Baby Lucy | Newborn Photography Session | North Virginia

I love a good newborn session! They are some of my favorites and Baby Lucy was an adorable model with the squishiest cheeks! I got to photograph her mom, Kelsey's maternity session and it was phenomenal; now I get the special privilege of capturing Lucy at only twelve days old!

Lucy was so tiny, and just the SWEETEST thing during the session. She had that good "squish" that I just love to photograph in newborns!

Kelsey and Dewey were great during the family portion of the photo session. I played around with some different backgrounds since I knew them well and I wanted the session to be awesome! I used an ultramarine seamless background and I've never been happier with how the "parent" shots came out! 

After that we moved on to the Props part of the session. For the first bit I used some pink furs and then a few wooden props from Luneberry. During a newborn photography session I always try to get a kind of "signature" photo. For little Lucy I used a bucket filled with succulents and some pretty purple flowers with a wood-floor backdrop. I try to keep the personalities of the family in mind when I choose props and I love how these turned out!

After that I moved to a pink-ish setup with some splashes of yellow flowers on the wood-floor backdrop. I would usually move on from the props part of the session to the "beanbag" part, but Lucy was so sleepy I just had to try something new!

Recently I haven't been able to do many sessions with babies in the two to three week stage, so I wanted something special. I am OBSESSED with my Luneberry wicker chair so I pulled it out and I propped a bucket on top of it for a head-on-hands picture. It was one of my favorite photos that I've ever taken!

After a few more pictures, I moved Lucy to the beanbag. Lucy was waking up a bit so I kept it simple. I did a bum-up photo and added a wrap to it for some flair! I did a few different poses with the wrap and then called it a session.

Baby Lucy was the perfect little muse for this newborn photography session. She was just the right age and had so much of that chunky newborn "squish", especially in her adorable little cheeks! I love Kelsey and Dewey so much, and I'm glad I got to capture such a special time in Lucy's life!

If you're looking for someone to capture these special memories for you, why not check me out?

Baby Lana | Newborn Photography Session | Stafford, Virginia

Little Lana was an absolute dream baby for her session. Do you see those squishy cheeks?!? We kicked off our session with some very special photos. Lana’s grandparents were visiting and we were able to capture to some amazing generation photos! Getting to photograph a newborn with her grandparents is such a special thing and really does not happen very often. The newborn stage is so fleeting and with Covid being a factor traveling isn’t always possible. Making this session even more special for everyone. I am so thankful to have been able to capture these for this beautiful family.

Lana was so sleepy and let me capture so many adorable prop shots. My favorite are her in this giant wooden bowl that I found 8 years ago at home goods! I remember it was my first “really” fancy newborn prop and is one of my absolute favorite go to’s especially for babies over 8lbs. Lana was around 9lbs for her session and she fit perfectly! When we moved to the bean bag you really could see all that good squish that I love so much! And especially those chubby cheeks!! I cannot wait to see her for her 6 month sitter in a few short months! She is an absolute doll baby and has the best family to work with!! Check out some of my favorites!

Baby Rome | Stafford, Virginia

Baby Rome was my first session of 2022!! This little dude has the most wonderful family and have had the pleasure of capturing both him and his big brother as newborns. I was so excited to finally meet baby Rome and he came to visit me at just shy of a month old. He was SOOOOO squishy and such a handsome little baby. We started off our session with family photos and sibling photos. I cannot even tell you how amazing his big brother did!!! We truly have a little model on our hands. Then we moved to props and captured one of my favorite photos! I love using greenery and succulents for at least one of my setups as a signature Laura Lou Photography look <3. And that green is really going to be his color. Rome did phenomenally well with all of the transitions from prop to prop and we ended our session with a few poses on the bean bag. Normally I shoot newborn sessions within the first 3 weeks, BUT since Covid hit I have really been enjoying babies a little older. At that 3 week mark newborns start to fill out a little more and will usually wake up at the end for that beautiful open eyed photo!! And Rome did just that! He was the best and I cannot wait to see him for his next milestone!!

Baby Silas | Stafford Virginia

Sweet baby Silas is seriously SO ADORABLE!! This little boy is so special to me as his mama and I have been friends for a VERY long time!! She and I met when she was in HIGH SCHOOL!! She continually transforms my hair into magic every time I step into her salon and continue to be impressed with her and her business. She is a boss mama and just opened her own hair salon space in Downtown Fredericksburg! Managing to have a baby while making such a HUGE change in her business is truly impressive. And I am so incredibly proud of her and happy to have such a strong woman and friend in my life! She is a rockstar business owner and I am so lucky to be blessed to watch her become the best mama!!

