A mother in a beige dress holds her wide-eyed infant baby, who grips her finger outdoors.
Two young girls with curly hair wearing white dresses smile together outdoors near a pond.
Happy interracial family walking outdoors near a lake, parents holding hands with two girls and carrying a baby.

I was extra thrilled when L asked about a family session. We had known each other through the gym and I knew she just welcomed a baby girl into a family of five. We settled on a date, and then picked out a location that checked everything in our list:


  • Within a 30-minute drive since it was the night before the first day of school;
  • Provided a peaceful backdrop with a sprawling area for the kids to roam freely in; and
  • Not extremely crowded during a summer evening.


L and A brought their two older kids in tow — a spirited 6-year-old and a curious 4-year-old — and their newest addition, still in that sweet, sleepy newborn stage. Sessions like this one are all about capturing a family in the middle of a beautiful transition, back when the baby is brand new and everyone is still adjusting to their new normal.


HOW THE EVENING UNFOLDED


We started by finding a spot together by the water, letting the two older kids lead the way a little. There's something about giving young children the freedom to explore that produces the most genuine, unposed smiles, and this family's two little ones did not disappoint. I asked the two older sisters to play around a little bit, and they gave each other hugs and smiles — and that’s when I started snapping my camera!


From there, we spread out a blanket overlooking the lake. This is one of my favorite setups for growing families, because it naturally invites everyone to slow down, get close, and just be together. Mom and Dad took turns holding the baby, the older siblings snuggled in, and we got some genuinely tender shots of the whole family together.


We wrapped up the session walking along the bridge overlooking the water, which gave us a more classic, playful family portrait setup. I asked Dad to dance with his daughter and spin her around, and put his 4-year-old on his shoulder. Mom also danced a bit with her daughters.


Two young girls with curly hair in white dresses hugging outdoors near a lake.
A curly-haired woman kisses a laughing baby being held by another person outdoors.
A woman holds a baby while two young girls with curly hair smile outdoors near a lake.
Happy interracial family of five posing outdoors near a lake, with two curly-haired girls and a newborn baby.

overcast skies, beautiful light


I know a lot of families worry when the forecast doesn't look "perfect" for photos, but an overcast evening is honestly a portrait photographer's secret weapon. The clouds acted like a giant softbox in the sky, diffusing the light evenly across everyone's faces — no squinting, no harsh shadows, just soft, flattering tones throughout the whole shoot.


This shoot was about more than just pretty photos — it was about marking a moment. A family of four becoming a family of five is a huge change, and there's something really moving about photographing that adjustment while it's still so fresh. Every glance between the parents, every gentle touch on the baby's tiny fingers, every big-sibling hug was really a way of saying: “we're so glad you're here.”



This gallery was shot on both film, Kodak Portra, developed by PhotoVision; and digital.


*Interested in booking your own family session in the Reston area? Reach out and let's talk about capturing your family's story.*

Black and white photo of a bald bearded man tenderly cradling a newborn baby outdoors.
Two smiling girls in matching white dresses pose together on a wooden deck, both with curly dark hair.
A young girl with curly hair smiles brightly while being held by an adult in a white shirt outdoors.
A father and daughter dancing joyfully on a wooden bridge near a lake surrounded by lush green trees.
A toddler kisses a newborn baby's tiny foot while an adult holds the infant outdoors.