Brides or Babies? | Personal

I've been debating for over a year what I should 'specialize' in. I love so many genres of photography!! Weddings, bridals, newborns, maternity, children, lifestyle, fashion...you name it. But it's come to a point that I really needed to settle on one area so I can perfect it for my business.


In a perfect world, I'd get to do it all. Find a couple. Shoot their engagement session. Their wedding. They'd eventually call me to tell me they were expecting! I'd do their maternity session, newborn, and follow up with them until their firstborn was in school. I would love that. But unfortunately this world is NOT perfect, and that dream is just unrealistic. So...


I've decided to strictly do maternity, newborn, and child portraiture :)


Child photography is something that I've always been passionate about. I love photographing little toes, first teeth, and drooly smiles!! Seriously, I have the BEST job. I took a little time off from everything to focus on what I truly wanted out of this career. And while photographing weddings has been an amazing experience, they do not fulfill me as much as kids do.


So with that said, I am redoing everything. this new niche comes new branding to match, new portfolio, new pricing, new packaging, new everythinggg :D I'm so excited to get back to my first love <3 I should have everything together by the time the weather is warm, and I'll be ready to shoot again.

Much love!! <3 <3 <3

Red Thread Sessions: The Seeley Family | Virginia Beach Family Photographer

Stacey found me through the Red Thread Sessions website to do a family session for her, and I happily obliged! For those of you that don't know who Red Thread Sessions are, they are a wonderful non-profit organization that offers free photography to newly adoptive families. I put in my application at the beginning of the year, and was accepted as one of their Virginia Beach photographers!!! Little Aleksandr was adopted from Russia at the beginning of the summer, and he fits right in with his Forever Family. You can tell that he loves his parents with every ounce of his tiny soul :) Here is some of his adoption story from Stacey:

"On April 24th, 2011, a tiny baby boy was born in Vladivostok, Russia and abandoned at the hospital. Cared for by the doctors and nurses for a month due to prematurity, they eventually declared him healthy enough to be transferred to a baby orphanage. He spent 8 months in one baby orphanage and 6 months in another before Mommy and Daddy were able to bring him home to Virginia Beach. We met Aleksandr in February of 2011 for the first time and my heart knew that he was my son. We didn't know how we would afford the multiple trips and the fees and we didn't know if the Russian judge would look favorably on us as parents, but we knew that we wanted to be a family and if God would bless this union then nothing else would stand in the way. The months passed and while Aleks spent his days and nights in Russia playing with other babies and most likely giving his caregivers a lot of grief (for he is so very willful and mischievious!), Momma and Daddy waited the word from Russia... and prayed... and worried... and prayed... and worried... and prayed. Finally, it came! We had court in Vladivostok on June 27th, 2012 and were approved for the adoption of our son Aleksandr Robert Seeley! The mandatory thirty day wait truly flew by in a whirlwind of preparation and excitement until finally on July 27th, 2012 a warm, sunny day in Vladivostok, Russia, we became FOREVER a family. Not Flesh of my flesh, Nor bone of my bone, But still, Miraculously, my own...."

Aleks is teeny tiny but SO FAST. I don't think any kid has made me work that hard for photos, lol. He wouldn't sit still for anything, but I love the shots we got. Congratulations, Aleks. You are HOME. <3

Ella | Chesapeake Newborn Photographer

I got my newborn fix when I got to see/hold/snuggle little Ella! Love her stubborn little self - she came 2 weeks late AND didn't fall asleep until we were 4 hours into our session! - she has the sweetest little face and a head full of hair. And her name is so close to my youngest daughter's (Ella Sophia, and mine is Ellie Sofia) how could I NOT love her up? Can't wait to see how she grows over the next year. I'll get to see her again in the spring and I'm sure she'll have my baby fever flaring up all over again!


My dear friend Kristie of Kristie's Caps and Crafts made this beautiful handspun yarn hat to match the colors in Ella's nursery. Isn't it beautiful? She made the majority of the hats for this session! She makes hats and props for every age, so you should definitely check her out. She's the sweetest vendor you will ever work with <3




This bracelet. Cutest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. I swear. Also peeling baby skin...I love it. I find all new baby things fascinating and adorable, lol.



We had to add a candy corn hat into the mix since Miss Ella is an official Fall baby! Isn't she scrumptious?

<3!