Madison & Josh Proposal| Jacki G. Photography LLC| Family & Newborn Photographer| Richmond, VA

It's hard to beat a beautiful spring Cherry Blossom proposal at Windsor Farms, VA ... especially when it's at golden hour, and the soon to be bride is your daughter!!

If you couldn't tell already... this was an epic proposal!

Josh had asked for my daughters hand in marriage a few weeks prior and I was so happy for them. They met their Sophmore year in college. My daughter is a Senior in College now and will graduate in May. I suggested the Cherry Blossoms because my daughter had already asked me to take their photos so this would a perfect suprise and she would be all dressed up with out even realizing what was about to happen.

The day was perfect mid 70s full bloomed cherry blossoms. We arrived and from the start i guess Josh couldn’t wait so he proposed . Madison was so giddy and excited. It was such an honor to photograph my baby girls engagemnt. I wish nothing but happiness and love for their next adventure.

It was a joy to be a part of such a sweet moment for these two... congratulations to Josh & Madison on your engagement! I love you both!

Welcome to the world baby boy| Richmond, VA | Family & Newborn Photographer| Jacki G. Photography LLC

This adorable little man graced my studio last week for his newborn photography session. He is such q little doll and super cuddly. I know, it's a tough job... someone has to do it. 
His big brother was so good with him! He slept great for most of his session in my short pump, VA home studio. In the end we did get an open eye shots which the parents wanted.

It is very important to follow the prep instructions for your newborn session. This will help keep the baby happy and easy to pose.

I hope you enjoy a peek into his photo shoot...

Baby E. 3 wks new | Richmond, VA | Jacki G. Photography LLC| Family & Newborn Photographer

Little Miss. E. was 3 wks new during her session. She took some time to settle but once she did we got some amazing poses. We have the studio set at 80 degrees with a heater so she is nice and warm during her session. This lovely baby girl brought so much joy into my studio.

Newborn sessions have the best results when the baby is under 10 days old. This is because they are still super sleepy and love to curl up. Newborn photo shoots are also best done before baby acne sets in at about 14 days. However, sometimes this can’t be done and an older baby we may have to work a little harder to get them into certain poses. Some poses such as the froggy pose may not be idea for an older baby but there are still several poses we can get an older baby into.

If you're thinking about a newborn photoshoot for your new baby, inquire early. I'm currently booking a few months out. If your newborn is already here feel free to reach out, occasionally I do have last-minute openings. I'm also now offering priority editing, you can opt to have your image gallery within 5 days of your session. It's a great way to get your images back right away, especially if you want to get those birth announcements out.  There is a fee for this service.

These are a few of the images I was able to capture of little Miss. E.

I am located in Short Pump, VA. I have been photographing newborns for over 11 years.

Newborn Photography | Jacki G. Photography LLC | Family & Newborn Photographer | Richmond, VA

As a newborn photographer, I have the privilege of capturing the beauty and innocence of brand new babies and the joy of the families welcoming them into the world. Newborn photography is a unique and special type of photography that requires a lot of patience, creativity, and a gentle touch.

One of the most important aspects of newborn photography is safety. When posing newborns, it's crucial to prioritize their comfort and well-being. This means using proper support and techniques to ensure that the baby is always secure and never in any danger.

In addition to safety, it's important to create a calm and relaxing environment for the photoshoot. Newborns can be unpredictable, so it's essential to be flexible and go with the flow. Taking breaks as needed, and rescheduling if the baby is fussy or not feeling well, is always the best course of action.

This is a composite image. Hands are on the baby at all times!! I use photoshop to take out the hands. Do not try this without proper training.

Creating beautiful and timeless images of newborns is also about finding the right poses and lighting. I love to use props and accessories when posing newborns but I make sure the baby is safe at all times, using parent to help out or an assistant. I don’t use a lot of distractions when posing newborns as I try to let the natural beauty shine through. I use studio lights to get a consistent look throughout all my images, I also like to use neutral colors so that I can provide a clean and timeless look.

As a newborn photographer, it's a joy and a privilege to be able to capture these special moments for families. The bonds and love that I see between parents and their new arrival never fail to inspire me, and it's a honor to be able to preserve these memories for them through my photography.

One of my favorite props| Jacki G. Photography LLC| Family & Newborn Photography | Richmond, VA

One of my favorite props is the heart shaped bowl. There are so many different ways to use this prop.

Why a heart?

A heart is life, a heart is love, a heart is happiness.

