Moments | Northern VA Family Photographer

Name: Ever After Portraits
Price range: $$$

It’s back-to-school time, and even though my daughter, Joriana, is no longer in school, this time of year fills me with nostalgia. The older I get, the quicker the milestones come and go. When my daughter was born I entered a whole new set of milestones: first smile, first laugh, turning over, crawling, walking, first tooth – the list of firsts seemed to go on and on. And the milestones just kept coming more quickly in what felt like a series of stop motion captures: feeding herself (talk about messy!), choosing clothes (some interesting combinations, to be sure), learning to ride a bike, going to the beach and HATING the sand (that was fun!).

First Day of School

Then the big milestone came, one I was simply not prepared for: the first day of school. I still remember crying while taking Joriana to her very first day of school, and I can hear her telling me, “Mommy, it’s okay. Don’t cry!” She couldn’t wait to go to kindergarten, and I couldn’t stop crying. I was realizing she was growing up. Through the years, each new “first day of school” meant a bit of sadness for me. How had yet another year gone by? It wasn’t all sadness, of course. It was amazing to watch the changes my daughter made through the years, from simple things like her love of recess to her “love” for a little boy in her class. For weeks, we heard a lot of “Elvis said” and “Elvis did.” As time passed and school became more involved, it was hating homework and wanting to learn a musical instrument. She was growing and changing. It snuck up on me, to tell the truth! She was becoming a young woman. Soon she was making more decisions of her own and striving for independence. More moments flashed by in an instant, and suddenly middle school loomed, and new challenges were met and overcome. Before I knew it, years had passed and my daughter (who I couldn’t help but still see as my little girl just starting kindergarten) was graduating from high school! All of the moments that passed by had added up to days and months and years. How did that happen so quickly?! Next it was learning that she had an affinity for photography. Working with her in that way was a new experience, although a welcome one.

Getting Married

And then came what felt like a pinnacle milestone to celebrate: She was a grown woman. She fell in love with a wonderful man. She got married! How did my little girl, the one I cried over, become this beautiful young married lady? Being a photographer, I’ve been able to visually capture many precious moments to look back on through photography. I can’t tell you how much that means to me. Families change as the years pass, even if the amount of family members doesn’t change! Children grow into their independence, and parents look back with an almost melancholy smile thinking, “Where did the time go?” Sometimes it feels so easy to remember her “big” milestones: Walking, talking, school, riding a bike, graduating, working, wedding and marriage. But it’s a little more difficult to hold tight to the in-between moments, the little ways in which she changed: a change in the way she smiled, or the way in which she held herself tall, or when she learned to use logic when discussing what she wanted (I stared open-mouthed at this one). Sometimes those little moments are the most precious. We all go through life collecting precious moments in time, the moments that truly matter. These moments are the reason why, as a photographer, I say: Don’t wait on scheduling a family portrait! Do it now! If you don’t, “I’ll do it tomorrow” will become next week, then next month, and then next year, and you’ll look back and realize you’ve missed out on capturing “this moment” in your family’s lives! Today is the day to schedule your Family Portrait Session. Call us at 571.434.0009 and book it now!

Family Photographer, Family 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

Why Size Matters for Wall Art | Northern VA Family Photographer

As a professional photographer located in Northern Virginia, we specialize in family photography and creating beautiful custom portrait art which you’ll treasure for years to come. This includes ensuring that your family’s portraits look perfect on the walls of your home. But in an age of comparisons, how do we know what size is best when considering our client’s home’s walls and decor?

Don’t Hide Your Beautiful Portraits

Consider this: Why would you go to all the effort and investment of hiring a professional family photographer to capture your family’s portraits, only to hide your beautiful memories in a tiny size on your wall or in a dinky frame?! Unless you walk around your home with a magnifying glass or want to have your guests squish their noses right up against your portraits, steer away from small portrait sizes!

Now what is small, you ask? Portraits should be 60% to 70% real life size to accurately see the detail in a person’s face. With each additional person in the portrait, we need to go up a size so that each face can be appreciated. After all, emotions show on the face, and that’s what you want to see, the love, joy, pride your family has for each other.

