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Leah O'Connellphotographer based in charlottesville, va
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Boy laughing with his eyes closed in front of a green barn door

Local, outdoor, natural school photography in Charlottesville, VA

schools

The old model you remember from the '80's and '90s? We can do better.

Here, we celebrate personality and encourage a comfortable environment for kids of all ages. My model supports schools and families by prioritizing consent, image safety, easy online ordering, and proceeds benefiting the school every time.

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Perks

School photos are getting an upgrade.

Sessions take place outdoors with natural light.

We keep it simple and parents get timeless, authentic photos of their students each year.

school photography outdoors, local charlottesville photographer leah o'connell
  1. No cost to schoolsYep, this is free for schools. I offer this service at no charge because I love empowering kids with a positive school photo experience and creating zero barrier for every family to have a natural, quality portrait of their child.
  2. only buy what you loveParents only pay for the photos they want after viewing them. There is no pre-ordering required and no obligation to purchase.
  3. Privacy & Consent, alwaysMy custom platform now integrates seamlessly with a modern approach to school photos that protects parents privacy wishes, never utilizes facial recognition tools or cloud uploading, and allows for individual viewing and ordering per family.

The perfect fit for

  • Homeschool co-ops
  • Outdoor, forest schools, alternative school programs
  • Small preschools
  • Montessori schools
  • Smaller private schools

Warmth, professionalism, and stellar photographs

Leah provides it all with grace. I see wiggly or reluctant children relax into what is a stress-free session with a photographer who never speaks down to them. Leah's photos of our students catch their very essence -- silly, serious, dubious, joyful. Her photographic alchemy is unparalleled

Jolee, office manager, Free Union Country School
  • Preschooler with beaded braids grinning on the playground at Park Street Preschool
  • Girl with braided pigtails smiling in a striped sweater
  • Redheaded baby grinning in a blue rabbit-print shirt
  • Girl twirling in a pink tulle dress on a wooded path during school photo day
  • Girl in a hand-knit green scarf against a weathered gray wall
  • Redheaded baby boy sticking out his tongue on a picnic blanket at school photos
  • Toddler with copper hair sitting on a picnic blanket at Forest Lakes
  • Girl in pink glasses smiling with windblown hair at Bright Beginnings
  • Girl in a white cardigan smiling in the woods at Free Union
  • Curly-haired girl smiling in golden backlight at Frost Montessori
  • Siblings hugging in orange and maroon sweaters on school photo day
  • Girl laughing with her mouth wide open, hair clip catching the light
  • Close-up of a curly copper-haired boy grinning in a striped shirt
  • Girl laughing in a navy print dress on a porch pathway
  • Black-and-white close-up of a curly-haired boy's gap-toothed smile
  • Little sister kissing her brother's cheek, both dressed in blue
  • Girl in a pink dress twirling through a sunlit forest clearing
  • Black-and-white portrait of a curly-haired boy smiling softly outdoors
  • Girl in a white knit wrap smiling in front of evergreen hedges
  • Boy grinning outdoors in a blue t-shirt at Mountaintop School

local schools I partner with:

Mountaintop Montessori, Free Union Country School, Olivet Presbyterian Preschool, Park Street Christian Preschool, Natural Steps CDC, Albemarle Montessori, Frost Montessori, Bright Beginnings Preschool.

Leah O'Connell framing a shot with her hands, Charlottesville school photographer

Behind the camera

Leah O'Connell

I've been photographing families and kids professionally for almost 20 years, and above all, I believe capturing true personality is about seeing and honoring people. Whether we're together for 3 minutes or an hour, my priority is always connection first. I believe that being photographed is a vulnerable and beautiful act and want to create a positive association around it for kids of all ages.

spring and early fall openings available

Reach out to coordinate