It seems like just yesterday that JoAnn and I were hanging out in a gorgeous, spring-hued field for her mother-daughter styled session. At that time, she was just a few months pregnant with her baby boy. 

Now fast forward seven months and one Thanksgiving in the hospital...

We traded in green fields for JoAnn and Tim's beautiful home, lit by soft morning light and the Christmas tree.

We swapped mother-daughter sweetness for big sister snuggles and a new family of four. And we went from a barely noticeable baby bump to a 6-pound, wide-awake boy.

I have so many favorites from this morning together, especially those staircase portraits (which I hadn't planned on doing, but on our way downstairs from the nursery, I noticed the prettiest light coming in through their front door).

And once again, I'm grateful that my littlest subject decided to stay up with us for most of the morning. Isn't it incredible how deep and emotional a baby's stare can look at just a few days old?? 

Laura Richards is a fine art family, newborn and maternity photographer in Charlottesville, Virginia. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photographer that tells "the story of you" for decades. Learn all about what makes her different from other photographers in the Charlottesville area here.

I'm so excited to share this session, because it marks my first one as a Charlottesville photographer!​ Our session took place just a few days after we moved in, and I'll be honest, taking a break from unpacking boxes to photograph an at-home newborn session was just what I needed. Spending time with a newborn makes everything better!

Emily and Jake, thank you SO much for making me feel at home in a new city. You created the perfect baby boy, and I'm so honored I got to document all his newborn sweetness and the love you share for each other. 

There are so many things that make me smile about this at-home newborn session. 

First, the family dynamic. I love when older siblings are very involved. It really does provide a complete family picture. When I look through these photos, I see moments that will be so treasured decades and generations from now — by both brothers. 

Second, baby's facial expressions. They're incredible! He has such a deep stare, and his eyes already tell a story. He was such an active part of his session, and I absolutely love it (that may sound weird, but once you look at the highlights, you'll see what I mean!).

Third, I see a lot of personal and artistic growth. Of course, I grow with every session, but for this one, I had recently invested in a wider lens, in the hopes that it would help me better tell my clients' stories. And it has. As I made photos during this session, I finally felt like my images could breathe.

The questions you’re asking as a new mom – I know them all. I tense up just thinking of them.

When will I be able to get real sleep?

How do I get back into my regular routine?

When will I have time for my husband again?

What do I have to do to lose the baby weight?

Everything seems so new that there are times when you just feel desperate and scared. Everything seems new and confusing. Anxiously, you reach out to friends, family, even Facebook for answers.

I’m in a lot of groups for moms on Facebook, and I see posts with those questions constantly. And I remember those days.

The days of burp cloths and nipple guards and mesh underwear. Nights when your tears rival your child’s as you beg them to fall back asleep so you can sleep too. A blur of feeding and burping and changing and rocking.

There’s so much good. You can see it. Snuggling, introducing your little one to the world, learning every bit about them that you can.

But then there’s the piles of laundry. The dirty dishes. Finding the time for food, both preparing it and eating it. The anxiety of getting it all done and not understanding how to fit the puzzle pieces together to make it happen.

There’s this pressure to have it all figured out, and still be the ever-doting, living-in-the-moment mom.

Oh, mama. You’re craving normal, as everything changes around you.

If only I could get my home back in order. If only my husband and I were close again. And if only I understood what was going on in my body.

My heart goes out to you. And I have good news and bad news.

The bad news is, that normal you’re looking for? It’s out the window. For good.

But hang in there with me, and don’t be afraid! There’s so much good news.

First, you are not alone. I know this time is leaving you reeling, and feeling like, who else in the world can know this madness? I promise you’re not the only one.

Every single mother who has ever mothered has gone through this time of life. If there’s no one else around who is telling you that, let me be the one. We’re starting from the same messy place in those first few weeks, no matter if it’s our first or fifth child. We’re all making it work the best we can.

Second, you deserve so much grace.

Your body just did something incredible, and went through a huge amount of change in a short amount of time. (Including the nine months prior.) You are adjusting to a completely new way of life, one where a little person (or people) depend on you for everything.

Not to mention, you are surviving on a couple hours of sleep at a time. That’s enough on its own to make anyone crazy.

Take yourself out of your shoes for a moment and take a look at the mom in the room with fresh eyes. Would you tell her to get her act together? To do better? To fold some dang laundry, for crying out loud?

I don’t think so. You’d tell her to take her time, take care of herself, breathe deep, and know it is all going to be okay. Talk to yourself the way you’d talk to another mom in your shoes.

Third, I can tell you this with absolute certainty – this season will pass.

I can’t tell you when or how. But one day your child will sleep through the night (and so will you). One day you’ll figure out when to wash dishes and still fit your feeding schedule. At some point, you will go on a date with your husband again.

And finally, yes, the normal you’re used to is gone, and it isn’t coming back.

And surprisingly, THAT’S OKAY. Because you and your family are building a new normal. It’s one that takes trial and error and lots of grace.

But it also comes with a precious little one that looks at you like you hang the moon in the sky. It comes with cheering that baby to victory as they smile for the first time, take their first bite of food, and go from rocking back and forth to actually crawling.

You won’t forget this time. But it will astonish you, how much you are capable of, and the new normal you create. Take your time. You don’t have to rush.