Custom Portrait Art Print Sizes Relative to Living Space

Have a look at the to-scale guide below to see how different print sizes would look relative to your living space. There’s a huge difference, isn’t there?!

Light is Light!

Let’s do a test. First let’s assume you’ve had your family photographer capture your family in a portrait session with quality lighting where each person’s eyes are properly lit. We’ve all heard the saying “the eyes are the window to the soul,” and they should be the most important part of a portrait. Although the “in vogue” thing you’ve heard lately is “natural light,” this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better or worse than artificial or strobe lights. Whether it’s natural or man-made, light is light! The real power lies in how it’s crafted.

Now we have our well-lit portrait. A good test is to hang your custom portrait art up and then take 3 steps back. If you can’t see the color of the person’s eyes, the portrait is too small. This means that a family portrait of three family members needs to be a minimum of 20×30 inches to fully appreciate it.

Size Matters

In design terms, the wall where you hang your art creates negative space around your portrait. This negative space “swallows” the portrait and makes it appear smaller. So even though you may think an 8×10 is “big” up close, when hung on the wall it truly looks pitiful. See how small that 8×10 is on the wall below?!

custom portrait art northern va family photographer

Your Custom Portrait Art Shown on Your Very Own Walls

A wonderful way of deciding on the most ideal size for your portraits is for you to see them displayed large during your Ordering Session. Not only that, but at our studio, each client provides iPhone (or other smartphone) snapshots of their walls. With those iPhone pics, we use our specialized design software and your wall snapshots to create wall concepts and show them to the client directly on their very own walls! In this way, we are able to guide our clients through the process of selecting the perfect custom portrait art for their walls.

For many of us, imagining what a portrait will look like in a room is very hard. The human brain needs something to compare it to. (This is why we love flipping through those fashion or home catalogs; we can see how the clothes fit on the model, and see exactly how big the furniture looks in a room.) It’s much easier to see something you like and say “I want that!” It’s the same when you see an appropriately sized portrait on your wall. See how much more stunning the portrait below is when it’s properly sized for the wall?!

custom portrait art Lansdowne va size comparison northern virginia family photographer

Much better, right? Now here it is with the family portrait zoomed in a bit and then framed.

custom portrait art leesburg va family photographer

The Ideal Size for YOUR Custom Portrait Art

The piece de resistance at our studio is this room view feature. We’re tickled pink for you to see how easy it is to show you your portraits appropriately sized in an image of your actual room, a room you provide to us in iPhone pics. With this design software, your portraits will always be perfectly sized for your home!

Better still is the wall grouping feature where we can put together a display of complementary sizes to create a WOW showcase. A group of portraits hung together have even more impact and design style than a single portrait, thereby occupying more positive wall space. Besides, so many homes today have gigantic walls just begging for beautiful artwork!

It would be our pleasure to create beautiful custom heirloom artwork for you, artwork of those you cherish.

Northern Virginia Family Photographer, Professional Photographer, Custom Portrait Art

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy and Joriana Belcher, a mother-daughter photography team located in Northern Virginia, near Lansdowne, VA. They specialize in timeless and emotive custom portrait art for families throughout the area.

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!

View Our Portfolio | professional photographer

Why Should I Hire a Fine Art Photographer instead of a Shoot and Burner? | Northern VA Family Photographer

At our Northern Virginia studio not far from Oakton, VA, we create fine art portraiture. Occasionally, a current or potential client will ask us if there is a difference between fine art portrait photography and that of a big box photographer. That’s a great question, so let’s talk about those differences.

Fine art photography is an artistic and powerful form of portrait photography. It is not ordinary, and not an everyday form of photography. It is the result of years of training, and a carefully cultivated skill.

If you want a “shoot and burn to a DVD” photographer who ushers you into your session as quickly as they usher you out, you might not want to schedule with our studio. That’s not what we do.

Creating Excellence:

We create art for those who believe in the power of photography to tell their story in a beautiful, elegant, and authentic manner. Our portraits are an investment of time and treasure on our part as well as yours. We prepare meticulously for each portrait session, and no two are alike — just as no two clients are alike. Our fine art portraits are for the discerning clients interested in a tangible memory through fine art portraiture.

