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Griselda and Christian, Outdoor Fall Engagement Session | Northern VA Family Photographer
Griselda and Christian, Outdoor Fall Engagement Session | Northern VA Family Photographer
Oh, the beauty of young love! Each client is special in their own way whether we are taking their family or engagement portraits here in Northern Virginia, near Arcola, VA. These two, however, are exceptionally special to us!
Griselda (Griz) was Joriana’s maid of honor! When it came time for her own engagement portraits, we were so excited to be asked to shoot their portraits. Christian and Griz are an adorable couple. Working with them wasn’t just near and dear to our hearts, it was a delight! They simply revel in each other’s company – something we think is apparent in their portraits!
Griz knows how much our work means to us and how much time and energy we put into every portrait session. She wanted an engagement and family photographer to take fine art portraits that would capture what was in her heart.
“I wanted an expert to help me get images that could be displayed in my home for years to come,” Griz said. “I knew I needed an expert to guide me.”
These engagement pictures were her first professional portraits and, while she was nervous, she knew she could trust us to have her best interests in mind. As we do for all clients, we offered feedback and guidance on outfits and makeup. We also answered all of Griz’s questions.
On the day of the session, we had beautiful weather with an equally stunning backdrop in our outdoor portrait park. Griz and Christian enjoyed their portrait session as much as we did!
At their preview session, they were thrilled with the results! We were as well – because if the client is happy, we are, too! We think their portraits perfectly capture the spirit of their fun and loving relationship.
Because Christian and Griz knew the value of having portraits printed, rather than simply on a CD or DVD, they decided to order a Portrait Box. An easel included with the Portrait Box will display one of the portraits, making it the perfect way to showcase a certain portrait. It’s a fun and easy way to show them and swap them out as you like.
Please visit Griz and Christian’s Gallery to see more of their beautiful engagement portraits!
If engagement portraits are on your horizon here in the Arcola, VA and Northern Virginia area, contact our studios to arrange your engagement portrait session. We are one of the leading fine art photographers in the area, having built our reputation on great photography as well as a superior client experience.
Family Photographer, Engagement Portraits
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Arcola, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
Professional Photographer
Isabella, Wildflower Senior Session | Northern VA Family Photographer
Isabella, Wildflower Senior Session | Northern VA Family Photographer
Goodness! It doesn’t seem long ago that we took our first pictures of Isabella as a young teen. But, here she is in her high school senior photography session in Sterling, VA! These senior portraits reflect this young woman’s radiant smile and natural beauty.
Growing with Clients
As portrait photography specialists, we treasure the opportunity to “grow” with our clients. In other words, we love photographing them through the years as their lives change, families expand, and children grow up. It’s part of the reason we enjoy doing family portrait photography.
Back in Time
We go back in time with this family! The first time we photographed Isabella was as part of a trio: her sister Olivia, their mother Michelle, and Isabella. The girls were in their early and mid-teens.
Michelle again approached us to do their portraits before the girls became old enough to start heading off to college. We photographed them a second time, giving us the opportunity to see how much the girls had grown.
And, here we are! Isabella is off to college at Virginia Tech. Olivia isn’t far behind her.
Isabella is a beautiful and driven young lady. Her beauty is far more than skin deep, a fact which we know her mother is very proud of! We have absolutely no doubt that she will achieve every goal she sets her mind to, and it won’t surprise us a bit when one day we find out she’s changed the world! Big dreams or small, it’s important that you chase them and do your best. That’s what Isabella has always done, and it’s what she’ll continue to do.
From Family to Senior
Obviously, we didn’t know the first time we did the family photography for this sweet family that we would one day do Isabella’s beautiful senior portraits! I guess we could say they’ve enjoyed working with us as much as we enjoy working with them! Capturing Isabella’s senior portraits was very special for us. It was both flattering and an honor to be asked to document such an important milestone in this family’s life. We know these girls will be off into the world to do great things. We wish them much success, health, and joy!
If you are interested in our senior photography work in the Sterling, VA area, please contact us. We’d be happy to discuss our work and pricing with you.
Family Photographer, Senior Photography
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located in Sterling, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
Professional Photographer
Helping Clients Select the Most Meaningful Portraits | Northern VA Family Photographer
Helping Clients Select the Most Meaningful Portraits | Northern VA Family Photographer
Working in and around the Sterling, VA area as a family photographer allows us to meet some of the most endearing families! So, when they ask for our help with selecting their wall art or final portraits, it’s always our pleasure to help them in any way we can. Sometimes that additional set of eyes can be extremely beneficial to them!
Fine Art Photography
Family fine art portraits should capture the love you feel for each other and the joy you experience together. Documenting these powerful emotions is the basis for any great family photography. As photographers, it’s a privilege to work with clients’ families. Sometimes, though, it can be difficult for parents to select their final products. That’s where we come in!
