordinate family from all over the country to get together, but once you’re there, it’s undeniably special. This session took place on a small private lake, a cloudy summer day, and a family who simply decided to show up for each other.

There was picnic food and wildflowers, cousins jumping off the dock, a new puppy and a new baby. Catching frogs and fish and even a little bird trapped in the greenhouse. Loops in the canoe around the lake.

Everyone was unplugged. Nobody was performing.

They were just together in that easy, unhurried way that’s harder to come by than it sounds.

The clouds stayed all day, which — for the record — made for an unpredictably beautiful vibe. We wove in and out between relaxed portraits and completely candid delight.

Extended family sessions at a lake, a cabin, a family property – anywhere a group has gathered and claimed a little space together – are some of my favorite sessions. There’s always something happening. These little moments between smaller breakdowns of people that normally go unseen. Opportunities to hold a moment and time and say this matters.

If you have a family reunion, a milestone gathering, or just a rare window where everyone lands in the same place – please reach out and consider working together to make pictures during that time. I work with extended families throughout central Virginia, Maryland, and the surrounding region.

You can read more about extended family sessions here, or reach out to start planning yours.

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When your family scatters across states and schedules, finding a window where everyone lands in the same place is its own kind of miracle. Last summer, a family made that happen at Wintergreen resort in Virginia and reached out about making some relaxed extended family photos while they were all together.

Because reunions are scheduled and locked in, we have to go with what nature gives us. This night called for rain in the evening of their session, but we crossed our fingers and decided to roll with it. To beat the rain as best we could, I decided to start with portraits at a nearby field just down the road from the home they were renting. We had space to get playful and make photos of all different groupings under the overcast skies. Just when were were finishing up and walking to our cars, it started raining.

Our plan was always to go back to the house and unwind while they cooked dinner and played their favorite card games, which worked out great. And even though it was cloudy and pretty dark inside between the weather and their wooded property, we let the vibes carry us.

The kitchen filled up, they poured a few drinks, the cards came out, some kids even started dancing to Ganganm style. It was full of personality, love, and honesty – exactly the kinds of in-between photos you treasure.

Later, the sky cleared enough for us to slip out to the back deck for a few more group photos and breakdowns to end our time.

What makes relaxed extended family photos like this one work is how naturally they move.
There’s a loose shape to the timeline, and within that shape, a lot can happen. The combination of classic portraits and relaxed family time makes for a really special, storytelling collection of images that speak to who a family is, not just a performance of it.

Tips for relaxed extended family photos

Extended family photos come with a particular kind of pressure that smaller family sessions don’t. More people, more opinions, more logistics – and often, real anxiety about whether it’s all going to feel stiff or staged or like a lineup of people who were told to smile at the same time and now look like they’re in pain.

The goal is to capture what it actually feels like when your people are all in the same place – a rare and precious thing.

Here’s a few things that tend to make relaxed extended family sessions (the one I just shared!) feel good rather than grueling:

1.Where you already are is usually the right location.

Whether it’s a reunion at a cabin, a family farm, or a vacation rental — these spaces already have meaning built into them. The place where everyone has gathered is part of the story, and leaning into it almost always produces more interesting images than driving somewhere scenic would. And just like in regular family sessions, it always lends itself to more ease (not rushing to get 15 people out the door?!) and more relaxed results.

2. Plan an activity you’d do anyway.

When people have something familiar to focus on, they relax more than when they’re standing there looking at a camera pointed at their faces. A meal, a card game, fishing off a dock, playing croquet in the yard, a tradition the family already has – all of it lends to a more natural interaction. You’re not performing for the camera; you’re just doing the thing you do together, and I’m there to artistically document it.

3. Expect a mix of moments and group shots.

Some of the most meaningful extended family images are quieter ones — two siblings catching up on the porch, a grandparent watching the kids play, cousins disappearing to feed the chickens. We’ll always check the big group portraits, breakdowns of cousins and grandparents and each family unit – that’s a given. But a session with a larger group has more of those small moments to find, too, and I’m looking for them alongside the bigger group portraits throughout.

4. Let go of conditions being perfect.

Someone will show up in an outfit that feels off. A kid will have a meltdown at an inopportune time. The weather will have its own ideas. None of it is fatal to a good session. It’s personality and reality – all of which we want more of, right? It’s part of a story that has roots. The photos will be meaningful and beautiful, wholly true and wholly you.

Planning a Reunion or Extended Family Session in Central Virginia

The Wintergreen and Shenandoah valley area has so many great options for large families to gather. I photograph extended families all over central Virginia, wherever the reunion happens to land.

If your group is mostly adults, or a mix of adults and kids, or multigenerational in a way that makes logistics feel complicated – I’m here for it and love it all. Family is family at any size and it means so much to me to captures all the ways it can look magnificently different.

You can read more about how I approach extended family sessions here, or reach out to talk through the specifics of your group.

GET IN TOUCH

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They’d Been Stopping at this Spot for Weeks. She Had No Idea.

There’s a particular kind of secret that’s almost impossible to keep. The kind where you love someone so much you can barely stand not telling them what’s coming. Ricky knew the spot the moment they stumbled across it together: a Blue Ridge Parkway overlook near Wintergreen – on the way home from one of their Sunday day dates.

“The view took her breath away and it was then that I knew that was the spot.“

So he did what any thoughtful, slightly sneaky man in love would do. He started driving her past it every Sunday on the way home. Normalizing it. Making it just a place they go, not the place. He knew she might have suspected something, but even if she knew the where, she wouldn’t know when.

As a Charlottesville proposal photographer, I know that nothing beats the feeling of when you really pull it off. I love being part of the surprise and find it such an incredible honor to be trusted in that moment.

In all our conversation beforehand, Ricky’s only real worry was the weather and not knowing for sure if there would be other people on the overlook. He really wanted to be able to have a gorgeous view and see the mountains in the background.

Mother nature showed up.

How it happened: The Proposal

It turned out to be the most vibrant summer afternoon. I drove to the overlook ahead of them with plenty of time, since he wasn’t sure of the exact timing and service on the mountain is a little spotty. There were no other cars there, and while a few others came and went while I was waiting, it was mostly quiet. I pretended to be just another visitor with a camera, taking pictures of the view, hiding in plain sight.

When they pulled up, they walked to the fence together the way they probably had a dozen Sundays before. Ricky knew who I was but didn’t draw any attention, focussing solely on his moment with his soon-to-be forever person.

She looked out to the right, taking in the mountains. When she turned back to look at him, he was on one knee.

She was visibly surprised and broke into the biggest smile, crying almost immediately — the happy, the overwhelmed kind of tears. It was short and sweet; their happiness just overflowed right there on the overlook. The Blue Ridge spread out behind them like it had been waiting for this moment, too.

I stayed back for most of this to unfold and give them their privacy before walking in to introduce myself and give them my congrats.

Whenever I photograph a proposal, I fully embrace and delight in being the first one to know their story and the responsibility of capturing the joy for them to share throughout their lives together.

If You’re Planning a Proposal and Thinking About Having It Photographed

This session reminded me of a few crucial details that make photographing a proposal actually work. I love being a Charlottesville proposal photographer, so if you’re in the planning stages, here’s a few tips to make photographing your proposal super seamless and (equally important) not awkward.

The best locations are the ones that already mean something.

You don’t need the most dramatic backdrop in the region. You need your backdrop. This couple had driven past that overlook together many times and savored it together week after week. He didn’t choose it because it photographs beautifully (though it does). He chose it because of the specific afternoon she first saw it, the way it hit her, and the feeling he filed away. That context lives in the photos even when it’s invisible to everyone else.

Find the place that has a story already.

Give your photographer the context.

The more I know going in, the better. A proposal session with no context is okay. But when your I know about your personality, demeanor, your vibe as a couple (are you super outgoing and energetic? more reserved and shy?) the better I can adapt to meeting your energy and crafting portraits after the proposal itself that feel like you.

Communicate the plan clearly — even when the plan isn’t exact.

The details don’t have to be locked down to the minute. But before I show up anywhere, I need to understand the shape of what’s happening: about where you’ll be standing, which direction you’ll be facing, and roughly the timeframe of when you hope to arrive. The planning is crucial to finding the right position — close enough to capture the reaction, far enough that she doesn’t notice me.

For this proposal, I knew they’d walk to the fence at the overlook. I knew they’d face the mountains. That was enough for me to quietly circle around behind them and be exactly where I needed to be before he got down on one knee. She never looked my way and neither did he – that trust is important.

You don’t have to perform (during or after the proposal itself).

One of my favorite things about photographing proposals is what happens after the actual proposal is done. The pressure was gone at that point. What was left was just two people who were engaged, standing on a mountain in one of the happiest moments of their lives.

You don’t have to fake it or be anything other than yourselves in that moment. I like to spend a little time making pictures once we’re all out in the open, relaxed, and celebratory. You’re still the only ones in the world to know this news, and it’s really special to have photos from that space.

I’m not trying to impose a performance onto a private moment and know when to wrap up so you can have it all to yourself.

These two are getting married at Rock Spring Mountain Farm in 2027. They told me their biggest priority is a celebration that feels intimate but fun — “a day where we can feel and see the love around us.”

I’m already looking forward to being the person to capture that energy and help guide the vibe for celebration and love.

Thinking about having your proposal photographed in the Charlottesville, Wintergreen, or the Blue Ridge Parkway? I’d love to be your Charlottesville proposal photographer!

Reach out here so we can collude together!

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If you google “best locations for spring family photos in Charlottesville,” you’ll get a pretty predictable list. Scenic overlooks. Blooming gardens. The kind of locations that look incredible in a single frame but don’t always allow for much natural play, variety, or realness.

I’ve been photographing families here for almost 20 years and the locations I find myself recommending most often aren’t necessarily always the prettiest on paper. They’re the ones that give families something to do together — somewhere they already feel at home, or somewhere that genuinely reflects the way they move through this place and this season of life.

These suggestions aren’t about the most photogenic backdrops for spring family photos in Charlottesville, but the locations that let you be the most you.

Home (and I Mean It — this Is #1)

Every single time I do a home session, I’m reminded why they’re my favorite. Not because outdoor locations are boring or empty, because we can totally still make amazing, meaningful photos in locations all around town. But the saying “home is where the heart is” didn’t come from nowhere.

Your home is the one location for spring family photos in Charlottesville that belongs entirely to your family. There is nothing like it.

No competing for parking. No performing for people passing by. Just your people, in the space where they actually live — where the dog camps out by the back door, where the kids know exactly which drawer has the snacks, where a Saturday afternoon is allowed to stay Saturday afternoon, complete with playing in the backyard and dripping popsicles on the porch.

I genuinely believe home is an amazing location for spring photos, and not only if you have a blooming tree in the yard. It’s about the ease of how you show up. Kids who freeze in front of a camera in a field will be my best friend at home.

The backyard, the front porch, the cul-de-sac where the bikes live, the kids bedrooms, the little kitchen — all of it is open for magic.

Bonus: the prep is so much simpler on you. No packing up, no driving, no timing the light around a commute. That alone is worth it for many families, especially with little ones.

Chile’s Peach Orchard

Chile’s is one of those locations that works in a way I can’t always fully explain, except that it’s full of opportunity — and activity is what makes candid photos happen.

Families roaming through the trees, kids picking up a peach from the ground, pulling kids in cute little red wagons, licking peach ice cream cones, laying in the dappled light. The whole thing has a rhythm to it that’s inherently relaxed and fun, and that rhythm shows up in the images.

It’s not a manicured backdrop. The light filters through orchard rows in interesting, unpredictable ways. There’s texture everywhere. And families leave with a bag of peaches and a gallery that actually looks like a fun day they had together, not a day they performed.

This year, the orchard will also have a giant tulip field blooming between late March and early April. Strawberries are usually in season for picking by mid April and then blueberries after that. But picking is only part of it. The location is gorgeous with a distant view of the mountains, green grass, and wide open spaces that beg for play.

A park you actually go to

I’ll keep this one simple, because it applies to almost everyone: the park where your family already spends time is almost always a better choice than a park you’ve never visited but looks nice in someone else’s photos.

Pen Park, Azalea Park, Greenleaf Park, the little thing in the center of your neighborhood— if your kids have a favorite playground, a trail they like to run, a spot where you picnic most Sundays — that’s a great location. The familiarity shows up in the photos. Kids move differently in places they already know and love. Of course, there are some things to consider technically, like how busy it is at certain times and when the light will work best for us, but familiarity is an important factor in my book.

Ivy Creek Natural Area

Ivy Creek is a little woodsier, quieter, more secluded. It feels so private, even though it’s right off Earlysville Rd. There’s wide open spaces and a big white barn if you’re into a rustic vibe. It steers clear of a super refined lawn and more into the territory of wilder outdoor play.

What I appreciate about Ivy Creek is the variety. You can be in dappled tree cover one minute and open meadow the next. It’s also really accessible in terrain and proximity to parking. When families have places to move and play and explore – actually going somewhere in transitions, not just standing in front of something pretty — the images always feel more natural.

Important to note here – wear comfortable shoes! Like, actually wear them. Don’t sacrifice them for something cute. This isn’t a formal-outfit location.

UVA Grounds

UVA is one I recommend thoughtfully, because it can go either direction depending on what you’re after.

The architecture is genuinely stunning, the scale gives images a sense of place that’s hard to find elsewhere in Charlottesville, and there’s something about the grounds that feels both historic and alive. For families who have a real connection to UVA — alumni, faculty, kids who grew up running around the Lawn — it can be deeply meaningful.

What I’d steer away from: trying to make UVA look like a generic scenic location. I really like playing with location in non-traditional ways, so that it means something to the client but isn’t screaming COLLEGE CAMPUS. The sessions I love most here have an activity baked in — morning coffee from Grit or bagels from Bodo’s paired with a walk to a picnic spot. Then roaming and exploring between fountains, stairs, garden nooks, and the wide open Lawn.

Morning is almost always better here before the campus wakes up and gets moving. This location can handle a little more dressed up, but it’s not a requirement! Again, going too formal with your clothing can make any location feel stuffy.

Your PERSONAL Favorite Local Spot

These places don’t make most “best photo locations in Charlottesville” lists because they’re not trying to be impressive. They’re just the texture of your actual life. And that’s what makes them extraordinary places to photograph. Even when there’s activity baked in, we still get those portrait shots – it’s not all entirely documentary. But establishing the place with play and meaning sets a unique tone for a session to be extra meaningful.

