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Can we all wear white for our Portrait Session? | Northern VA Family Photographer
Can we all wear white for our Portrait Session? | Northern VA Family Photographer
Before we take your family photos, you will want to consider your outfits and the colors you’ll wear. Let’s talk about the myth of wearing white – and why it shouldn’t be a choice especially with the lush green landscapes of the Waterford, VA and Northern Virginia areas as a background.
As a family photographer, we often discuss with our clients a few ideas for their outfits. We also direct them to our Pinterest boards where they’ll find hundreds of ideas. Your outfits and color choices should do three things:
1. Be flattering to you and your figure – whether you’re male or female, young or old
2. Make you the subject – what the eye is immediately drawn to in the photo
3. Your outfits should not be the first thing you see in a photo.
The Technicalities of White
There are technical challenges for a professional photographer when a client is wearing white – yes, even a bride. White tends to blow out the highlights of a shot and confuse the camera’s internal meter, so it takes a skilled and experienced photographer (like us) to compensate.
White or Color for a Group
When you select white, you create an immediate magnet for the viewer’s eye. Rather than looking at your lovely face or faces, the eye goes to the white clothes! Some families want to wear white tops and khaki pants for their family photos. But, unless you want to look like you all work at Walt Disney World, or somewhere else with a uniform, we recommend you shy away from this!
It’s best if you select two coordinating colors and then mix and match them across the group. Don’t put everyone in the same tops of the same color – that’s too matchy-matchy!
If you must wear a white shirt, add a pop of color whether it’s a simple scarf, tie, or vest. Just keep in mind not to wear too many accessories. They, too, will draw the eye away from you as the subject (and star) of your photos.
As a full service portrait studio, we will work with you to choose flattering clothing for your family portrait!
Want some proof of not wearing white? Next time you’re watching a news broadcast, look for reporters wearing white tops. You’ll likely see very few people wearing only white. It’s too distracting to the camera.
It’s important to select an experienced and skilled photographer for your next family photos in the Waterford, VA region. They will need to know just how to coordinate your group, advise on outfits, and produce the spectacular portraits you deserve! Contact us if you would like to schedule portraits with our trusted and reputable mother and daughter photography team.
Family Photographer, Family Photos
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Waterford, 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
Limited Edition Carousel Dreams, Saturday, June 3, 2017! | Northern VA Family Photographer
Limited Edition Carousel Dreams, Saturday, June 3, 2017! | Northern VA Family Photographer
Announcing our Limited Edition Carousel Dreams portrait session! Scheduled for Saturday, June 3, 2017, our Carousel Dreams sessions transport your little girl into a magical world of carousel horses and sweet dreamy dress-up! As family photographers in Sterling, VA & McLean, VA, we only offer 12 slots for these coveted sessions – which fill up quickly!
Our daughters don’t remain our little girls forever. In the blink of an eye, they are all grown up and no longer enchanted by the charm of a beautiful carousel horse! Capture the sweetness and innocence of your little girl in one of our limited edition Carousel Dreams portraits.
WHO:
These portraits are for the little girl between the ages of 3-9 who still believes in carousel magic, flying horses, and all things frilly and pretty. These sessions are best suited for little girls
WHAT:
Limited Edition Sessions, which are themed events, are unique,
won’t be repeated and have only a limited number of slots. Once the slots are filled, the theme is no longer available.
These portraits result in timeless images of your little girl. You will cherish these images for many years!
Also included in your session is the use of our customized costumes and props, so all you need to do is show up and we will take care of the rest.
WHEN:
SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2017 only
WHERE:
Our beautiful Indoor or Outdoor Studio in Sterling, VA
46506 Oak Lane
Sterling, VA 20165
WHY:
Because you love your little girl and time moves so fast —photography stops it! These very special portrait sessions for little girls with special clothing on a unique set are unforgettable!
These sessions are perfect for the parent or grandparent who values one of a kind portraits of their cherished little girl! Portraits from our 30-minute sessions make the perfect gift for mom, dad and especially the grandparents!
