At just 72 hours old, Isabel was the freshest newborn I'd photographed since my own. But just look at those beautiful, piercing eyes ... it always amazes me how deep a newborn's gaze can be!

It was such an honor to be asked to capture this moment for my college friend, Gail — and so fun that we got to do it at her home in Harrisonburg, just minutes from our old campus!

​Not only did we capture images of their new family of three, but also the sweetest film, which I love to describe as a moving portrait and the best way to keep them little forever.

Now that 2021 is wrapping up, it's time to take a look back through some session favorites!

Theo's at-home newborn session was the best way to kick off my year. I remember telling his mom that I should be able to do the session, but was feeling a little worried that their son's due date was just a month after Oliver's. Thankfully, everything worked out perfectly!

Not only did we capture the sweetest documentary-style images of their new family of three, but they trusted me to also create a keepsake newborn film and an heirloom album. All the things to preserve their son's early days!

Is it any wonder that my last post was Oliver's newborn photos? Apparently having two kids makes it more challenging to blog (or to do anything, really). 

I have so many special sessions to share from the year, but I'm kicking things off with a sweet round-up of my Kids' Portrait Event last weekend at Chisholm Vineyards. Thank you to each family who participated (and my own boys, who are growing up way too fast)! 

I always love how these portraits turn out! Even though the sessions are just 5 minutes, I'm always able to get such a variety of moments and expressions. We were particularly lucky this year to have a beautiful fall afternoon as the backdrop.

​As always, thank you, Chisholm Vineyards, for inviting me to host another event on your stunning piece of land!

I had always planned to do my own newborn session. I loved the idea of coming at this with a mama's heart and a photographer's eye. And I loved knowing that years from now, Oliver would look at these images and know that his mom and dad took them. 

I can't wait to compile these images with his Fresh 48 hospital session into one my heirloom albums! It's so important to me that my kids have special photo heirlooms of our life together, especially the parts they aren't able to remember themselves — I think it's the most important (tangible) gift I can give them!

As many of you know, my second baby boy — Oliver Lee Richards — was born Feb. 3, making him just 5 days old today. His birth story is almost the complete opposite of my firstborn, so I wanted to share!

Like his big brother, though, Oliver was late — by a full seven days! My husband and I arrived at Martha Jefferson Hospital at 10 a.m. on the 3rd for an induction. I was super nervous, because I really wanted another natural, low-intervention birth.

After we got checked in, I was given 25mg of Cytotec, a pill that's used to soften the cervix. Because I was already having small contractions (I couldn't feel them), one dose was all I needed to move things along.

I had to be monitored for about two hours after being given the pill, so while we waited, Tyler and I watched TV and ate lunch. At the end of monitoring, I was 4 centimeters and 80 percent effaced (at my last doctor's appointment, I was 3 and 70). We were in for a long night, I thought.

Once I was unhooked, we walked a few laps around the Labor & Delivery floor. Even at this point, contractions were completely manageable.  

Then 4:30 p.m. came around, and contractions turned super painful. To manage, I got into the shower and the jacuzzi tub. When I needed something, I could only point to it and hope Tyler knew what I meant. 

By about 5:45, I started to feel the need to push. I was whisked out of the tub and brought over to the bed for another quick check. I thought for sure there was no way I'd progressed that quickly (my labor with Tucker was over 24 hours!). But I was 9 centimeters and 100 percent and was given the OK to start pushing. 

Pushing Oliver was the hardest 10 minutes of my life. I screamed (a lot) and told Tyler multiple times I couldn't do it anymore. But finally, at 6:02 p.m., there he was — all 8 pounds, 9 ounces of him. We are all so in love!

*All photos by Tyler and me :)

Shortly after I arrived at the hospital.

Before his first bath.

I always want to remember when he was this small!

Meet my very last session of 2020. It was a good one, you guys. Like good-for-my-soul good. To witness the bond between this beautiful mama and her three boys was so magical that I actually came home and told my husband, “I’d have 10 more boys if they were like the ones I photographed tonight.” The kindness, joy, and love were OVERFLOWING, and it shines so brightly in their images. 

This session was the second of two families I chose for my recent Model Call in Charlottesville. I was craving a couple of last-minute, last-hurrah sessions before baby No. 2 made his arrival (as I write this, he should be here ANY day).

Just like the first session — also a lifestyle motherhood session — this one took place on the prettiest December evening. Jenna and her boys traveled from Richmond to make the session, and I'm so honored! For this one, too, mom is styled in an eye-popping burnt-orange dress from my Client Closet. All my clients are treated to this styling option.

Our time together was so laid-back and fun. We danced, played games, and gave lots of hugs and kisses. The older boys adore their baby brother, and of course, all three LOVE their mama!

