Fall is a beautiful time of year to schedule your family's annual photos, especially here in Charlottesville, but it can also mean photographing during a really chilly morning or evening. Don't let that deter you from the magic these sessions offer! Here are my top 5 ways to keep warm during our (golden) hour together: ​

• Wear leggings under long dresses. They'll stay hidden, and you'll stay toasty! Long, flowing dresses help create so much beauty and movement in an image, so don't stray away from them just because you think you might be cold. 
• Incorporate cute jackets, blazers, or cardigans into your family's outfits. Layering with picture-ready outerwear made from corduroy, tweed, or wool is a great way to trap heat, all while looking put-together.
• Keep hand-warmers in your pockets or shoes. Hot Hands makes so many different types of on-the-go warmers, including ones for your feet and back. Just be sure to activate them on your way to the session, so that they're nice and hot when when we start photographing.
• Bring something hot to sip on when you're not being photographed. A thermos of hot tea, cider, or coffee is totally fine to bring along and drink when it's not your turn to be in front of the camera.
• Embrace movement! Moving around and interacting with each other comes standard during a session with me, but I encourage you to take my prompts and run with them (pun intended)! Be ready to dance, tickle, race, and hug. Not only will movement keep your blood flowing, but it makes for some amazing, storytelling images — and memories.

I experimented with magic this summer — or rather, finding it. 

Now that the season is unofficially over, I'll admit it: I was dreading summer. But eventually, I realized that instead of focusing on the heat and how I would occupy two little boys all day, I wanted to find every moment of pure summer, simplicity, and nostalgia.

I wanted to make this experiment tangible, of course. So I kept a notebook handy, and jotted down each moment when I recognized it. A few of my favorites are: 

June 4: Watching Oliver eat a giant marshmallow by the campfire — dancing, smiling, biting into like an apple

June 12: Dancing with Tyler in the kitchen to "40 Day Dream" while Oliver danced next to us

June 13: Watching Tucker jump rope for the very first time

The notes end by July, though, when I started picking up my dad's old 35mm film camera again. With this, I realized could savor summer in a whole new, magical way.

I don't know when the last time you used a film camera was, so I'll remind you: It makes you slow way down. To think, to frame, to feel a moment before you capture it. Not to mention, it's oozing with nostalgia. It was just the right tool for an experiment like this.

I shot six rolls of film throughout July and August, each one feeling like Christmas morning when the scans came in. All but one roll was Fujifilm Superia X-TRA 400; the last roll (my favorite) was shot using the soft and wonderful Kodak Portra 400. 
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Not every image was a winner — there were lots of disappointments and frustrations (using expired film didn't help, either). But as with most things, the beauty outweighed the failures.

And along the way, I learned that the magic of summer is really just everyday magic — I was simply choosing to see it. 

The good thing about sharing a session that took place almost four months ago is that I get to fall in love with it all over again. 

There is so much to adore about the Cox Family's gorgeous November session — the late-autumn foliage, mom's pretty floral dress, and the soft, wispy clouds. But the thing that stands out most to me is how much joy we bottled up. From the first shot to the last, Mom, Dad, and their sweet boy glowed!

Although my family and I moved to Charlottesville in 2019, 2021 felt like my first real year in business here (for obvious, 2020-related reasons), and I'm so thankful to families like the Coxes for making it worth the wait. 

The Cox family chose to preserve their session in a my new fabric-covered album. The first page includes the lyrics, "In every life we have some trouble, but when you worry, you make it double.
Don't worry, be happy" — their son's favorite song. The cover is foil-debossed with "Our Family / November 2021."

Somehow, someway, my little Oliver turned a whole year old. I don't think I was prepared for how much faster life feels with two kids, so I've been especially passionate about documenting this milestone. First the family portrait session, then the mama-Oliver-only photos, and now these adorable portraits. Did I go overboard? Maybe ... maybe not. 

I took these the day before his birthday, in my kitchen, when it was just Oliver and me at home. I didn't need much — just some soft window light, my grandmother's antique chair, and this little bonnet. 

I love how his personality shines in these images (not pictured: the silly stuff I was doing to get all those smiles). He's such a sweet, fun light in our lives, and I can't wait wait to see what year two brings!

It's safe to say I've put more thought into the photos surrounding Oliver's first birthday than I have his birthday party — but hey, that's second-kid-pandemic life for ya, right? I've also learned that creating the memories is more important than stressing over a perfect party.

In this post, there are two collections of images. The first is a little family session I did myself (with the help of my husband Tyler and our 4-year-old Tuck). Yes, I could hire a photographer like myself to take these for me (and certainly do from time to time). But to be honest, I love the idea of using my talent and art to give my family tangible memories. (I also did our own newborn session, if you want to take a look afterward.)

I chose an evening that wasn't too cold and a location right in our own neighborhood. It was beautiful, and the lingering snow and frozen lake made it feel a bit more magical. 

The second set of images is something special I wanted to do with just Oliver and me, in a cozy little window-lit corner in our home. He and I have spent nearly every hour together since his birth, and I wanted to honor that with something that felt more intimate. Thank you, Tyler, for always being up for taking the camera.

Now, let's go stress a little about that party... 

I looked out the window the morning of their session as a scary thought crossed my mind: "Did I tell them the wrong time?" It was pitch-dark, no sign of a sunrise in sight, and my sleepy mom-brain was second-guessing itself again. 

But by the time I reached our gorgeous Charlottesville location, my worries had subsided; a golden sunrise was on its way. 

The hour that followed was a joyful celebration of Eleanor's first year of life — a year that, for her parents, represented so much light during a time of darkness. We laughed, played, and explored. I was able to capture the sweetest baby babble.

The final product is a moving, 3-minute testament to the love Eleanor's parents have for her, and the realization that even in her young life, their daughter has taught them so much.

To Mary Shea and Nick — thank you so much for trusting me to capture this season of life for you guys. I know Eleanor will treasure your messages to her forever and ever.

Laura Richards is a family filmmaker and photographer in Charlottesville, Virginia. Reach out to book your own session for 2022!

I'm skipping ahead in my to-blog list to feature the beautiful Sullivan family!

When she first reached out, Brittany told me she was dying to update their family photos. I think this is such a common feeling when you have middle school-aged children — gone are the days of documenting every milestone, smile, and cute thing they do. They begin to have schedules and lives of their own, and the day-to-day starts to feel a little more hectic.

I'm so happy the Sullivans decided to take an evening to just be together — to laugh, dance, play, and snuggle. No matter what age your children are, that's what family sessions are all about!

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!