Name: Ever After Portraits
Price range: $$$

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

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

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

Create a Portrait Legacy of Parents and Grandparents | Northern VA Family Photographer

As family fine art photographers in the Northern Virginia area, it is not often that we are asked to do professional photography sessions for older individuals or couples. For whatever the reason, it seems that as people age, there are fewer professional family portraits of them to treasure when they are gone. We wonder if it’s that as a society, we somehow lose confidence in our aging selves? Or, is it that we get busier and don’t prioritize family fine art?

We often write about the importance of family and children’s professional photography. However, we haven’t written much about fine art portraits of our aging parents and grandparents, the older generation. We thought we would discuss the importance of doing fine portraits of the older generations in our families. After all, they are loved and valued as much as other generations.

With almost two decades as family fine art photographers, we have learned so much about life, family, and portrait photography. We have also learned much about the family dynamics of family life and how to portray them through our craft. We have learned much about what to treasure, and we have learned about what to let go of in life.

We are sure you would agree that those we love are what we cherish most and rightly so. Nothing else matters quite as much. Family fine art photography is a beautiful way to capture what we will one day lose.

The Greatest Generation in Family Fine Art Portraits

Think about the family pictures you have of your grandparents. If you have any at all, we bet you have far more professional portraits from them as younger adults than as older adults! Not many people have professional fine art portraits of their grandparents as older adults, even if it’s important to document the lives of those we love while we still have them with us. We say this not out of self-interest for our studio or to be morose in any way. We say this because we know it from experience. We’ve all lost loved ones, and often memories are all we have left of them.

We know how much our memories fade as times goes by – no matter how beloved someone is in our life. So, if there is one thing we’ve learned through our work, it’s to prioritize family fine art portraits. We’ve learned not to wait to do portraits of the Greatest Generation in our lives.

A Legacy of Love through Family Fine Art

When a client asks us for multi-generational portraits, we look forward to taking them. They are among the most poignant and bittersweet pictures we take of clients because they highlight the love from one generation to the next.

We know that most professional family fine art portraits of elderly parents or grandparents are not from their final years with our clients or us. Those sepia-toned or beautiful black and white photographs are often (and sadly) a legacy of their youth. Rare is the portrait we see of an elderly grandparent in their final decades.

This is why we often urge clients to new legacies – ones that represent a life well lived by their parent or grandparents. If you are thinking of doing a family fine art portrait, please consider including your parents or grandparents. In fact, you can even include other older relatives with whom you are close. We promise that you won’t regret including them in your portraits, and they will be happy to have been asked.

Family Fine Art Portraits Create a Legacy of Love for Future Generations

While the memories of our parents’ and grandparents’ lives exist within us, memories also reside in their portraits. Therein lies the value of family portrait photography. Each time in the days and years to come, when you see their portraits, you will remember them. Their images will trigger a memory long buried deep in your mind until you glanced at their portrait. Suddenly, you’ll remember something about them. And, you will be glad to have had that picture of them.

Indoor Studio

We have both an indoor studio and an outdoor portrait park. Both are perfect for multi-generational family fine art portrait sessions.

We will be happy to discuss your vision for your pictures as well as what might be most comfortable for the older generation in the portraits. We are glad to work around them and what best suits them. We will try and accommodate their needs as best as possible. What matters most is that we find a way to shoot your family fine art portraits so that you and your parents can treasure these portraits for the heirlooms they will be in your family!

Below are portraits from a family session in our indoor studio of grandparents and grandkids together!

Outdoor Portrait Park

The family below preferred a portrait session in our outdoor portrait park. For this family, we had grandparents, parents and granddaughters, three generations of this lovely family together! It was such a pleasure to do their portraits, and they truly enjoyed themselves.

Not only did the background of our Outdoor Portrait Park work out ideally for this family’s portraits, but the portrait session itself created more memories for this family. Years from now when those granddaughters look at these portraits, they will remember their loving grandparents as well as the session itself. The portraits will serve as a symbol of this family’s intergenerational bonds.

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If you would like to schedule a professional photography session with your parents or grandparents, or even with great-grandparents, to create some beautiful family fine art at our studios or elsewhere in the Northern Virginia area, please contact us right away. We would be happy to discuss how we can create their portraits in the way that will be most authentic to who they are!

Family Fine Art Photographer, Professional 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

Wall Art for Your Family | Northern VA Family Photographer

Without words, each portrait we take tells someone’s story. Each one is a reflection of a life or lives. Remembering that as a family photographer is critical to creating authentic portrait art.

Wall Art

It’s always exciting for us to see which portraits clients fall in love with and what products they select. We enjoy knowing where they decide to display the wall art in their homes or offices! In Jessica and Rod’s case, they loved their portraits so much they ordered a wall collection in Ice for their home. They created a stunning portrait gallery of their beautiful family of three. Their portraits are like windows to their personalities – as if they were standing there smiling at us!

Rod, Jessica and Emma are a warm and loving family, and it was easy to capture that as an experienced family photographer. It’s that authenticity we seek in each picture. It’s important to us to produce portraits clients fall in love with the moment they see them.

Portrait Box

Jessica and Rod opted for the Contemporary Frameless Ice Finish for their portraits. It’s a modern style which coordinates well with most interior design styles. But, they didn’t stop there! They also chose a portrait box. The box allowed them to have more favorites portraits which they could safely store, while allowing them easy access for viewing.

If you would like to work with a family photographer in the Aldie, VA area, we’d love to hear from you. Authenticity is at the heart of all we do in our work. We think it’s evident in this family’s beautiful portraits!

Family Photographer

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

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