Family Memories
When selecting your final portraits, it’s not just about looking great in the pictures. Beautiful family portraits capture love and joy through details which define relationships. It can be a father laughing and bouncing their child; a mother who’s holding her toddler’s hands to steady him; or a grandparent looking fondly at two generations of their family. It’s up to us to capture these critical details in our fine art photography. Sometimes, it is these small details that make the biggest impression or evoke the strongest feelings.
We can help our clients at their ordering session to select those portraits that evoke the greatest emotions. As they sort through their pictures, we are there to help if needed. We always remind them that the best portraits are the ones that will remain powerfully compelling decades from today.
Documenting a family creates memories for tomorrow. That is behind all of our work as a family photographer in Sterling, VA. We feel so fortunate to be able to work with area families to capture their memories through our fine art portraits!
Family Photographer
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located in Sterling, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
Professional Photographer
Fall is Coming, Book Your Fall Family Portrait NOW! | Northern VA Family Photographer
Fall is Coming, Book Your Fall Family Portrait NOW! | Northern VA Family Photographer
When it comes to fall portraits in the Arcola, VA area, it’s best to book early with us! Outdoor photography is hugely popular at that time of the year. Savvy clients know to take advantage of the rich autumn colors.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
When
It’s best to have your portraits done on the early side of leaf-changing rather than later (although we can make later work, too!). Take advantage of the changing colors earlier in the season rather than later. Sometimes, all it takes is a cold snap to find the trees have shed their leaves. However, if that happens, don’t fret! We can get some equally dramatic shots with bare branches in the background. (We’ve posted in the past about the beauty of winter portrait sessions.)
Where
Anywhere outdoors! We’re happy to do your portraits in our outdoor, private portrait park or another venue of your choice. When you call us to discuss your appointment, we’re happy to share ideas based on your vision for your portraits. Northern Virginia doesn’t lack for beautiful landscapes!
Venue
Some trees drop their leaves early, some later. Within reason, we can be flexible about the venue. It might be that one park has already shed its leaves while another remains colorful on the date of your session. We can discuss this further during our initial discussion. Also, if the weather doesn’t cooperate, we can change the date and time as needed.
Outfits
Layers! Fall, especially early in the season, could mean cool mornings and warm afternoons. Plan accordingly. We recommend wearing layers you can discard as the weather warms up – if it does! The beauty of fall portraits is that you have a lot of options when it comes to outfits and layers.
Lastly
Relax and trust us. We have almost two decades of experience shooting family portraits. We know what we’re doing and have experienced various scenarios. We got this, and you do too!
If you’re interested in scheduling some gorgeous outdoor photography in the Arcola, VA area, contact our studio to discuss our openings for the fall. Book early! Slots do fill up for that very popular time of year.
Family Photographer, Photography
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Arcola, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
Professional Photographer
Back to School Time Portraits | Northern VA Family Photographer
Back to School Time Portraits | Northern VA Family Photographer
Back to school raises a certain nostalgia for us for several reasons. Although we start to get busy with family pictures here in the Arcola, VA and Middleburg, VA area, back-to-school days remind Mindy of a time long gone. “Back to school” once meant ushering little Joriana out the door and off to school. Today, she’s a grown woman and one-half of Ever After Portraits! “Back to school” has a very different meaning for us now.
Back to School
Trust us when we say that your children will be grown and flown in what will feel like the blink of an eye! One day they are waving goodbye from the school door and the next they’re walking across a graduation stage. You will be left wondering where the time went. Mindy wrote about this nostalgia in this blog post, “Moments.”.
We love working together as a mother-and-daughter family photographer. We spend the vast part of our days bringing our clients’ dream portraits to fruition. And, the best aspect of our work is, of course, our clients! We enjoy working with people and helping them to preserve their memories through our photography.
The arrival of back to school days with its cooler mornings are a poignant reminder to us that change is inevitable. Life isn’t stagnant. Children grow and move on. We, too, grow older. Snapping moments in time through photography is powerful. It’s important. Every fall we remember the importance of photography – both in our lives and our clients’ lives.
Before the leaves begin to change color and flutter to the ground, we encourage you to schedule your family’s portraits. We realize life gets in the way sometimes, but as summer’s hot days begin to wane, remember to call us.
Schedule your Arcola, VA or Middleburg, VA area family pictures for this fall or winter. Let us capture your memories through our fine art portrait work. We can’t stop time for you. But we are experts at capturing it in our poignant photography.
Family Photographer, Family Pictures
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Arcola, VA and Middleburg, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
Professional Photographer
Zeke’s 1-Year Session, Multigenerational Portraits | Northern VA Family Photographer
Zeke’s 1-Year Session, Multigenerational Portraits | Northern VA Family Photographer
The power and beauty of photography lie in its ability to chronicle our lives whether individually or as a family. Childrens photography in our Middleburg, VA studio often becomes the perfect opportunity to capture extended family portraits.
