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Baby First Year Membership | Maryland Newborn Photographer

May 22, 2023

Curious to learn more about about a Baby First Year Membership experience or just here looking at hiring a Maryland newborn photographer? Below is a beautiful testimonial from one of my incredible clients, Kristina, and her journey to motherhood and more about her LRG Portraits Baby First Year Membership experience:

In a Client’s Words | Maryland Newborn Photographer

Mom holding newborn in Chevy Chase

“I never bothered to hire a newborn photographer or book a Baby’s First Year Membership with my first and it’s definitely a regret. If you are anything like me, I was overwhelmed at the beginning. Plus, my iPhone is full of tons of random newborn shots and videos of her tiny coos during naps, outings and various family functions.

But before I knew it, my sweet, snuggly newborn started to crawl. Then walk. Then run. And the photos grew fewer and farther between. My iPhone just couldn’t keep up with the pace of my fledgling toddler and all of these iPhone quality images just lived on my phone and nothing felt extra frame worthy.

I decided to hire Lauren for our first professional family portrait session when my “baby” was almost 15 months. Lauren knew the perfect location in the Maryland area to capture our memories, she helped with styling, provided a detailed info guide for planning, and just generally made the process so easy compared to me trying to guess and plan it all myself.

I treasured these photos she captured and knew we were a “professional family photos” family from then on. The art and quality of her images and the luxury heirloom products she has in her gallery store are nothing my iPhone and my CVS and Costco prints could ever compete with. We realized that this investment, unlike my fancy ‘kid stain resistant’ glider I bought for my nursery, would only grow more valuable to our family as our kids got older.”

Mom and her kids for family session in Rock Creek Park

BECOMING A MOM OF TWO

“Staying pregnant with our second proved to be a more heartbreaking journey than I could have imagined. Finally, in the summer of 2021, I reached my second trimester with our triple-rainbow baby!

I was ready to spoil my sentimental pregnant mama’s heart with Lauren’s Baby’s First Year Membership. As a seasoned mom, I knew life was going to fly by with a two-year-old and a newborn. I didn’t want to forget these precious moments. We had hoped and prayed so hard for this healthy baby girl, and we were very excited to document this special moment with Lauren right there with us at each milestone.”

OUR BABY FIRST YEAR MEMBERSHIP EXPERIENCE

“I customized my 3 sessions that were included in my Baby Membership to maternity, newborn, and the sitting milestone. Our whole family was included in all of our sessions. As always, Lauren managed to make the experience equal parts pampering and heartfelt.

Fall Maternity Session in Rock Creek Park

First, was our maternity shoot. Being 30-something weeks pregnant with a toddler is exhausting. Once I hit my first trimester, my face promptly gained a layer. But of course, Lauren pulled the perfect dress from her client wardrobe for me and my daughter, and made styling easy for my husband. We looked like rockstars, but still felt like us! The session was so fun and such a wonderful way to create beautiful authentic family memories.”

“Next–miraculously–our baby girl was here and we scheduled our newborn photos. This time, at our home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. With piles of toys, burp cloths, and a general newborn haze permeating our home, I thought there was no way to pull this session off. But once again, Lauren came to our rescue, reorganizing furniture in the one perfectly lit corner of my home. She also came armed with wraps and accessories for my daughters so I didn’t have to think about this at all.”

Newborn Session Toes and Fingers

“And, finally, we scheduled our third session (a sitter milestone) together in the fall. This time I showed Lauren an image of hers I loved, and she got to work scheduling and planning wardrobe details to bring my vision together. The kids had such a great time making new memories as a family.

The photos from the entire year were exactly what I had hoped for, and they now all live happily on my walls for my husband and I (and our girls) to enjoy and see everyday.”

Family Session on the Potomac River in MD

SWEET MEMORIES

“Side note, I’m so glad we took advantage of our print credit that came with each session in our membership and added on images for a complete 1st year heirloom album too! I can’t wait to page through these memories with my girls as they grow older, and have their own babies, and remember each tiny finger, footprint, and all the sweet curls on their heads. Already, every time we pass the framed portrait of my two girls that I hung in the hallway, my now one-year-old says “baby! Harper!”. My heart melts every time.”

If you’re still wondering if the baby’s first-year membership is right for you? I promise you’ll never regret having professional, high-quality photos of your family. Knowing you’ll get those precious memories documented and heirloom art delivered on your doorstep with a full service custom experience gives you peace of mind to put the phone down and be fully in the moment in your baby’s first year.

Want to know more? Click here for more details on the Baby’s First Year Membership.

Ready to book your own newborn session or a Baby First Year Membership? Click here or email me at lrgportraits@gmail.com to customize your own newborn experience.

