Here in Hampton Roads, we (most of us) go back to school the day after Labor Day. When we first moved here, I thought it was a bit odd because back in Georgia, we always got out in May and went back to school the first week of August. 
Well, I absolutely LOVE our kids going back to school after Labor Day. I can't really explain why, but it just feels like summer in August! I feel like there's so much left to enjoy! 
Anyways, I have always brought out the camera and kept it handy the first day of school. It's a big day in my book and we need alllll the pictures. So, I thought it would be fun to make a little photo challenge/guide to documenting your first day of school. Now, if you've already had your first day of school, feel free to adapt this to your normal routine, because there's lots of beauty and memorable moments happening in our day to day life. 
And to make it even more fun, don't be so literal. Don't take a picture of just a lunchbox. Be brainstorming ways to make the photo feel more interesting and visually compelling. 
Have fun and don't forget to tag me on socials so I can see what you've created!
IG: @jess.nicole.photography

This mama contacted me about doing a half day in the life session with her boys, just doing the summer things they love to do...which means hanging out at their neighborhood pool with all of their friends. This is a place where they feel happy and at home. 
That's something I can really get behind because it feels so nostalgic. When we pulled up to their pool, I thought to myself, "This is where memories are made."

We splashed around the pool, she showed me all around this place that means so much to her. We talked about why it was so important and how it made her feel to be a part of this community. We talked about life, love, motherhood, and everything in between- all while soaking up the sun, playing with the kids, and enjoying the pool. 

These are the kind of sessions I live for. This is why I do what I do. The easy, relaxed simple joys. These little moments are just as important (if not more important) than those big moments in life. These little, simple things are the ones we hold onto. The ones that stick with us. 

Half Day in the Life Sessions and Day in the Life Sessions allow us to hang out and take it slow. We don't shoot for 4-8 hours straight. There's down time there, time to relax and just enjoy the day. The extra time makes things really easy. 
To talk about scheduling your own Half Day in the Life Session (or full day), click on the Contact tab above or just click here to send me a message. Let's talk about the moments you want to hang onto.  

First things first, if you are looking for FREE things to do in Hampton Roads with kids, you've got to check out this blog post! This post will contain fun things to do in Hampton Roads with kids, but they might cost a little money. 
I think our little area of Virginia is pretty dang great. I love finding new adventures to take my kids on and to suggest to my clients. We love being busy and we especially love being outside, even on the hot days!

          2. The Virginia Living Museum is a super fun, educational way to spend several hours. I would venture to say that you could possibly spend a whole day here. There are just so many exhibits! With indoor and outdoor exhibits, it's doable rain or shine. They have an amazing dinosaur play area, a planetarium with lots of shows, a boardwalk trail, a 30,000 gallon aquarium, and so much more. It's hard not to love this place. Check it out here. 

        3. Norfolk Botanical Gardens is another one of our favorite places to go. The littlest loves to ride the tram all over the gardens. The older two love to hike all the trails. There are a ton of exhibits and beautifully themed gardens, a lovely butterfly house, and the children's gardens feauturing a big and cheerful splashpad. The perfect way to burn off a ton of energy and get them home in time for nap! The family pass is well worth it here. Plan your visit here. 
​PS: The Christmas lights are legendary around these parts!
        4. The Children's Museum of Virginia is the perfect indoor, rainy day activity located in downtown Portsmouth. If you've got a train lover, you will definitely want to visit this museum! There's a huge train exhibit with an enormous model running! It can get a little busy at times, but it's pretty well laid out and there are so many exhibits to explore. There's several little resturaunts and cafe's down the street too. You can make a whole morning of it! Here's a link to their website. 
        5. The Virginia Zoo is located in Norfolk, Virginia and you can easily spend several hours here. It's always been one of our family favorites. If the kids were bouncing off the walls and we needed a quick getaway to burn off some energy, the zoo was always our place to go. It's got a lot of exhibits, places for free play, a splash area, a petting area, and of course a ton of animals to learn about. Click here to visit their website. 

Stay tuned for more blogs just like this one with even more ideas on how to make some fun memories with your family and explore our little corner of the world. I sure think it's pretty great! 
And if you want me to come along and document some of your adventures, just send me a message here! I'd love to hear about what memories you want to make!
And don't forget to sign up for my free newsletter, The Brave Storyteller! You can sign up at the bottom of this page or you can just fill out the pop up form that appears when you first enter my page.