Blog

 

blog/bläɡ/noun – a regularly updated web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.

Creating Treasured Art as a Legacy | Northern VA Family Photographer

Creating Treasured Art as a Legacy | Northern VA Family Photographer

Creating Treasured Art as a Legacy | Northern VA Family Photographer

There are so many gifts we make during our lifetimes to our children – some more valuable than others. Family pictures are the priceless ones, though. As a Reston, VA area family photographer, we know how much our clients, and later their adult children, cherish their family portraits. This is why you deserve beautiful family art like the ones we produce for you at Ever After to be handed down through generations.

An exquisite portrait comes through the communication and relationships we build with our clients. We don’t just take a picture and usher you on your way. We will talk with you before you ever arrive for your portrait session. We want to capture everything you are and represent, within your family or relationship that we are photographing.

It is important to us that our portraits convey your family story in some way. We want to capture the love within your family and the happiness it shares. Those are the portraits which will be handed down through generations.

When you compare our work to other photography websites, you will hopefully see that we believe in emotion, creativity, and high quality products. We believe in photography as a skilled art created by perfectionist experts.

We also believe in building relationships with you to produce the best possible representation of your beloved family and its story. The greatest compliment a photographer can claim is the client they photograph throughout the years, those who return to us to capture their lives and families as they change and grow, including their significant milestones.

Our photography also is about the exceptional client experience, and we achieve that through open communication with you at all times. We put a lot of work into planning your session and into discussing your vision for its outcome. Our portraits are works of art of your family to be displayed proudly in your home. We will discuss with you possible placement in your home, and we offer an exclusive software design program to help you decide just where your finished portrait should go in your home!

If you would like this level of photographic art in your home, please call us today to discuss your ideas. We’d love to get to know you and your family and work with you to create a beautiful portrait that celebrates your family’s story and love!

At Ever After Portraits:
• We will have a consultation with you before your session. We do this with each and every client.
• Our unique interior design software can show you exactly what your finished family portraits will look on any wall in your home.
• The day of your session you only need to arrive rested and ready to go. If there are children in the portrait, please bring clean snacks and toys. You will receive specific instructions, though, from us before your session. We make it as easy as possible for you!
• Not long after your session, you will return to preview the amazing results of your portrait session. It’s that simple!

Our fine art portraits are a legacy for the future generations of your family. Your family will have a beloved and treasured portrait by which to either remember you or “know” you through your beautiful images.

If you are in the Reston, VA area and searching for truly meaningful family pictures from a skilled and reputable professional photographer, please contact us. We know you will enjoy the experience and be thrilled with your finished portraits.

 

Family Photographer, Family Pictures

Ever After Portraits is Mindy and Joriana, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Reston, 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

Outdoor Portrait Park, Pond Reflections| Northern VA Family Photographer

Outdoor Portrait Park, Pond Reflections| Northern VA Family Photographer

Outdoor Portrait Park, Pond Reflections| Northern VA Family Photographer

Images reflected on water have long fascinated photographers and artists alike. Reflections can result in some powerful imagery — which is why we often like to do family pictures with a water reflection in the portrait! The effect can be eye-catching and lovely. Our 2.5-acre outdoor portrait park near Reston, VA, and Herndon, VA offers the perfect opportunity to employ this effect with its scenic pond!

Reflections – whether in water, glass, or mirrors – offer a multi-dimensional, provocative look. It’s a technique best left for the most skilled photographers or artists; otherwise, you risk losing some of its potential. Not done correctly, the image loses its power and artistry. At Ever After, it’s a technique we often employ and with which we have a lot of experience. It’s important to have a keen eye for composition if you want to use a reflection in any photo.

We use water reflections in two ways: artistically for effect or an indirect lighting effect. Either way, as we have said, the results can be breathtaking.

Our 2.5-acre outdoor portrait park offers a rich array of photographic opportunities many of our clients opt to use. From its lush forests, two ponds, wooden bridge and wooden-post fence, to our antique couches, family pictures taken in the park tend to be creative and sometimes a study in contrasts. You can’t go wrong in the park!

For those families seeking a more artistic portrait, the ponds are perfect. We often stand across the pond to perfectly capture the reflection of our subjects. There are no limits to creativity – and we love to get creative if it’s what our clients are asking! Water reflections can be used for a fun, spontaneous portrait or a more pensive mood. You can stand at the water’s edge, on the bridge looking over into the water, or on the dock. You could even remove your shoes and tiptoe into the water’s edge itself for a fun and more natural picture!

If you’re interested in doing family pictures in a more creative way, let’s talk! We love portraits that employ water reflection as an artistic method. We will be happy to show you some examples of what we have done for other families in the Reston, VA, and Herndon, VA areas!