That’s what happened for little Zeke’s Bebe Coterie One-year portrait session. His parents, Virginia and Jacob, brought along their extended family including Zeke’s twin brothers, Michael and Henry, as well as Virginia’s parents, brother and sister. It was all in the family for Zeke’s final session of his first year. The results were nothing but an incredible gathering of love captured by our cameras!
Virginia’s parents, Mike and Anne, her sister Mary, and brother Patrick happily joined Zeke. The session was especially touching as baby Michael joined his namesake – his grandfather Mike – for their first professional portrait together, taken candidly during a break.
Multigenerational Photography
Portrait photography is an important medium in our lives. It is especially powerful when you use it to document the love from one generation to another, the connection from the eldest to the very youngest.
Portraits can serve as a visual time capsule capturing the most precious gifts of all – our family. Jacob and Virginia knew this and used Zeke’s final portrait session of his Bebe Coterie plan to memorialize multiple generations of their family.
Multigenerational fine art portraiture is a priceless legacy your family will cherish for decades. Your children, especially, will be grateful to have the pictures to enjoy as adults. In some cases, the portraits will serve as a visual reminder of grandparents no longer with them.
For more portraits from Zeke’s Bebe Coterie Sessions, click here.
For a slideshow of Zeke’s portraits, click here.
For portraits from Michael & Henry’s Newborn Sessions, click here.
For a slideshow of Michael & Henry’s portraits, click here.
Scheduling your Multigenerational or Extended Family Portraits
You don’t have to purchase a Bebe Coterie plan with us to do a multigenerational portrait! As a family and childrens photography specialist in the Middleburg, VA area, we work with various photography genres including families of all sizes, engagement, newborn, baby, and maternity portraits. Contact our studio to schedule your session. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have!
Family Photographer, Childrens Photography
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Middleburg, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
Professional Photographer
Gallery Wall Collection, Deveney and Christian | Northern VA Family Photographer
Gallery Wall Collection, Deveney and Christian | Northern VA Family Photographer
Sometimes after an Ever After session, a client falls in love with multiple portraits. It’s a good problem to have in our industry because it means we did something right! Middleburg, VA area client, Deveney, was one of those clients!
The Session
Deveney and her son had their portrait session with us on a beautifully perfect fall day. After having to fist reschedule due to bad weather, things were back on track! On a cool sunny day, the fall foliage shimmered in the background as we shot this charming duo’s portrait photography. Everything coordinated and blended just perfectly, from the color of their outfits to the landscape surrounding us.
Products
“The quality of the products is like none other that I’ve seen,” Deveney later said to us. She’s right! We only offer the highest quality photographic products. All are rated to last well into the next generation and are archival quality. We realize that professional portraits are an investment of time and effort, and we want your portraits to last for many decades.
Deveney had a tough time selecting just one portrait from her many gorgeous choices. Each one was as spectacular as the previous one. Each one so aptly covered the love she and her son have for each other! So, she chose to order a gallery Wall Art collection in a Steel Finish, as well as a Legacy Album. The portraits that didn’t end up as part of her wall gallery ended up in the album. We were happy to help her select complementary portraits and, as you can see below, the results were stunning on her wall!
“I love enjoying the art on my walls every day. I look forward to being photographed again to document the next stage of my son’s life, hopefully with my parents,” Deveney told us.
We look forward to photographing her and her son again soon, hopefully with grandparents included!
To see more portraits from Deveney’s session, click here.
If you would like to have professional portraits in the Middleburg, VA area, please feel free to contact our studios. We would enjoy working with you!
Family Photographer, Portraits
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Middleburg, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
Professional Photographer
Mindy’s View: Photographers Who Inspire Me and Why | Northern VA Family Photographer
Mindy’s View: Photographers Who Inspire Me and Why | Northern VA Family Photographer
As a family photographer in the Middleburg, VA and Hamilton, VA area, there’s no doubt that other photographers have significantly influenced our work and love of portrait photography. While there are many talented photographers we admire across several genres, the first portrait photographer who comes to mind is the indomitable Annie Leibovitz. She sets the standard for all modern portrait photography.
Annie Leibovitz
There are few photographers not touched or influenced in some way by Ms. Leibovitz’s work. As for me, there are so many things I love about her work. (I even love the drama of her Vanity Fair cover portraits!)
She has continued to photograph throughout the decades of her life, giving further depth to her perspective.
She excels terrifically at what she does with a natural eye for perspective.
She has a gift for capturing unique perspectives reflective of her subjects.
Finally, Ms. Leibovitz’s portraits reflect the time and care she takes to get to know her subject. She then translates that knowledge of them in a way that elevates her work into art. (This is the goal of every portrait photographer and one not easily achieved.)
