Smooshed faces, windblown hair, barefeet, superhero capes, roasting marshmallows, playing in the sprinkler, throwing snowballs, climbing trees, holding chickens...

life (and love)  is in the details. I'm here to help you hold them. 

These are your visual love letters.

Session details

Leah O'Connell 

Charlottesville family photographer

Family is family at every age and size.

This includes maternity, newborn, extended families, blended families, grandparents, couples with their cute pets and everything in between.

Browse my family portfolio for a sip of what's possible

Every session includes all the final, edited digital images from your gallery to download and a print credit for you to choose how you want to enjoy your favorites in your hands and home.


ALL FAMILIES ARE WELCOME AND CELEBRATED. 

All inclusive pricing

because the details matter.

These images will grow alongside you, revealing new layers of meaning as seasons shift and people change.

If you love being outdoors and want a location that feels open and free, this is for you. These are play-based sessions in nature where I can bring tons of variety with both portraits and candid moments in a short time.

The family field milestone session | $750

Collection pricing

  • 30 minutes 
  • 30 final images
  • $50 print credit
  • smaller immediate families
  • motherhood sessions
  • maternity/couples

Includes

Perfect for

1

location: my favorite Charlottesville field

Allow for the time to sink in with a session that makes room for flexibility, natural unfolding, and activities that are true to your family season.

The Signature Story Session | $1400

Collection pricing

  • 60-90 minutes 
  • 50+ final images
  • $100 print credit
  • families of all sizes
  • anyone wanting images that include more activity and personal touches

Includes

Perfect for

2

location: at home or your favorite family spots

When you all get together, it's a big deal. This is for larger groups to mix classic, relaxed portraits with natural play and connection.

The Extended Family Session | $2000

Collection pricing

  • 2 hours 
  • 100+ images
  • $200 print credit
  • extended families (3 immediate families or more)
  • motherhood sessions
  • maternity/couples

Includes

Perfect for

3

location: at home or your favorite family spots

Reach out for availability + share about your family!

one

Reserve your session + get excited

two

Meet to make photos together & savor your People

three

Get sneak peeks in < 48 hours

four

Get teary over your slideshow and browse your final photos (<2 weeks turnaround)

five

Use your print credit to order keepsakes from your gallery 

six

Working Together

Click Magazine

Heartful Magazine

Recently Featured

All Things Montessori Podcast

The MOther's Embrace Podcast

The Guardian

  • Clients can choose their level of comfort with sharing images online. Your images are yours and it's up to you how or if they're shared publicly.

  • All sessions are culled and edited by human touch. Your images are never uploaded into cloudbased softwares for AI training at any part of my workflow. 

  • I do not record "behind-the-scenes" video during paid sessions to use for my own marketing. Your home is your haven. Everything you experience in your session will allow you to remain in the moment with privacy among your people and spaces.

Safety and respect

Every session option includes a print credit - it's like a gift certificate to yourself for printing your photos after the session.  Choose from curated archival options right inside your gallery to customize your treasures. 

Keepsakes with every session

I make a conscious effort to partner with labs and choose products that utilize environmentally friendly printing practices and materials. 

With people and the planet in mind

[My husband] especially couldn't part with any of the photos as they have captured such a time of healing in his life. I can't emphasize enough how much this art means to us. "

"We are totally thrilled and floored by these photos."

- Hannah

We have been so happy working with Leah in both the process of having the photos taken and the end results. She truly makes everything feel so comfortable and natural. I take so many photos all the time of my daughter and my husband and my pets, but the ones that bring me the most joy and that I look back on year after year are the ones Leah has taken."

"It is very rare for me to look at photos of myself and feel happy with how I look, but I am so thankful to have photos of me with my family that I can look at and feel nothing but love.

- Elenor

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Essay-style stories on motherhood, creativity, and simple joys, every Wednesday night.

The Firefly Letters

stay in touch

Leah O'Connell is a family photographer in Charlottesville, VA.

She is available for travel primarily on the East Coast, but is open to anywhere you call home. 

Leah has photographed families for nearly 20 years all across the United States and has been featured in print publications such as Harvard Magazine, Click Magazine, and Heartful Magazine. 

Reach out to make photos together.