At the end of session, the boys gave me hands-down the best client review: “That was a lot of FUN!” Boys — one on the verge of teenage-hood and the other not too far behind — had FUN spending an evening taking photos. My work here is done, friends. 

Last month, I put out a last-minute model call for a motherhood photography session in Charlottesville. I really wanted one last, beautiful hurrah before my baby boy makes his arrival. I was so surprised at the response that I ended up picking two mamas!  

I knew I was taking a risk planning sessions in December, but both evenings turned out to be about 60 degrees and basked in gorgeous sunset light. I was extra-thankful for the warm weather, too, because I had planned for both women to wear dresses from my Client Closet. 

This first session with Ngoc and her four kids was so fun and energetic. I love that their laughter, movement, and love shine through in each image — it's truly how every session should be!

With our second baby boy due in just a few weeks, I wanted to share his space-themed nursery! This theme was our runner-up when Tucker was born, so it was fun to watch the idea finally come to life.

​We started off with a dreamy constellation accent wall, which, thanks to wall decals, was super easy to create. I love how it turned out. Because it and the carpeting are dark, though, I wanted to keep everything else light and minimal. 

His Moses basket will be moved into our bedroom when he's born, and the Montessori-inspired play gym will probably make its way downstairs. So that just leaves the rocking chair, crib, and shelf.

​I learned the hard way that dressers can and will be destroyed by toddlers, so I decided to go with a cubby shelf instead (we use one in Tucker's room now, too). We'll invest in nice dressers once they're both old enough. Plus, the reachable fabric bins allow both boys to easily pick out, organize, and put away their own clothes.

Next up: Snuggling this baby boy in here!

We spent our anniversary weekend creating this accent wall. Just a dark blue paint with these beautiful constellation decals. 

On the left: I found these great vintage paper pieces on Etsy — a book page with January's constellation guide, and this cute set of space-themed children's playing cards. They'll probably be hung up once he starts standing, but for now, they'll live on the shelf. Right: A diaper/necessities basket. Instead of a changing table, we'll just change him on the floor with a changing pad (I imagine I'll be downstairs changing him most of the time anyway).

These are some Montessori-inspired elements of his nursery. On the left is a black-and-white mobile, designed to develop concentration, focus, color discrimination, etc. It's the first in a series of mobiles, which we'll introduce him to around 1 week old. You can learn more about them here. On the right are a few of his first toys, including a wooden grasping ring and these awesome reflective balls. 

Burt's Bees crib sheet + Little Unicorn muslin quilt.

I made these simple watercolor moon phases paintings myself!

I'm obsessed with his Moses basket, which he'll use in our room for the first few months, and I can't wait to get him into this little constellation-patterned outfit!

Brett's session was a dream come true, overflowing with love, laughter, and amazing light. 

For the most part, I just documented them hanging out — no prompting, no posing. Just a mom loving on her babies and vice versa — and that's exactly how these special sessions should be. 

I was so excited that Brett chose to take advantage of my Client Closet. That golden, mustard-colored dress looked incredible and provided the prettiest pop to her film and images.

For her voice overlay, Brett recorded a reading of Ella Wheeler Wilcox's poem "A Song of Life" — her wish for her children. I paired it with Tim Halperin's instrumental version of "Light and Wilderness." Make sure your sound is on to hear how well they paired!

Keepsake Motherhood Film sessions are becoming a quick favorite of mine, and I can't wait to create more in 2021. We all know moms are so often left out of the photographs (because they're the ones taking them), but I find that we're especially absent from the videos. 

If you're craving your own Motherhood Film, learn more here. I'm now booking for April 2021 and beyond! It's never too early to start planning for Mother's Day ;)

Laura Richards is a family photographer based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She specializes in lifestyle and documentary sessions, family films, and heirloom print art. Learn more about Keepsake Motherhood Films here.

Meet my cousin-in-law Brittany and her husband Ian. Their baby girl is due just a few days before my second little boy, making this such a special session. It's been so fun having someone I know on the same journey. Who knows, maybe we'll end up at the hospital at the same time! 

Brittany first mentioned me doing their maternity photos a few months ago, when we were all sitting around my backyard fire pit with hot dogs and s'mores (beers for the guys, hot apple ciders for Brittany and me). I was so excited, because I knew their session would be a gorgeous one! Brittany has the best style, and she and Ian love to laugh! Pair those things with some perfect fall light, and BOOM, add this one to my favorite-sessions-ever list. 

During their photography session, I was also able to shoot video and create a sweet little keepsake maternity film. I know their daughter will absolutely love seeing this one day and hearing the joy in her mama's voice.

Brittany and Ian, thank you both so much for trusting me to capture this important chapter of your lives. Can't wait until our babies can meet!

Laura Richards is a family photographer based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She specializes in lifestyle and documentary sessions and heirloom print art. Check out 7 reasons you'll love your own LRP experience here.