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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!                        Laura Richards is a newborn & 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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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!   Laura Richards is a newborn & 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.
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. "Laura could not have made my momma-son session more magical! Her clear communication ... and creative vision put me at rest to simply show up & enjoy the moment. Because I was at ease, my boys felt completely free to be themselves & enjoy the moment, too. I knew going into our session that we would be receiving beautiful photos of treasured memories — what I was so pleasantly surprised by was Laura’s equally talented ability to create the perfect environment to capture our pure, unfiltered joy. Laura will not only capture your bond so beautifully, she will create a memorable experience for you to cherish in photos worth 1,000 words!"                  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.
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.
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.
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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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