Best Places to Shop for Maternity Clothes in DC

February 6, 2023

Helping my clients style their maternity sessions is something I love and always emphasize as a very important aspect of any session. I love assisting my moms-to-be feel gorgeous especially when your shapes are changing every day as your little ones grow inside you. With this in mind, I know for a lot of my clients finding places to shop in person for maternity clothes in DC can be hard to find. The closure of so many brick and mortar stores in the pandemic made it even harder.

With my full service client experience, I have many moms-to-be and postpartum moms that take advantage of my client wardrobe so it is one less thing they have to worry about for their session, but if you prefer to shop locally, or just looking for maternity clothes in general, below are some great places to visit in the Washington DC area:

Soft light and airy dresses available to borrow for LRG portraits client sessions

Where to Shop for Maternity Clothes in DC

TARGET

Obviously at the top of this list for maternity clothes in DC, and almost any category, is Target. Target has excellent maternity options as well as versatile, on-trend dresses that fit any budget. My favorite lines to check for moms are A Pea in the Pod, Motherhood Maternity, Isabel Maternity by Ingrid & Isabel, Pietro Brunelli, Universal Thread. A great excuse for a Target run at one of their many DMV-area locations or shop their extensive maternity options online.

FREE PEOPLE

For the more boho moms, Free People has excellent options in neutral colors, soft patterns and gorgeous natural fabrics. Lots of their regularly-sized dresses will work beautifully for maternity (and I have a few to borrow in my client wardrobe as well), so be creative when you’re browsing. Shop online or at their Montgomery Mall or Georgetown or Tyson Corner store.

ALTAR’D STATE

Another, newer option for great flowy dresses perfect for maternity, postpartum and beyond. Similar to Free People, with flexible not-just-maternity options, Altar’d State has become one of my favorite places to send moms to shop for maternity clothes in the DC-area. Shop online, or if you’re in the mood for a run to the mall, there are locations at Montgomery Mall, Tyson’s Corner and Pentagon City.

BELLIES & BABIES – Alexandria, VA

Not just for moms, Bellies & Babies has consignment for maternity and nursing clothes, as well as clothes, gear and toys for the littles as well. They also do maternity rentals for special occasions too, like a photo shoot ???? Check out their Instagram to get a sense for what they have in stock at their cute Alexandria, VA boutique.

GROWING YEARS – Kensington, MD

Like Bellies and Babies, Growing Years is another great spot in the greater Washington, DC area that has consignment maternity and nursing clothes available. They are the sweetest little consignment shop in Kensington, MD and carry tons of great brands for kids of all ages too!

529 COSIGN – Alexandria, VA

This comes as a recommendation from a client in VA who said this is a great “upscale children’s and maternity consignment boutique” in the area that has upscale options for for both children and maternity options.

Wondering how to style your whole family for a photoshoot? Check out my blog posts for fall and spring/summer family session styling for additional inspiration and ideas.

Interested in a custom maternity portrait session with styling assistance and access to the LRG client wardrobe? Please reach fill out my contact form here or email me at lrgportraits@gmail.com to discuss and customize your own maternity session. Happy Shopping and hope to work with you soon!

Lauren from LRG Portraits is a maternity, newborn, family and baby photographer based out of the Washington, DC area. She specializes in timeless outdoor and in-home lifestyle portraiture, plus offers a full client experience from a curated client wardrobe to custom-designed heirloom albums and framing. Service area includes Chevy Chase, MD, Bethesda, MD, Potomac, MD and Arlington, VA, Washington, DC and surrounding areas.

How to Style your Family for Fall Photos

August 31, 2022

Football season, back to school and… family photos! Yes, it’s that time of year again, and in the midst of all the scheduling, supply lists, lunch packing and general chauffeuring, the last thing you need to be worrying about is what to wear for your fall family portrait session. Curious how to style your family for a fall session?

Read on for some quick tips:

Client styling is one of my favorite parts of my job, and one of the most important aspects for a successful photoshoot….sometimes the most important. I have a growing client wardrobe filled with flattering dress options for mom (and moms-to-be), and sweet wraps and hair ties for your littlest ones.

We’ll work together to match your style to the location you’ve chosen to make sure your portraits are as gorgeous as they are memorable. To learn more about choosing the best location for your outdoor session click here.

Quick Tips on How to Style Your Family for Fall Photos

My photography style is light, airy and casual. My goal is to make family photography simple, beautiful and most of all–fun. Flowy, natural styles and fabrics work best for this approach for fall, so textures like soft cottons, knits, and other natural, relaxed materials work best.

Yes, I hate to break dad’s heart, but his dark performance khakis and that bright soccer jersey (the one that your child never wants to take off) are sadly not the best options.

What to wear for your family photos by Washington DC family photographer, LRG Portraits.

FIRST: THINK FALL COLOR PALETTES

To begin the process of figuring out how to style you family, I recommend choosing a color family to build your outfits. For fall, I generally I say stick with either warm tones (think taupes/tans, warm muted tones, mixed with creams/off-whites) which are especially great for fall, then add in some layers.