As a newborn photographer and mother, I know how special bringing new life into the world can be, which is why I wanted to incorporate a heart prop for my families to choose from. The heart signifies the new little life you are bringing into this world, a person you will love, with your whole heart, forever. A heart is our life source.

My photography goal is to capture the life and love of each unique moment.

My commitment is to make each family fall in love with their baby and bottle up that feeling to keep forever.

Maternity session with K. | Jacki G. Photography| Richmond, VA | Family & Newborn Photographer

K. came into the studio in the middle of her third trimester for a fine art maternity shoot. I first worked with her when she was pregnant with her first baby. We had an amazing session and Big Sis was so adorable. Check out some of my favorites from her session.

If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime.

Preemie Newborn session| Richmond, VA| Jacki G. Photography | Family & Newborn session

Newborn photos after a NICU stay call for a few precautions but are definitely possible. A baby’s safety comes first and it’s important to know if there baby has any restrictions on poses or activity , it’s still possible to get beautiful pictures. There are plenty of options! One plus is that parents had plenty of time to observe and handle their babies. They are the experts in their baby’s preferences. Don’t be afraid to tell your photographer what your baby likes and doesn’t like you know them best.

I come to your home for the newborn session. That’s always a plus with babies who are preemies or who have spent some time in the NICU . Staying home means fewer germs to expose them to. I’m always careful to be healthy when photographing babies, and to wash my hands before touching baby and sanitizing equipment after each session.

Little P. was born at 33 wks old and i photographed him when he was 5 wks. He was a great model and loves his tummy time. These are a few sneak peeks from his session.

Preemie Newborn session| Jacki G. Photography| Richmond, VA| Family & Newborn Photography

Children have a way of throwing us for a loop even before birth! Surprise pregnancies, unexpected multiples or genders, and self-determined due dates are just a few ways our babies keep us on our toes. They certainly make life interesting!

All the same, every parent should have a chance to capture those first few weeks of life with their sweet new bundle (or bundles!) of joy regardless of how and when they make their appearance! I can bring the studio to you or you could come to my home studio, whichever is more convenient for you.

Here’s how we make it happen in the safest way possible:

1. Wait a Little Longer

The typical time frame for newborn portraits is 1-2 weeks after birth. But of course, the timeline for preemies is a bit different. With babies who just can’t wait to see the world, we push their session out a bit closer to their actual due date. They’ll have time to get acclimated and grow a bit (maybe add on a few adorable baby rolls!), which will make for a happier baby and better photos.

1. Let Baby Determine the Schedule

As a preemie, your little one already knows how to take charge. Your petite one ignored that due date and came on his or her own time, after all. So, during the session, we build in time to rest, snack, and get settled.

1. Immaculate Conditions

Because your little one’s immune system is still developing, we take great care in creating a clean, sterilized environment to the best of our ability. Everything is wiped down and washed between sessions, and we adhere to careful hand washing/sanitizing practices throughout the shoot. No germs here!

1. Continual Support

Since all newborns, not just preemies, lack neck control, we offer support throughout every pose. No creative pose is worth putting baby at risk. Our highest priority is keeping baby’s airway open, neck supported, and temperature regulated. Baby’s comfort and safety is crucial!

Meet V. he was two months old when i photographed him. He was the perfect model for his preemie newborn session. I set up the studio in the comfort of his home so that the baby wouldn’t have to leave and be exposed to all the germs.

Here are some of my favorites from his session.

Welcome to the world T. 3 wks new| Richmond, VA| Family & Newborn Photography| Jacki G. Photography

There is a preferred age when photographing a newborn. And there are some photographers that will only photograph a baby during those few weeks. But guess what? I know life can get in the way. ie. Covid-19 And while pictures of your baby are certainly a priority for many, I completely understand why they get delayed … or forgotten. I am more than happy to photograph your new baby at any age. Older newborn photos can be just as beautiful as pictures you might have taken right after your new bundle arrived. I will tell any potential client that I prefer the baby to be under 2 weeks of age. And I do tend to find that these younger babies do best at their portrait sessions. However, there are always exceptions to the rule so if you’re questioning anything, please feel free to reach out and we can discuss your specific situation. As long as everyone has the right expectations, then photographing your baby at any age can result in photos you will cherish forever.

The perfect example of an older newborn is sweet T. below. She came to visit me at around 3 weeks of age. Not an age I shoot a lot of since it’s right in between my two standard milestone sessions (newborn and 3 months).She was, for the most part, out of that curly, sleepy newborn stage. But wouldn’t you know it, she gave us that perfect mix of sleepy shots and wide-eyed awake shots.  There are so many portraits that I love from her session!