A few suggestions for places I think would make SUPER FUN pitstops to include as part of your session:

Sugar Bear Ice Cream Shop

Sharing ice cream on a beautiful day is one of the simplest human delights that brings true joy every time. If we’re doing a session downtown, at IX Art Park, or even Riverview Park around the corner from their High Street location, this is a super fun way to end. Their garden area is adorable and opens the door for some family outdoor games as well. Drippy, melty goodness is encouraged (but I’ll bring wipes, too :-)).

McIntire Skate Park

If you have a kid who skates, or scooters, or just likes to run around a concrete park and feel a little bit dangerous… this is an underused gem for family photography. The textures are interesting. The morning light is clean and even and it’s usually pretty empty if you go first thing in the morning. But more than any of that, if this place is a staple for you, it will help us capture personality and the fabric of your life in a way that a field session never could.

It’s also great for families with tweens or teens who feel awkward in traditional photo settings or anyone who’s a little bored of the same locations and wants to mix it up!

The Riverbank at Darden Towe Park

If your kids are old enough to splash and navigate some sandy terrain, this spot is so fun. We’re not talking manicured and scenic — we’re talking rocks to skip, sticks to throw, water to wade in, and little sandy nooks among the trees. Late afternoon light is genuinely beautiful here filtering between the trees and being completely unfussy. If you’re kayak people, bring them along! There’s a great kickoff spot here into the Rivanna. I’ll bring mine, too, and we can get some photos out on the actual water!

Location: The Charlottesville downtown mall, favorite nooks, and around their church

Location: A downtown Baltimore park around the corner from their house

Location: The winery they’re members at and visit regularly to hang out on weekends

So — Where Should We Shoot?

The honest answer is: wherever your family already feels like themselves.

What feels easy? What feels natural? What feels fun?

That might be your backyard. It might be a Charlottesville landmark with real meaning to your story. It might be a slightly muddy creek bank where your kids can throw rocks for twenty minutes.

I help families think through the details — that’s part of the process, not homework you have to do alone.

If you’ve been thinking about booking and just aren’t sure where to start, please just reach out. We’ll figure it out together.

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I’ve been photographing this family since they were expecting their first baby — a boy who is now ten years old and, understandably, a little too cool for me. Over the years, I’ve watched them grow from first-time parents into a family with depth, grief, and resilience. Returning to their home for newborn photos with their newest little boy felt like being invited back into a familiar story.

This newborn session took place on a cloudy, mild fall day here in Charlottesville. The light was soft, steady, and grey. As a Charlottesville newborn photographer, even when we’re shooting inside at home, I still appreciate an overcast day. It slows things down and makes space for quieter moments. The weather always brings its own energy to a session; I don’t even mind how wildly unpredictable it is. As long as it’s not fully pouring, I’m probably just going to embrace it for whatever it brings the day.

We started in the nursery while getting baby dressed, then meandered down the stairs and into the living room and the kitchen table and an open chess board. Eventually, we stepped outside for a few minutes of fresh air and play around the yard. We weren’t trying to recreate any specific poses or capture a baby who slept through everything. We simply wanted to pay attention to the way it feels.

A newborn, wide-eyed and taking it all in.

A toddler, curious and climbing, desperate to keep up with his big brother.

And that big brother — guitar-playing, skateboard-loving, and impossibly tender with his siblings.

Newborn Sessions with Older Siblings

One of the biggest hesitations I hear from families considering an at-home newborn session is this: “What if my other kids don’t cooperate?”

The truth is — they probably won’t. At least not in the way you might imagine. And that’s okay. It’s actually welcome because that would be really boring.

As a newborn photographer, I’m also a family photographer – and I want to see and hear and know the parts of family that are a little unhinged and rough around the edges. It’s what makes family photos feel less like some performative scene and more like a beautiful day with your favorite people.

I don’t expect siblings – at any age, toddler to teen – to sit still and smile for long stretches. I expect wandering and playing and personality. I expect energy. I expect snack breaks and Lego distractions and moments where someone needs a reset. The session flows around the rhythm of your home and your children — not the other way around.

Learn More about Newborn Sessions

Newborn sessions don’t need a spotless house or perfectly coordinated outfits. They don’t require a sleepy baby or siblings who perform on cue. They’re simply an opportunity to notice and honor the way your family is changing and becoming.

If you’re expecting a new baby and wondering how a session might work in your home — especially with older kids in the mix — you can learn more about newborn sessions with me here.

These early days pass quietly and quickly. You don’t have to make them look like anyone else’s. Just let them be yours and hold them with love.

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• Natural newborn photos at home with 2 dads
• Welcoming baby 3 | Newborn photos at home

Hazel had a rocky start. She spent 14 days in the NICU after surprise complications led to a last-minute c-section and days without holding her, hoping she would breathe on her own. Those days were filled with worry and hope alongside caring doctors and nurses. She finally came home on the day before Christmas Eve, safe and sound.

These new parents know the feeling of deep relief and passionate love like never before.

We met on a sunny January day for newborn photos in their little Richmond, VA home. It was cozy and full of character. Antique treasures lined the walls and lively plants filled the space with green, bringing life and warmth to every nook. The sunlight streamed through the windows, creating rainbows across the floor from sun-catchers in the windows.

As we settled in, they played their favorite records. The music created a cozy atmosphere. They sipped coffee and took a moment to breathe and share their story. It was an important time to focus on the beauty of the now.

Hazel slept most of the session in her parents arms. The love and gratitude in the room were palpable. Each smile and gentle touch told a story of healing and togetherness. I aimed to capture these moments with reverence but also with delight and the miracle of this sweet baby girl.

This Richmond, VA newborn session was about more than just photos. It was a celebration of life and health, a reminder to cherish one another.

Life can be unpredictable. Yet, in this small home, on this sunny day, everything felt okay.

Newborn sessions are not just about capturing features – though Hazel’s full of hair and round cheeks could melt you.

They’re about the story of love that surrounds each child and the place they came home to.

As a photographer in Virginia, I am grateful to share these moments with families in Richmond, Charlottesville, and anywhere you call home. If you’re expecting, let’s talk about how we can honor your family stories together.

You might also like:

Charlottesville newborn photos at home with new sisters

Summer newborn photos at home with baby Wilder

When to take newborn photos

There’s always something uniquely meaningful about gathering extended family in one place—but especially when the year has been marked by both extreme joy and immense heartbreak. In this session, I spent an afternoon with a family who had traveled from all over the East Coast to meet for the holidays. One of the couples was getting married at Early Mountain Vineyards the following year, so we decided to make their family photos there as well since it’s both a gorgeous and meaningful location to them.

Their group was a blend of all adults, two beloved dogs, and one baby—the newest member of the family and first grandchild. Although the session was playful and warm, their images held an unmistakable depth. This family had tragically lost their son/brother earlier in the year, so being together for the holidays carried a new weight and importance, too.

Their session was both a celebration of their togetherness and new life, along with the grief of loss.

My Approach to Extended Family Photos

Extended family sessions move at a different pace than traditional family sessions. They ask for attentiveness, gentleness, and a wide enough lens—emotionally and visually—to hold the complexity of generations and relationships.

The goal isn’t to choreograph perfection or force everyone into one version of “togetherness.” It’s to notice what’s already here. It takes maturity to perpetuate an air of lightness and fun while sensing when and how to get quiet for more emotional connection.

We wandered between around the open fields outside the winery, letting the lovely Virginia landscape work quietly in the background while the family filled the focus with connection, softness, and laughter that showed up in its own time.

The heart of it is simple: these sessions aren’t really about the photos—they’re about honoring the relationships that make your family what it is and the journeys you’ve taken together.

Read more: Extended family session details

A Gentle Invitation

If your family is navigating a year of transition—whether joyful, complex, or a mix of both—and gathering together feels especially meaningful, I’d love to help you hold that. One of the greatest misconceptions around photos is that you have to have it “all together” for a session to work.

In reality, the “perfect” time is only now.

When you’re ready to explore what that might look like for your family, you can reach out to inquire here.

More featured extended family sessions:

A backyard summer session with a large family on the farm

An extended family home session around Thanksgiving

Lifestyle extended family photos at home with all adults

A Recap of My Charlottesville Summer Mini Sessions

Back in July, I opened just 8 spots for summer mini sessions at one of my favorite tucked-away spots in Charlottesville—a public reserve that feels secluded, calm, and easy for families of all ages to enjoy. Each session was just 20 minutes long, but those minutes were packed with laughter, connection, and colorful summer energy.

The weather gave us the full spectrum of Virginia summer—bright sun one day, deep clouds the next, and even some rain that threw in a few reschedules. But ALWAYS, there was that humid summer heat. Honestly, no one really wants to be outside more than 20 minutes on those days unless you’re in the water or eating popsicles. So that what we did!

Family Photos with a Popsicle Finish!

One of the highlights of these summer mini sessions was the popsicle break at the end. I brought along a cooler full of rainbow popsicles for families to enjoy during the last 10 minutes of our time, and they were a huge hit! The smiles (and sticky fingers) that followed added a playful, colorful layer and gave families an activity that everyone could immediately buy into.

While his family shared their popsicles on a blanket in the field, one dad even said “This was the best idea ever.” High praise coming from a dad in a photo shoot!

The popsicles helped everyone cool down and relax, creating a lead-in to some of the most candid, joy-filled moments.

Different families, same experience, different photos

What I loved most about these Charlottesville summer mini sessions was the variety of families who joined me and just how different the results were from each session. Even though some of the logistics like location, time of year, time of day, and structure of the shoot – the people always make the shoot.

We had toddlers exploring their independence to preteens leaning into laughter with their parents to kiddos with special needs leaning into one another and the new experience.

Each family brought their own rhythm and energy. The nature reserve gave us room to move, play, and settle into moments that felt natural and unforced. Because the time constraints for mini sessions was so short, we didn’t explore multiple locations around the park, but still, there was plenty of variety simply from the games and poses we tried.

Every gallery tells a different story, but they all paint a picture of love and soaking in the summer as a family.

If you missed out this year, don’t worry—I’d love to have you join me next time I do summer mini sessions! I usually only offer mini sessions ONCE a year, either in the spring or summer, so make sure you’re on my email list to be the first to hear about any Charlottesville mini sessions in the future. Spots are always super limited and tend to go quickly, so this is the best way to stay in touch!

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Don’t Control It, Embrace it! (Charlottesville family photos with a family of 6)

Featured: A Playful Outdoor Family Session with 3 Kids

Featured: A Fall Apple Orchard Family Session

Fall in Charlottesville is magical. With the Blue Ridge Mountains as our backdrop and the University of Virginia’s stunning grounds framing our neighborhoods, there’s no shortage of gorgeous locations for Charlottesville fall family photos.

But after years of the same golden field sessions, many families crave something fresh.

As a photographer who’s lived in Charlottesville for over 10 years and captured hundreds of families around the area, I’ve learned that the most fun experiences often come from stepping outside the traditional mold. There are countless ways to create authentic, beautiful family photos that reflect who you are in a particular season – but sometimes it’s hard to name what that might look like without some examples.

That’s where this list comes in handy!

I’ve gathered 6 ideas for creative approaches to make your Charlottesville fall family photos feel fresh, meaningful, and uniquely yours. If you’re used to doing the same thing year after year and are feeling a little bored of it – maybe it’s time to mix it up!

1. Embrace the Comfort of Home Sessions

Why home sessions work so well for busy families:

There’s something deeply authentic about capturing your family in the space where you actually live and love. Home sessions eliminate the stress of getting everyone perfectly dressed and out the door by a certain time (which tends to be one of the biggest stressors for fall family photos!). They also allow us to lean into personal touches that make this season unique for your family – even if it’s hard to see it in the moment.

Bonus ideas for making the most of your home session:

• Don’t even get dressed! I’m not suggesting anything wild, here, but matching pajamas? Sweats and your favorite football jerseys? Did you just sigh or smile at the thought? Maybe it’s time to dress down this year! By setting the location at home, we invite natural moments that pair well with a super casual look – playing a game by the fireplace, baking together in the kitchen, or snuggling up reading books. Sprinkling these real-life elements amongst more naturally posed sets within your session make for tons of variety and a session that feels really special, too.
• Fall backyard magic: Our home has tons of trees that dump buckets of leaves in the fall, so giant leaf tossing piles are a standard tradition around here. If your home is the same, imagine how fun it would be to include that in your session! The backyard, front porch, garden, neighborhood paths, culdesacs – they all expand the intimate setting of home and the ways you spend your time together while nodding to the autumn foliage for your Charlottesville fall family photos.
• Personal touches: Sessions at home make including family pets so much simpler. There’s also the items that tell their own part of the story – bikes in the driveway, favorite lovies, or even the extreme Halloween decorations that are part of your neighborhood fall energy! These elements make photos uniquely yours and create conversation starters for years to come.

Pro tip: Home sessions work especially well for families with toddlers who might feel more comfortable in familiar surroundings. On the flip side, they’re also excellent locations for including elderly family members with special accessibility and comfort needs.

Read more: Check out this early October session at home with triplet one year olds!

2. Include Seasonal Activities That Bring Fun To Experience

Make the fall activity part of the session:

I feel like the best Charlottesville fall family photos capture authentic moments of connection, and seasonal activities provide natural opportunities for genuine smiles and interactions. Luckily, there is so much opportunity for family fun in the fall.

Activity ideas that photograph beautifully:

• Pumpkin carving or decorating: Set it up on your kitchen table or outside on a picnic table. The concentration, teamwork, and inevitable giggles create perfect candid moments to end your session!
• Apple picking adventures: We have amazing orchards like Carter’s Mountain and Chile’s Peach Orchard, Henley Orchard in Crozet, and several other amazing options in the area. Roaming around and playing through the apple tress is an activity gets everyone moving and breaks up posing with natural play.
• Baking together: Do you have a favorite family recipe? The flour-dusted faces and collaborative cooking moments with kids up on the counter are gold for telling family stories.
• Leaf pile jumping: The pure joy on children’s faces as they leap into carefully raked piles never gets old.
• Cozy bonfire moments: You literally can not go wrong with a fall s’more moment. Yes I will have one, too.
• • Little known fact: after years as a summer camp counselor, I am also a professional s’mores maker.

Why activities work so well:

When families are engaged in doing something they enjoy, they forget about the camera and their true personalities shine through. Plus, you’ll have beautiful photos that actually represent how your family spends time together in the fall.

See more images and go behind the scenes of this featured session at Chile’s Peach Orchard in early October.

3. Get Intentional About Your Time of Year

Choosing your perfect fall window.

Charlottesville’s fall season spans roughly from late September through early November, but each phase offers distinctly different opportunities.