 

Family Photographer, Family Pictures

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

10 Ways to Show Your Children You Love Them | Northern VA Family Photographer

10 Ways to Show Your Children You Love Them | Northern VA Family Photographer

10 Ways to Show Your Children You Love Them | Northern VA Family Photographer

Show them the love! It doesn’t have to be a holiday to show your children how much you love them. As family photographers in the Reston, VA area, we help parents demonstrate their love for their children through fine art portraits. Professional photography, including children photography, can perfectly capture the innocence and sweetness of a new life.

Ten simple ways to show how much you love your family throughout the year:

1. Tell them you love them, of course! Showing them as well as telling your children you love them is important.
2. Create an optimistic and happy home for your children! Happy homes raise happy children. Displaying family and children’s portraits in your home shows your kids how much love there is in the family!
3. Praise your child for effort more than outcomes, and don’t over-praise them. That can have an adverse effect.
4. Make an effort to eat as many meals together as possible and TALK! Many studies have shown the tremendous benefits of sharing meals with your children while also engaging in conversation: from increased vocabulary to higher achievement scores.
5. Love and support your child for who they are, not who you want them to be.
6. Kiss and hug your children daily – yes, even the teenagers. The benefits of physical touch are numerous and extremely beneficial.
8. Be and stay involved in your children’s lives even when they enter middle and high school. If you’re a working parent, speak with your child’s school about ways to stay involved. You’re not alone, and most schools will be all too happy to provide suggestions.
9. In addition to regularly eating meals with your children and engaging in conversation, create family traditions and encourage family activities!
10. Always, always support their dreams!

We love doing family photography, including children photography. Our youngest clients are always a joy to photograph. One of the neat things about our job is seeing how much the children have grown since their last portrait with us! If you’re in the Reston, VA area, and you are ready to do family portraits, give us a call!

Our Outdoor Portrait Park

 

Family Photographer, Children Photography

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

Published on The Loudoun Homeowner, “5 MORE Secrets to Make Your Family Portraits Amazing” | Northern VA Family Photographer

Published on The Loudoun Homeowner, “5 MORE Secrets to Make Your Family Portraits Amazing” | Northern VA Family Photographer

Published on The Loudoun Homeowner, “5 MORE Secrets to Make Your Family Portraits Amazing” | Northern VA Family Photographer

As a family photographer in Loudoun County, we’re thrilled to be a contributor to The Loudoun Homeowner!

The LHO published another one of our article on their blog, part two of our “Secrets to Make Your Family Portraits Amazing.” You can read it on The LHO blog here: 5 More Secrets to Looking Amazing in Your Family Portraits!

Be sure to explore The LHO website. It’s wonderfully helpful for local homeowners and assists you in for a contractor for a home project, or to give you expert advice on a DIY project.
 

 

Family Photographer

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located in Sterling, VA, Loudoun County, 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 Quality Framing Matters | Northern VA Family Photographer

Why Quality Framing Matters | Northern VA Family Photographer

Why Quality Framing Matters | Northern VA Family Photographer

People invest in family photography for many reasons, but it’s usually driven by how much they love their families. Portraits and what they represent are very important to them so it’s also important to ensure they’re properly framed. With clients in the Herndon, VA area and throughout Northern VA, we are fortunate to have developed relationships with some of the best framers in the industry. The correct framing will not only protect your gorgeous portraits; it “finishes” the portrait and enhances its beauty.

The “Right” Framer

When it comes to frames, you have options. With our assistance in the studio at your ordering session, you will have the opportunity to select from high-quality frames from skilled framers. When you work with Ever After and choose a framed Wall Art finish, your family portraits will be fully framed and finished for you, ready to be displayed on the walls of your home.

Skilled framers not only offer more framing options; they also know to use the right materials to protect your precious portraits. Frames with filler boards use only special paperboards to ensure they don’t cause your images to fade or yellow. It’s these kinds of details that can make a difference in how your family photos looks in 50 years.

Our framers have all been carefully selected for their expertise, experience, and knowledge of high-quality products.

The Best Frame for Your Portraits

Frames have two purposes: To display and protect your portrait. They come in a variety of materials including wood and metal. The frame itself can be considered a decorative item and enhancement for the imnage. Whatever frame you select for your family photos, it is important that the materials are appropriate for the portrait, sturdy enough to carry the weight of the canvas, and made of high-quality materials. A good frame is sturdy and well built and should reliably hold the canvas and all of the frame pieces.

