July 2, 2026

A young boy laying on his parents while playing with his baby brother by Katie Stansfield Photography, an Ashland VA newborn photographer.

There is so much joy and anticipation wrapped up in the season preparing for your baby’s arrival. From choosing your baby’s name, to decorating their nursery, and finding the most adorable baby clothes, every single part of this season, including your newborn session, deserves to feel beautiful and intentional.

As your Ashland VA newborn photographer, I’m here to guide you through every detail of preparing for your session so you can simply soak up every moment with your little one once they arrive. I’ll help you choose the perfect location, coordinate your outfits, and prepare your family for a calm and meaningful session, so that the images we create together truly reflect the love and joy of this beautiful, fleeting season. Included here is a quick guide to get started with planning your Ashland VA newborn photography session.

A close-up of a young boy playing with his baby brother's feet by Katie Stansfield Photography, an Ashland VA newborn photographer.

A close-up of a dad's hand holding a baby's head at a newborn session by Katie Stansfield Photography.

Best Locations for Outdoor Newborn Photos in Ashland VA and the Surrounding Area

One of the first decisions we’ll make together is choosing your location. While many families adore the warmth of an in-home session, outdoor newborn photos are growing in popularity, especially in the spring and fall. This can be a wonderful option if your home doesn’t bring in a lot of natural window light, you’d simply prefer a more scenic backdrop, or there’s a place that holds special meaning for your family. Here are a few of my favorite outdoor session locations within 25 minutes of Ashland:

Maymont Park

With its sweeping Italian gardens, canopied green spaces, mature trees, and charming gazebos, Maymont Park is one of my most-loved session locations. The light here is consistently beautiful, and the variety of backdrops means every session feels fresh and unique.

The address for Maymont Park is: 1700 Hampton Street, Richmond, VA 23220.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

If you’re dreaming of flower-filled newborn photos, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens is the location for you. Something beautiful is always in bloom from late spring through early fall, and the results are simply stunning.

The address for Lewis Ginter is: 1800 Lakeside Avenue, Henrico, VA 23228.

Virginia House

Virginia House feels like stepping into another world, with an old-world European manor house surrounded by manicured, lush gardens. It brings a quiet elegance to newborn sessions that is truly timeless.

The address for Virginia House is: 4301 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, VA 23221.

Agecroft Hall & Gardens

Another breathtaking manor house setting, Agecroft Hall & Gardens is filled with tulips in the spring and a variety of beautiful blooms through early fall. It’s one of those locations that photographs beautifully in every season.

The address for Agecroft is: 4305 Sulgrave Road, Richmond, VA 23221.

A young boy tickling his baby brother who is held in dad's arms by Katie Stansfield Photography, an Ashland VA newborn photographer.

A family sitting with their baby as a young boy looks at his dad by Katie Stansfield Photography, an Ashland VA newborn photographer.

Best Time of Day for In-Home Newborn Photos in Ashland VA

The best time of day for Ashland VA newborn photos taken in your home depends on your baby’s natural rhythms. In my experience, most newborns tend to be their calmest and sleepiest in the mid-morning hours, typically around 10 a.m. This is also when natural window light is often most beautiful and abundant, which makes for those light-filled portraits we all love.

That said, some sessions are held in the early afternoon depending on the direction and flow of light in your specific home. Once we’re working together, I’ll walk you through exactly how to identify the best light in your space so we can find the time that works perfectly for you and your home.

A dad looking down at his baby by Katie Stansfield Photography, an Ashland VA newborn photographer.

A young boy kissing his baby brother by Katie Stansfield Photography, an Ashland VA newborn photographer.

Choosing the Best Rooms for Your In-Home Newborn Session in Ashland VA

When it comes to Ashland VA newborn photos taken in your home, light is everything. We’re looking for rooms where the light is pouring in through the windows. Think sunspots on the floors or walls, or spaces that simply feel very bright when the shades are open.

To find your home’s best light, start by opening all the curtains and shades and turning off every overhead light and lamp. Then, in the mid-morning hours, walk to the side of your home where the sun rises and look for where the light is naturally pouring in. You might be surprised! I’ve photographed beautiful sessions in dining rooms, living rooms, and even entryways. The light matters so much more than how decorated the space is. A bright, simple room will always photograph beautifully.

A close-up of a young boy laying next to his brother who is held in mom's arms at a newborn session by Katie Stansfield Photography.

How to Prep Your Baby for Your Ashland VA Newborn Photos

Creating a calm environment in your home leading up to your session can make a world of difference. It’s also helpful to have feeding and changing essentials close by and easily accessible. A well-fed, freshly changed baby is often the most relaxed and content one.

In the hour or so before we begin, try keeping your baby lightly awake with gentle play, soft talking, or quiet singing. Go ahead and get them dressed in their first outfit or swaddle. Then, if you can time their next feeding to happen right before we start, they’ll often drift into that cozy, deep sleep that’s just perfect for newborn portraits.

Every baby has their own rhythm, and that’s truly part of the beauty of this experience. If your little one falls asleep earlier than expected or wants to stay awake and look around, there’s no need to worry. We’ll follow their lead, go at their pace, and still create something absolutely stunning together.

A mom and dad holding their baby at a newborn session by Katie Stansfield Photography.

A close-up of a baby's face at a newborn session by Katie Stansfield Photography.

How to Choose Outfits for Your Newborn Session

Your outfits are one of the most meaningful elements of your Ashland VA newborn photos, so it’s worth giving them some thoughtful attention. The colors and patterns you choose can either draw the eye toward your connection and love for each other, or pull away from it, and we always want the focus to be on you and your baby.

I generally recommend soft, light neutrals like whites, creams, and warm browns, as well as muted tones like a soft blue or dusty pink. Solid colors photograph beautifully, as do gentle, spaced patterns. Busy prints or bold, saturated colors can sometimes reflect onto skin and pull attention away from what matters most.

My suggestion is to start with your outfit, mama, and let everything else fall into place from there. Once you’ve chosen something you feel beautiful in, the rest comes together naturally. A simple example: mama in a blue and white softly patterned dress, dad in a white button-down with khaki pants, and baby in a coordinating blue outfit or a white and blue swaddle.

After booking, we’ll connect to talk through all of this together, including outfits, timing, location, and more. You’ll also have access to my curated client closet, filled with timeless, hand-selected dresses that are gorgeous for the postpartum season and well beyond.

A stack of photo albums available for a newborn session by Katie Stansfield Photography.

How to Use and Display Your Newborn Photos

Your first family photos with your sweet new baby deserve to be more than files on a hard drive. They deserve to be lived with. Heirloom-quality, custom artwork pieces bring your newborn photos in Ashland VA to life in your home in a way that’s beautiful, lasting, and meaningful.

Heirloom Photo Albums

These are not your typical family photo albums. With a linen or velvet cover and custom debossing featuring your baby’s name and birthdate, these albums are printed on thick, photographic pages built to last and beautiful enough to leave out on a bookshelf. As your little one grows, they’ll love curling up to flip through the pages and see just how tiny they once were.

Newborn Gallery Walls

There is something so special about having those moments displayed somewhere you pass by every single day. A gallery wall is a beautiful, constant reminder of how small your baby once was and how much your family has grown. For a seamless experience, I offer custom-framed prints with everything handled for you, from sizing to framing, with a variety of gorgeous frame options. If you prefer to frame and arrange things yourself, fine art prints are also available through my print store.

I have my own baby’s newborn gallery wall right by our front door. It’s the first thing I see when I leave and the first thing I see when I come home. It’s a constant reminder of the beauty of that season and it’s so sweet to be reminded of how much our family has grown.