Early fall (late September – early October):

• Weather benefits: Warmer temperatures (often still in the 70s), perfect for outdoor activities and lighter clothing
• Foliage: Early color changes, still plenty of green mixed with gold and light orange
• Best for: Families with young children who might get cranky in cold weather, outdoor activities like apple picking or playground sessions

(morning family session in late September)

Peak fall (mid to late October + early November):

• Weather benefits: Crisp, comfortable temperatures ideal for layering fall clothing, cozy knits sweaters, boots… the whole bit
• Foliage: Peak color throughout Charlottesville and surrounding areas
• Best for: Vibrant background colors, comfortable temperatures, activities like leaf jumping and pumpkin carving, families with young kids who have an earlier bedtime but still want evening timing for their session!

(evening maternity session in mid October)

Late fall (mid to late November):

• Weather benefits: it starts getting colder. If you like the idea of bundling up for cozy, snuggled-up moments or your family doesn’t mind the colder weather!
• Foliage: It’s always hard to predict exactly when trees will completely shed, but we usually start seeing bare trees by mid November. This isn’t always bad though, as the winter landscape adds its own touch of texture and vibes.
• Best for: Families who don’t mind gambling a little on the foliage or weather, are okay with bundling up, and have slightly older kids who can hang with the temperatures better than toddlers can

(evening family session in mid November)

Pro tip:

Consider your family’s comfort level and energy. Some families thrive in crisp weather, while others prefer the ease of warmer days. There’s no wrong choice – you know your family best!

Also, consider the time change when scheduling into November, especially if you have younger kids. The sun begins to set so early, that sometimes a session start time butts into nap windows, so be cognizant if that will play a role in when you schedule!

An important note:

I’m including a lot of considerations and “things to think about,” but please don’t let decisions deter you. While these suggestions come from experience and general understanding of what tends to be the case, I’ve had exceptions to every single one of these scenarios.

Newborns in the winter.

Teens in the morning.

All of it is still okay – remember, you know your family best AND I’m a pro, which means I can make anything work 😉

4. Include the Grandparents

Extended family photos are some of the most urgently valuable.

All photos become increasingly precious over time as we age, but including grandparents with their grandchildren captures a very unique stage of life.

Making it work for everyone:

• Choose accessible locations: Depending on grandparents ages and need for accessibility, I can help you choose locations with easy parking and minimal walking (including at home like I mentioned in idea #1!).
• Invite them to the beginning or end: It’s completely fine to invite grandparents to participate in the whole session (and I highly encourage it!), but if you’d rather, you can also offer for them to just come for the first or last 20 minutes, to keep things simple and low pressure.
• Activity suggestions: Just like in immediate family sessions, sometimes including activities can loosen people up and get them engaging more naturally. Simple activities like reading together, baking something, or playing a game with their grandchildren can photograph beautifully tell a story about relationships that will be really meaningful to everyone.

5. Rethink Your “Ideal” Time of Day for Opening up Alternative Locations

Moving beyond the sunset field session:

While golden hour field photos are gorgeous (and I’ll never stop loving them!), I’m not tied to them as the end-all-be-all timing for sessions. Planning your session around different times to coordinate better with your families needs or a specific activity can help use create something really authentic and beautifully different.

Morning magic in urban Charlottesville:

• Timing benefits: Softer, even lighting that’s flattering for all skin tones; cooler temperatures; less crowded locations
• Activity integration: Morning coffee for parents & hot cocoa for kids (my favorite spots are Marie Bette and Lone Light Coffee), breakfast picnics, or exploring the Downtown Mall (chalk wall, carousel, Code Building steps) before it gets busy!
• Other pros:
• • Historic downtown architecture provides gorgeous backdrops with interesting textures
  • Local coffee shops with outdoor seating areas and quaint vibes
  • Variety of colorful grafitti walls
  • Great if you’re not a “nature” person and prefer a bit more vibrance!

Why urban sessions work:

• Different color palette: There’s a different tone of light than the open warm sunset vibe and more color to the background/setting
• Less competition/more privacy: You might think urban = less private. But popular scenic photo spots can get crowded in the fall, so if you consider the right timing, urband locations can be excellent!
• Better for young children: Many kids are at their happiest and most engaged in the morning (no matter what location you’re in!).

Embracing our city: Charlottesville has such character and history, including recognizable local elements that become family staples. When you embrace a more urban setting for your Charlottesville fall family photos, we can create a sense of belonging in the place you’ve chosen to raise your family.

Try mornings at home!

A lot of the same timing “pros” apply to shooting at home, too, especially as they relate to attitudes of young kids. Lighting is not as much of a concern when we’re doing home sessions – outdoor or indoor – so there’s a ton more flexibility.

If you’ve always been turned off of family photos because you think it has to be at sunset – let this be your sign the there are so many more options to make it work for you.

// TL:DR //

The most important thing about your Charlottesville family photos isn’t following trends, copying what you see online, or trying to emulate someone else’s Christmas card from last year – it’s being true to who you are and honoring your lives together.

The “right” approach is whatever feels most like you.

As your Charlottesville photographer, I love helping families discover new ways to find delight in their lives. It’s my job to reflect the beauty in your relationships back to you so you can savor them and continue fighting for them.

Our city offers endless possibilities in the fall, from the stunning natural beauty of our surroundings to the character of our neighborhoods. There’s no perfect session, only one that’s honest to who you are.

Remember, these photos will hang on your walls and fill your albums for years to come.

They should make you smile not just because they’re beautiful (though they obviously will be!), but because they capture who your family really is – the way you laugh together, the activities you love, the grandparents who adore your children, and the place you call home.

Looking for a Charlottesville photographer who specializes in authentic family storytelling? Reach out here to start planning your fall family session. Whether you’re dreaming of cozy home moments or exploring your favorite family spots, let’s create something uniquely yours.

If fall is your favorite season of all, join the club! Family photos are the most popular in the fall around Charlottesville because it’s just so dang beautiful. Families revel in all the fun things to do together that make it even better. Unfortunately, this means lots of favorite family spots are too crowded to shoot at- and one of many reasons I recommend Charlottesville family photos at home!

This session took place on one of those crisp fall afternoons in Charlottesville. Even though it was mid-November, it was still warm enough to play outside and the leaves were in their full glory. As a Charlottesville photographer, these backyard and home sessions are the kind I love most.

We started out front on the family’s porch swing, softly playing games and chatting. The kids piled on together, swinging and chatting with each other while I hung back and captured their rhythm. There’s something about a porch swing in Virginia that invites a slower pace and natural ease.

Backyard Play and Personality : The Keys to natural fall family photos in Charlottesville

From there, we wandered to the backyard to let out some energy and get playful! It was a space full of stories, since they spend hours and hours here every afternoon and weekend. The playground was clearly a staple in their daily life, and it didn’t take long for the kids to start climbing and chasing each other around. The parents joined in, not for the sake of a photo, but because this is part of their real life.

Pushing those swings back and forth, meeting at the bottom of the slide, timing races – it won’t be forever, but it’s life right now.

When you live among the trees, the greatest gift for a kid in the fall is the endless piles of leaves to jump in. You almost don’t even care how many leaves and bugs get in their hair because the laughter is so contagious.

We also decided to incorporate one of their favorite activities in the session – roasting s’mores around the fire.

The kids fingers got sticky and their lips were smeared with chocolate, but the mood became calm and sweet. They passed around the picnic basket and laughed when marshmallows caught fire. Their dog waited patiently at their feet for graham cracker crumbs as we watched the sun dip below the trees.

Tips for a Comfortable, Laid-Back Fall Session

1. Dress in comfortable layers

Fall weather can be unpredictable, so go for comfort—think cozy knits, jackets you’d wear anyway, and colors that compliment the tones of the fall season outdoors. Patterns and texture are great additions as layers; it’s better to be warm and happy than matching and miserable.

2. Don’t Worry About the Kids Sitting Still

Movement is welcome (and it keeps you warm!). Sessions are built around play and activity as staples for family connection.

3. Plan a familiar favorite activity

Enjoy a favorite treat (donuts, carmel apples!) or a game you love (cornhole, leaf jumping!), or even a favorite fall tradition like pumpkin carving. Any activity, no matter how simple, helps take your mind out of a “photo session” and into “family memories” zone, adding more meaning and ease to the experience while you’re at it.

4. Let go of perfection

The goal isn’t perfect smiles—it’s photos that feel like your family. Unless you’re always smiling, don’t try to force it. Smiles more naturally bubble up when things feel light and low-pressure.

Plus you’ll get imagery that speaks to all kinds of other emotions that makes us human, as well.

If you’re wondering whether your yard is photo-worthy or if your kids will cooperate, you’re not alone. But the truth is, there’s no such thing!

The best sessions evolve from leaning into what you already love about one another and letting your life be reflected for the beauty that it is right now.

The #1 Best Tip for Fall Family Photos in Charlottesville:

Be all there. This kind of session isn’t about chasing some perfect shot or looking a certain way like other idealistic fall family photos you saw on Pinterest.

It’s about being all in together – whatever the weather, whatever the mood. If that sounds like your kind of pace, I’d love to be your Charlottesville photographer.

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Tips for Extended family photos in Charlottesville

Featured: Outdoor fall photos with a family of 3

An Apple Orchard Family Session in Charlottesville, VA

Summer family photos come with so many natural perks, and wardrobe is one of them! As a Charlottesville photographer for the last 12 years, I’ve picked up some recommendations for outfits that will lend themselves to fitting the summer vibe and photograph beautifully, without feeling overly styled.

Maybe choosing outfits for a summer session feels daunting – the sweat, the bugs, the tank tops – but I promise there are so many more options for effortless style than in seasons like fall and winter.

Colder seasons require more layers, more… shoes.

But summer?! Think easy breezy, light and free!

Here’s a few tips for pulling together outfits with minimal stress so your photos feel like you.

Why Summer Family Photos Require Special Styling Considerations

Virginia heat and humidity

It’s no joke. The humidity around here is legit, and if you don’t acknowledge that, you’ll be a drippy, miserable mess. Still beautiful – but uncomfortable. And we don’t want that!

Color palette (especially for outdoor sessions).

With the intense greenery in full bloom throughout summer in outdoor locations, we want to pay special attention to choosing colors that will pop vs clash or blend in among these environments. You don’t have to all match or only wear white – but the colors you select can have a big impact in the ones and feel of the session, so we want to pay attention to them!

Comfort for playfulness

In a summer session, kids are naturally more inclined to want to get down, fun around, and PLAY! I notice that in winter sessions, we get lots more cuddling and snuggling, so we pay attention to things like possible color casting with colors up next to each other. But in SUMMER – I recommend prioritizing comfort and movability more than anything. This 100 degree Virginia heat is not the time for button-up shirts and stiff dresses.

The Foundation: Start with These Summer-Friendly Fabrics

You probably already have clothing in these fabrics that make up your regular summer wardrobe, but make sure to choose pieces with breathable materials, like linen, cotton, modal. Not only will they keep you cooler as we move around, the natural texture lends itself beautifully to depth in photographs.

As a Charlottesville photographer who has worked with families for almost 20 years, I can confidently say that material matters deeply in the summer. Avoid fabrics like heavy denim and synthetic materials that trap heat. Dear goodness, don’t even think about tall socks and dress shoes.

Color Palettes That Pop in Summer

Cool Tones (Blues, Whites, Soft Grays)

• Works great for Charlottesville’s outdoor locations and compliments the greenery and florals you’ll find in some favorite spots.

Vibrant Summer Retro (Primary colors and bright pops)

• Works great for more open locations with less greenery, bright sun, and urban settings
• I love a good pop of primary color in the summer, especially when balanced with more neutrals from others in the group

Garden Fresh (Sage Green, Dusty Rose, Ivory)

• Ideal for botanical garden or park sessions
• Great indoors for home sessions as well

Avoid:

• Wearing black, especially for outdoor sessions, which will trap the light and clash against summery landscape
• Deep, jewel tones and rich tones like burgundy or mustard yellow. These are better for all and tend to feel confusing and out of place against the summer landscape.

Styling by Family Member for Summer Photos

Women: (mom always picks first because it’s usually the hardest outfit to nail down!)

• Flowy maxi dresses or midi skirts with a linen top or simple cotton t-shirt
• Denim shorts and a breezy blouse
• Comfortable sandals or barefoot! (always barefoot)
• Minimal accessories to keep if from feeling to heavy or overdone “for the photos”

Men:

• Linen button-downs with rolled sleeves or a solid henley t-shirt
• Chino shorts or lightweight pants
• Canvas shoes or boat shoes (or of course, barefoot!)

Little Ones :

• Rompers and play dresses
• Linen shorts with solid or textured tees (no large graphics or logos)
• Comfortable shoes for running around (or, you guessed it -barefoot!)
• Weather we’re playing with water or not in your shoot – swimsuits and/or a bare chest and diaper are always okay, especially if you’re wanting a truly natural, homey vibe and more candid feel

Older kids and teenagers

• Involve them in choosing and allow them to lean into their personal style (this is part of why you want photos, right?!)
• Take a comfort-first approach with similar considerations for women and men

Location-Specific Recommendations for some favorite spots from a Charlottesville Photographer

I have lots of favorite locations in the area to work with families as a Charlottesville photographer, and each requires a different approach to style in order to feel like a good fit. Here’s a few examples of how I would recommend you think of your clothing choices based on the vibe of our location:

Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall:

If we’re photographing on the downtown mall or the Corner, it’s likely we’ll rope in an ice cream pitstop or utilize the brick, stone, and colorful accents that make these locations so vibrant. I recommend aiming for casual clothing that compliments that vibe, vs the more flowy or neutral options that work well otherwise.

University of Virginia grounds:

UVA is a gorgeous place to shoot that screams classic and timeless. Aim for outfits that are simple and light to compliment this vibe. While some “preppy” looks might suggest bright pinks and Lily-Pulitzer-type patterns, I recommend staying away from these for your shoot because they tend to come off as too formal and busy-looking. Cool tones and naturals tend to work best in this location.

Read More: Check out this summer session of a family at the University Of Virginia

Local parks and gardens:

Aim for natural, flowing fabrics for something slightly more put together or go totally unravelled with looks that nod to adventure, playfullness, and full childhood vibrance. If we’re playing on a playground or running through the fields, it’s best to lean into the type of clothing that feels most like you in these natural family environments.

At home

How else can I say this? Keep 👏🏼 it 👏🏼 casual.

If you’re looking for natural, connective family images at home (which, I assume, is one reason why you’re considering me as your photographer!) there’s nothing that throws off the vibe more than someone dressed in slacks and dress shoes (cough, dad).

Remember the goals of your shoot and dress accordingly! It is OKAY to embrace your personal style.