BOOKING:
* Once the $99 session fee is paid prior to your session date, your time is reserved.
* Each session is 30 minutes, and includes a $99 product credit.
* Print packages are available.
* Session is limited to one outfit which is provided for ages 3 through 9.
* You are more than welcome to schedule two back-to-back sessions if you prefer each child to experience the full 30 minutes.
ORDERING:
* Ordering takes place at our studio, on a specific date two weeks after the session is photographed at a time we choose together.
* At least 20 images to choose from will be available at your Ordering Session.
* All decisions must be made at this time and are final, so we encourage all decision makers to be present.
* Unordered images will be deleted after your ordering session.
* Layaway, no-interest payment plans are available.
PRODUCTS:
* We make available special products and offer a package pricing for our Limited Edition Sessions. This includes beautiful Wall Art perfect for your home, office, or your child’s room! They also make wonderful gifts for family.
* All our prints are art mounted and textured with Linen, except wallet size. In addition, all the prints are coated for durability and protection from fingerprints and the elements. This prints will last for many decades.
* Digital images to share on social media are included.
* Digital images with print rights are available for purchase.
Contact the studio for more detailed pricing of our products.
Only 12 Session Slots Available!
Sessions are first come, first serve…portrait sessions are regularly $250 — book today for only $99 and receive a $99 credit toward the package of your choice.
Schedule your next portraits or your daughter’ Carousel Dreams Limited Edition session with one of the top family photographers in Sterling, VA & McLean, VA area. You’ll cherish the portraits for many years to come!
Family Photographer
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located in Sterling, VA, near McLean, 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
Key elements when choosing an Outdoor Photographer | Northern VA Family Photographer
Key elements when choosing an Outdoor Photographer | Northern VA Family Photographer
With indoor and outdoor studios near McLean, VA & Waterford, VA, we are extremely versatile as family photographers. We can do portraits either inside or outside in our private portrait park. Not everyone is equally versatile, so when you are choosing an outdoor photographer, there are several things to keep in mind.
Lighting
Photographers working outdoors need to have the correct professional equipment and know how to adjust exposure to meet the surroundings – whether indoors or out. It’s not as easy as it sounds! Outdoor natural lighting can be your best friend or your worst enemy if you don’t know how to manipulate it best. Be certain the photographer has plenty of experience shooting outdoors. Ask to see their portfolio of outdoor portraits. If you don’t like what you see, move along.
Personality
We always recommend working with a photographer you feel comfortable with, and you like. Talk to them before you book the appointment! We believe it’s important that everyone – photographer and client – feel comfortable throughout their session. It can make a difference in the results! If a client is uncomfortable during their photo session, they won’t relax, and that will come across in their portraits.
Specialty
Search for a photographer specializing in the type of photography you need. Look through their website, and you should see evidence of their specialty. Some photographers, like us, specialize in a particular genre such as family photography. Within that specialty, you’ll note we photograph various types of family portraits from engagements to maternity to baby photography to large families.
Take your time selecting an outdoor photographer or any photographer. Look through their website carefully as it’s a glimpse into their world, their style, their specialty. Don’t be shy about discussing their fees. A great photographer isn’t cheap but will be worth the investment and time.
We have built a regular clientele in the Northern Virginia area, including McLean, VA & Waterford, VA, through hard work, skill, and versatility as photographers. We will happily work with a client in our indoor studio or out in our private portrait park exclusively available to clients. Contact us to book your summer photo session!
Family Photographer
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near McLean, VA and Waterford, 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
When should you schedule Senior Portraits? | Northern VA Family Photographer
When should you schedule Senior Portraits? | Northern VA Family Photographer
High school tends to be a whirlwind of college entrance exams, tours, and applications. Somewhere in the midst of all that are the all-important senior portraits – one of the most memorable takeaways from any senior year. As a portrait photography studio in Northern Virginia near McLean, VA, we are seeing more families turning to having fine art senior portraits. But some are unsure as to when to schedule them. So, when is the best time to do your high school senior portraits?
