This summer I had the opportunity to photograph a family for the day and we went all over Virginia Beach and Norfolk before heading home to decompress and have some hang out time before the bedtime routine started. 
We started the morning in Virginia Beach and played in the sand and surf for hours. Honestly, is there any better way to start out the day? Just let loose and play all morning in the salty waves! 

Then we headed to The Blue Cow to enjoy some delicious, small batch, gourmet ice cream. And man, ice cream is the way to my heart! I couldn't resist a cup for myself! Then we headed home to get cleaned up before grabbing some lunch at The Virginia Cheese Company in downtown Norfolk. I have never in my life had a better sandwich- I swear it! We stopped by a nearby playground to burn off some energy before heading home, it looked like a storm was moving in on us. 

At home, we opened presents because it was very close to their daughter's birthday. We played "cafe" and she fixed me the most amazing cup of Earl Grey. 
The rest of the day was spent hanging out inside and playing while it poured rain outside. We had a really good thunderstorm!
But that's the beauty of Day in the Life session, you know? If it's bad weather, we just carry on inside. No big deal!

I've photographed this family several times before and I know their nightly routine pretty well at this point. My favorite is called "crash hugs" where the Dad gets on the floor and the little girl runs and crashes into him in a big bear hug before bed. Absolutely priceless! 

I'd love to see what a day looks like for you and your family, what memories you want to preserve. Contact me here or at the Contact tab above to chat about what a Day in the Life session could look like for you. Family photos don't have to be boring and impersonal, they can be just as unique as you are. 

This is the second time I have had the privilege of documenting a day in the this family's life. If you have been following along with me for a while, you know that I have a very sentimental attachment to physical places and spaces. I feel like there is such a powerful statement to be made (and felt) about the setting of our memories. The land hold memories. The home hold memories. It's a place that forms this supernatural pull on our heart. This is one of those places, and times, for this family.

This is a place where they all come together for a week of togetherness and bonding. This is where the children can run wild and free. They can play flashlight tag, ride dirt bikes, sail in the Chesapeake Bay, hunt for crabs, get dirt under their nails, and play until they collapse. The parents can sit back and relish in each other's company with faint laughter on the wind. It's a place that feels truly secluded from the outside world, a place to get away from it all.

It was a beautiful day, not too hot, not too cold. We spent the whole day outside playing pickleball, yard games, playing on the playset, checking the "magic mailbox", sailing, and visiting their beloved Crab Island, before having a delicious home cooked meal for supper.  

Here's to family, here's to love. 

To book your Day in the Life Session, you can contact me here or at the Contact tab above. I'd love to help you tell your story. 

When I was a kid, our family vacationed together. We had vacations with just our family of course, but a lot of times we traveled with aunts and uncles and cousins! 
So, when I get the opportunity to photograph a family vacation, I get so excited because it is near and dear to my heart! 

This family comes together from all over the world to meet right here in Virginia Beach, Virginia to hang out and vacation together.  This happened to be one of the hottest days of the entire year here. It always happens like that, doesn't it? The sand was blistering hot and they chose to hang out in the beach house until it cooled off some. I don't blame them one single bit! Hey, at least the views from the house were absolutely spectacular!! 
What a special time! I was so excited to see all of the cousins playing together and decorating cookies together while the family prepared a huge meal to share. 

I love this family's commitment to spending time together and intentionally setting aside a week to connect with each other. That is really commendable. These are memories that the kids will take with them the rest of their lives. 
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Here's your reminder to just embrace the day. You don't have to necessarily "do" anything for your session. Just hang out, enjoy one another's company, and be together. The rest will take care of itself.