A Lifestyle Motherhood Session in Charlottesville, Virginia | Charlottesville Family Photographer1/5/2021 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! "The session was relaxed and she really encouraged us just to play and not worry about the camera. She really focuses on capturing the moment and capturing the feeling in a photograph. I also appreciate her patience and sweet, kind nature!"                  Laura Richards is a family photographer and filmmaker 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.
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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!  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.
"I could not be happier with the film that Laura created for us. I have probably watched it a hundred times already. She is so kind and so talented. You should book her. You really should. [These films] are unlike anything I've ever seen offered before, and it's such a special gift, as a mama, to be able to look back and watch our babies."
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.
Brittany and Ian: A dreamy fall maternity session & keepsake film in Charlottesville, Virginia12/8/2020
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.
It's hard to believe this incredible session took place almost a year ago. I've been holding off on blogging it, though, because it only felt right to feature their Heirloom Album along with it. It's been absolutely worth the wait, and I'm so excited to show it off to you now! I still remember every second of this sunset-drenched family session, taken on their sprawling property in Earlysville, Virginia. With all six kids home for the holidays, it was the perfect opportunity to make some magic. I'm so honored I was able to document this fun family and their relationships with one another — and then to preserve those memories in an Heirloom Album was the icing on the cake. Their album is handcrafted from distressed Italian leather and thick archival pages. The cover features a custom debossing design with their blended family's nickname. As with all my albums, my hope is that it inspires countless stories and that with each passing year, it brings the family together for another look. “Working with Laura Richards Photography was a dream come true! She captured us and our connections to each other and ended up with a huge portfolio of the most beautiful and real photos that I have ever seen. I cried when we viewed the slideshow. I had to purchase them all in an album, which is the best quality and a worthy heirloom."                           Laura Richards is a family photographer based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She specializes in authentic family sessions and heirloom print art. Check out 7 reasons you'll love your own LRP experience here.
A dreamy summer evening in Charlottesville with the Rodgers Family | Virginia Family Photographer7/31/2020 Cotton-candy skies, golden evening light, belly laughs, and a little bit of magic ... if you ask me, this Charlottesville family session is what childhood summer dreams are made of. When Angela reached out to me about photos, she and her family were preparing for a cross-state move. En route, they'd be stopping in Charlottesville and wanted photos with mountain views. So we made it happen! In true Virginia summer fashion, session day brought 90-degree temperatures — but you'd never know it from these photos. The Rodgers had also been traveling all day — but you'd never know that, either. The stress of the day, of the pandemic, of their move, and even the heat all seemed to melt away, leaving only light, fun, dreamy memories of one summer evening in Charlottesville. I was so excited to design an heirloom album for the Rodgers, to tell their story for decades and generations to come. It's going to be STUNNING — so stay tuned! In the meantime, enjoy their beautiful session highlights...                                 Laura Richards is a family photographer based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She specializes in authentic family sessions and heirloom print art. Check out 7 reasons you'll love your own LRP experience here.
An at-home newborn session with baby Riley | Charlottesville, Virginia, Newborn Photographer7/18/2020 I wasn't quite sure what a newborn session in the age of COVID-19 would look like. Turns out, it's just as sweet (but a little more mask-y). It'd been a few months since Marlee and Michael's maternity session, and I couldn't wait for the chance to meet their little girl! Because of the pandemic, we decided to delay their at-home newborn session by a few weeks, but later is always better than never when it comes to photos. And of course, baby Riley was still just as tiny and precious! Some of my favorite images from their session are the ones where Riley is awake and alert (I'm finding more and more that I love those images more than the sleeping ones). After all, babies have so much to take in and explore, and capturing that is just the best. I was so excited that Marlee and Michael decided to preserve their daughter's newborn photos in a leather heirloom album. Together, we came up with the most stunning engraving design for the cover! They also wanted to included a few of their maternity photos inside, along with a favorite Bible verse and Riley's birth details. These special touches completed the album and tell such a beautiful story — for decades to come. I love knowing that one day, Riley will hold this album in her hands and know that even during a pandemic, there was so much love, beauty, and hope in her world. "I knew I wanted beautiful maternity and newborn pictures we would cherish forever, so we chose Laura Richards Photography! Everything from start to finish was seamless, professional, and enjoyable. Laura makes the picture-taking process very relaxing and went above and beyond to make sure our photos were capturing beautiful moments of the two of us and our little one." - Marlee  "Our album is a work of art and love. It truly is an experience having pictures with Laura, which makes it all the more memorable. Choosing her as your photographer is something you'll never regret." - Marlee                   Laura Richards is a newborn and family photographer based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She specializes in authentic, at-home newborn sessions and heirloom albums. Learn 7 reasons you'll love your own LRP experience here.