The RECAP

Styling is pointless if it doesn’t feel like you. Photo sessions with me emphasize the importance of staying true to your actual wardrobe and the way you actually dress. I’m the Charlottesville Photographer who will cheer if I show up and your little boy has overalls with no shirt underneath and not a single person has shoes on.

Remember to keep comfort and movement top of mind when choosing outfits for the summer!

If you’re interested in booking a summer session, you can do so easily online through the link below or reach out to chat about any questions or details before moving forward.

BOOK YOUR SUMMER FAMILY PHOTO SESSION

REACH OUT HERE

Let’s make summer the new fall and embrace all the perks of gorgeous Virginia summer days and nights with your family.

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A playful outdoor family session in Charlottesville with 3 kids

An urban in-home session (+ backyard Oobleck!)

What to wear for family photos besides dresses

I met this lovely crew on a bright May morning for their family photos at UVA. The couple are alumni of the University of Virginia, so it holds a special place in their hearts. Years ago, I had the joy of capturing them here with their oldest child as he took his first steps. Now, the family has grown and their stage of life has changed. They’ve even moved to a different city to plant their roots.

But when a conference called them back for work, they made a family trip of it and looked me up. I was so honored to be the Charlottesville photographer they remembered and called on from so many years ago. It’s always such a treat to stay connected with the families I meet, not matter where life takes us.

Behind the Scenes : Family photos at UVA

Since it was close to graduation weekend on the day of our session, we had to work around a lot of buzz that was happening on grounds. Group photos of sororities, friends cherishing the lawn for the last time – the area was alive with energy, but we didn’t want a bunch of strangers in their family photos, either, so we chose to wander around some of the lesser traveled walkways and gardens.

They shared how peaceful it felt to simply be there because their home in the city doesn’t have anywhere so lush and wide open.

I wanted to make sure I captured the essence of that feeling for their family photos at UVA – the lightness and openness they felt in that space.

Even though the kids are still pretty young, the couple wanted to capture images with some of the beautiful architecture that makes UVA such a storied place. We played with the timeless columns and lawns, the marble and stone backdrop of the Rotunda, roaming and enjoying the gorgeous spring breeze as we went.

I imagine them sharing these images with their kids one day as they prepare for college applications, recalling their time together at this place with so much history.

While most of my sessions lean towards casual and home environments, the historic architecture and refined style added a timeless elegance to the photos.

My goal was to blend that innate elegance with the playful and relaxed vibe of what it means to be with your people and delight in one another.

As we played in the sun, their personalities shined through. I knew the oldest kid loves soccer, so I had tucked a little soccer ball in my bag for them to kick around on the lawn. And I always have a little container of bubbles with me for outdoor family photos because… I mean, what kid doesn’t love bubbles?!

Charlottesville is so rich in beauty, but the people always shine through.

I’m eternally grateful to create alongside both.

Interested in honoring your time in Charlottesville with family photos? Let’s connect and make something meaningful that speaks to your season of life together.

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All the details about family photos with me

How to plan Charlottesville family photos that feel like you

Tips for Extended Family Sessions in Charlottesville

Let’s start with 2 obvious points – dresses are lovely and lots of women wear them for family photos. It’s the main thing you’ll see moms in if you google or search for inspiration. But what if you’re not a dress person? You’re in good company because the majority of women I work with actually don’t wear dresses for their sessions!

My approach to family photos is relaxed, natural, and homey – and for the most part, moms in my world are not frolicking in flowy linen dresses in their day-to-day lives.

This post is here to pull tips and examples that will help you breathe a sigh of solidarity in knowing what to wear for family photos besides dresses.

Another crucial point to lay out –

I am not that stylish.

I like quality clothing and I like to feel “pulled together…” but I am no high-fashion maven. My personal, everyday style is very functional, comfortable, and a little masculine. I have no business as your wardrobe consultant.

I just know about photos and people.

I know that when people feel good, they look good.

There are some basic style recommendations that I will give for the sake of keeping things relatively timeless and non-distracting… but there are always exceptions.

Shop your closet

Your go-to favorites are great options and absolutely “photo-worthy.” In fact, they’re what your people see and know you in, which will make your photos feel even more honest.

Plus, less waste in fast-fashion, please.

Any stores I’ll share with you utilize sustainable creation practices in their clothing and/or are small businesses who take your dollar to heart.

Coordinate Without Matching

Good news – if you’ve been under the impression that you need to have matching outfits for everyone in your family photos, times have changed!

This is not a requirement (or a recommendation.) Variety and personality are key elements in photos that feel like you, so it’s 100% okay to loosen your hold on what’s “photo worthy.” Whatever will bring you a smile when you think about who your kids were in this season is OKAY to wear in family photos. And for women, when it comes to choosing what to wear besides dresses, the same rule applies!

Choose something that feels like you – something you feel good in and like yourself at your best.

That’s my #1 tip for walking away happy with your outfit choices.

Stylish Alternatives to Dresses

Jumpsuits

If you’re not a dress person (me either!) there are still so many options for a look that says lovely but still relaxed. I’m a big fan of jumpsuits. They’re just as flattering and comfortable as dresses, but more casual-feeling. (This store and this one tend to have sustainable and cute jumpsuits that can become a closet staple if you’re in the market.)

Denim + a sweater or blouse

Most of the moms I work with wear jeans. Forget Pinterest – it’s the truth.

Pair denim with a soft sweater or a button-up blouse. A favorite t-shirt, even. You can also go for relaxed-fit pants like linen or wide-leg styles, which allow for movement and on-trend. And really, your favorite fitting denim is going to make you feel like a million bucks.

I love Madewell and Roolee for beautiful tops to pair with jeans. Check Everlane for the most gorgeous, cozy sweaters or hit up ThreadUp for a secondhand version at a lower price point!

Pajamas

Are you kidding me? NOPE. It’s amazing, just embrace the coziness factor if you’re someone who feels best keeping it casual! For sessions a home, sweats or pajamas are totally acceptable and bring a lived-in, relatable, natural vibe to your photos.

A fun skirt with a casual top

This is a great way to dress up an everyday look while still giving you-vibes. If you’re deciding what to wear for family photos besides dresses, skirts can pull the same flattering duty with more customized fit. Pair a flowy skirt with a fitted top or favorite teeshirt to mix and match sizing that will feel good all around.

Final Tips for what to wear for family photos besides dresses –

• Avoid big logos or loud prints – they can be dating for your photos and distract from your gorg faces. Clothes are meant to compliment you, not steal the show.
• Consider the location when choosing what to wear. This can help influence complementary colors and vibe.
• Make sure outfits fit well and pass “the movement test.” (Can you sit, stand, lay, and move comfortably in it?)
• Most importantly, wear something that makes you feel good. Confidence looks amazing in photos! But if you feel like you need more of that, check out this post – how to feel more confident in your family photos.

Contrary to popular belief, dresses are not a requirement for family photos.

I’ve never been a fan of wearing something you’d never wear in your real life just “for the photos.”

The photos are for you.

If you want to capture true memories of your life, make sure your clothing is actually something that speaks to who you are – not a pretend, dolled up version you won’t recognize.

You may also like:

Don’t control it, Embrace it (Featured session)

What to wear for your home newborn session

Podcast Interview on The Sleep And Wellness Podcast – Take the Stress out of Family Photos

Reach out here to plan your family photos with me.

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Don’t control it, embrace it: playful family photos in Charlottesville

Outdoor fall photos in Charlottesville with a family of 3

Charlottesville Pregnancy and Newborn Resources

If you loved this session, check out other featured newborn sessions like this one and this one.

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What to wear for your Charlottesville newborn photos

When to take Newborn Photos

& Maternity photos at home in Charlottesville

Investing in professional photos is a game-changer for your business. While photographing on the fly and “making content” is part of the job as a small business owner, when you have a bank of amazing photos at the ready, it makes getting your message and your services into the world so much smoother. There are so many amazing local small businesses and creators in Charlottesville, VA, so the biggest thing that will set you apart is some eye-catching artistic brand photos.

The imagery on your website, your social media, and your materials should scream your vibe – and if you need a little help getting to that place, that’s where I come in.

While I specialize in mostly family photography, working with brands and creative small businesses has become a natural extension because of how I do it. I photograph brands with the same goal to create images with a warm, natural appeal and welcome viewers to connect on a deeper level.

Learn more: Interested in booking a brand session with me? Check out more of my brand portfolio, pricing, and details here.

Why Invest in Brand Photos?

Stand Out from the Crowd

Great photos are like your storefront—they grab attention and make a lasting impression. They also help you set the tone for your brand vibe and attract customers from the second the enter your world.

Save Time

That part of selling where you spend 30 minutes searching for the right picture? That’s gone. A brand photo session provides you with variety from natural headshots to at-work and behind-the-scenes type images to meet all the content areas you need and want to share about.

Build Trust and Connection:

People love seeing faces and buying from real people they know. Instagram posts featuring people get 38% more engagement. Basically, more engagement means stronger relationships and more loyal customers.

My sessions aren’t based around face sets or cheesy stock poses. I aim to help you connect as a real person with real behind-the-scenes energy mixed with a professional touch. We often shoot in your real spaces – your home office, your backyard garden, your favorite coffee shop or bookstore. All of it is part of your message and the perfect backdrop for honest connection.

Ready to work together to make natural, artistic brand photos for your small business or brand in Charlottesville, VA? Fill out the form below to get started.

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Featured session: Bottle House

Charlottesville Brand Photography details and pricing

As a Charlottesville family photographer who has been photographing families for over 15 years, I believe that we create the most meaningful images when the details are personal to what moves your heart the most. When thinking and envisioning your family photos, you may feel afraid they’ll turn out stuffy or cheesy. So if you’re looking for a place to start in understanding how we can avoid that, here are five ways to make your next session feel like you.

1. Set Your Session at Home

Your home is more than just a backdrop; it’s the heart of your family’s story. Whether it’s cozying up on the couch, playing in the backyard, or making breakfast in the kitchen, home sessions allow your family’s personality, silliness, and warmth to shine.

Home sessions allow me to step into your world in a more intimate way – and while that can feel intimidating, there’s something really magical that happens when you’re able to see your surroundings through someone else’s eyes.

Your kids’ favorite toys, your gangly old dog, that beautiful beam of light that hits the kitchen floor in the afternoon – all of it is part of what makes your family dynamic unique.

Bonus – a session at home also means you don’t have to worry about packing up and traveling, or chaotic weather, which can a huge win especially for families with young kids.

2. Choose a Location You Often Enjoy as a Family

If you prefer an outdoor session or simply feel more alive when you’re out and about, pick a spot that’s special to your family. Somewhere you go often together or maybe a place where you have special family traditions or memories.

Maybe it’s the park where you picnic every Sunday, the hiking trail where you spend weekends exploring, or the charming downtown corner where you grab ice cream together.

Charlottesville offers so many beautiful options for meaningful family photography and I have lots of recommendations to help narrow it down. But again, the best setting is often the one that has meaning and comfort for you.

Read more: favorite locations for Charlottesville family photos

When you choose a place tied to your family’s story, your photos become about more than just images—they’re reminders of the moments that matter most, whether it’s a simple park or a little ice cream shop on the corner.

3. Include an Activity That Your Kids Will Be Excited About

Kids are happiest when they’re engaged in something they enjoy, so we can plan an activity they’ll love as part of the session. This isn’t just to “keep them smiling,” but to instigate movement, connection, silliness, and all the unpredictable interaction that happens when we’re truly being ourselves. Sometimes it takes an activity to get our minds into the zone and really enjoying the quality family time, despite the photographer along for the ride.

Whether it’s blowing bubbles, playing backyard baseball, or baking waffles, incorporating a fun activity helps capture even more authenticity.

For kids who tend to feel a pressure to “perform” in front of the camera, activities are a great way to loosen the expectations, too. Family photography sessions with me can even include seasonal activities like apple picking in the fall or playing in the snow during winter!

When your family is genuinely having fun, those feelings are baked into your photos and makes the whole experience more enjoyable for everyone.

4. Food and Drinks

Including a snack or treat can add a playful, relaxed vibe to your session. Pack along some hot cocoa and marshmallows for a winter family photo shoot outdoors or enjoy popsicles on a warm day.

Food creates natural moments of connection—feeding each other, clinking cups, or sneaking a bite – it’s subtle but often allows for opportunities of care and fun.

Also, let’s not deny that snacks are a great way to keep little ones happy no matter what.

Some of my favorite Charlottesville family photos have included an element of sharing a fun meal or treat as part of the session.

5. Wear Clothes You Actually Own and Like

When it comes to wardrobe, comfort and authenticity are key. Client closets (aka borrowing stock clothing just for photoshoot) have never made sense to me because it feels like putting on a mask.

If it’s not how you would dress normally or the kind of clothing that makes you feel most like yourself, it’s not the type of thing you should wear for your family photos.

Avoid buying overly formal clothes you wouldn’t normally wear just for the shoot. Instead, pick items from your closet that you love and feel confident in. Coordinating colors can look great, but don’t stress about matching perfectly.

Your goal is to look like you, because we love you!

(Side note, all my clients get a prep guide with more specific recommendations about how to choose your wardrobe that will work great in photos AND feel like you).

Bringing It All Together

Planning Charlottesville family photos that feel like you is all about keeping it personal and meaningful. It’s easy to get distracted by what other people are doing and what you see online – but all that really matters is what feels exciting to you.

Whether it’s a cozy session at home, a favorite local spot, or a fun activity your kids love, every detail can play a part in make the photos feel less like an item on a checklist and more like a way to celebrate and notice the people you love and the life you’re building.

If you’re ready to plan a session that captures your family in an authentic and relaxed way, I’d love to work together. As a Charlottesville family photographer, it’s my joy to create images that feel as real as the memories they hold.

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An apple orchard family session

A home session with triplets

Is it possible? Family photos in a dark, small home?

It is the greatest privilege to coexist in the home with a new baby. Besides their fresh presence, everyone’s stories about how they came to parenthood are winding, difficult, and unique as well. I feel truly honored every time I’m asked to come into that story and capture a piece of it. It was the ultimate joy, then, for me to photograph these natural newborn photos with two dads, because they are my family.

My brother and brother-in-law welcomed their sweet daughter, my niece, via surrogacy. We are all in awe of the miracle she is.

Planning the details for a natural newborn session

For their newborn session, we wanted to make photos that honored the pieces of their new routines. This included bottle feeding, walking around the beginnings of their garden, roaming around their favorite little park and shops in downtown Atlanta, and their bedtime routine.

The key to executing newborn photos with two dads that feel natural and true is to incorporate things that are actually natural and true.

This way, we set the stage for images with sentiment that are tied to actual memories. These details of life with a newborn only add to the comfort level and a sense of contentment with the purpose of the session. This is the approach I like to bring to all my newborn photo sessions.

