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Leah O'Connellphotographer based in charlottesville, va
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Reach out
Big brother in a hooded sweatshirt gently holds his newborn sibling's feet on a sunlit bed

Casual newborn photos at home in Charlottesville, VA

newborn

Guided with ease, and made to meet you where you are - burp cloths, comfy clothes and all.

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You'll naturally take a billion photos of this new little bundle...

but these sessions aren't really about what the baby looks like as much as what it feels like in this new version of family.

It's the soft and tender moments + the dog licking baby's face. Birth marks and dimpled skin. The way babies flex and stretch and yawn and cry. Tired, loving eyes. Diaper changes and feedings.

All of it is welcome.

Charlottesville family photographer captures a mother cradling her newborn as older siblings gather close

For you if:

  1. You can't bear the thought of putting on a prairie dress and standing in a field on 3 hours of sleep.you want photos that feel like your family in real life, not the fancy version
  2. You want prints on the wall & in your hands, not hundreds of files in a folder
  3. You want someone who makes it feel easy because this newborn stuff is hard enough
Close-up of a mother's hands resting on her bare bump beside her dog's paw

Let's stay home.

All newborn sessions take place in the comfort of the home you brought them into.

Days with a newborn run on their own time. By planning your session at home, we honor the ebb and flow of unpredictable timelines, while keeping both baby and tired parents (and other siblings) comfortable in their space.

Before you start worrying about the state of your house, let me assure you that it doesn't really matter. The bassinet in the corner and burp cloths draped over couches are all part of it (and everything is moveable). Through your simple prep guide (included with every session) and my direct support, you'll be able to relax with trust knowing that in 20 years of photographing families and newborns at home, there's never been one home that "didn't work."

I have watched & looked at these pictures nonstop, & just cry.

Leah is absolutely AMAZING. She captured the moment of our babies meeting their brother perfectly. I can’t say enough amazing things about our session. I promise you will not be disappointed!

Tia

the nuts and bolts

  1. step 1.

    you reach out

    Send me a note via the contact form to get the ball rolling.

    Tell me a little about your family and what makes your heart swell. If you reach out before baby is here, we'll set a tentative date within 2 weeks of your due date to reserve space in my calendar. I'll do a happy dance when I get word that baby is here and we'll finalize your date and time.

  2. step 2.

    Prep

    The great news with these sessions is you don't have to do much. You'll get a client prep guide with tips for getting yourself and space ready the session (all very low-key), choosing what to wear, and knowing what to expect so you can feel excited and confident that I've got you covered.

  3. step 3.

    We meet & Create

    Your only job is to savor your people. Enjoy the time you get to step away from regular life and into this family time - I take care of the rest. We don't need to "get this over with" - this is the sweet spot. I'll bring a calm energy with just the right balance of direction and flexibility for listening to everyone's changing needs. You'll walk away with images that hold all the joy, love, and connection that stems from that place.

  4. step 4.

    Bring your favorites to life.

    You'll receive your final gallery within 2 weeks, including your print credit and access to a private shop where you can view your images in various frames, sizes, and styles. Keep the ordering simple and all in one place, sourced through environmentally-conscious print labs, and with quality you can share at their high school graduation one day.

  • Newborn yawns wide while cradled in a parent's arms on a green blanket
  • Maternity portrait against a dark green backdrop, hands cradling a bare bump
  • Family of five plus their spotted dog gather on the bed to welcome a newborn
  • Overhead shot of a newborn's cesarean scar as a parent buttons a green onesie
  • Mother and newborn lie face to face in black and white, baby propped on her chest
  • Parents huddle together cradling their swaddled newborn near a bright window
  • Tattooed pregnant woman gazes down at her bump beside dark floral wallpaper
  • Newborn photographer poses a wide-eyed infant on a teal cushion beside wooden toys
  • Two dads cradling their newborn on a sunlit armchair at home in Charlottesville
  • Pregnant woman in a lace skirt stands beneath willow branches near a white fence
  • Newborn on a bed reaches up while his grinning big brother looks on
  • Charlottesville photographer frames new parents admiring their baby in a sunlit living room archway
  • Overhead close-up of a newborn in a knotted headband gripping a pacifier
  • Mother carries her newborn up the porch steps of a fall cabin surrounded by turning leaves
  • Expectant couple embrace forehead to forehead in a snowy Virginia wood
  • Pregnant mother walks a garden path smiling at her son while dad and toddler trail behind
  • Mother nuzzles her newborn's head, tiny toes peeking from a green sweater
  • Dad tends to a newborn on the nursery floor while his son drapes over his shoulders
  • Newborn girl in a rainbow-print onesie sleeps as dad's fingers hold her tiny fist
  • Mother nurses her baby on a tree swing overlooking layered Blue Ridge foothills
  • Newborn photographer captures parents introducing their swaddled baby to two golden retrievers
  • Black and white profile of a sleeping newborn's face against a rainbow-print swaddle
  • Extended family gathers around a farmhouse table with blueberries and a swaddled newborn
  • Husband feeds his wife breakfast in bed while she holds their baby and the dog looks on
  • Sleeping newborn nestled on mom's shoulder in a pine-print swaddle
  • Maternity portrait in rust-colored sweater against a driftwood log at dusk
  • Toddler reaches for his pregnant mother's belly in a shaft of window light