Cozy layers like corduroys, cashmeres and chunky knits are perfect for the fall and winter season and add lovely textures. If you are looking for maximum fall vibes, muted jewel tones for mom’s dress work beautifully too. Be sure to balance them out with soft neutrals for the rest of the family.

Pro Tip: Neutral colors and small ditsy print patterns keep your family photos timeless. They work well in any setting or when displaying your images in your home.

SECOND: STYLE MOM FIRST

When styling for a fall family photo shoot in the Washington DC area, I like to start with mom’s dress. Since making MORE decisions is often the last thing on a mom’s mind as we barrel toward the holiday season, I have tons of options for mom to choose from, including dresses to borrow from my client wardrobe if you don’t want to shop or happy to provide links to options if you do.

Timeless, flowy midi and maxi dresses are my go-to as they make for gorgeous, stress-free styling for moms who may be pregnant, newly postpartum, breastfeeding or otherwise just want effortless and timeless style.

Pro Tip: Some of my favorite places to shop for mom are: Morning Lavender, Lait, Doen and Nothing fits But.

what to wear for your family session with creams and neutral tones with LRG Portraits.

THIRD: CHANNEL THE FAMILY MADRIGAL

Once you’ve nailed down mom’s dress, we can start to fill in the details for dads and little (and big!) kids. I love matching holiday pjs just as much as any mom, but I find too much matching in family portraits causes everyone’s outfit to blend together and you won’t get as much dimension.

If Encanto has been on repeat in your house this year, like it has in mine, think about the Family Madrigal: each family has its own special colors, but each member expresses themselves in a different way.

Pro tip: Shopping at one store for the whole family helps the look stay cohesive. My favorite? Zara. For a classic look J.crew is great too.

FOURTH: LET ME DO THE STYLE WORK

In addition to my client wardrobe, as your Washington DC Family Photographer, I love creating style-boards, like the ones you see throughout this post, to guide your family in wardrobe selection, with exact recommendations on where to shop and what to borrow.

I will also bring a variety of soft hair accessories for the little ones to keep haired pull back so we can see your children’s beautiful faces.

Pink and gray outfits with additional neutrals for what to wear for family photos by LRG Portraits.

For how to style your family for spring/summer click here

Or ready to book? My fall availability for family sessions are nearly full this year, but I do have a few spots left. I’d love to work with your family for the perfect DC-area photo shoot this season. Contact me here or email lrgportraits@gmail.com to check available dates.

Planning your Outdoor Portrait Session | Chevy Chase MD Maternity Photography

April 30, 2021

One of my favorite parts of my client experience is helping busy Moms plan all of the little details of portrait sessions, including choosing the perfect location! This particular maternity photography session in Chevy Chase MD took place in one of my favorite locations- Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion.

This lovely Mom was expecting her fourth baby, so documenting this moment with just the two of them was incredibly important to her. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful morning!

With so many historic and unique locations in Maryland, the District, and Northern Virginia it can be difficult to choose a location for your session. So without further ado, here are my recommendations for choosing the perfect location and timing for your portrait session!

Choosing the Best Location and Timing for your Session | Chevy Chase MD Maternity Photography

One – The location should reflect your style and vision for the session

When you’re deciding where you’d like to plan your session, I highly recommend considering settings that speak to your family’s style. From classic, historic locations to European style gardens and beautiful park options– I can help you narrow down options that will feel like you!

I also suggest thinking about how the images will look displayed in your home. If you’re hoping to use them in a custom gallery wall design, feel free to share images of the space so that I can suggest location options that will look beautiful on the walls of your home.

Mom looking at baby bump during maternity photography session at Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion in Chevy Chase MD. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Mom wearing blush maxi dress during maternity photography session at Woodend Sanctuary. Photos by Chevy Chase MD maternity photographer, LRG Portraits. Mom smiling at camera during maternity session in Chevy Chase MD. Photo by LRG Portraits.

Two – Consider a location that is meaningful to you

I love when beautiful locations also have a special meaning to my clients. Whether its a park where you like to take your kids, a stroll along the National Mall where your husband proposed, or in a tranquil garden in Washington, DC- having a connection with the location will make your gallery that much better!

In this Mom’s case, the Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion has always held a special place in her heart because its where she and her husband were married. We used the grounds with the mansion in the background, plus walked around some of the nearby fields. It was so serene and beautiful for Mom’s last maternity session.

Pregnant Mom sitting on steps of Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase MD. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Mom sitting and looking at baby bump during maternity session. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Mom walking in field holding dress during maternity session. Photo by LRG Portraits.

Three – Time it right

Light is everything and it truly depends on your location. While some locations work best at “golden hour” (the hour after sunrise and hour before sunset), other more wooded areas often need more light and mid-day tends to be best.