I had so much fun photographing SIlas on Valentines Day for his newborn session. He was so squishy and sleepy and was such a good baby for me! This little dude is so loved by his parents and I cannot wait to see him grow! He has changed so much in just the 2 short months since he came to see me and I cannot wait to photograph him again soon!!!

Sarah & Colin | Woolen Mill Wedding | Downtown Fredericksburg VA

Downtown Fredericksburg has quite a lot of things to love about it, but for Sarah and Colin, it got to be a part of their special day - their wedding day.

The venue was the Woolen Mill, a beautiful mix of industrial and rustic. The wedding wasn't a typical one. There was no wedding party, just a couple of Sarah and Colin's close friends and also Colin's sisters.

Another special difference was the day; Sarah and Colin's wedding day was also the anniversary of the day they started dating! They had a lot of fun planning for the wedding because it was already such a special time for them as a couple.

The weather was perfect, in the middle of two snow storms we had a 65 degree day in February. Nothing would stop this from being a wonderful day for photographing a wedding!

Before the Ceremony & The First Look

Before the ceremony I got to hang out with Sarah while my husband Jeremy(and second photographer), was with Colin. We did detail shots while they were getting ready, and then went out to capture their first look. Colin was absolutely amazed seeing Sarah in her beautiful wedding dress!

After the first look we went ahead and knocked out the family portraits so that those would be done before the ceremony itself. After those, the bride and groom went to prepare for the ceremony.

The Ceremony

The reception hall was beautiful. Sarah had hand-picked all of the centerpieces for the tables, each one a unique glass bottle that caught the light from the windows. The arrangements and decorations were very dainty and elegant. This really resonated with me, and I've never shot a wedding where so much thought and love went into each and every little detail.

The ceremony had a unique and special treat because the pastor officiating it was Colin's father. Colin's dad doesn't do a lot of weddings, but he came to do theirs, which was very special. The whole ceremony was very sweet.

Downtown Fredericksburg

After the ceremony, everyone went to cocktail hour, while Jeremy and I took the newly married bride and groom for a drive around Downtown Fredericksburg to see the sights and get some unique photos. This part was my absolute favorite!

It's not often I get such ample portrait time with a bride and groom but this occasion gave me plenty! We started along the river at a little canal across the street from the Woolen Mill and then we went to a street-side so that I could get some cool pictures with the brick and the colors of the city. We also got some sunset pictures at the top of the parking garage.

I almost ended the session there but the cloud cover and the sunset played so beautifully together that I had to get some pictures by the bridge. I got two of my favorite portraits ever in that creamy, golden light of the sunset framing the bridge. Colin and Sarah danced and spun while I took pictures. It was amazing!

After all that we went back to the venue, for the introduction of the couple, the first dances, and dinner. Woolen Mill took such good care of us all, I've never had a better venue meal!

Sarah and Colin, thank you for making me a part of your special day!

If you liked this blog post, check out:
Michelle + Ken Wedding
Kelsey’s Maternity Session
Investment Options

Tips and tricks for scheduling your newborn session | Newborn Photographers Northern Virginia

So you just discovered you’re about to have a baby! This is so exciting! This is one of the most wonderful times in your life that you’ll ever experience. And this time deserves to be captured and celebrated! Newborn photographers are here to help you out and give you a newborn session that is special and unique. And in northern Virginia, that’s what I do! So, now you’re wondering, “is there anything I need to know about scheduling a newborn session?” Well, read along, and I’ll give you a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way!

Book your session early

First of all, I recommend waiting until the end of your first trimester before scheduling. But once you’re there, you should start researching for your photographer around weeks twelves/thirteen. BY the time you reach week twenty, you really want to have your session locked in. Why so early? Well, there are many reasons, but one is that the first few weeks of your pregnancy will be slow, full of waiting and anticipation, but the longer time goes on, excitement and stress builds and builds daily! Also many clients who want a newborn session wind up desiring a maternity session as well! And the time frame for these two sessions are fairly specific. So by booking early, you have time to make decisions and have everything planned out before your little one’s arrival.

Ask the hard questions

Secondly, don’t be afraid to ask your photographer questions. You want to create a dialog with your photographer and get to know their work. Knowing this information can inform you about your photographer’s personality and there photography style. What’s their training? How long have the been photographing newborns, etc. Answering this will tell you if your photographer knows how to accommodate different situations that can occur.

Safety Safety Safety!

Lastly, safety protocol is super important. Does your photographer have a strict sick policy? Do they wear masks? Your newborn is young, and their immune system, is not quite developed yet. You want to know how seriously your photographer takes health and safety! I consider your and your newborn’s health my top priority!

