A Christmas Eve Reflection: 25 Years, Three Daughters, and Our University of Richmond Session

Virginia Family Photography | Family Portraits | Midlothian, Short Pump, West End, Ashland, Hanover, and Virginia Professional Photography | 

It’s Christmas Eve. The house is finally quiet, the milk and cookies are set out, and for the first time in weeks, I am sitting still. As I look back on this year—one that has been filled with so much growth, a full season of dance studio recital portraits, and the joy of serving my incredible Virginia high school senior, family, and headshot photography clients—my heart kept coming back to these images. Our family. This is the heartbeat behind the long hours and the passion I pour into every session across Richmond and beyond.

This year felt particularly weighty. It was a year of "big" numbers and even bigger milestones. My husband and I celebrated 25 years of marriage—two and a half decades of building a life, a business, and a family together. We also celebrated his 50th birthday, a decade-marker that made us both stop and realize just how far we’ve come.

We are currently in that bittersweet "launching" season with our three daughters, and I find myself cherishing every moment we have under one roof. My oldest, Ella, graduated from Maggie Walker Governor's School this year and is now thriving as a 19-year-old at JMU (Go Dukes!). Olivia is 17 and navigating her busy junior year at Clover Hill High School. And our youngest, Madeline, is 13 and keeps our home filled with music; she’s a talented violinist at Swift Creek Middle School and has had an incredible year performing with the Youth Concert Orchestra through the Richmond Symphony.

We decided to capture our family portraits this year at two of my favorite locations: a wide-open Virginia field and the timeless grounds of the University of Richmond. As a Richmond portrait photographer, I am spoiled by the variety our city offers. There is a specific kind of magic at U of R during this season—the red brick, the gothic arches, and that sense of "forever" that the architecture provides. Contrasting that with the wild, golden grass of a rural Virginia field felt like the perfect metaphor for our life right now: a beautiful mix of refined legacy and the messy, wind-swept reality of raising three daughters.

As a professional photographer, I spend my life documenting the milestones of others. But this year, I made a conscious decision to be fully present in my own milestones. I put down my camera and stepped into the frame. I want my girls to remember that I wasn't just the one documenting the fun—I was the one having the fun. Whether I’m photographing a high school senior in Midlothian, a corporate headshot in downtown RVA, or a dance studio's recital portraits, I always tell my clients that being a participant in your own memories is the ultimate goal.

For my clients who often ask about the "right time" for family portraits in Richmond, look at these frames. These aren't just photos for a holiday card; they are a legacy investment. With girls at JMU, Clover Hill, and Swift Creek, I’ve realized that the seasons change faster than we think. These images represent our family’s visual history. If you’ve been waiting for the "perfect" moment, let this be your sign: the perfect moment is whenever your family is together.

As we head into Christmas Day, my prayer for you is that you find a moment to be still. To look at the faces around you and realize that this is the legacy. The business wins are wonderful, but the people in these photos are the real prize.

Merry Christmas Eve, from our family to yours.