The reason photographers talk so much about golden hour is because as the sun goes down (or comes up!), it creates soft and dreamy light. That softness of the light, especially when diffused through the trees on the way down, helps to avoid harsh shadows and difficult highlights.

In this maternity session, I met Mom in the early morning when the location was the most quiet. The light was just magical and filtered beautifully through the trees.

Mom walking in field while holding dress and hat. Photo by Chevy Chase maternity photographer, LRG Portraits.
Mom leaning on column and hugging baby bump during maternity session at Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase MD. Photos by LRG Portraits.
Maternity session in field during golden hour in Chevy Chase MD. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Mom hugging baby bump during photography session at Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion in Chevy Chase MD. Photos by LRG Portraits.

Four – Be Flexible

As a Chevy Chase MD family and maternity photographer, I always stress that clients who have their heart set on a public area may need to be flexible. To avoid crowds and distractions for kids, sometimes we have to opt for early morning or weekday sessions to make a location work!

Five – Trust Me

Sometimes its hard to visualize how beautiful a location is for clients, but trusting in your photographer is important!

I also know certain times of the day are more difficult for kids, so I always keep that in mind as we plan your session together. I find kids tend to do better than parents expect! Even if the session knocks them off of their usual schedule for a day, typically all they need is a late nap or a full belly to be content!

Stunning black and white portrait from maternity session of Mom looking at bump. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Mom smiling at the camera in field maternity session. Photo by LRG Portraits. Mom walking and looking at baby bump during maternity session in Chevy Chase MD. Photo by LRG Portraits.

If you’re interested in booking your next family or maternity portrait session, contact me here! I’d love to work with you!

Peaceful Garden Family Session | Family Photographer in Washington, DC

April 28, 2021

As a family photographer in Washington, DC, I know there are so many beautiful, historic locations to choose from for your family portrait session. It can be tough to choose just one! This particular garden is one of my absolute favorites. The trick is finding a time when its not too busy!

I met this family on a quiet Fall morning and it was so incredibly peaceful with the most gorgeous sunlight. This location has such a lovely blend of historic architecture and European-style greenery. Although the weather was a bit chilly, it was the perfect excuse to cuddle up in the gazebo by the end of the session!

This family was such a dream to work with- Mom and Dad were so wonderful with their kids. It makes such a big difference in the final images when parents are able to soak up these memories with their children. Even though it was cold, they embraced the time we spent together by being present with their sweet girls.

Documenting the In-Between Moments | Washington DC Family Photographer

As a Mom myself, I try to document the moments that I would want if it were my family being photographed. I think this is why the in-between moments feel so special and sacred! It was really important to me to document the sibling bond between these two girls. You could tell they just adored each other!

Portraits with Mom are also always a priority in my sessions. I know so often we as Moms are the picture takers. The photos of Mom and her girls cuddling in the gazebo were some of my very favorite from the session. It is my hope that every Mom I photograph has an image like that with their children- one you can frame and adore on your walls for years to come!

These kinds of images, the ones that feel more like a memory than just a simple photo, are often my clients’ favorites when ordering albums. Check out a little peek at their custom-designed heirloom album at the bottom too!

Family portrait in garden by Washington DC family photographer, Lauren of LRG Portraits.
Family smiling together and Dad holding little girl in Washington DC family session. Photos by LRG Portraits.
Family of four smiling at the camera in garden by Washington DC family photographer, LRG Portraits.
Family looking at oldest daughter during Fall portrait session in Washington DC. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Sweet sibling image of sisters smiling at each other in Washington DC family session. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Adorable sisters smiling together during family photoshoot by Washington DC family photographer, LRG Portraits.
Black and white image of sisters being silly during family session. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Closeup of sisters smiling during family photoshoot in Washington DC. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Sisters sitting together in garden outside of Washington DC. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Family of four smiling at camera during Fall family photos in Washington DC. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Daughter on Dad's shoulders during family photo session. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Candid moment of parents looking down at kids playing in garden. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Portraits of Mom and Dad with Mom wearing pink long sleeve maxi dress by Washington DC family photographer, LRG Portraits.
Black and white image of parents during family session. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Little girl smiling at photo while wearing white sweater dress. Photo by Washington DC family photographer, LRG Portraits.
Sweet moment of Mom and daughter handing hands. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Toddler wearing pink dress and cardigan playing during family session in Washington DC. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Dad with oldest daughter smiling at each other in historic gazebo in Washington DC. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Closeup of Mom hugging daughter. Photo by LRG Portraits.
Mom looking at two daughters and smiling in historic gazebo. Photo by Washington DC family photographer, LRG Portraits.
Black and white image of family of four in Washington DC. Photo by LRG Portraits. Heirloom Album Spread in Washington DC. By LRG Portraits