 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:
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Personal: Celebrating our first year as a family of four | Charlottesville Family Photographer1/24/2022 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...                  
A Sunrise Family Film Session Celebrating Baby's First Year | Charlottesville Family Filmmaker12/17/2021
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!
The Ultimate Fall Family Session with Cotton-Candy Skies | Charlottesville Family Photographer12/1/2021 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!                         Laura Richards is a newborn and 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.
"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.
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.
A mother-son session at Chisholm Vineyards/Adventure Farm | Charlottesville Family Photographer5/12/2020 There are really only two things you need for a gorgeous family session: a little light and a lot of love. A dreamy background also helps, but isn't required. Luckily for this special mother-son portrait session, we had all three! My sister-in-law and nephew brought the love, while Chisholm Vineyards provided the stunning backdrop. We made our way around the property, including the wisteria-laden tasting patio. This feature is an amazing sight to behold — and the smell! I wish you could experience the sweet fragrance in these images. I can't imagine a better place in Charlottesville to sip wine. Hope you enjoy these highlights from their session! And for more sessions at Chisholm Vineyards, check out the Ashley Family's blog post and the recap for my Kids' Portrait Event.             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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