A mother and young daughter in matching white dresses pose together in a lush garden with colorful flowers.
Family of four in white outfits sitting on blanket in lush green park, parents lovingly holding baby and toddler.
A mother in a white dress sits in a garden holding a newborn while her young daughter in white looks on lovingly.

If there’s a particular place I always recommend to families and couples, it’s going to be Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, Virginia. There are pops of greenery and seasonal blooms along paved paths, with a large, sprawling garden where kids can roam around freely.


I have a favorite spot tucked away inside the garden where I typically ask families to pose for smiles and shoot candid moments punctuated with giggles. There’s typically a number of families getting their portraits done too, but that only speaks to how popular and well-loved this park is!

A GROWING FAMILY


This session was extra meaningful: a sister, stepping into her new role as a big sibling, and a baby sister only two weeks old, still in that soft, sleepy newborn stage. Four is such a wonderful age (speaking from my own experience!) — old enough to have big opinions and bigger giggles, but young enough to still want to be twirled around by mom and dad. Pairing that energy with a newborn's stillness gave the whole session a beautiful contrast: quiet, snuggled-in moments with the baby, followed by bursts of laughter chasing big sister down the garden paths.

A joyful toddler girl in a white dress runs through a lush green park with colorful flowers in the background.
Black and white photo of a newborn baby's tiny hand clutching lace fabric of a white christening gown.

A FUN, CHILD-LED SHOOT



Some sessions are quiet and posed. This one was not that — and I loved every minute of it. We let our four-year-old lead the way for a good chunk of the shoot: running through the grass, picking "flowers" (weeds, but adorable ones), and sitting on dad’s shoulders. Mom got to sit back with the baby for sweet, slow moments of connection, and then jumped right back into the family group shots full of real, unposed laughter.


That's the kind of session I hope for every time — one where the connections are real and genuine, the walks are a little wobbly, and everyone is having a good time. Those genuine, in-between moments are almost always my favorites from the whole gallery.

FILM AND DIGITAL, TOGETHER


For this session, I shot on both film and digital. I love pairing the two: digital gives us the immediacy and the ability to capture fast-moving, candid moments (crucial with a four-year-old on the move), while film brings a warmth, grain, and softness that feels timeless — especially in that golden hour light. There's something about film that slows me down as a photographer too; it makes me more intentional with each frame, which tends to result in images that feel a little more still and thoughtful, even in the middle of an energetic, joyful shoot.


Seeing the two mediums side by side in the final gallery is one of my favorite parts of sessions like this. The digital images capture the energy. The film images capture the feeling.

Father and daughter making a heart shape with their hands together in a park, sharing a tender moment.
Sleeping newborn baby girl in white outfit and pink bow headband cradled in mothers arms.
A young mother with curly dark hair in a white off-shoulder dress tenderly holds her newborn baby outdoors in golden light.
Young couple in white outfits smiling while holding their newborn baby outdoors in a lush green park.
Happy family in white outfits posing outdoors, parents holding two young children in a lush green park setting.

BOOKING FOR FALL


If a session like this speaks to you — golden light, real laughter, new babies, big siblings, and a little bit of both film and digital magic — I would love to work with your family this fall. Fall light at Green Spring Gardens (and at several of my other favorite local spots) is truly gorgeous, and session times are already starting to fill up. October is fully booked, but I’ve got a few for November!


If you're welcoming a new baby, celebrating a growing family, or just want some beautiful, honest photos of this season of your life, reach out and let's get you on the calendar before the good fall slots are gone.


I can't wait to meet your family.

A joyful father lifts his laughing young daughter high in the air outdoors on a green lawn.
A woman in a white dress crouches smiling at a young girl in a white dress on green grass in a sunny park.
Family in white outfits outdoors, parents lovingly gazing at newborn baby while young daughter looks on.
Black and white photo of a father holding his young daughter as she gives him a sweet kiss outdoors.