Commissioning Art:

There are so many ways to demonstrate your love for your family, but commissioning a fine art portrait with a skilled family photographer is one way. It shows your family how much you love and value them because fine art is more than a photograph. It is an elevated art form of photography.

We don’t give you a DVD and send you on your way to figure out what to do with those files. Your portraits are made into art for your walls, moments you can proudly display and which your children will see every day.

Our Clients:

Our clients come to us because they don’t want a big box photographer. They want a fine art photographer who will take their time before, during, and after a client’s session. Our clients don’t want an ordinary experience or ordinary portraits. They don’t want a cookie-cutter studio or an inexperienced photographer. They want a reputable portrait studio and a highly skilled family photographer who goes the extra mile for their clients.

If you would like to commission fine art portrait photography from an Oakton, VA area studio, please contact us. We would be happy to discuss our work with you!

Family Photographer, Portrait Photography

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Oakton, 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

What is Fine Art Photography and Why is Your Family Worth It? | Northern VA Family Photographer

Your family is priceless to you. It’s that love of family that drives so many of our clients to come to us for their fine art photography. But, why “fine art” instead of “retail” photography like you might find anywhere in Northern Virginia, including Oakton, VA? The answer is simple: Your family is worth the beauty and excellence of a fine art portrait. And, unlike snapshots or retail images, fine art photography will last for generations to come, carrying on your family’s story.

Defining Fine Art Photography

If you looked up the definition of “fine art,” it would say: A fine art portrait is a cut above and begins with artistic vision as expressed in the creative choice of the portrait artist; it is technically excellent and provides the viewer with the enjoyment of the artwork that expresses emotion.

The process of taking pictures has become extremely easy. We think you understand that few pictures today are considered fine art. Fewer are worthy of prominent display in your home.

To be regarded as fine art photography, an image has to transcend ordinary photography, rising well above a snapshot. It needs to be something that stops the passerby and draws them in as viewers.

What Fine Art Photography Means to Us

We create portraits of the highest caliber for our clients and those they love. We don’t believe in creating portraits that are just technically proficient in how they are printed and then displayed in your home. We believe in creating portraiture that captures emotion and is compelling. We have dedicated our career to fine art photography because we genuinely think it is an important medium for the families we serve.

Fine Art Photography vs. Retail Photography

There are significant differences between what is known as retail or big-box photography and fine art photography. As we have said, fine art is an elevated and artistic photography genre. Typically, it is poignant and subject-authentic and subject-centric, meaning it is an accurate reflection of its subject.

Fine art portraits don’t have to be stiff and formal. They can be informal, indoors or outdoors. It should evoke emotion and offer insight into the subject, even to a stranger, but certainly to those with a personal connection to the subject.

With a big-box retail photo session, you make an appointment, and you show up to have your pictures taken. It tends to be more of a professional snapshot. That’s typically all there is to it. It might sound easier and quicker, but it’s not going to give you the same depth and reflection you receive from fine art portraits.

While big-box retail photography can be good pictures, they’re not at a level of poignancy, emotion, and reflection that they could be. The conditions in which they’re shot make them something entirely different than fine art photography. As an example, we would cite annual school pictures taken on a school day versus fine art senior photography. The quality and difference is immediately apparent!

Ever After as a Fine Art Photographer

As a fine art studio photographer, we invest a great deal of time into every portrait session, even before the client arrives. It is vital to our process and to the portraits that we know something about each client before they come. For example, we want to know their vision for their portraits – if they have one. At the very least, we like to know what styles they like (candid or formal) and what ideas they might have for their portraits.

We also like to know where they hope to display their portraits because that provides insight and guidance for us as their photographers. We ask them about their family and/or those who will be in the portrait. With all this information in hand, we can carefully plan for each session before it takes place.

We aren’t just a point-and-shoot photographer. We are highly-trained and experienced photographers who understand the value of getting to know our clients. We don’t just invest time to plan a session; we take our time during each session to engage with the client or clients. Our attention is focused entirely on that family because that level of personal engagement goes a long way toward creating excellent portraiture. It is what allows us to honestly reflect their personalities in their portraits.