How a newborn session at home naturally contributes to storytelling

A lot of parents can feel like they have to be finished with things like changing and feeding baby before I get there to be “ready” for newborn photos at their home.

But really, that’s all a part of making the photos feel less contrived and more full of rich beauty and context.

I like to keep things in the frame like coffee cups and burp cloths. I believe they add to the story. Sometimes, I’ll even focus on these details, specifically because they’re all a part of natural storytelling.

Perhaps it seems like these basic elements – changing, feeding, going for a walk – are mundane and not “worth” photographing. But I believe they are everything worth photographing. They are the parts that feel normal now but won’t always feel that way.

Natural Newborn Photos with Two Dads

I’m committed to inclusivity and representing all kinds of families in photos. If you are interested in natural newborn photos or family photos as a same-sex family, family with special needs, racial minority, or any other lesser represented dynamics, I would love celebrate and honor your story through working together.

Please reach out here to talk details and make meaningful photos that feel natural and true.

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A home session with four year old and triplets

Welcoming baby #3 // a newborn session at home

Love in an upside down world // feature family session at home

This outdoor family session with 3 kids under 5 was full of energy and absurdity as only you could expect. I’ve worked with this family since their oldest was one, and each season they add more kids and our sessions get a little more wild. We’ve shot in winter, summer, and fall, in their home and outdoors. Every time is different and magical in its own way, and that’s the beauty of making family photos on a regular basis.

Every session can evolve into whatever it needs to be without the pressure of it being the one and only time you’ll ever have family photos, right?!

This was a field and creek session that stayed in one open spot of the field for the entire 30 minutes, and still got so much variety simply through play. We rolled around the grass and embraced the wild nature of 3 kids under 5. These parents were so easy-going and willing to play along, tickle, and chase to keep the momentum going.

I think so often we overestimate what’s required for a successful shoot, when really, the most important factor is simply a willingness to unravel and enjoy the moment.

These images are a few favorites from our time together. They feel like an explosion of love and beauty that will only get richer with time.

Featured: A playful outdoor family session with 3 kids

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Outdoor fall photos with a family of 3

Reasons to love summer family photos at home

Charlottesville outdoor family photos with a baby

I’ve come to adore sessions with older kids for their unique energy and opportunity to try different things, play with style, and incorporate family elements. Parents with older kids may feel nervous about family photos because they’re afraid of it feeling forced or cheesy. But these 3 tips are a great place to start for planning natural family photos with older kids that feel true to you.

1. Lean into your personal style

I’m not quiet about the fact that I love when people dress down for sessions. But if you feel most like yourself when you’re a little more “put together,” then you should lean into that! Clothes can coordinate without totally matching, and the most important thing is that everyone can move easily and feel like themselves.

If kids are forced into outfits they hate or that are physically uncomfortable, it stands to reason that it will show in the photos. Allow them to have some say in their wardrobe, even if it’s not your personal favorite. You can tell a story about it someday!

2. Choose a comfortable location

When planning a session with older kids, buy-in is key. You want to have your session somewhere that everyone feels excited about.

Again -it’s no secret that my number one suggestion for location is home. Home allows for lots of natural ebb and flow, plus the familiar environments that come from their favorite spots. Pets are also much easier to include when we shoot at home.

Of course, if your home isn’t a favorite or accessible spot, comfortable locations can include anything from a favorite baseball field to a park where you go fishing together.

It can be the place you go for bagels every Saturday morning or your favorite park where you ride bikes.

Location is part of the story – a character, even. So make sure you location isn’t just some random field no one’s ever been to before.

3. Plan for activity!

In this session, meeting at home allowed for some fun moments building the backyard bonfire, playing in the leaves, climbing trees, and jumping on the trampoline.

Activities play a huge part in natural opportunity for engagement and fun, but it’s just as much about what happens in-between as it is about the activity itself. Even walking around the sidewalks, going in for a snack, or riding a bike through the driveway might seem like “distractions,” but really, they allow for a more relaxed feeling throughout the session and lead to moments of pure connection.

Contrary to popular belief, family photos are not reserved for families with newborns and toddlers! Sometimes planning family photos with older kids can feel intimidating, but when you think about what you really love about being together and what you want to capture, the stress fades away.

Sessions with older kids can capture a phase of life that you’ve worked hard to cultivate and relationships that are unique to the season.

If you’re interested in creating family photos with your older kids, reach out here to get the ball rolling.

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The Future of Parenting

Family photos in a small, dark home

Extended family photos with all adults

In Virginia, when we think fall, we think apple orchards. Charlottesville has some of the most gorgeous orchards, so it’s hard to not want a family session there. It was a cloudy fall day for this apple orchard family session, but I loved the depth it added to an otherwise standard fall family photo location.

I love when we can use orchards for their natural beauty and playfulness, instead of trying to force something cheesy. This is a particularly great spot for family sessions with active toddlers because the built-in activity makes for some really sweet moments and natural distraction.

If you want “candid,” the best thing you can do is play like you normally would without a camera there – and orchards make this so natural!

This session at Chile’s Orchard was mostly spent chasing a wild 2 year old through the rows and giggling our way through creative 1 minute experiments in “posing.”

And by posing, I mean mostly games that ended in people being close together and laughing. I love the energy of playfulness and openness to not try to control the beast, but roll with the punches.

That’s my kindof orchard session.

Featured: A fall apple orchard family session

If you’re interested in family photos that feel playful and vibrant and relaxed and you… reach out to get the ball rolling!

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Outdoor family photos with a family of 3

Love in an Upside down world (in home family session)

Winter family session with a baby

I photographed this family of three at home when their daughter was first born, but with the gorgeous fall weather in Charlottesville, we decided to meet at a park down the road from their house instead. They often come here to play or walk their dog, and it felt like the perfect way to celebrate both the season and their daughter’s one year milestone.

It’s true that in-home sessions have my heart, but whenever we do choose an outdoor session, it’s because it feels like the best fit for the family. My goal is to make photos feel homey in any outdoor location.

The best timing for outdoor fall photos in Charlottesville

The best time for outdoor fall photos in Charlottesville is between the middle of October and the middle of November. This tends to be the perfect window for those classic fall colors. Also, I’ve found that temps are just cool enough for fall wardrobe without being too cold for little ones to comfortably play outside.

We got lucky with the perfect weather for this fall session and the blue skies mixed with autumn leaves did not disappoint. But in my opinion, the background is the least important part of your session. The people should always steal the show!

Enjoy a few favorites from this and playful fall family session.

Outdoor fall photos in Charlottesville, VA with a family of 3

Are you interested in fall family photos that feel more natural and fun vs cheesy and staged? I’m your person!

Let’s get the ball rolling to create a session that feels true to your family in whatever season you’re in.

Reach out here.

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Is it possible? Family photos in a small, dark home

Charlottesville outdoor family photos with a baby (winter)

When you’re wondering if it matters

From the second I read the inquiry form from this family for a home session with their four year old and triplet 2 year olds, I thought – “oh my gosh I have to work with them.” The parents approached the whole thing with a desire to capture the beautiful but wild reality of their season, and it was so endearing.

When people reach out with vulnerability, a sense of humor, and candor about their lives from the get-go, it’s immediately exciting as an artist because it tells me that they already feel a connection with me and my work.

It tells me that we’ll click. And when we click, we can make work that feels the most honest and beautiful.

When sharing about their family, they wrote the best description I think I’ve ever gotten:

“The 4.5 year old is named ***. He’s “really into raptors” (birds of prey) and climbing trees. He’s a hoot. He’s a very sweet boy as long as he’s napped and his belly is full.

Then we have two identical girls and a little redheaded boy. We aren’t sure where he came from.

His name is ***, and we love him. He’s a goober with a huge smile and an unhealthy obsession with ga-ga-culls (bicycles). He’s laid back and unbothered by most things; if he has a wheel, he’s happy.

*** is middle baby in temperament and maybe birth order too? She’s fun, slightly wild, and always up for mischief. I think she and *** are going to get into trouble as she gets older.

*** is sweet, caring, and always worried about you. Unless you’re another small person and she’s mad — then she’ll bite you and rip at your hair. We’ve all got something we can do better, and she’s no exception.

All together they make our life chaotic and loud. We trip over them in the kitchen, they throw food on the floor at dinner while staring me straight in the eye. When all four are in bed, we take a deeeeeeep breath. And then we hold it until we’re sure the big one is sleeping.

At that point we exhale and try to hug each other. We’ve been married for 11 years. We like each other a lot. We used to travel, but now we mostly yearn for a night away somewhere close.

It’s a lot but it’s the only way we know how to live. We get a kick out of these little monsters.

We’re hoping you can help capture this uniquely chaotic period of life. And if there’s love in the pictures too – even better.”

The power of honesty

Getting to know a family’s unique traits like this helps me look for them and capture them throughout the shoot. It also helps me honor them instead of trying to redirect or change any behavior that seems in line with their personality.

It’s part of the whole magic of what we’re looking to capture and I love when parents appreciate and want that, too.

The heart of it all

We stepped around fake cobwebs and skeletons adorning the porch for their early fall session to make the outdoor photos in this set. I remember the dad sharing the sweetest reflection with me at the end as we were watching their oldest climb his favorite tree in the yard.

He said something about how it’s really fun only about 40% of the time, and the rest is really really hard.

But also, he knew that all the good they did in that 40% was going to be worth it in a few years when the percentage went way up.

If that isn’t the most relatable answer about parenting, I don’t know what is.

Enjoy some favorites from this home session with a family of six that’s simply bursting with love.

If your heart is exploding after looking through these images and you’re wanting a piece of this kind of reflecting for your own parenting and family story, reach out here. I would love to honor the wild, silly, tender, and true parts that make up you and your people in whatever season you’re in.

Let’s connect.

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An urban in-home session (with backyard oobleck)

Family photos at home (and the chicken coop)

One year old family photos at home

The first time I worked with this family, they were local to me in Charlottesville. But when they reached out to see if I would make the drive for an urban in-home session at their new place in Baltimore, I couldn’t resist. They are so much fun and I knew that photographing them in their new home would be full of playful surprises.

This urban in-home session in downtown Baltimore started in their crazy-cool basement playroom. Through our time together, we captured all kinds of bits and pieces of their life, including the struggle of getting shoes on kids.

I love how Narrative sessions like this one allow us to sink into our time together and explore lots of variation in activity. Since this crew often walks down to Patterson Park, we decided to take the dog for a walk and include that little family favorite spot in their session. And since the kids’ favorite past-time at the moment is simply getting messy and doing science experiments in the backyard, we didn’t shy away from that reality.

Who would have though that the most fun way to end family photos would be making oobleck?!

I was so obsessed with the honesty wrapped up in this session the beautiful range of love and leisure.

An Urban In-Home Session (complete with backyard oobleck!)

Whether you’re looking for family photos at home in Charlottesville, Baltimore, or elsewhere, I’d love to witness your beautiful, messy, loving ways. These photos are meant to fuel your gratitude for the present and continue giving that feeling decades down the road.

Reach out here to get started.

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Family photos at home (and the chicken coop)

One year old photos at home

Reasons to love summer family photos at home

My 36 pound 4 year old climbs up on a small but not-a-toy four wheeler and pulls the throttle, kicking it into gear across an open field.

He is in heaven.

I am in a panic.

My stomach drops and I’m certain I turn the color of an unroasted marshmallow. It takes everything in me to not either scream or run after him.

Is this the future of parenting?

My sweet little boy – the one who still can’t quite pronounce his ‘l’s and falls asleep clutching legos – this one is driving a motor vehicle?

I swallow the lump in my throat because I trust my husband and my dad who, despite the thrill they are getting by sharing this with him and their palpable eagerness about the whole thing, have taken every safety precaution. They’ve been clear about the controls – (only two – stop and go.) He has a safety clip attached that will cut off the four wheeler if he jerks. They’ve set up boundaries to keep him off the big hill. They’ve turned down the motor to its lowest setting. They ride alongside him.

As the weekend goes on they extend the boundaries and give him a little more power.

Every time he climbs on I talk myself off a cliff.

I know that at some point I’ll have to let him go.

We spent the weekend at our family’s cabin in West Virginia.

We picked flowers and the kids explored the woods with walkie talkies. We kayaked on the lake and went fishing. Every meal was cooked and eaten outside.

Our dog, Bourbon, lives his dream life there – roaming free and swimming whenever he pleased. But on the last night, Matt and I were laying on a blanket watching the sun set while the kids slept back at the cabin with my parents. Bourbon – being the herding dog he is – wandered out to us and started making circles.

His loops got bigger and bigger, till we didn’t see him again for a while and figured he’d gone to the cabin.

Except when we got back, he’s was still gone.

We gathered spotlights and hopped on a four-wheeler, hoping he’d hear the engine even if he couldn’t hear us. It was pitch black. He is almost 12 years old and has 2 metal legs from chasing after cats and tearing both ACL’s years ago.

We didn’t speak it out loud – but his chances of survival in these wild woods at night weren’t good.

We drove and yelled his name for an hour.

How am I supposed to leave this place without knowing what’s happened to him? How will we tell the kids? What if we do find him and he’s been attacked by the black bear we saw earlier?

Why did we let him out of our sight?

We were heavy and about to turn in when I heard his heavy panting behind us, soaking wet and in a full sprint.

He was totally unharmed, though completely exhausted, and fell asleep with a dopey look of contentment on his face.

When Gavin walks outside without his shoes for the 132nd time, tiptoeing across the mulch, I ask – “dude, why don’t you just wear shoes?”

He responds with the most matter-of-fact answer ever – “I just want to be FREE.”

How do you argue with that?

Lately, it’s like a flashing sign is subtly blinking – hey, you can’t keep them close forever.

I know that I don’t actually want to, either. I want to allow freedom. I want to see my people (and pets) live life fully and learn to take healthy risks. I want to empower them.

I want them to learn how to trust their own judgment.

To explore with excitement and find their way home.

I just hate that it may require them to get lost first.

I’m becoming keenly aware of how much courage it will take to sit back and watch them run into fire.

Parents of older kids… I see you.

Also, please send help.

Family sessions aren’t just for newborns and families with littles.

Reach out to schedule a session to honor whatever is vibrant and true to the season of life your family is in right now.

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The Joy of Wiggly Ears

First Kid, Second Kid

2024 Book List

I’ve had the joy of capturing this family through several special milestones. But as they’ve settled into a new home and started to sink into their family dynamic, it was a real treat to make family photos at home… and at their chicken coop.

Along with their two kids, they raise 19 chickens, four bunnies, 2 dogs, and a cat.

