I’ve known the Herr’s since I started to know myself. They are one of the most loving and welcoming families around. On a recent sunny Friday afternoon I headed out to their home to hang out on the porch, under a tree and in the grass – the perfect way to be in the company of Papa Bird, sweet Lia and beautiful Mama Herr…and various animals.
This baby bump session is extra special to me because this beautiful mama-to-be is my cousin. Kasey and Josh are expecting their very first baby boy in late May and I just couldn’t wait to get my lens on that belly! So many loving arms are waiting for the arrival of this sweet bundle of joy.
A springy senior mini-session in the Valley sunshine is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. This young gal is soon to be college bound and I can see a future in her as bright as her eyes and smile. 
I recently met with Brittney and Jr at Bella Luna to talk wedding details. eee! Before I knew it, we were knee deep in plans for a Richmond engagement session. Jr’s band, Driven By Chance, had a show in RVA and I was traveling to the area for a project, so it seemed like the best.idea.ever! And it was. The universe smiled on us that Saturday morning…the only Saturday since the new year without the threat of a snowstorm or a tornado. <–that really happened the day before the shoot. There were puddles and birds and blue skies and sunshine…all the teasers of spring. We packed our heavy coats in the trunk, dusted off our sunglasses and made our way to the always lovely, Belle Isle.
With tummies grumbling and the road home calling us, we grabbed a bite at Millie’s Diner and inched our way home. A unanimous decision to detour led us to Castle Hill where the light poured as golden as the cider.
L-I-L-L-Y…incase you didn’t catch that. 😉
I met the Johnson Family in Bridgewater for a co-co-cold morning session. The river had a magical blue hue while flurries fell and children shivered. These guys were troopers! The warmth of their smiles and love will fill your heart. Go hug someone you love! 
I spent one chilly Saturday morning with the Sims family and their precious new baby girl. Their house reminded me so much of my childhood home. This darling little lady filled my lens with cuteness and lots of yawns. What a joyous way to spend a morning. 
Jody and Billie Jo came to my studio on a snow-covered Saturday afternoon for a mini-session. I honestly can’t recall a time when thirty minutes passed by so quickly! I love spending my time with light-hearted, life-loving, genuine people…and that’s exactly the impression I got from these two newlyweds. Their laughter is contagious and I believe their positive spirit is bound to keep them afloat in their life together. Go ahead…keep scrolling…and get ready to smile along with them. 🙂
Personality is an understatement. These girls are full of life and entertainment. I met with the Hughes Sisters at MOD Displays in Downtown, Harrisonburg. Why meet at an office? Well this office is owned by the girl’s parents and it offered the perfect space for a mini-session. Lots of light. Lots of space. And perfectly stark to let little personalities bounce from wall to wall. When I arrived they were mid-coloring session but soon enough they were striking poses and showing me their human frog and dinosaur impressions. Oh what fun it is to be a kid! They invited me upstairs to “Daddy’s office” and gave me a crash course on how to run a business. From phone calls to keyboard…stuff to concentration faces to the max. At the end of the session they hopped back up to the table, grabbed their crayons and got back to work.
I can’t really call this a “session”…Bailey and I have been trying to get together for photography purposes for quite some time now. With her being home from school for the holidays we managed to squeeze in a photo-playdate. We met at my studio for coffee (and homemade cookies!) as the noon sun beamed through the windows. We talked aperture and shutter speed and laughed a lot and of course, I couldn’t help but to snap a few shots. A noteworthy mutual confession: Instagram food photos are NOT that bad. Come on guys, food is art!
It’s always a pleasure photographing parents with their children. There’s a love and a happiness that you couldn’t pose if you tried. It’s natural and real…and it makes my job super easy. This natural connection is exactly what I see through my lens when I photograph Jody and Ava. There’s never a dull moment with these two gals. They play off of each other in a way that keeps me chuckling behind my camera. This particular shoot involved a “nature walk” (as Jody calls it), bugs, humidity, a big fat rabbit, blue lights (ahem), CrossKeys Vineyard (unrelated to the blue lights), and a juicy burger from Jack Brown’s Single Wide. Pretty much an awesome Sunday evening.
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Brandy Somers Photography 