Senior Portrait Season
The summer after your junior year is the start of the senior portrait-taking season. There are several good, practical reasons for this. Doing your portraits in the summer before your senior year means you’ll have them back in time for your last year of high school. Many families use them for various purposes including seasonal cards, presents for family and friends throughout the year, and, finally, for graduation invitations or announcements. Students tend to use their senior portraits for social media and other opportunities throughout their senior year.
When to Schedule
If you want to be one of the first to have your senior portrait in hand, you should plan early! Start looking for a photographer by March during the spring of your junior year and be prepared to select a photographer months before you want your actual appointment. Summer can be a very busy time for portraits of any kind especially if you want to do outdoor portraits.
The earlier you schedule, the more likely you are to have the pick of good time slots. Late spring or early summer can be a very good time to do outdoor portraits. Waiting until the end of the summer could mean battling summer’s heat and humidity.
Contact us!
If you’d like to discuss your senior portraits, contact our portrait photography studio in the McLean, VA area. We’d be happy to discuss our services, products, and pricing as well as any ideas you might have for your unique senior portrait.
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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 McLean, 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!
Limited Edition Daddy & Me Portraits, Saturday, May 6, 2017! | Northern VA Family Photographer
Limited Edition Daddy & Me Portraits, Saturday, May 6, 2017! | Northern VA Family Photographer
We love our annual Limited Edition Daddy & Me photography sessions! These endearing Daddy and Child portraits are a beautiful way to document this special bond. We’re excited to announce that this year’s sessions will be just in time for warm weather here in the Sterling, VA & Waterford, VA area.
The Limited Edition Daddy & Me sessions will take place exclusively on Saturday, 5/6/2017! Schedule now for our limited bookings!
These Dad and Child portraits – whether baby, toddler or teenager – are a fun and memorable reminder of the special time in your family’s life. Childhood doesn’t last forever and capturing these moments today for tomorrow are priceless. These portraits will quickly become treasured heirlooms. A professional childhood portrait with each parent is a legacy you will enjoy now, and your child will appreciate it throughout their adulthood.
With almost 20 years as Northern Virginia photographers, our clients trust us with their family and their portraits. If you haven’t enjoyed one of our Limited Edition Sessions, there’s no better introduction to our work, our studio, and our portraiture. Contact us today to schedule your session.
DADDY & ME LIMITED EDITION SESSION
WHO:
Fathers (or grandfathers) who cherish their sons and daughters (or grandsons and granddaughters)!
WHEN:
Saturday, 5/6/2017
WHERE:
Our Outdoor Studio in Sterling, VA
WHY:
Because time moves so fast — photography stops it!
SCHEDULE TODAY!
Our Limited Edition Session photography offers just 12 slots in our private outdoor studio near Sterling, VA & Waterford, VA! You can book your appointment through our website, contact us to schedule your session, or call the studio at 571.434.0009.
Family Photography, Family Photographer
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Waterford, 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
Choosing The Right Location For Your Portrait Session | Northern VA Family Photographer
Choosing The Right Location For Your Portrait Session | Northern VA Family Photographer
Family portraits are a poignant reminder of a moment in your lives long after it has long passed. Families across Waterford, VA and South Riding, VA have entrusted us with their family pictures because they understand the thought we put into our work, whether inside our studio, in our private, outdoor portrait park, or another location. Choosing the right location of your portraits is always important.
Your family portraits are a marvelous gift, a legacy you give to yourselves to honor your family and your love for each other. While you’ll always enjoy looking at your family pictures, they become especially powerful and meaningful decades from now.
Location, Location!
Choosing the right location for each family matters considerably to us as family photographers because we know that it’s such an important part of your portraits. A background can set the overall tone for your family pictures and can say a lot about you and your family.
Here are some tips to consider.