And a strawberry patch. And sourdough. And a church. And a homeschooling co-op.

On a hot summer day, the girls showed me around their rooms and let the bunnies hop around while they played and read books together. We played silly games in their favorite comfy chair and played outside on the tree swing. We held and fed the animals and ran wild in the open grass.

But it really wasn’t so much about what they did as it was about how they did it.

With openness and kindness. Sinking into the play. Loose and with love.

At one point, I asked them to pile into a patch of grass with a bunch of white clover and the mom laughed. She said people thought she was crazy because she loved all those “weeds” in the grass, but she didn’t care because she thought they were beautiful.

I tend to agree.

They thought she was crazy when she wanted all those chickens, too.

But it’s the simple life they always dreamed of. And they are really soaking it in.

Family photos at home | Louisa, Virginia

If you’re interested in some laid back, warm and vibrant family photos that feel wild and true – let’s make it happen. Reach out here to get started.

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The Belew family |Family photos in a dark small home

Love in an upside down world

Charlottesville outdoor family photos with a baby

*this essay was originally shared in my weekly newsletter. For more essays on family, creativity, and simple joys to your inbox every Wednesday night, sign up here.*

I hear his bouncy, 3-year-old voice calling from the top of the stairs –

“mamaaaaa I’m awaaaake!”

I smile and sigh at the same time and close my laptop where I’ve been working for the last 1.5 hours with my hot coffee in the darkness.

I pad across the cold floor in my bare feet and make my way up to his room. In the warm glow of his nightlight, I kneel on the floor in preparation for our ritual good morning tackle-hugs. He pounces onto my lap and squishes my growing belly where his brother has been rolling awake, too.

“Good morning, sweet boy” I whisper into the soft crook of his neck.

He pulls away and declares – “Mama, look! My ears can wiggle!”

This groundbreaking revelation is exciting enough that it’s the first news he chooses to share with me to kick off the day. He uses his index finger to flick the cartilage of his earlobes with the goofy grin of a kid on Christmas.

“Do yours do that too?! ”

He flicks my earlobes and giggles wildly.

What is it about children that can turn the littlest thing into a miracle?

Everything is a discovery. A new pack of markers is pure treasure. A quarter from the lemonade stand becomes a goldmine. Belly buttons are like magical caves of wonder.

How does it work? When will we get there? Why does it do that?!

As a sensible grownup who’s been totally over those old-hat discoveries for some time now, it’s easy to become annoyed. It’s also easy to see how overflowing our lives are with simple joys.

Often, it requires an active choice to lean towards the latter – but I think that’s just human nature.

image of me by Erica Hufnell

The remarkable truth is I have no idea why ears wiggle.

I’m sure there’s a reason that I’ll never quite understand or be able to explain. It’s just how we’re made.

And that intentional artist who crafted our weird wiggly ears was likely smiling with tenderness at this little boy on an ordinary winter morning who discovered a simple detail in that creation and delighted in its marvelous design.

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First Kid, Second Kid

Top Discoveries of 2023

My 2024 Book List

*this essay was originally shared in my weekly newsletter. For more essays on family, creativity, and simple joys to your inbox every Wednesday night, sign up here.*

It’s after dinner and the big kids have been granted a cookie while we finish the dishes.

I look over my shoulder to see my oldest alternating techniques between daintily licking the creme from the middle and nibbling the cookie around the edges like a bunny – she will take 20 minutes to eat a bowl of cereal if we let her and equally as long to nurse this cookie.

I shift my gaze to our second child to find he has immediately shoved the entire cookie in his mouth. Our eyes meet. He serves me a wiley grin, sending cookie crumbles out of his lips like confetti from a canon.

First kid vs. second kid. God help us – what will the third be like?

I am a second kid. On the outside, I went through a lot of my life playing the part of a rule follower – but a piece of me is always a little desperate to go wild.

The inner rebel craves creativity and always asks questions like “why” and “what if?”

When assigned a greek mythology project in high school and a list of ways to present it (poster, essay, presentation, blah blah blah…) my best friend and I went rogue and wrote an entire parody script of Jason and the Argonauts, then spent the next several weeks filming scenes for it on my parents’ camcorder after school. Don’t get excited, the production value was low. We utilized the garage door as a cave entrance and I played the part of a Minotaur by standing in an empty trash can with a scarf wrapped around my face.

So when I say rebel, I don’t mean the cool kind.

photo by Sierra Madre Photography

For my birthday one year, my mom got me this little wooden sign that I still keep on my desk. It’s a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote that reads: do not go where the path may lead – go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

I think she saw in me then what it took another decade to understand and own.

It’s okay to do things differently. That doesn’t have to mean you do them alone.

On Friday I deleted Instagram. Whenever I feel resentment or boredom or annoyance about what’s coming into my brain or what I’m sending out from it – it’s a major red flag that I need to reevaluate.

I never want to create from a place of resentment or frustration. I also don’t want art, entertainment, information, or even just the happenings of my friends to feel like swimming in a noisy black hole. I realized I love using the app primarily for one purpose – connecting with other photographers. So early last week, I put out a call for family photographers who were feeling the same to hop off the content-creation-train and onto Voxer instead.

For the past week, the 10 of us have been actually talking. And typing while babies nap on top of us. Sending thoughts while out for walks or sitting in a school pickup line. These creative and compassionate women are sharing in deeper conversation, sparking new friendships, pitching ideas and problems, sharing wins and struggles – going deep vs. wide.

And we’re doing it in the dead of fall which also feels a little like… what?? Isn’t that the most popular time for family photographers? Yep. That’s exactly why it matters most.

I purposely take on more photography work in the fall than any other season – the demand is highest and I’m okay with that. But I also know energy is a delicate scale.

I’m lucky to live in a world with lots of choices, so I want to make sure mine are on purpose.

I don’t know how long I’ll be off the ‘gram- probably till I don’t feel the impulse to check it or the pressure to post when I don’t really have anything specific to say.

The rebel in me is curious about just how creative I can be with things like marketing for winter and moving forward on other goals if I don’t have that crutch to waste time lean on.

Where will I discover clarity, hobbies, relationships, momentum?

Where will I feel peace or strain?

In the meantime, I’ll make a giant chocolate cake for my husbands birthday tonight that no one will see except us.

I’ll do fun things with my kids and hold them humbly.

I’ll write a lot of words no one will read.

And that feels exciting. I always want to go where it feels exciting.

While some photographers are posting their editing cues and sharing their fall sessions like wildfire … that’s fine.

I’ll be over here, quietly talking to a smaller group of peers and thinking and writing and photographing – maybe even making my best work yet for the amazing clients I have on the calendar this fall.

And maybe standing in a trash can? Naaaah. Actually, I mean who really knows, probably.

Would you like to make photos together that feel true and unraveled in all the best ways? Reach out about scheduling your family photos here.

Interested in mentoring with me? You find those details here.

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Top 10 Discoveries of 2023

When you’re wondering if it matters

The phrase “beautifully imperfect” rubs me the wrong way. “Imperfect” somehow implies there is a “perfect” to begin with. It implies something is wrong, even if it’s accepted.

I don’t believe in perfect – a perfect session, a perfect home, perfect light, or perfectly behaved kids.

I believe in the hard, beautiful work of family.

The early days with newborns and siblings is really hard and I don’t try to sugarcoat it. But I do aim to spend one hour making photos that remind you where the glory shines through.

My real job is to zoom in on the moments that make your heart beat fuller and make photos that celebrate beauty within in the realness.

In newborn sessions like this one, I am humbled by the flow of family life.

Shyness and swing spinning.

Bed jumping and stories in the rocking chair.

Nursing and muffin baking.

Conversation about art and learning and things bigger than ourselves.

I want my time with families to be about more than making pictures. There should be a feeling of awake-ness, a settling of the soul that happens after an hour or two of being all in with your people. It’s as much about the experience as anything else.

The art of doing life together matters.

If you’d love newborn photos at home that feel warm and natural, I’d love to honor your growing family in this way.

Reach out here to get started.

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Before this session, the mom and I chatted on the phone to iron out the details. We talked about letting the kids have input about their outfits, choosing things they already loved from their closets, and about her biggest concern – the light. She was worried about their crew of 6 doing family photos in a dark home.

But I wasn’t 😉

After talking through the specifics, I learned that their house is a temporary stop between a previous home and a home they’re in the process of building. It is a unique season in this space. Under 1200 square feet and nestled in the woods, the home was tiny and dark.

And with four young kids, it’s a tight squeeze.

But they have a big backyard and a counter where everyone migrates and they have a lot of fun making the best of it.

I assured her the home environment was no problem at all. Truly, I was giddy with excitement because this is my favorite scenario – when people think their environment is less than ideal for photos but I can show them how it is just perfect.

It’s in these situations where I can shine a light into those same dark corners and reveal the beautiful glimpses that come from a different perspective.

About half an hour before the session, mom texted me this.

As a general rule of thumb, if you’re ever thinking “is this weird?!” I”m probably going to be obsessed with it.

The ‘weird’ stuff only seems weird because we don’t generally see it often in the family photos people share online.

But that’s exactly what makes it so wonderful and why it needs to be photographed – these are the stories of family interaction that are largely hidden and where some of the most magical moments unfold because they are special.

Sure they can be for the greater good of breaking down stereotypes of family photography “shoulds” … but they can also be just for you.

Logistically, it’s also important to follow whatever light we have available when making family photos in a dark home, no matter where that takes us. If it’s possible to incorporate a natural activity in that space, it will feel way more natural.

After I delivered the gallery, I got another text from the mom:

This is why we do this.

What it looks like to make family photos in a dark home

Enjoy some more favorites from this intimate and fun family session as example of what’s possible. You don’t need to have sprawling architecture and large rooms and huge windows to do a family session at home.

You can absolutely do family photos in a small, dark home and this session is proof that they can be every bit as magical.

Would you like to work with me to make heartwarming family photo in your dark home (or any other home?!). I would be SO THRILLED to meet you and make images that speak to whatever season you’re in these days – whether it’s with teens, a large extended family, or a newborn babe.

Explore my session options here and reach out to get started.

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One year old family photos at home | The Dunn Family

Summer newborn photos at home in Winchester with baby Wilder

Charlottesville outdoor family photos with baby

This crew invited me to their home on a bright summer day for a family session to celebrate baby boy turning one. While many families will choose to have lifestyle newborn photos at home, I met this little guy when he was just hours old for a Fresh 48 session in the hospital. This made our session at home even more special, as we got to capture details of that environment like his nursery and the way he’s grown into this family over the year.

There’s something so magical about witnessing how relationships become so comfortable through daily life together.

Instead of a big cake smash, we simply let him try a cupcake on the front porch at the end of our session. Big sis encouraged (and excitedly shared!) the treats with both her little brother and the family dog. I will always and forever be obsessed with the simplicity and lightness that comes from family photos at home.

Featured: One year old family photos at home with The Dunn Family

Are you interested in making heartwarming family photos at home with me to celebrate both your milestones and everyday moments?

It’s literally my favorite thing. These sessions are about more than just your faces, but witnessing and reflecting the bond your forming and the comfort your creating within your walls and arms.

Reach out here with any questions and to get the ball rolling.

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What to wear for fresh 48 photos

Charlottesville Pregnancy and Newborn Resources

The magic of playful family photos at home

Families (predictably) flock to fall photos as their annual go-to, but spring is too good to pass up and most people just don’t realize it! Last spring, I was on maternity leave but this year, I’m excited to dance with some families in the sunshine, play in backyards, and re-discover all the reasons to love spring family photos!

1. We’re all tired of winter and are eager for sunshine, green grass, and blooms

By March, most families are chomping at the bit to explore and expand after hibernating all winter. Even if you’re the outdoorsy type in all seasons, there’s something about spring that beckons us with for fresh air, color, lighter clothing, and an eagerness to reset. Spring family sessions have such a beautiful energy to them that you can’t find any other time.

2. Less stress around the holiday rush

Fall photos are notoriously the most popular time for family photos. They’re also the most popular time for lots of other family activities – football games, orchard dates and corn mazes, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and all of December… The family calendar around this season is already packed. It’s nice to plan to make family photos in lower-stress season so you can really enjoy the process. Also, you can still use them for Christmas cards if you want – there are no rules that say your photos must consist of plaid and evergreen trees! Yay!

3. Hooray for mild temps

If you want family photos outdoors, spring is your best chance to avoid sweaty or shivering. We go through extremes here. There’s always the chance for a brisk spring evening in March or April, but it’s way better than 100 degrees and humid or 25 degrees and frosty.

4. Earlier sunset times

Early spring sunset times fall around 6-7pm, which lends to a much more manageable and fun evening for families with young kids and early bedtimes. Skip the stress around stretching keeping them up late and risking mid-session meltdowns. Spring is the perfect evening window for romping around in the sun before winding down for the night.

5. An energized photographer

I set a lot of boundaries around how many sessions I take per month so that I give all my clients my best in every season. But coming out of winter (a notoriously slow season for family photography sessions), spring family sessions tend to get photographers at their freshest! We are as eager to get outside and play as you are!

Let’s jump all these reasons to love spring family photos and have a wild, good time creating together!

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Summer 2023 Petite Sessions

Many photographers shudder at the thought of extended family photos, but to me, they’re a thrill. There are so many different personalities and so much potential for spontaneity and honest delight. All it takes is the right prep and energy to set the tone. Take these sessions to the backyard of a home where the core family grew up together and it’s even more special.

Portraits vs. Candid in Extended Family Sessions

Directing extended family sessions can be a unique challenge, but that’s why I go into these with a plan (like I do with all my sessions!). I aim to make quick work of the “must-get” shots, including portraits of family units, breakdowns of kids, cousins, siblings, grandparents, etc. Even though these aren’t necessarily the most “artistic” or “emotive” types of shots, I recognize how valuable they are. Families love these classic shots of everyone all together for a reason – I would, too! So I always make portraits a priority, while still doing my best to keep them relaxed and smiles genuine.

The real magic is what happens in between.

How grandma always has smarties in her pocket to pass around.

Grandpa’s honest laugh.

The tickle fights and side-bar hide and seek games and chicken feeding and holding hands from one place to another.

Both portraits and candids are important elements to storytelling the success of extended family photos. It means the world to clients, especially when they live far away from one another. Often, getting together only happens once a year or less.

Capturing these connections is a true gift, and tuning into both the skills of natural posing and documenting lends to galleries that have equal parts classic and true.

For more examples of how I approach extended family sessions, check out this session of a small family of all adults in the backyard.