I love that phrase — "The Luckett Family" — because it means their little boy is finally here and my best friend is now a mom! 

I drove down to Megan and Brian's home in North Carolina when Carson was just 8 days old. He was the best baby and slept the whole time I was photographing (actually, the whole time I was there). 

Carson's session is filled with so many special details, like a quilt made by his great-grandma and a cradle made by his great-grandfather (that Megan slept in when she was a baby!). I always love incorporating storytelling details like this in any session. They'll make his newborn photos extra-special one day. 

​Megan and Brian — thank you guys for having the sweetest baby boy and for letting me get in some extra cuddles with him before I left. Can't wait to see him soon!

Missed Megan and Brian's gorgeous fall maternity session? Find all the highlights here!

I met Meredith at my favorite local toy shop back in October, where her son was test-driving an awesome train set that would soon become his Christmas present. We chatted about her upcoming due date and the excitement of having her first little girl. 

Fast forward three months and one coffee date, and I'm walking into Elowen's gorgeous pink nursery for her at-home newborn session.

​I loved watching each person love on their new girl — and one of my favorite moments was when she got a train lesson from her big brother!

It was such an honor to get to know the Moore family and to transform such a long-awaited chapter in their lives into beautiful memories and heirloom art. Thank you, Meredith and Landon!

I first heard from Hillary back in October, when she and her husband were still two months away from meeting their baby boy. 

In that time, I got to know them first as a couple during their gorgeous fall maternity session, then as new parents and a family of three. This is such an amazing transformation to witness and document — and one of the most rewarding parts about being a photographer and artist.

I have so many new all-time favorites from their cozy at-home newborn session. The light that morning was perfect, and their green bedroom wall gave such a deep pop to their images! 

Their son's nursery is decorated so carefully with special mementos — like books from their many adventures and Hillary's dad's bronzed baby shoes — and antique, travel-themed toys. I love capturing these details, because one day his room will look completely different and reflect his own interests.

Together, these photos tell such a beautiful and rich story. Hillary and Adam — I feel so honored that I was able to help you preserve one of the most important chapters in your lives! 

I can feel it — 2019 is going to be LRP's best year yet. But you know what would make it even better? If I could cross off everything on my photography wish list!

Do you know anyone who would be interested in one of the five sessions below?

I'm a journalist at heart, so I have such a passion for documentary photography. For me, there's nothing more exhilarating than turning everyday moments with my family into storytelling photographs. Each one is like a small love letter to your children and grandchildren. Whenever I document my own family, I always think these will be some of Tucker's favorite photos one day.

My husband and I did this for our own maternity session in 2017, and I absolutely love the story they tell. We snuggled on the couch and on our porch swing, read books in our son's nursery and laughed a lot. It was so us, and I would love to give that experience to someone else. 

What could be better than having your hours-old baby documented in the place you brought them into the world? Not much! These documentary hospital sessions are just the sweetest, and I need more of them in 2019!

Will you or your parents be celebrating a milestone anniversary this year? Chances are, they haven't been professionally photographed as a couple since their wedding! They'll love the experience of creating new memories together — as well as having beautiful, tangible artwork from their session that they can pass down to you one day.

Know anyone who makes or sells something beautiful? I would love to help a fellow local business owner create imagery and art for their store!

This is the recap I've looking forward to the most! For me, there's nothing better than being able to preserve newborn memories for moms and dads. After all, those early days fly by with no warning at all.

There are so many things about a new baby that you never want to forget — their wrinkly hands and feet, how small they look in your husband's arms or lying beside their siblings, they way they move their little mouths. If only photos could capture that sweet newborn smell! ​

I couldn't feel more honored that these families trusted me to document their adorable, snuggly babies (who are SO big now, by the way!).

I kicked off 2018 with my first Fresh 48 session ever! It was so meaningful to document baby Stella just hours after she was born, in the place where she was brought into the world. See more from her Fresh 48 hospital session here.

This was an at-home family session with new baby James! His big sisters loved on him the whole time, and it was so beautiful! See more highlights here. 

I loved all the detail shots from this sweet baby boy's at-home newborn session. See more highlights here. 

I have so many favorites from baby Sutton's newborn session. He and his sisters are adorable together! See more on the full blog recap.

Graham was so peaceful during his Fresh 48 session, and I couldn't get over him matching with his momma! See more of his photos here.

Baby Desmond's session was so snuggly, bright and colorful — easily one of my favorites! He is so loved by his mommas and big brother! See more from their at-home session here.

Baby Wyatt didn't want to miss out on any of the fun during his newborn session — and that was okay with me, because he has the prettiest blue eyes! See more from his session here.

Laura Richards is a family, newborn and maternity photographer serving the Roanoke Valley. She specializes in authentic, feel-good photographer that tells "the story of you" for decades. Learn all about what makes her different from other photographers here.

Sometimes newborns are sleepy heads, and sometimes they're curious and wide-awake. Either way, I go with the flow and let real life lead the way. 

Baby Wyatt must've known something was going on, because he wanted to be up for all the action — which was totally okay with me because he has the prettiest blue eyes!

​If you missed Jessica and Josh's sunset maternity session on Roanoke Mountain, be sure to check that out after.