Think Ahead
Often by the time a family reaches out to us, they have some thoughts already about where they would like to do their session. Some, but not all, have also thought about specific locations for their portraits. If you haven’t thought about it yet, we recommend you start giving it some thought. Search the Internet for places near you that you find appealing. Also consider what you want your family pictures to convey: seriousness, candor, nature, studio, urban, industrial, romantic, etc. If you’re stuck, we’re happy to provide some ideas and, of course, we always suggest you consider our scenic and very private portrait park which you will have all to yourselves for your family’s portrait session!
A Reflection of You
The best location for portraits can say something about you as a family. For example, are you drawn to the mountains or the ocean? Do you love the city? How about a setting that somehow reflects your interests as a family, whether it’s a local park or your own backyard? Are there any public monuments or historic buildings you’ve always admired? Don’t be afraid to think out of the box, and think creatively. The options are endless, so we suggest you keep a running list of places you love and are drawn to which might make a good background. We’re always happy to share some of our favorite locations!
Take Location Snapshots
Here’s a thought: How about snapping some pics of different places and see what you think of the background? You can have some fun snapping selfies or ask someone to snap a few pictures for you. Later you can compare the pictures and how the backgrounds look to you. It could help you pick a final setting for your professional family portraits!
If you live in the Waterford, VA and South Riding, VA or elsewhere in Northern Virginia and would like to discuss your professional family pictures, contact our studio. We offer all our clients use of our private, outdoor portrait park for their sessions. Whether you use our bucolic private park, our fully-equipped indoor studio, or a public site of your choosing, we’d be happy to create magical family portraits you’ll cherish for decades!
Family Photographer
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Waterford, VA and South Riding, 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 Special Gift, Portraits with Mom! | Northern VA Family Photographer
A Special Gift, Portraits with Mom! | Northern VA Family Photographer
Have you thought about gifting your mom, wife or grandmother with a priceless portrait? To make your mom (or the mother of your children) very happy, here is an idea for a terrific gift: an Ever After Fine Art Portrait or a gift certificate for a portrait! Imagine your mom’s face when she unwraps a beautifully crafted museum-quality portrait of you and your children or a gift certificate toward a portrait of her choosing. Fine art family or children photography can make a treasured gift that will touch any mother’s heart! Our Sterling, VA area portrait studio is ready to work with you on a special gift this year.
Portrait
For a truly meaningful gift (not to say diamonds aren’t significant, of course) you can have a portrait done with us and have it back in time to give to your mom or wife.
Our upcoming Divas and Darlins Limited Edition Session on April 1, 2017, is a perfect opportunity for a mother and child portrait you could give to your wife, mom or grandmother. The Divas and Darlins Session is a beautiful celebration of mothers and children, and is a Limited Edition Session offered only once a year.
If you know a mom-to-be and would like to give her a priceless gift, you can give her a gift certificate toward a Newborn Portrait Session or an even more precious and generous gift would be our Bebe Coterie plan. Both offer a new mother (and father) a priceless gift they will enjoy for many years.
If you prefer, you can instead schedule a portrait session for an individual or a family portrait. It’s entirely up to you. As your family photographer, we are here to collaborate with you on what works best for your family and what you think your mother will love most!
Gift Certificates
There are a couple of possible scenarios when it comes to an Ever After Portrait Gift Certificate.
Let’s say you do portraits with us but aren’t sure which one your mother would like as wall art. Giving her a gift certificate allows her to select the one she prefers.
You can present her with a gift certificate for a portrait session so that she, rather than you or your family, can do a portrait. This way you will have a beautiful, archival-quality portrait of her. Or perhaps a portrait of a grandmother with her grandchildren surrounding her would be just perfect!
Our gift certificates are available in any denomination.
This year, as a special gift you can opt for one of our fine art portraits created with archival-quality materials or a gift certificate toward a portrait in our Sterling, VA area studio. We will be happy to discuss what best meets your needs if you have any questions. We have almost two decades of experience as trusted family and children photography experts in Northern Virginia.