So don’t hesitate to contact me if you’re considering older newborn photos of your baby … not matter the age. We can chat about your wishes and your baby’s current stage and figure out what would work best for you. I’d love to be a little part of this amazing adventure you’re on!

Introducing K. 7 days new| Newborn & Family Photography| Jacki G. Photography| Richmond, VA

What a gorgeous little peanut! K. was definitely small, but she rocked her new baby photo session.  I love all the neutrals from her session with some soft pops of color. She slept for a majority of her session, Big brother was so good with her. He was so proud and make sure to check out the stunning parent images from her session. I know she’ll cherish those when she gets older. Congratulations to this beautiful family of four! I loved meeting you all and can’t wait to see how she has grown as the months go by!

Paxton's Cake Smash session| Richmond, VA| Jacki G. Photography| Family & Newborn Photographer

A very happy first birthday to little Paxton!    I first met Paxtons family as I had the pleasure to photograph his mothers Maternity session as well as his at-home newborn session.  It feels like only yesterday that he was curled up in a little basket.  It was awesome seeing him again for his first birthday celebration!  We had fun during their family photoshoot in their Midlothian, VA home.  He was so handsome for his outdoor cake smash session. We practice social distancing for his cake smash session. Here are some favorites from his cake smash photo session:

Client safety practices during Covid-19 | Jacki G. Photography| Richmond, VA | Family & Newborn Photographer

Since the start of the Coronavirus going around I wanted to explain the safety steps Jacki G. Photography is taking to ensure your safety.

I have been a newborn photographer for 9 years.  I always practice special precautions to make sure the studio is cleaned and sanitized properly before, during, and after each session. I regularly clean the studio. but especially  during this pandemic , with the Coronavirus going around I am taking extra precautions.

Since I am also a traveling newborn photographer, I make sure that all of my equipment is cleaned and sanitized before each session. If you or your child is sick please contact me to reschedule your session. I do not mind rescheduling. it is better to be safe. If you do bring a sick child in my studio or I arrive at your home and their is a sick child, I will cancel the session without refund.  Please don’t spread any kind of sickness.  We want to keep everyone healthy. 

I  keep/bring hand sanitizer in the studio and to your home session. I wash my hands before the session and will use hand sanitizer during the session. I wash my backdrops/blankets before and after each session. I wipe down hard surfaces with Lysol cleaning wipes.  I also wipe down and clean the bathroom including door handles, light switches and so on. I have hand sanitizer in the bathroom too.  Please feel free to use the hand sanitizer. I ask that you do the same in the area I will be working in. I also bring a mask and gloves when working with newborns to make sure everyone is safe.

For cake smashes I use seamless paper. After each cake smash session I cut off the part we used and throw those away. buy the seamless paper new in packaging for each session. I wipe down any props what we use with Lysol wipes too.  I pride myself in making your child’s safety my first priority.

Its my birthday and I can cry if I want to….

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I would be happy to answer them. As always thank you so much for choosing Jacki G. Photography.

Spring Studio Minis| Jacki G. Photography| Richmond, VA| Family & Newborn Photography

Studio spring Minis are NOW Booking! This session will take place at my home studio. The session price is $140 plus tax for 15 min and you get 5 digital downloads.

The session dates are flexible. The times however are from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Please let me know which two dates work for you and i will be happy to accommodate either of those dates if possible.

This session is for Children and babies ONLY!!!

Cake Smash Milestone Photography| Richmond, VA| Jacki G. Photography| Family & Newborn Photographer

Look who turned ONE! Little Miss was a little under the weather for her milestone session but she still had a great time with her cake. I love when I get to photograph babies their first year of life. They grow so much and to capture these moments for families is so special. The session took place at her home and we try to take some portraits first with the family then move on to the cake smash portion of the session. Most babies are not a big fan of cake so I suggest giving them a little before the actual session so they know what cake taste like. You will provide the decorations such as balloons or banners. I have the letters ONE & #1. You will also supply the cake due to allergy concerns. If you would like for me to supply the entire session the price can be adjusted to make that part of your session less stressful.

The cake smash session can take place in studio or outside at a location of your choice.

Here are a few from the cake smash that I thought were cute.

Newborn baby girl| Richmond, VA| Family & Newborn Photographer| Jacki G. Photography

I love doing in-home newborn sessions in the Richmond, VA area because my families just seem so relaxed for their sessions.  No rushing out the door and hoping not to have forgotten anything important.  sweet little girl was such a good baby for her newborn session and I got so many adorable photos of her that her family will treasure for years to come.