Laura Gooch with Laura Lou photography is one of the Newborn Photographers in Northern Virginia serving clients and their babies! If you’re interested in your own photos, come get some of your own!

Dane is 6 months | Stafford Virginia

Happy half birthday to this sweet smiley little boy!! I cannot believe Dane is already 6 months old and just happy as ever! This little dude is the youngest of 3, and super lucky to have 2 big sisters to learn from! He is seriously one of the smiliest little guys and I had so much fun capturing one of my favorite milestones! That 6 month time frame is so special because babies are really starting to let their personalities shine. They are still so squishy and chunky and love chat and coo. They also still laugh at me being goofy! ;). This kiddo is growing so fast and I just cannot believe he is already sitting up and looking more and more like a toddler and less of a baby!! That first ear goes by SO fast and am so blessed to have clients who let me capture these precious milestones!! Take a look at some of my favorites.

Michelle & Ken | Vienna, Virginia

Here we are 2 years into a pandemic. STILL. As much as the last 2 years have thrown so many curve balls at everyone, there is still SO much to be thankful for! Covid may have cancelled Michelle and Ken’s original wedding plans but it did not stop them from celebrating their love story!!! On a FREEEEEEZING morning in January these two said “I do.” Their first date was at a brewery and there was no better place to celebrate and become husband and wife. We started the morning with their incredible portraits at The Boro in Tysons. When I say it was freezing that is the understatement of the year. It was 16 degrees when we returned to the car and windy!! Their families were all smiles and somehow they all made it look like they were toasty!! It was a really cool spot to capture their first family portraits. They then said their vows in a small ceremony at Caboose Brewery in Vienna VA. Officiated by their close friend and all of their kiddos as witnesses, Michelle and Ken had one of the coolest weddings I have photographed. We even had a blast taking some parking lot portraits!! Everything about this day was perfect and I am so grateful to have been there to capture this big day for you both!! Congrats to the newlyweds!!!!

Erika's Maternity Session | Stafford Virginia

I LOVE having the opportunity to photograph big moments for my friends! This mama of 4 rocked her session last month! We had a 55 degree day in January, with leftover snow patches from one of our biggest snowfalls in years. When I saw the weather was supposed to be nice and warm (for January) we had to take advantage. Erika wore one of my gowns and I loved the way her maroon dress popped against the little white patches of snow and the insane sunset!

After taking full advantage of that gorgeous sky we switched gowns and headed to the creek!! Maternity photos are one of my favorite things to capture but when you are photographing your bestie you really just encourage them to do anything, like get into the freezing creek! :). She did incredible!! And we got to capture a few photos with her youngest who was VERY excited about becoming a big sis! Winter maternity sessions are certainly becoming one of my new favorite things!! They may be chilly at times but there is something so unique and beautiful about these winter nights! <3

Why you should book your newborn photography session early | Stafford VA

So, you found out you’re pregnant. CONGRATULATIONS! In all the scrambling and figuring out what to do and getting all the info and all the appointments lined up around Stafford VA, you decide that you want newborn photography! Awesome! But, you have no idea what to say or what to do. So, the biggest piece of advice I can give you is - Book Your Session Early! When your baby is born, there is a very short window of time, usually less than one month, where he or she changes very quickly. That first month is the perfect time to capture the innocence and beauty of your baby!

Availability

Newborn photography is very beautiful and exciting! So, it’s a popular choice for many new and expecting mothers. This means, unfortunately, that I cannot promise availability. All newborn photographers fill up fast, and while last minute availability is something that can happen, it doesn’t mean that it will. Getting your session locked on early in your second trimester is super important, so that we can adjust as needed and make sure that you don’t have to worry about finding an available date last minute.

Avoiding Stress

Avoiding stress is one of the biggest reasons why you should book your newborn session early. The first trimester will feel like it's taking forever, filled with anxiety and nervousness, but as time goes on, your life will feel like it's speeding up - faster and faster until you have your baby! So, it’s super important to secure that session before time feels like it’s speeding up! Also, once you have your baby, those first few weeks, no one wants to have to take time away from just enjoying and being with your newest family member. Making phone calls and searching for photographers while trying to do this would be difficult for anyone!

It’s an Investment

Lastly, newborn photography is an investment. After giving birth to a baby, there’s often medical bills and stress. Even with the best insurance, there’s still the fact that you will be seeing a lot of money change hands. So, by booking your session early, it’s easier to pay and forget about it for months, or even break up those payments over a several month span if you need. The point is, no one wants to have to shell out even more money when they’re already paying a hospital so much already! So, booking early gives you that peace of mind as well as some financial peace!

Lou photography does Newborn Photography in Woodbridge VA and beyond, serving clients and their babies! If you’re interested in your own photos, come get some of your own!