Packages

The fresh 48 session

$1100

These take place in the hospital or birth room sometimes within baby's first 48 hours earthside. They are designed to capture simple and honest moments of meeting your child, introducing siblings, and capturing the heart of strength and celebration in its most raw form.

  • 45 minutes at hospital or birth room
  • Session prep guide
  • Gallery of 75+ final edited images
  • $100 credit for use in the print shop
  • all digital downloads included
  • Access to the fine art print shop
Mother holds twin infants on the porch while dad plays banjo for them
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The Story Session

$1400

My signature session for newborn photos at home that allows room for the quiet in-between moments, the details that make your heart swell, and an honest reflection of the way it feels to finally be together.

  • 90 minutes
  • Session prep guide
  • Planning call
  • Gallery of 75+ final edited images
  • $100 credit for use in the print shop
  • all digital downloads included
Toddler kisses her newborn sibling's head while both parents lean in during a hospital cuddle
Reserve a session
More about the Story session
Pregnant woman rests against a doorway in golden afternoon light, hand on her belly

Maternity and first year bundles

If you're interested in booking multiple sessions from maternity through baby's first year, please reach out to inquire about bundled package options.

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Well, I'm sobbing. We are just OBSESSED with these pictures.

We feel so lucky to have had you here to capture these special moments. You have no idea how much they mean to us.

Madison
Mother leans over her newborn lying swaddled on a teal-linened bed

Safety and respect

  • Clients can choose their level of comfort with sharing images online. Your images are yours and it's up to you how or if they're shared publicly.
  • All sessions are culled and edited by human touch. Your images are never uploaded into cloudbased softwares for AI training at any part of my workflow.
  • I do not record "behind-the-scenes" video during paid sessions to use for my own marketing. Your home is your haven. Everything you experience in your session will allow you to remain in the moment with privacy among your people and spaces.

FAQs

What should we wear?
Once you book, you'll get my client guide with simple, non-fussy guidance on coordinating clothing for the type of session we’re planning. I’m always on deck to help you choose between this blouse or that one, but at the end of the day, you should wear clothes that look like you. That means for a newborn session at home, you're totally allowed to wear sweatpants. You can also use the opportunity as an excuse to put on something nicer - both options are welcome and I'm there to help you decide.
I like candid - but will we get at least a few with eyes to the camera?
Absolutely - I consider these shots a "bare minimum." They may happen right at the top of the session or we'll find our way into these portraits throughout the session, but I understand that even though these kinds of images aren't the main focus of the overall session, I always prioritize including them at some point in our time together.
What if my toddler or big kids melt down or won't cooperate?
I've photographed families for 20 years so wiggly, shy, and big-feelings kids don't faze me. There's basically nothing I haven’t seen. I’m also a mom of 3 so truly, do not worry. In my experience, when the pressure’s off to “be on their best behavior” and we can frame the session as a chance to do something fun as a family - including activities they love - they’re usually on board. We let kids be kids, babies be babies, and have faith that even through the meltdowns, everything is temporary.
How far in advance should I book?
As soon as you feel the desire. But at least a month in advance of your ideal session timeframe, ideally. Fall weekend dates tend to start booking around July, so reach out with more notice if you can around the fall and holiday seasons. I only take a handful of sessions a month so I can remain flexible and all-in for the families I work with. Regardless of if you’re envisioning something in a future season or 2 weeks from now, it never hurts to reach out as soon as your heart says yes.
Can we include our pets?
ABSOLUTELY! I love when the furry friends join - dogs, cats, and whatever other family pets are part of your lives. Home sessions are ideal for including all your pets easily and tucking them away if it begins to feel overwhelming.
One small thing - pets are not allowed at the Field Session location, so if you choose to add-on a Field Maternity session, you'll have to leave pups at home.

the heart of it all

Photographs that celebrate the people we know best and choose to love anyway.

in and around Charlottesville, Virginia

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