Family Photographer, Children 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
Sweet Family of 3, Portraits in Our Portrait Park | Northern VA Family Photographer
Sweet Family of 3, Portraits in Our Portrait Park | Northern VA Family Photographer
When Scarlett called us about doing family pictures in the Waterford, VA area, we were happy to chat with her about portraits. When new clients call, we like to chat with them to better understand what they want in their pictures. We also like to simply get to know them a bit prior to their session.
We soon learned that Scarlett and her hubby Terrell and baby Dahlia had never done family portraits! They had individual portraits but none collectively as a family. It was time to change that! Scarlett wanted a family portrait she could display above their fireplace. As family photographers, we were happy to oblige this wonderful family and work with them on creating a poignant portrait.
The day of their session was beautiful with bright sunshine and brilliant colors across our portrait park. We knew things were going to go spendidly and we found it easy to work with this sweet family.
Baby Dahlia with her lovely little curls reflected her parents’ bright smiles and disposition throughout their portrait session. The three looked like a magazine ad and were great models throughout their session. The cream colors of their smart outfits coordinated well and capitalized on the golden hues of the background. This family’s outfits are a great example of well-coordinated clothes both within their group and with the background. Their portrait came out with perfect color balance and composition.
We strive to make family pictures an equally memorable experience resulting in portraits as lovely as these turned out. Our private outdoor park near Waterford, VA offers all our clients the perfect backdrop for outdoor portraits. Contact us today to schedule your family pictures!
Family Photographer, Family Pictures
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Waterford, 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 Families Are Saying, Megan & Larry | Northern VA Family Photographer
What Families Are Saying, Megan & Larry | Northern VA Family Photographer
As a family photographer in Northern Virginia, with a studio near Waterford, VA, we specialize in family and children photography. We had the privilege of photographing Larry and Megan’s wedding, and then they chose us as their family photographer as well!
Megan sent us a quick note, and it meant so much to us. It’s what we want all of our clients to feel, that joy of seeing their family portraits on the walls of their home, something to enjoy every single day.
Megan’s Review of Ever After
“We love it as does everyone who walks into the house! Thank you again. It’s the first thing I see when I walk down the stairs in the morning – and no matter what ungodly hour our children have awakened us, they (the portraits) bring a smile to our faces.” ~ Megan Peacock, Falls Church, VA
Family Photographer, Children Photography
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Waterford, 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!
Creating Portraits, More Than Just Pictures | Northern VA Family Photographer
Creating Portraits, More Than Just Pictures | Northern VA Family Photographer
“It’s one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it’s another thing to make a portrait of who they are.” Paul Caponigro, Photographer. This is one of our favorite photography quotes because it captures the essence of fine art portraiture. As we often say to our clients around the Waterford, VA and South Riding, VA areas, family pictures are beautiful because of what they capture. Family portraits, however, are photos elevated to an artistic quality. Simply stated, portraits can equal art.
Think about what that means.
As a family photographer specializing in fine art portraits, we don’t just usher you into our studios and snap away. We build relationships. We get to know you so that we can take a portrait of who you truly are – not just an image on paper. Anyone with a camera can do that.
The more comfortable you are with us as your photographer, the more comfortable you will be in front of our cameras, and, ultimately, the better you will look in your portraits. When you are relaxed, the “real” you is reflected and captured candidly. We work hard to capture that honest reflection of you.
Before you even arrive at our studios, we will ask you a few questions. These help us to understand more about you and how you hope to use your portraits so that we can better serve you as your family photographer. Again, building relationships with our clients helps us to create portraits rather than pictures.
If you’d like to work with us in the Waterford, VA, South Riding, VA and surrounding area for your next family portraits, please contact our studio. We’d be happy to discuss your vision for your portrait art. Building legacy through family portraiture rather than family pictures is something we know and do well!
Family Photographer, Family Pictures
Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Waterford, VA and South Riding, 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