Bon Air Maternity Photographer: How to Plan Your Session

Expecting a little one and dreaming of gorgeous maternity photos to remember this season? As a Bon Air maternity photographer, I want your session to feel as effortless and joyful as the memories you’re creating. From choosing the right date to styling your outfits, here’s everything you need to know to plan a maternity session you’ll treasure for years to come.

How to Plan Your Bon Air Maternity Photography Session

Choose a Date

Timing is everything when it comes to your maternity photoshoot in Bon Air. Many mamas find that scheduling their session to take place at 28 to 32 weeks of pregnancy is the sweet spot. Oftentimes, your baby bump is beautifully showing by then, and you likely still have plenty of energy to move around comfortably during your session. This window also allows enough time for your gallery to be ready before your little one makes their arrival.

If you’re planning a pregnancy announcement session, the ideal timeframe depends entirely on what feels best to you and your plans for your photos. Some mamas choose to schedule their session after their first appointment, while others wait until after wrapping up their first trimester or once they’ve had their 20 week scan. Whichever timeframe feels right, keep the turnaround time for your photos in mind, too, along with when you’d like to share the exciting news with friends and family.

Choose a Location

How to Pick the Perfect Location

Part of what makes maternity photos in Bon Air so special is the variety of stunning locations nearby. Are you drawn towards indoor venues with pretty natural light pouring in through the windows? Or, do you envision yourself surrounded by lush, blooming gardens? Consider the time of year and what you want your photos to feel like when choosing your location. Many mamas choose indoor locations for winter months and the peak of summer, while the mild weather in spring and fall opens up more options to enjoy outdoor locations.

Bon Air, Virginia is close to several beautiful indoor and outdoor photography locations.

Indoor Photography Locations Near Bon Air

The Estate at River Run

For indoor maternity photography near Bon Air, The Estate at River Run is one of my favorites. With its ornate ceilings, detailed trim, and beautifully decorated rooms, it truly feels refined in every corner. It’s one of the most requested venues for a Bon Air maternity photographer session when clients want an elegant feel indoors. Parking is also available in the lot on site.

The address for The Estate at River Run is: 2421 River Road West, Maidens, VA 23102.

The Branch Museum

The Branch Museum is another favorite option close to Bon Air. This venue is known for its stunning cross-hatch windows that let light pour in and pretty stone walls. This combination creates stunningly romantic images that feel so timeless. Street parking is available nearby.

The address for The Branch Museum is: 2501 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220.

Outdoor Photography Locations Near Bon Air

Maymont Park

If you’re envisioning beautiful outdoor maternity photography near Bon Air, Maymont Park may just be the place for you. It offers Italian gardens, mature trees, and charming gazebos, with glowing light and a variety of backdrops that feel beautiful year round. There’s also plenty of greenery in the winter months, which is perfect for those occasionally milder winter days. Parking is available in the lot as well as on the street.

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

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is perfect for a flower-filled session among charming garden gazebos. With rotating seasonal blooms and a variety of gardens to choose from, it offers plenty of romantic, colorful backdrops no matter the time of year you’re planning your session. Parking is conveniently available in the lot on site.

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

Virginia House

Virginia House brings the quiet elegance of an old world Tudor-style manor house with manicured, lush gardens that feel so timeless. There’s so much variety at this location and plenty of shade, so session times can be easily adaptable to the time of day that works best for your family. Street parking is available.

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

Agecroft Hall & Gardens

Agecroft Hall and Gardens rounds out this list of my favorite locations near Bon Air. Agecroft is located right next to Virginia House, and it features a Tudor-style manor house with beautiful gardens throughout the property. The spring brings blooming tulips, while a variety of other flowers are in bloom into the early fall. There are also rolling hills that overlook the James River. Parking is available in the lot on site.

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

Style Your Session

Select Outfits

When it comes to outfits, I find it’s often easiest to start by selecting mom’s look first, and then build out everyone else’s outfits around hers. Soft neutral colors and solids or spaced patterns tend to photograph best. Pictured here, mom and her daughter are in soft patterned off-white dresses. For full family maternity photos, an outfit pairing could be mom in a light blue dress, dad in a crisp white shirt and khakis, a little girl in a white and light blue floral dress, and a little boy in a white button down with khakis.

I recommend having everything together, steamed, and wrinkle-free about two weeks before your session to minimize stress. My clients are also always welcome to borrow a piece from my client closet. When considering your outfit, wear what feels comfortable to you, while also keeping in mind how it will photograph.

Decide on Hair, Makeup, and Nails

For styling hair, makeup, and nails, simple yet elevated tends to photograph beautifully. I find that natural nails or a soft neutral polish, like white or a light pink, help to keep the focus on the moments unfolding in your images. Many mamas choose to work with a professional hair and makeup artist for their session, opting for soft, loose curls and a soft glam makeup look. I’ve found this truly elevates the final images, and mamas have shared it takes the stress off of getting ready that day.

Consider How You’ll Use Your Photos

Before your Bon Air maternity photography session, consider how you’d like to display and enjoy your images so that we can plan with that in mind. Do you have an empty wall or stairwell at home that’s waiting to be filled? Some of my favorite ways to bring your images to life include the following:

• A gallery wall filling an empty wall or stairwell at home
• A custom heirloom photo album to share with your little ones one day, showing them just what it looked like when they were still tucked in mama’s belly
• Framed prints or fine art pieces for a nursery or living space
• Or something else entirely that’s designed for your family

After your session, you’ll have access to my print store of artwork offerings. You’ll also receive guidance in designing your gallery wall, album, or anything else you’re envisioning, so that we can bring your images from this season to life inside your home.

Bon Air Maternity Photographer: How to Plan Your Session

As a Bon Air maternity photographer, I provide a start-to-finish photo session experience to growing families in Midlothian, VA and the surrounding area to create a custom session that feels like you. If you’re expecting and dreaming of maternity photos to remember this season, I would be honored to document it for you. Feel free to contact me today to learn more.

View more of my work on my maternity photographer in Richmond VA page or on my Instagram.

Katie Stansfield is a portrait photographer in Richmond VA specializing in maternity, newborn, and family sessions throughout the Richmond area.