Featured: A Charlottesville extended family session

Working with large groups in Extended Family Sessions

Photographing large groups (like this crew of 23!) requires a healthy mix of flexibility and direction. While preparing for the session, I always tell families to go in with an open attitude and remind them that our goal is not classic perfection – it’s capturing joy and togetherness.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that excellence and calmness or compliance are the same thing – but when the goal of the photos is to capture joy and togetherness, we can more easily let our hair down and play more openly.

When there are lots of young kids, I generally try to move through portraits right at the start – things like the whole group together and smaller breakdowns of each family. We keep things simple and moving (and treats are never a bad idea!). I like to include playful prompts and games to keep it interesting as well.

Including activity and special locations for extended family sessions

I also like to prod the family for any meaningful elements of the location or activities they like to do together. I’ve had extended families play yard games like croquet, cornhole, and cricket, make gin and tonics, play a game of backyard baseball, and gather around a campfire with hot dogs and guitars – all as part of their extended family sessions.

For this family, the old wooden barn at the edge of the lane held lots of memories and because the matriarchs were getting ready to sell the farm, it was special to make photos in that space and around the animals the kids loved.

If you’re interested in working with me for extended family photos that feel honest, fun, and true – let’s do it! Reach out here to get the ball rolling. You can see more of my extended family work here.

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Charlottesville outdoor family photos with a baby

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Now that I’ve shared what actually got read in 2023, I’m diving into what’s on my 2024 book list. One of my major goals is to read more fiction. Doesn’t seem hard, but man do I get pulled in by a good biography or teachable, highly recommended non-fiction book. They call me! But also, they drain me!

So this year, more fiction please.

It’s funny – I’ve actually found that fiction has this awesome ability to bring lessons and stories and insights to the forefront of my mind just as well as non-fiction, but in a secret way. It helps my relax and get lost for a little while, but at the same time, connect with new or lost truths about the world.

Another goal is to checkout more books from the library. Our home book collection is getting a bit out of hand, and even though I often order from Thriftbooks, I’m starting to rack up more pages than I have places to keep them. The idea is to first check out what I can from the library and if I love it, neeeeed to underline it, or want to read it again, I’ll order a copy.

Just like last year, I’m only adding 12 books – 1 per month – to my 2024 book list.

This list is where I always go first when it’s time to decide what to read next, knowing full well that some will get bumped if inspiration strikes otherwise. Some years have been packed with reading (like this one), and others have been more sparse.

I’m setting some realistic goals this year while we’re still in baby-world, but looking forward to each and every one.

My 2024 Book List

Fiction

The School for Good Mothers – Jessamine Chan

Beach Read – Emily Henry

Winter Garden – Kristin Hannah

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow –Gabrielle Zevin

Somewhere beyond the sea (Cerulean chronicles book 2) – TJ Klune

Nonfiction

Joyful : The surprising power of ordinary things to create extraordinary happiness – Ingrid Fetell Lee

You could make this place beautiful : a memoir – Maggie Smith

Talking to strangers : what we should know about the people we don’t know – Malcolm Gladwell

No cure for being human (and other truths I need to hear) – Kate Bowler

Practicing Presence: a mother’s guide to savoring life through the photos you’re already taking – Joy Prouty

Baby on the fire escape – Julie Phillips

Bonus if time: Traveling Mercies – Anne Lamont

Shoot. Still more non-fiction than fiction. I am who I am.

What’s on your 2024 book list!? I’d love to know! Be book buddies? Start a book club?! Let’s talk.

Find me on instagram and check out my highlight called ‘books’ there for more of my favorite recommendations for fellow readers.

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Favorite books of 2023

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How I photograph families in any home

Oooh how even the best laid, most conservative and graceful plans can go awry. This was the year I’d be having a baby, and given that this was the third time I’d be doing this, 2022 Leah knew – hey, don’t set any lofty reading goals. BE REASONABLE. To her credit, I did only give myself a list of 12 books – one per month – which is definitely a change from my 2022 reading list. And look! I actually read 12 books! YAY! But they weren’t the same ones on my list and some definite curveballs in there. So here’s what actually got read + my favorite books of 2023.

Top 3 Favorite books of 2023

1.Writing down the bones – by Natalie Goldberg

In a recent edition of The Firefly Letters, I shared about what writing has done for me this year. Short version – a lot. Something stirred early in the year in my soul and begged me to reconnect with writing. Part of that obedience was learning about writing. And then also, ya know, writing.

But this book kicked off everything – it was engaging, funny, and tactical. My undergraduate degree is in English, but somehow this book taught me more about real writing that my entire formal education.

2. Create anyway – Ashelee Gadd

If there was ever a book that every mother should read – and read while her kids are young, especially – it is this one. This was such a timely and important read for me in a newly postpartum year. It’s a collection of beautiful stories, photographs, and interviews – each chapter with relatable and poignant vignettes about motherhood. It is comforting, funny, encouraging, and empowering.

Go get this one in your hands asap and get a few extra to gift the other amazing women in your life.

3. Lessons in Chemistry

This was my favorite fiction book of 2023 by far, along with the rest of the world. But for a reason. I read this when I was still pregnant and even while exhausted, I couldn’t put it down. It was funny (a theme, nay, essential for me this year?) and suspenseful. It was such a unique story with a main character who is equal parts endearing, interesting, and inspiring.

I believe a good fiction book is such a welcome reprieve from the world while simultaneously teaching us so much about the world. This one was definitely that kind of book.

Other books I read in 2023:

Fiction

• All the light we cannot see
• The startup wife
• *This time tomorrow (my second favorite fiction book of the year – a classic time travel situation, but with a beautifully interesting father-daughter relationship angle)

Non-Fiction

• Out of Sorts
• You are a badass
• Searching for Sunday
• Play
• *Cold tangerines (another amazing one for new moms and a close favorite for the top 3)
• The Book of delights

This was also the year of quitting books.

There were 5 whole books I started but didn’t quite finish. After decades of the mentality that one must finish every book, I came to the conclusion that life – and my personal time – is too limited to be spent dragging myself through books I can’t quite get into. Not to say they were bad books, just that for whatever reason, I got the gist and never fully pulled my way to the back cover.

My most used cookbooks of 2023

Call me old-fashioned, but reading recipes on the internet takes me excited about creating to wanting to throw my phone into a wall. So much scrolling. Phone locks up. Something always splatters onto the screen. Drying my hands to unlock and scroll again. THE POPUPS. I’ve found I enjoy cooking for my family leagues more when I can do so from a printed page, cookbook, or family heirloom card.

Magnolia home Volume 2 and Half Baked Harvest: Every day were my top two cookbooks pulled from the shelves this year. Joanna Gains’s waffles and blueberry muffins were fan faves and Tieghan Gerard’s pizza dough and pretzel chicken fingers amped up some classics around dinner time.

The prospect of new books is among the top exciting feelings that come with starting a new year. One of my very favorites ever is coming out with a sequel and I can’t wait to get my hands on this one releasing in June, either.

Cheers to nights curled up with a good book and all the stories that shape us.

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My 2023 book list

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Charlottesville, VA gift guide

Is it possible to photograph sessions at home in any season, through family changes and growth, in any time of day or weather? Absolutely! I photographed maternity and newborn photos at home along with a one year family session with the Barnes family as they welcomed of their first son, Theodore. So when they reached out to do the same with their second boy, I was thrilled to continue capturing the growth of their family.

There’s something so cool about keeping a variable like location the same, even when so much else is changing.

The logistics

When they were pregnant with Theodore, we photographed their maternity session at home on a snowy day in January, then his newborn session 2 months later in March. His one year session was the following April as their property was starting to bloom into spring.

Maternity photos at home with first baby

newborn photos at home

One-year old family session at home

Maternity and newborn photos at home (round 2!)

These two sessions with new baby Callum mark our 4th and 5th sessions together, all done at home in early and late fall.

We photographed our first three sessions with their first baby mostly in the morning, but the latest 2 sessions took place closer to midday to work around their personal schedules and nap times with a now-toddler.

The icing on the cake is that this family lives in a small one level home, buried in the woods – so light and space are both slim!

All these details may seem unimportant, but that’s kind of the point!

We were able to create 5 different sessions amidst all different kinds of conditions. The variety is endless when you can see constraints as fuel for creative options (and that’s my specialty ;-)).

It is so beautiful to have the consistent backdrop of the home where these boys began part of this family, including their dogs, their nurseries, the big red barn and the little hallway with a sliver of light where we aim to shoot every time as a testament to the seasons of their family.

Maternity and newborn photos at home with baby Callum

Can you photograph multiple newborn sessions in the same home?

There is really no cap on what’s possible if you want to do both a maternity and newborn session at home. Every session is completely unique because there are so many other dynamics at play that weave themselves into the art we make to reflect your story.

(This is another example of a family who did both maternity and newborn sessions at home!)

Want to learn more about maternity and newborn sessions at home with me? Check out all the info here and reach out to tell me about your growing fam so we can make heartwarming photos of those most dear to you.

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Summer newborn photos at home with baby Wilder

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Choosing maternity photos at home in Charlottesville

As I poked around online to get some gift ideas for my own family for the holidays, I couldn’t wait to share what I found! This Charlottesville, VA gift guide is full of some of my favorite items on shelves in our area to help narrow your hunt and shop local for the holidays.

*Most of these ideas are under $100, but if you’re looking for gifts with more even more impact at a higher investment, look to the experiences and artists section at the end!

Charlottesville, VA Gift Ideas for Women

Oh Suzanah

This adorable shop is curated by color – like how fun, right? I love so many little giftable items in here for friends, sisters, neighbors, you name it. They include categories for home and garden, games, comfort and care, apparel, and more.

A few favorites:

• Weighted eye pillows – Am I just tired or do these sound awesome?
• Root and Branch spiral notebooks – Cute patterns for journaling and noting through the year
• Only Good Things Affirmation book – Love this idea for a new mom or just a sweet side table book
• Paint by numbers kits – Anyone else love these as a kid? I adore the thought of this simple and relaxing way to return to childish enjoyment of an evening or even alongside the kids.

Bluebird and Co

This is a shop you just have to go in. It’s quaint and homey with the sweetest little kids corner. Grab a festive coffee at Mudhouse Crozet and walk on over to peruse the great books, candles, apparel, and other local lovey goods.

Cake bloom

Cake Bloom offers the sweetest options for tea time events and sampler kits that would make for a festive date night at home. They also offer gift bundles already made up for a more refined gift of local food and bubbly! This would make such a unique and fun treat for a spouse or couples gift.

Emily Ruth Prints

This nature inspired artist creates lovely wearable items and housewares, a lovely wall calendar, and beautiful textiles. I love this crossbody bag that feels like it could be the perfect functional go-to for an outing with kids (but a lot more stylish than a giant diaper bag). In several custom patterns, I can also see it used an elevated but casual look for working at the coffee shop or a day trip with friends.

Darling Boutique

This shop is a Charlottesville, VA favorite for artisan jewelry and housewares with a fun and funky twist. I love these earrings, this cute ceramic mug, and shower steamers (I meeeean does that sound luxurious or what?) that would all make great stocking stuffers. They also have bundled gift packages with curated goods for specific people or needs.

Rock Paper Scissors

This shop on the downtown mall has walls of cute cards and little giftable items for the paper-lover in your life. I’m also obsessed with these cute Charlottesville ornaments that would be perfect for a neighbor or friend who’s new to the area.

Squirrel Mountain Flowers

This service is a new hidden gem! The owner, Elizabeth, offers a month-by-month subscription service for fresh, seasonal bouquets. All the flowers are grown in her backyard – which happens to be right next door to mine! Reach out to her on instagram for details on how to sprinkle some delight into your loved ones lives throughout the whole year.

Local Gift Ideas for Men in Charlottesville

A good Charlottesville, VA gift guide wouldn’t be complete without a few local options for the men!

Basketful

This lovely little shop is packed with fun and quirky finds for men, women, and kids, but a few things really stood out to me for the guys. Like this duffel bag that would make a great travel upgrade with a masculine edge. I also love this Mexican hot chocolate set – combine with a cozy blanket for a nod to a cute home date night!

Rhoback

Locally founded sports apparel company Rhoback has several curated gifts guides specifically for the men and women athletes in the family. Their style is classic and high quality, but their mission to drive activity, play, fun, and living with soul is what really gets me. (I’ve gotten to photograph newborn sessions twice with the founders and they are the just the best!)

Grit Coffee

For the one working-from-home, Grit coffee has some awesome gift options like a coffee subscription with local delivery or this Tandem package that includes a bag of their signature blend beans + two campfire mugs.

Charlottesville, VA Gift guide for Babies and Kids

We have some seriously awesome toy stores in Charlottesville to find great gifts for kids of all personalities. I’ve pulled just a few fun things I’m considering for my own bunch, but the options are truly endless. The best part about shopping locally is the knowledge and willingness of shop owners to help you find the perfect gift.

Alakazam

This store on the downtown mall has an adorable selection for all ages, but I’m obsessed with these canoe buddies for baby. Also, my oldest daughter received this Stella doll as her first doll at age 1 and it’s still in the rotation of well-loved favorites 7 years later. They have a great section for quirky stocking stuffers, legos, games, and a priority for diverse makers and representation within their selection which I really admire.

Shenanigans

Another fun shop for all the things, but I was so excited to see they carry our family favorite – Storytime Chess. I taught my daughter (and ok, myself, too) how to play chess in 2020 using this game and it made the experience of learning both fun and memorable! And you basically can’t live in Charlottesville without playing Chicapig, created by Dave Matthews!

Whimsies

This cute little shop in Stonefield Plaza is known for its boutique clothing, but they also have a great selection of gifts across price points, include fun stocking stuffers like these brush markers my art-loving daughter will be obsessed with and pirate puzzle that’s perfect for a budding preschooler.

They have the softest lovies and sweet bath toys for the little babes, too!

Green Bean Baby Boutique

This is where it’s at for all things adorable baby gear. And if you’re looking for matching pj’s from a local Charlottesville shop, Green Bean Boutique has the cutest selections in big kid and baby sizes like these Burts Bees hot cocoa prints. Come on, so cute.

Local Experience gifts and Artist gifts

Along with the amazing local shops in Charlottesville, there are also so many beautiful, fun, and special gifts from local service providers. I wanted to include some of awesome experiences and options on this Charlottesville, VA gift guide for memories that will last well beyond the holidays.

Indian Summer Guide Service

This local business offers horseback riding experiences through some of the most gorgeous local vineyards and breweries. With equal parts adventure and romance, this would be such a special gift for a spouse or couple.

A concert at one of our amazing local venues

Charlottesville is home to so many fun concert venues. View the concert line-up from big name bands at JPJ to more low-key events like a comedy shows at The Southern. The Paramount, The Jefferson, and Ting Pavillion also bring talented artists throughout the year and tickets or a gift certificate to enjoy a show would make for a really fun gift!