As most frames are made of wood or metal, it’s good to keep in mind that certain metals might corrode, causing damage to the portrait, while wood frames could potentially give off harmful chemicals. That is why it is so very important to select only the highest quality frames for your professionally photographed family portraits. Although we print all of our portraits on archival-quality materials, framing does make a difference over the years. Ready-made mass produced frames are rarely meant for long term protection and display. Our frames are of the highest quality and are custom made to order for each portrait.

We understand how important and cherished your family photography is to you. As an Ever After client, we will walk you through the frame selection process. We use special design software to show you how your portraits will look on your walls, including the frame, and discuss the available options with you.

We have two high quality lines of framing: Masterpiece and Standard. We invite you to follow the link and find out more about them.

As family photographers, we work across Northern Virginia including Herndon, VA.

 

Family Photography

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter photography team located in Northern Virginia, near Herndon, VA. 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 Family Affair, David & Tara | Northern VA Family Photographer

A Family Affair, David & Tara | Northern VA Family Photographer

A Family Affair, David & Tara | Northern VA Family Photographer

One of the greatest privileges as a human being is to live a long, healthy and happy life. Through the years, however, we slowly begin to outgrow our recollections. It’s a natural progression of aging. As a studio photographer in the Herndon, VA and Great Falls, VA area, we know how valuable portraits can be in the future. Professional pictures provide tangible, visual evidence of our lives, love, and happiness; they can frame the timelines of life. In many ways, this is what we have done with David and Tara. To say they are regular clients would be an understatement – and, we are so happy that it is!

We first met this beautiful couple when they asked us to do professional portraits for their engagement and wedding. That was the beginning of a years-long relationship with them. From their engagement portraits, we went on to do their wedding, maternity, and newborn/baby portraits for their two beautiful children.
 

 
In all, we did Bebe Coterie baby plans for each of their children, and a beautifully dramatic maternity session for Tara’s first pregnancy.

Maternity and Baby Portraits

We first photographed son JD while he was still in his mother’s tummy, then again at 3-months, 6-months, 10-months, and as a one-year-old.
 

 
Once his sister Sebbie came along, we did her first portrait as a newborn, 3-months, 8-months, and one year old. It’s a lot of fun for us watching these babies grow!
 

Our Outdoor Portrait Park

 
We have had the privilege of watching this young couple marry, blossom, and then grow into a loving and beautiful family! What a special time we have had with them, and we look forward to many more portraits in the future! As we have said in the past, there is no greater compliment for a portrait photographer than clients returning through the years.

We truly delight in working closely with clients to capture their milestones through fine art photography, creating portraits they will cherish for decades. We believe in getting to know our clients and in working closely with them. Call us today if you are looking for a skilled and dedicated photography team!

Family Photographer, Studio Photographer

Ever After Portraits is Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Herndon, VA and Great Falls, VA. As a studio photographer, 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

We’ve been published on The Loudoun Homeowner! 5 Secrets to Make Your Family Portraits Amazing! | Northern VA Family Photographer

We’ve been published on The Loudoun Homeowner! 5 Secrets to Make Your Family Portraits Amazing! | Northern VA Family Photographer

We’ve been published on The Loudoun Homeowner! 5 Secrets to Make Your Family Portraits Amazing! | Northern VA Family Photographer

As a family photographer in Loudoun County, we couldn’t be more thrilled about being a contributor to The Loudoun Homeowner!

The LHO published our article on their blog, a piece written to be helpful to families when they’re being photographed. Having been a photographer for decades, we know a few things about how you can look your best in any portrait! You can read it on The LHO blog here: 5 Secrets to Make Your Family Portraits Amazing!

The LHO is a wonderfully helpful website for local homewowners whether you’re looking for a contractor to take care of a home project, or you need expert advice on a project you’ve started yourself. Maybe you simply need inspiration! The Loudoun Homeowner is the place to start.
 

 

Family Photographer

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located in Northern Virginia, in Loudoun County. 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

Bubblegum Princess Limited Edition Session, July 22, 2016! | Northern VA Family Photographer

Bubblegum Princess Limited Edition Session, July 22, 2016! | Northern VA Family Photographer

Bubblegum Princess Limited Edition Session, July 22, 2016! | Northern VA Family Photographer

Limited Edition Bubblegum Princess Session

As much as we love photographing entire families, we also love special sessions just for the children! Our Limited Edition Bubblegum Princess session is Friday, July 22nd, 2016! You’ll adore special portraits of your little girl. Our portrait studio is located in Northern Virginia, near Herndon, VA.

We got the idea for this unique session from the book “Bubblegum Princess” written by Julie Gribble. The book was inspired by a real princess, Lady Kate Middleton!

Your darling daughter will have a blast frolicking in a tub of colorful gumballs, while dressed like a princess with a tiara!

