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Ever After Portraits has a photography studio in Northern VA, and serves the area including Annandale. If you want family pictures, we’re the photographer for you.

We are now in the heat of the summer and kids love to cool off playing in the water. Safety in a pool or at the beach is a priority for all parents. When your child is near any water he should have your full attention. These safety tips provided from Safety Kids Swimming Safety could help prevent a serious disaster.

Infants can begin to be around water approximately at six months old.  Always be with an arms reach of your baby when he is in the water.  A little child can drown in as little as one inch of water.

Each child learns at his own pace, start swim lessons when you feel your child is ready. Teach children how to tread water, float and stay by the shore

There is a big difference between a swimming pool and the open water. The child needs to be taught about uneven surfaces, river currents and ocean undertows.

Your child should always swim with an adult. It is imperative that your child understands that he should NEVER go near or in water without an adult being there.

Swimming aids like wings or noodles are toys and are not the same as having U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device that protects your child in the water.

Parents should definitely take the time to learn CPR. When your children are old enough they should be enrolled in CPR classes. This skill is one that could save a life.

If you have a backyard pool, there should be four sided fencing that is at least 4 feet high and has a self closing, self-latching gate to prevent a child from wandering in the pool.
Have a door alarm and a window alarm to let you know if a child has come into the poll area unsupervised.

There is a serious danger of entanglement or entrapment with a pool drain. Your child needs to understand to never play or swim near drains.

Make regular checks on your drains to make sure that they are secure and do not have any cracks. Flat drain covers should be replaced with dome-shaped ones.

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy and Joriana Belcher, a mother-daughter photography team located in Northern Virginia. They specialize in candid, emotional and artistic images.

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!

View Our Portfolio | Order Prints | Ever After Portraits |

At Ever After, we are a family portrait photographer. Our passion is portrait photography! We are located in Northern VA and serve the area, including Burke.

Now that school is out and the kids are home all day every day. Here are some great ideas for family adventures to keep boredom at bay!

This list is from Kids Trips 2015 has a variety of ideas of outdoor activities.  Make sure to pack your camera to take photos of the special times so you can look back with fond memories.

Summer is also a great time to have a family portrait session.  Our beautiful 2.5 outdoor studio is a perfect backdrop shaded by trees and a pond with a pier.

Films in the Park: Mosaic District: (kid-friendly films on select Fridays in July)

Come to the hip Mosaic District to enjoy FREE outdoor films. Grab a picnic from one of the many amazing locations that make the Mosaic District a foodie’s paradise. Family-friendly titles for the summer include:
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, July 3
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, July 17
Frozen, July 24
Ratatouille, July 31

An American Celebration at Mount Vernon: July 4, 2015
This 18th century style celebration includes fireworks, old-fashioned fun and games, period costumed characters, mansion tours, military re-enactments, free cake and more. All activities are included with admission.

City of Fairfax 4th of July Parade: July 4, 2015
One of the largest and most fun local parades complete with spectacular floats, performers, characters, fire trucks, marching bands and some big “Macy’s style” balloons. Tip: Go early to secure your spot and park in the library parking garage for free, shaded parking.

Shrek the Musical at Encore Stage and Studio: July 17-26, 2015
Join the gang of fairytale misfits for this must-see, musical comedy based on the 2001 DreamWorks Film Shrek and William Steig’s 1990 book Shrek. Encore Stage and Studio is Northern Virginia’s premier theatre for kids, by kids.

Loudoun County Fair: July 27-August 1, 2015
A massively fun county fair with a carnival, professional bull riding, dairy and pet shows, children’s activities, vendors, live music and much more.

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy and Joriana Belcher, a mother-daughter photography team located in Northern Virginia. They specialize in candid, emotional and artistic images.

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!

View Our Portfolio | Order Prints | Ever After Portraits |

As a portrait photography studio in Northern VA, near Centreville, Ever After is a family portrait photographer, specializing in providing you with beautiful wall art of your family, the ones you love and cherish.

Does your child need to be motivated to keep reading once the last day of school is here?  Once upon a time the teacher would give the parent a reading list for the child to complete over the summer. The more you read it stimulates your brain and you accumulate more knowledge. Now to motivate kids there are a lot of fun reading programs this summer that offer free ebooks, movies, gift cards, movies etc. Who can resist all these free goodies!!

This great list from Summer Reading Programs for Kids 2015 will give you an overview of what is available for this summer.

This year the Barnes and Noble summer reading program, Imagination’s Destination, gives out a free book to each child in grades 1-6 who reads 8 books over the summer.

Scholastic has a summer reading challenge where kids read and then go online to record the minutes they’ve read this summer.  This runs from May 4- September 4, 2015. They can take weekly challenges to earn rewards.  This program is for elementary and middle school children.

Sylvan’s reading program called Book Adventure encourages children to read books and then take online quizzes over the books to earn points.  They then can turn their points in for prizes.

Chuck E. Cheese has a summer reading program, Chuck E. Cheese Reading Rewards 2015 where kids can earn free 10 Chuck E. Cheese tokens for reading each day for 2 weeks. This program goes all year long.


The Showcase Cinemas summer reading program (formerly National Amusements) gives kids free movie tickets to see a free summer movie each week for each book they read and fill out a book report over.  This year’s program is called Bookworm Wednesdays.

 Some of the best summer reading programs are at your local public library. Every public library has a different summer reading program but almost all of them have rewards and prizes for kids as well as fun events


Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy and Joriana Belcher, a mother-daughter photography team located in Northern Virginia. They specialize in candid, emotional and artistic images. 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! View Our Portfolio | Order Prints | Ever After Portraits |

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Ever After is a professional photographer in Northern Virginia, near Chantilly. We are family portrait photographers.
 
Wineries for decades were for adults only.  Now the entire family can go and have a great time.  Many Northern Virginia wineries now have activities to amuse your little ones while you relax and enjoy one of your favorite wines. Live music, games and special events make the visit a memorable one. Check out this list from 6 Kid-Friendly Wineries in Northern Virginia.

Barrel Oak Winery in Delaplane  has a special program called FarmFarm where children can enjoy seeing pigs, goats and chickens.  Pony rides are a new addition this year.  Family events  can be enjoyed in their tasting room for birthdays and anniversaries.

Potomac Point Vineyard and Winery in Stafford  has the Lil Buds Room,  a palce in the tasting room that has bean bag chairs, DVDs and toys for your kids to enjoy.  There is also a D’vine Lounge that you can play board games, checkers and chess to relax.   Special events held throughout the year for Mother’s Day and Easter brunches,  grape stomping in September and visiting with Santa during the holidays.

 Bluemont Vineyard has Great Country Farms across the street that offers apple or strawberry picking for the family and then your family can relax on the vineyard’s porch with a bottle of wine while the kids play on the huge lawn and porch.

Loudoun Valley Winery    in Waterford, VA  hosts back to school events serving snow cones and having a bounce house for fun.

Cobbler Mountain Cellars in Delaplane has winter time fun with tubing parties outside on its hillside and then you can warm up in a cozy play area in their tasting room.

Old House Vineyards in Culpeper is where you can find family meals including pizza and cheese fondue.  Also check out their pond for some catch and release fishing.

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy and Joriana Belcher, a mother-daughter photography team located in Northern Virginia. They specialize in candid, emotional and artistic images.

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!

View Our Portfolio | Order Prints | Ever After Portraits |