I didn’t think this series would take me into June or July, but here we are. As I write this, Virginia is on day two of Phase 3. We can dine inside restaurants, gather with 250 of our closest friends, and listen to music at indoor venues with 1,000 people. My family and I won’t be doing any of those things, though. Because at the same time, the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb. We do enjoy the occasional drive-thru meal, a solo mission inside Target, and a rare visit with family, but it’s all done with a dose of worry. What if. I’d love to say that I’ll look back on these days and feel some warmth, but I’ll remember — the fear, the anxiety, a sense of being trapped, a loss of time and experiences with family. So these photos aren’t for me — they’re for Tucker. Because I hope he does remember only good things about this season. In these photos, we build a giant fort, make friends with goats, get yet another quarantine haircut, and (finally) make a trip to my mom’s.                           Laura Richards is a fine art lifestyle & documentary photographer based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photography that tells "the story of you" for decades. See what makes her different from other photographers in the Charlottesville area here.
Hey there! Thanks so much for visiting this post. It's an important one! I believe that everyone who charges for their products or services has a responsibility to share why they deserve your hard-earned money. So here are my top 7 reasons for why you will absolutely love your next family, documentary, newborn or maternity session:  1. Your images are delivered as real, beautiful things you can actually hold. The LRP Experience is a complete photography experience you’ll feel good treating your family to. Many photographers hand you a flash drive or email you a gallery link, and that's it. The transaction is over, and you're left to figure out the best places to print your photos. There's suddenly research to do and finding the time to do it — and that's hard! I used to send gallery links, too, until I realized the tremendous value in going the extra mile for my clients. It's so important to me that every client walks away with much more than digital files. I want you to have high-end, heirloom keepsakes — albums, wall art, folios and fine art prints — to pass down to your children and grandchildren. It's all about building a tangible legacy!  2. I'm a trained photojournalist who can tell a story through images and turn the everyday into art. It’s second-nature to me. In college, I studied journalism, serving as an editor and photographer for the student newspaper. My senior year, I attended a month-long photojournalism class in Italy, where I earned a top award for my multimedia work. In 2014, I launched a photojournalism project in which I interviewed and photographed more than 50 men and women at the Roanoke Rescue Mission. I've always had such a heart for telling stories, and I take this storyteller's mindset to all my sessions.  3. You'll be treated to a professional styling service. That's right. Figuring out the perfect outfits and accessories for you and your family can be stressful! So I provide a complimentary online styling service to all my clients. We'll put together full outfits based on the vibe and color palette you want, and voila — links to beautiful, affordable clothing and accessories will be sent directly to your email. No trip to the mall required!  4. I know the healing power of family photographs. You never want to think your family photo could be the last one, but it happens — and it hurts. When I lost my dad at 19, I clung to every photo of him and our family (all while wishing there were more). When I document a family session, I focus on every little moment, because one day, the photographs and the memories behind them will be all that's left. I try to capture the way a hug feels, the carefree happiness of childhood or the bond between a husband and wife.  5. I'm easy to get along with, and I don't judge. I accept you for whoever you are, whoever your family is. I want to capture your personalities and quirks just the way they are.  6. You can leave the hard parts of parenting at the door. Wrangling kids to a photo session is hard enough work, so I never want my clients to stress over "good" behavior, perfect smiles, or awkward moments during our session. It's my job to make sure they're comfortable with me and having fun. I'm always up for the challenge of making your sweet kiddos feel like my camera isn't even there.  7. Take it from past clients. I've been blessed with some of the best clients out there! So many have taken the time to share very kind reviews of their experience with me. See them all here. Laura Richards is a natural-light family, newborn and maternity photographer in Charlottesville, Virginia. She specializes in turning her clients' images into heirloom-worthy albums, wall art, folios and fine art prints. Learn more about the LRP Experience.
This session's blog debut is way overdue — especially since it features one of my closest friends! We took these last November, during her family's quick visit to Charlottesville. We almost missed all the good golden-hour glow, but everything pulled through for a gorgeous evening session by the water (we even had some ducks visit — check out that last image!). Her little boy is a dream to photograph — so smiley and sweet and just in awe of everything around him. Documenting their family is the best! Megan and Brian, thank you again for trusting me to capture so many stages of your life together. Can't wait until we can be reunited! "Laura is amazing to work with and one of the best photographers we have ever used. Her photos are unbelievable, and our most recent family session in Charlottesville was one of the best! An amazing family photographer, but an even better person!"                    Laura Richards is a fine art lifestyle & documentary photographer based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photography that tells "the story of you" for decades. See what makes her different from other photographers in the Charlottesville area here.
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Hello!Welcome to the blog! I'm Laura, and I specialize in authentic, natural-light photography and heirloom print art. Hope you'll explore my little online home and reach out if you have any questions! Archives
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