Portraits from this session will make wonderful additions to your other family photos! For more information about this session, visit our Limited Edition Bubblegum Princess page here.

Please contact us by phone at 571.434.0009 to book your session, or by using our contact form here.

 

Family Photographer, Children’s Portraits

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

Single parents should have family portraits too! | Northern VA Family Photographer

Single parents should have family portraits too! | Northern VA Family Photographer

Single parents should have family portraits too! | Northern VA Family Photographer

The word “family” means different things to different people. As a studio photographer for more than a decade in Northern Virginia, including Herndon, VA (and with Mindy as a mother), we know that love defines and binds a family. We also know that capturing that special bond in portraits is important no matter your family’s composition. Unfortunately, we have noticed that single parents are sometimes reluctant to take family portraits. We think that’s a shame! Every family should have a professional family portrait!

Single parents, compelled by the fierce love they have for their children, know the importance for a family to stick together. If you are familiar with the photography project known as Humans of New York, you’ll know how often its pictures depict family bonds. A recent story featured a young woman adopted by a single mother. In the story she discussed her very close relationship with her mom. As it had always been just the two of them, they were exceptionally close. Her story was a poignant reminder that while families come in all shapes and sizes, love always resides at their center.

Single Parent Portraits

Family photography is one way to demonstrate your family’s love for each other. It’s important to remember that photography is a legacy for future generations whether you are a family of two, three, or six. Single parent portraits celebrate everything your family represents. While we realize that family life is exceptionally busy in single parent households, taking the time to take and display professional portraits of your family reflects the importance of your family’s bond.

Family Wall Art

 
Beyond the family portrait, we also encourage single parents to consider a portrait of themselves. While we often see parents hesitant to do portraits of themselves, single mothers seem especially reluctant. However, we remind them that a beautiful portrait is a gift they can one day leave for their children. It will reflect those deep bonds you shared – no matter what your family looks like – because family is always defined by love.

If you’d like a portrait of either your family or yourself, please contact us! As a Herndon, VA area studio photographer, we’d love to discuss your portraits and work with you to decide what works best for you and your family. Whether you want an indoor studio portrait or a portrait in our 2.5-acre outdoor portrait park, it would be our pleasure and honor to participate in this beautiful legacy for your children.
 

 

Family Photographer, Studio Photographer

Ever After Portraits is Mindy and Joriana, a mother-daughter family photography team located near Herndon, 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

“I’ll do family portraits in the Spring/Summer/Fall.” | Northern VA Family Photographer

“I’ll do family portraits in the Spring/Summer/Fall.” | Northern VA Family Photographer

“I’ll do family portraits in the Spring/Summer/Fall.” | Northern VA Family Photographer

We hear these seasonal reasons for not having family portraits a lot! If you wait for a season, chances are you won’t ever get around to doing any portraits. When you look at your family photos, what draws you to the picture? Is it the fall foliage in the background? Is it the flowers? As experienced family photographers in the Herndon, VA area of Northern Virginia, we’d bet that what draws you into a family portrait are your family’s faces and their expressions.

What Really Matters

So, the time of year you do your portraits or whether it is inside or outdoors doesn’t really matter. When we know someone is considering family pictures, we always tell them: NOW is the time to have a family portrait! Don’t put it off.

We offer a fully-equipped portrait studio for your indoor portraits, but we also have a scenic 2.5-acre outdoor portrait park. Your family portrait will be beautiful no matter when or where we take it!

We work hard to capture the love you feel within your family, and that’s the most important part of a portrait. It’s not the season, and it’s usually not the venue. It’s the people in the portrait and the emotions conveyed within it which matters. It’s the love captured in those images which will always and forever draw you into the picture.

So, do seasons matter?

While seasons can set the background of a portrait, in the end, no, they don’t truly matter. Many clients prefer the fall foliage, and it is usually a busy time of year for us.
 

 
However, we can tell you that summer can be just as beautiful if not more so. We find that summer with children out of school can be a great time to do family portraits. Everyone is home at least part of the summer. They’re well rested, likely tanned, and you might find that you can include visiting grandparents as well! The florals and rich, green grasses provide a lovely backdrop to any portrait particularly in the gorgeous landscape of the Northern VA area.
 

 
During winter, our fully equipped indoor studio is the perfect place for a Today’s Classic family portrait or a Fine Art Black and White family portrait.
 

 

Again, keeping in mind that regardless of the season, Ever After is an experienced photography portrait studio whose goal is to produce the best pictures possible of your beautiful family. Call us to discuss scheduling your sunny summer portraits!

Family Photographer, Portraits

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