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Charlie’s senior portrait session started in the studio and ended with a race against the Richmond summer heat to get to VMFA before sunset. In between, we walked around Carytown, hunted down some of her favorite murals, incorporated a completely random shopping cart, and somehow made it through a very hot and humid day with the best attitudes.

We started at the studio with hair and makeup by Amanda Cook, our go-to makeup artist. Amanda did an absolutely phenomenal job getting Charlie camera-ready while still keeping her look feeling like her. I love having Amanda as part of our senior sessions, especially when we’re able to start with a polished yearbook portrait before moving into something more personal and creative.

We offer senior portrait packages that include professional hair and makeup with Amanda, so you can have that classic formal yearbook portrait and still have plenty of time to create a senior session that feels completely your own.

After we finished Charlie’s senior yearbook formal, we headed out into Richmond. And it was hot. Very hot. But Charlie and her mom, Amy, were total troopers.

We started walking around Carytown and picking out some of Charlie’s favorite murals. I love when a senior has a say in where we go because it makes the session feel much more personal. These aren’t just pretty backdrops. They’re places that caught her eye or meant something to her.

Charlie started in a preppy outfit—a navy blue and white gingham collared shirt, navy blue shorts, and tennis shoes. It was classic, polished, and completely adorable.

For her second look, she changed into a beautiful green top, and we headed to a mural she had loved growing up. It’s right across from Fire & Hops, with a colorful geometric pattern that made the perfect backdrop.

Then came the blue dress. Charlie looked stunning in this classic, timeless look. We started photographing in front of the mural on the side of Capital One Café. As we were getting set up, we noticed a shopping cart sitting nearby. So, naturally, we used it. It ended up being one of my favorite little surprises from the session. We worked it into a few of the photos, and the result was so cute. Sometimes the best details are the ones you didn’t plan for.

From Carytown, we booked it over to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts before the sun set. We finished the session in her blue dress and took advantage of the beautiful evening light around the museum.

By the end of the day, we had photographed in the studio, explored Carytown, visited some of Charlie’s favorite murals, and finished at VMFA. A full Richmond senior portrait experience.

After the session, Amy invited us to dinner, which was such a thoughtful gesture and says so much about the kind of people she and Charlie are. Unfortunately, the restaurant ended up being closed—but the invitation itself meant a lot. They were both so incredibly kind, warm, and welcoming throughout the entire day.

Charlie and Amy were the kind of people who made a very hot, very humid Richmond summer day feel easy. They showed up with great attitudes, trusted me to take them all over the city, and were willing to roll with whatever came our way.

That’s what I love about senior photography in Richmond. Your session doesn’t have to happen in one place. We can start with a formal yearbook portrait in the studio, head to your favorite spots around the city, find murals you love, and finish somewhere beautiful at sunset.

Your senior portraits should feel like you. For Charlie, that meant a little preppy, a little classic, a little colorful, and a lot of Richmond. If you are looking to book your own senior session—contact me with the link below!