hampton roads family portraits

Best of Portraits 2018 | Business

Best of Portraits 2018 | Business

How do I narrow down my favorite portraits of the year when I’ve had so many beautiful couples and families in front of my lens? The answer is that it’s not easy, but there were a few things that stood out to me as I looked back on the year.

The first is joy. Each person here is expressing joy at being together, getting married, growing their family, or simply being a family. The laughter and emotion feels so real, even through the screen. These are some of the most joyful people on earth, and it was my privilege to capture some of the best days of their lives - with many more yet to come.

The other thing that stands out to me is…

Christopher Newport University Family Portraits | Murray Family

Christopher Newport University Family Portraits | Murray Family

This family is so very near and dear to my heart. We met them right around the time we started attending our current church, just as they were moving here from North Carolina. I saw Brittany by herself and actually thought she was a college student (yes, she looks young and acts young at heart!) and introduced myself to welcome her. Little did I know that she was married to our new families pastor, with three children of their own.

Fast forward almost two years, and these five have become fast friends. Brittany has walked through so much with me - life, marriage, and motherhood - and I am truly thankful for her friendship. Edward has been a fixture both at church and in our lives, and we are grateful for him as a friend and current Bible study leader. Together, their family is fun, kind-hearted, and just a little bit crazy in the best possible way…

Best of Families 2017 | Business

Best of Families 2017 | Business

While most of my sessions are for engaged and married couples or on wedding days, I have the pleasure of photographing many families over the course of the year. It is a joy to capture memories for people that I know and those I meet for the first time at their session. 2017 has brought everyone from couples who are expecting their first child to parents of four beautiful children.

At every session, no matter how many kids are around, I make sure that mom and dad have pictures of just the two of them to share and enjoy for years to come. Eventually, as hard as it is to believe, the kids will grow older and move out and only two will remain. Seeing the strength of these relationships, whether just a few years long or 50 years deep, is probably the greatest honor of them all.

So, without further ado, enjoy just a few of SO many favorite family portraits from 2017!