A photo session with me!

While we’re exploring gifts with meaning, could heartfelt family photos be the thing that would really light your heart up? Book a session as a gift to yourself or purchase a gift certificate to bless someone you love.

You can view more info about family or newborn photography gift certificates and purchase one online here.

Custom paintings by Charlottesville artists

Check out collections by the talented Brit Davis who includes words of meaning or encouragement hidden in the layers of her work or the nature-inspired paintings of Kelly Johns with Terra Ethos (with brand photos by yours truly!).

Shop local!

There’s nothing quite like perusing the shelves, scrolling local options online, or connecting one on one with a shop owner for thoughtful, well-crafted gifts. In our home, we try to do a majority of our Christmas shopping locally to support small businesses and our community as a ripple effect of the giving spirit.

I hope these ideas sparked some excitement for you to find the perfect local gifts that spread love a little further this holiday season.

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Charlottesville winter family photos with a baby

Every new baby melts my heart, but it was a first time experience to walk into a session and simply start weeping. Baby Wilder is the first baby boy to my very best friend whom I’ve known since I was 7. She and her husband welcomed him into the world after years of infertility, a difficult pregnancy, and 3-day long tumultuous labor. It was a dream at long last to meet and photographer these summer newborn photos at home with baby Wilder and his new mom and dad.

To say that he’s been prayed for and fought for is an understatement.

In the cozy morning hours of a hot July day, we rocked and held and laughed and cried over this sweet boy and the absolute whirlwind that is entering new parenthood.

Wilder was 5 weeks old at this newborn session, and because you can never predict what a newborn will need or do for any given hour, this happened to be one where he consistently wanted to eat. Then spit up. And eat some more. Then cry. Then try to eat some more.

Because ya know, babies.

But through all the juggling and snuggling, these two new parents were fully present and wrapped in the love of this sweet miracle boy.

Here’s what my dear friend had to say after she saw her photos:

“Don’t mind me wiping my tears after watching that slideshow. These are stunning, I’m blown away. It has been such a hard road, but I look at those pictures and I see such beauty and fate. Like this was always meant to be. Even with all the hardship – that’s life and I see it captured. I’m in awe. Also, it’s not an easy season to be photographed, but I feel beautiful in them – thank you!”

Truly, as an artist and as a friend, I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Enjoy these favorite summer newborn photos at home with baby Wilder!

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Summer lifestyle newborn photos at home

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When to take newborn photos

When the world feels upside down, there’s still that moment.

The one when you brush a fallen hair out of her eyes and tuck it behind her ear.
There are tiny red cheeks, soft and supple, grinning about things like sparkles and raspberries.
Sun-dripped nooks of warmth.
Hugs like fuel.

Books of encouragement and stories of escape.

Friends across the world but a phone call away.

Blankets with the perfect softness around tired feet. The quiet of dawn and clarity in stillness.

When the world feels upside down, there’s still hope. And there’s still home.

Honoring the character of home in photographs is one of those things that feels unimportant till it’s important.

The chair where you spend hours nursing, the table where you share holiday feasts and Tuesday takeout, the hallways you pace in hushed arguments about sleep training and potty training and curfew, your sunny corner with the plants.

Not because of its perfection or its permanence. Not because of its style or its intrigue.

But because home is part of the heart.

And when you’re fortunate to have those rooms and that roof, even squeaky floorboards or outdated wallpaper becomes an anchor. A backdrop for a season of life.

Whether it’s the beginning, middle, or end, right now, it’s home.

Interested in lifestyle family photos at home?

If you want family photos dripping with love in the most genuine way from the comfort of home, oh we’re onto something good. I would love to create with you – reach out to get started.

Related reads to in-home family photos:

The magic of playful family sessions at home

Tips for photographing a family at home with special needs

Podcast interview: take the stress out of family photos

Deciding what to wear for your home newborn photos when you’re newly postpartum can be… troubling. Confusing. Frustrating. The last thing on your list?? Probably all of the above.

Then there’s deciding what everyone else should wear. Whew.

Here’s to hoping this blog post sets your mind at ease and helps make that “what to wear” question just a little bit easier.

A go-to formula for moms

Most of my moms choose to go for a loose fitting dress or a pair of leggings or jeans (lean into those maternity pants, no pressure) and a textured top.

For cooler months, a chunky knit sweater is a great simple staple. If it’s spring or summer, lean towards dresses or a light blouse.

Also, PAJAMAS – yes please, this is totally an option! If I were doing my own home newborn shoot , I’d personally commit hard to the lounge look.

What about dad?

Dads have a tendency to feel like they need to dress up for photos, but especially for home sessions, it’s out of place to wear belted khakis and a button-up shirt, right?

Instead, consider denim and a henley or a solid favorite t-shirt. Again, it’s the newborn days so loungewear is totally appropriate. Sometimes what we wear can have a huge impact on how we feel. If you want the photos to feel natural and casual, dressing down is a sure way to loosen up the vibe.

For cooler months, layers and flannel on top is a great option for dads, and for the warmer months, consider lighter textures like linen or breathable cotton with shorts.

How about that cute baby?

Is there anything better than soft baby skin? When deciding what to wear for your home newborn photos, consider letting baby skip the clothes all together! Set aside a muslin swaddle in a solid, neutral color or understated pattern to loosly wrap her in and you’re all set!

If you want to embrace some of those cute baby clothes, fit is the most important thing when deciding how to dress baby for the newborn shoot. We don’t want them getting swallowed in their onesies.

One simple or understated outfit is plenty, and if you want to photograph those sweet little toes, steer away from footie pajamas and into an outfit where we can grab onto those rolling thighs. Stick to soft fabrics and simple designs – baby is the focus here after all!

What do the big kids wear?

The same advice applies, really – think texture, simple designs, and colors that coordinate with the other members of the family.

It doesn’t have to be the same color and while it is undoubtedly adorable to put new siblings in matching outfits, I recommend saving that for another time. In photos, you’ll all be snuggling up close and those outfits will run together.

Instead, pick a color palette (a collection of colors that look good together) – like earth tones, pastels, neutrals, etc.

Want more concrete advice about what to wear for your newborn shoot?

All my newborn session families get my newborn client prep guide when they book. It includes recommendations for favorite places to shop, color palette suggestions, and tips for a smooth session overall (because it’s about more than the clothes!).

I also love being on call for outfit advice and many of my clients will lay out some outfits and take photos to text me for a second opinion about what will work best.

Let’s make photos together

Interested in heartwarming maternity or newborn photos with me? Newborn photos don’t have to be within the first two weeks and they can be as simple as capturing bath time and backyard play. Reach out here to tell me about your vision for the dreamiest photos that will live on and on, amen 🙂

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Want to know the magical solution to getting all the pros of summer family photos without the heat, bugs, and late start times? Plan your summer family photos at home.

Summer can be a tricky season to schedule family photos outdoors because the days are so long and hot. A sunset session when the light is glowy and you’re not sweating could mean a 7:30pm start time… which is tough for families with young kids.

On the flip side, the summer season is much more versatile in color to coordinate with your home if you plan to display your photos (vs clear fall orangey/red vibes) and flowy dresses, shirtless little toddlers, and bare feet are the stuff of pure family session magic.

While I’m a huge fan of sessions where we splash in water and run with abandon in grassy fields… if that doesn’t feel doable or fun for you, then home is where it’s at.

In every session at home, I aim to capture the intricacies of personality that are innate within family dynamics – the subtle touches, bold laughter, intimate moments mixed with silliness.

It’s all baked into our relationships and so wonderfully accessible when we can let loose at home and feel beautifully alive with the people we love most.

These summer family photos at home have all the playful breeziness of a session outdoors, but with the added bonus of air conditioning and the sentiment that comes from capturing memories in a family’s most sacred space.

Here’s what this mom had to say about their session:

“Leah these are absolutely INCREDIBLE. I am so blown away and so excited to share these!!! Thank you for capturing my family and freezing that day in time so beautifully!!! I am so impressed with how you somehow made our house look like a good backdrop for family photos, too. It’s tiny and old and our couch desperately needs a shampoo (or to be replaced entirely) and you can’t tell at all 🙂 Thank you!!!”

If you’re still here and feeling all warm and gooey inside about the idea of capturing your family in a comfortable, heartwarming way… reach out!

Let’s get your session on the calendar asap and celebrate the magical blend of simplicity and wildness that is family.

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You want an outdoor family session… but it’s a million degrees and you don’t want to turn into a pool of sweat. How do you look pulled together, casual, and summery, but still keep cool and comfortable during the session? How do you decide what to wear for outdoor family photos when it’s hot?!

The struggle is real, but I have answers!

First of all, consider my #1 tip for keeping sessions fun and cool in the summer.

Then shop these recommendations or use them as a starting point for what to wear for outdoor family photos when it’s super hot outside! These outfit ideas are all geared towards mom (because mom should always decide her outfit first!).

Check out my full style guide here for tips on how to casually coordinate the whole fam from there!

What to wear for outdoor family photos when it’s hot

1. A knee-length flowy dress in a fun color or small pattern (like this one from Target!)

You’ll want to stay away from anything too short because it’s hard to move and play, sit/stand/twirl without seeing up the dress! But a knee or midi-length style will totally work and a fun color adds a pop of energy in spring and summer!

2. A twirly linen maxi dress (like this one from Madewell)

This is a classic piece you could wear by itself or layer with a denim jacket for other seasons. For outdoor photos when it’s hot outside, though, a breezy dress on its own would be the perfect base to compliment the rest of the family’s outfits while making sure you’re stylish and cool, too!

3. A midi skirt in a fun color or pattern with a light neutral blouse or simple tee

The skirt + tee-shirt combo keeps things casual while also stepping it up from your regular weekend ware. I love the pattern and texture in this Anthropologie skirt and it would compliment your favorite tee, tank or blouse in white or cream perfectly for a fun, summery look.

4. A cute linen jumpsuit (like this classic from Everlane) with solid tank or tee

Not feeling a dress? Jumpsuits are also amazing options for something flattering but summer-friendly. They’re playful, comfy, and simple, but still super stylish so you’ll feel pulled together. Wear it on its own or with a favorite neutral tank or tee underneath!

5. A breezy boho blouse with denim or linen shorts (like this outift from Lucky)

Punch up the ultimate classic look with a light, flowy blouse and denim shorts or capris. Pair it with some simple gold jewelry and you’re ready to run in the grass or tip those toes in the sand. Neutral looks like this are great when other members of the family have a bolder taste (looking at you, little girl who wants to wear her flowery, twirly dress). The lace texture in this blouse still adds interest and would be so flattering and feminine, while keeping things cool for summer photos outside!

BONUS TIP for outdoor summer family photos:

When all else fails and you’re still sweating at the end, don’t worry. You’ll still look like the rockstar mom you are (and I promise to edit out all pit stains :-)).

Also, I’m never opposed to wrapping up a session with some creek splashing or a wild jump in the lake to really seal the deal for fun and memorable summer family photos!

Want to beat the fall rush and celebrate the carefree vibes of summer for your family photos this year?

Check out my about page for more info about sessions with me and reach out to get on the calendar!

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Playful family photos at Chiles Peach Orchard

It’s easy to think that all newborn sessions are sleepy, calm and serene. After all, that’s the majority of what we see in media around newborn sessions at home. But I believe newborn photos can be just as full of personality and vibrance as any other, especially whenever there’s a sibling or two thrown in the mix.

These summer lifestyle newborn photos at home are the perfect example of how you can still embrace all chaos, fun, and silliness of family.

Behind the scenes

Throughout this 1 hour session, baby wanted to nurse no less the 4 times.

I read Little Blue Truck to a 3-year-old and let him dance on top of the coffee table.

We instigated tickle fights, dad finished a half-eaten english muffin with heated up coffee, and we talked about the bizarre injuries of their energetic farm dog.

The laid-back nature of the shoot, the ebb and flow of rooms and poses – it’s all a reflection of my approach to notice and harness the intricacies of each unique family.

To do that, we have to play. We connect beyond the camera. We are open and delighted by the spontaneity of children.

It can be hard for families to embrace this sometimes, especially in a newborn session at home with older siblings. They’re functioning on little sleep and high emotions, after all. That’s why it’s so crucial for me as the photographer to set the tone and continually reassure and guide the direction of the shoot with an abundance of grace and encouragement.

The real gold in lifestyle newborn photos at home

Scheduling lifestyle newborn photos at home can be such a beautiful pause in the mundane rotations of those first days home from the hospital.

Amidst all the stress and confusion of those early weeks with a newborn, they are as much about the experience of breathing out joy as they are about the final photos.

Experience matters.

2 extra hands to hold a baby for an hour matters.

Getting dressed and feeling beautiful and acknowledging the growth of your family with both reverence and excitement matters.

The warmth and color and laughter matter.

Here’s what this mom had to say about her experience:

“Leah is a joy to work with she has a true talent for making you feel comfortable and capturing the real essence of your family. She is prompt and responsive and the outcome from her time with you will be photos that you will want to share with others and display for a lifetime in your home. Her aesthetic is authentic everyday life and magnifying the little precious moments. I have been thrilled with the cherished memories she has captured of our family.” – Rebecca

Are you interested in lifestyle newborn photos at home with me that feel as vibrant and heartwarming as the love for your family?

Check out my maternity + newborn portfolio here and reach out to chat details!

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This post about my approach to more authentic lifestyle newborn photos

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It seems like so many of the things people frame as “avoid at all cost” scenarios in photography – the things that you’re supposed to try to work around or prep against – are the exact things I find most inspiring.

A dark lit nursery.

A cloudy day.

Wind.

Full sun.

A home with no furniture.

Wild kids.

Each scenario lends itself to the unexpected, and the most interesting photographs are possible when there’s an element of the unexpected.

You can plan and prepare and style your heart out, but then there’s mother nature.

Then there’s the baby’s spit-up.

Then there’s snow in the forecast.

Then it’s not perfect.

But oh, is that not the whole point!?

The whole beauty in family photography to me is the opportunity to see your life as a canvas, to celebrate the unusual, the chaotic, the dreary, the vibrance, every angle and with a little messiness.

Of course you want to capture the growth and the memories. But that is so accessible on a daily basis.

What’s not as readily available is the ability to see yourself being held and loved.

The blur of vibrant connection between people. The roots of family. A painting of movement and closeness and abundance in spite of any scenario. The honoring of people who are beautifully unique and folded together regardless of sun, rain, wind, or storm. Regardless of attitudes or wardrobe.

Uncommon elements only support the idea that you are you, together, no matter what.