Other Photographers I Admire
Besides Ms. Leibovitz, I also admire the portrait work of Tamara Lackey, Meg Bitton, and Erin Elizabeth Hoskins for their lifestyle photography. These three talented photographers have an aptitude for capturing emotion in their portrait work – something we, too, love to do for our clients in Northern Virginia.
Photography is an organic medium. Astute photographers work to develop and evolve their skills, perspectives, and vision through the years they practice. Working as part of a family photographer team in the Middleburg, VA, Hamilton, VA and Northern VA area, that is our professional goal, too.
Family Photographer
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Middleburg, VA and Hamilton, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
Professional Photographer
Photography Tips & Tricks: Creative angles! | Northern VA Family Photographer
Photography Tips & Tricks: Creative angles! | Northern VA Family Photographer
If you have ever wondered why all your family portraits look rather the same, it could be your angle. Having worked almost two decades across the Middleburg, VA area, clients often ask our advice on how they can take more interesting family pictures. Here are a few tips to consider.
Check the Angle
If you’re lining up your family and shooting straight at them, that could be part of your problem. What’s interesting about a group of people lined up staring straight at the camera? Likely, not much. Try staggering them, so they’re not standing straight across the horizon. Then try shooting from unexpected angles as you move around.
Portrait Angle
With some portrait photography, your best angle is what is known as the portrait angle. It’s shot at the same level as the subject while changing the subject’s angle to you as the photographer. Turn the subject or subjects at an angle away from your camera. You can play around with angles especially when there is more than one person. Try having them look in opposite directions from each other or, when it’s more than two people, have them each look in different directions for an interesting result!
Bird’s Eye View
Looking down at your subjects from a bird’s eye view offers a unique perspective on what might otherwise be an ordinary shot. If you’ve ever seen a photo taken from a drone, you know how different the world looks from above. Note that we’re not saying you need to get up that high! Sometimes just holding your camera higher or standing on a chair will do the trick. Remember, safety first!
Ground Level
Rather than shooting from above, get everyone sitting or laying on the ground while you do the same. This angle makes for some fun shots especially if you’re at the beach or lying in a meadow of beautiful grass. This is a particularly nice angle when you’re working with children!
Ground-up View
Another clever angle is for you as the photographer to get on the ground while you shoot up at your subjects. It works especially well when shooting a circle of people looking down at the camera. Keep in mind that while this is a fun and creative perspective, it can cause your subjects to look bigger. Not every person will want that!
Reflections
How about looking for something shiny?! Use a body of water, including a simple puddle, and photograph the reflection for a new perspective for your pictures.
If you would like to do your family portraits in the Middleburg, VA area, contact our portrait photography studio. We’d be happy to schedule an appointment for your session with one of Northern Virginia’s most reputable and trusted photographers!
Other posts in this series:
Photography Tips & Tricks: Lighting tips for family snapshots
Photography Tips & Tricks: Get natural smiles from your kids!
Photography Tips & Tricks: Underwater Pictures
Photography Tips & Tricks: Pets
Photography Tips & Tricks: Confidence is key
Photography Tips & Tricks: 6 Tips for Taking Memorable Disney Park Photos
Photography Tips & Tricks: 5 Tips for Photographing Special Occasions
Family Photographer, Portraits
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Middleburg, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
Professional Photographer
Announcing Limited Edition Dollcake Vintage, September 2, 2017! | Northern VA Family Photographer
Announcing Limited Edition Dollcake Vintage, September 2, 2017! | Northern VA Family Photographer
Turn the clock back on 09/02/2017 to an era of Victorian lace, gentility, and lovely dolls! Our Dollcake Vintage Limited Edition Sessions offer an exciting and unique opportunity for the little lady in your life. Take advantage of this artistic children photography session taken near Middleburg, VA.
Step into our make-believe world!
Your little girl can honor her creative side during one of our Dollcake Vintage Limited Edition Sessions – portrait photography created especially for little girls.
* Space is very limited with only 12 sessions offered.
* Reservations are on a first-come, first served basis.
* This theme is offered just once a year.
Limited Edition Sessions
As fine art photographers specializing in family and children photography, we love to offer these unique Limited Edition Sessions. Our portrait photography makes your little girl the star of her very own creative portrait session, transporting her into a make-believe world. These portraits become priceless treasures your family will cherish for generations.
All of our portraits are printed on archival-quality paper rated to last 100+ years. We offer various product from which you can select including different framing options and our exquisite Legacy Albums. We offer costumes and props for each child.
If you have any questions, please contact our studio. We would be happy to discuss with you and answer your questions about our children photography sessions in the Middleburg, VA area. If you are ready for a beautiful portrait of your little one which you will cherish for decades, contact us to reserve your time slot TODAY!
Family Photographer, Children Photography
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Middleburg, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
Professional Photographer