Is Fine Art Photography Ordinary or Extraordinary?

We like to say that fine art photography is not ordinary photography or portraiture. It is extraordinary, something that exceeds everyday photography and imagery. It’s something so very worthy of your family’s time and money because family is worth the quality and memories created by fine art photography.

The emotions you feel when you look at a fine art portrait is what truly makes it “fine art.” It is what makes it worthy of being displayed prominently in your home or office.

Fine art photography is something clients take the time to do because they love their families and they treasure the opportunity to capture that moment of their lives in print. They understand that what they are capturing isn’t just for today, but for tomorrow’s generations as well.

With almost two decades of creating fine art photography at our studios (both indoor and outdoor) near Oakton, VA, our work remains completely client-centered. Without that focus, our work would be anything but fine art. We hope you will take the time to browse and enjoy our Gallery of work!

Family Photographer, Fine Art Photography

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Oakton, 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

A Session with the Grandparents! | Northern VA Family Photographer

On a cold day, we had this wonderful portrait session inside our portrait photography studio. Tucked warmly indoors, not far from the Oakton, VA area, this loving, multi-generational session touched our hearts. We centered the portraits around the love and bond between grandparents and their grandchildren.

Liz and Travis wanted to have fine art portraits of their children with their maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather. They knew that the day would come for the children when these portraits would serve as a poignant legacy. Kathleen, Liz’s mother, and Floyd, Travis’ father, valued the opportunity to do this session with their beloved grandchildren. It didn’t take much to capture their joy in these portraits!

Multi-generational Photographs:

As a studio photographer, we urge you to consider multi-generational portraits. Not all grandchildren will remember their grandparents. Even when they do, not many will have beautiful, professional portraits to treasure for a lifetime.

Inevitably, the day will come when portraits will fill in the gaps of our fading memories. While the emotions of feeling loved by, and loving, someone will remain tucked deep within us, our mental portraits of them will begin to blur. Were it not for photographs, and painted portraits before photography, we’d struggle with our memories.

Multi-generational portraits are an extraordinary legacy you create for your children, and a gift you offer the older generation. Liz and Travis understood this which explains their investment in fine art portraiture of the oldest and youngest in their family. One day, Gabby and Christopher will be so grateful their parents ordered these portraits! We urge you to do the same for your parents and children.

Please contact our portrait photography studio near Oakton, VA to schedule your multi-generational portraits. Your family will cherish their grandparent and grandchildren portraits.

Family Photographer, Portrait Photography Studio

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Oakton, 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

One Family’s Wall Art Collection and Album | Northern VA Family Photographer

Our professional fine art photography creates remarkable portraits and amazing wall art. However, we’ll warn you that it can be challenging to select only one portrait during your ordering session at our Sterling, VA area studio. You will fall in love with so many of them! When this happened to Liz and Travis, they knew just what to do.

Curating a Portrait Collection:

As an experienced and reputable fine art portrait studio, we offer our clients various product options for their fine art portraits. You won’t have to limit yourself. Liz and Travis decided that one portrait wasn’t enough for them. So, they ordered multiple portraits and we created a beautiful portrait collection for their home. For the finish option, they went with the Frameless Gallery Wrap Finish because it blends seamlessly with their home’s style.

But they didn’t stop there! Liz and Travis also ordered an exquisite archival-quality portrait album for additional favorites. Their impressive collection of professional family portraits will live on as a legacy for their children. It’s a wonderful gift to give them when they are adults one day!

Preview of How Portraits Will Look in Your Home

We are happy to work closely with you on your selection process. As part of the service we offer all of our clients, you can see exactly how your portraits will look in your home. It’s simple! You snap a picture of the wall in your home where you’d like to display your art and send it to us using your smartphone. Using our interior design photography software, we can show you how your portraits will look on your wall. It’s a simple process with significant benefits. There’s no need to guess how your portraits might look in your home or even if they will fit on a given wall. We eliminate the guessing!

As a fine art photography studio in Sterling, VA, the customer experience is an important part of our business focus. You will have various options and our expertise to guide you every step of the process.

Family Photographer, Fine Art 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