MELODY SMITH PORTRAIT
Children & Teen Portrait photographer Serving Richmond, Petersburg, & Central Virginia
Studio Portraits for Children & Teens
a modern, editorial portrait experience for the in-between years
Seeing Them Clearly.
Capturing Who They’re Becoming.
There is a fleeting window between childhood and adolescence:
a moment where identity begins to shift,
and we catch glimpses of who they’re becoming.
These sessions are crafted for that in-between:
when they’re no longer little, but not yet grown.
When confidence is tender, expression is changing, and the way they see themselves matters more than ever.
This is a portrait session of who your child actually is
— right now, in this exact chapter —
before it changes again.
My job is to make sure they feel seen.
How it works
✦ Online Design Consultation
Your first step is connecting with me via Facebook or Instagram Messenger. We'll go over the full session experience, pricing, and begin the early planning stages including wardrobe, mood, and what makes your child uniquely them.
✦ Fully Guided Studio Session
Sessions are held in my private Petersburg, VA studio.
Your child will be gently directed through posing, expression,
and movement. No modeling experience is required.
The environment is calm, encouraging, and I adapted to each child's personality and comfort level.
We keep things warm, light, and quietly confident.
✦ Zoom Reveal & Ordering Appointment
One to two weeks after the session we'll meet via Zoom to view and purchase portraits — either individually or in collections.
Who is this for?
✦ The tween or teen who is stepping into themselves
They are curious, expressive, and ready
to be seen on their own terms
✦ The child who has never loved having their photo taken
They have parents want to change
that with an experience that actually feels good
✦ The young person marking a milestone
They are celebrating a birthday, a transition, or any moment
worth documenting before it disappears
✦ The parent who wants portraits that
actually look like their child and not a posed,
stiff version of them, but the real one
✦ The family who understands that
childhood goes faster than anyone warns you and wants something lasting to show for it
Sessions are for individuals ages 10 through 17.
High school senior portraits are a
separate specialized experience
— visit the Senior Portraits page for more information.
What's included
✦ Pre-Session Style & Design Consultation
✦ Professional Hair & Makeup — Girls
✦ Light Hair Adjustments — Boys (arrive with hair already styled)
✦ 3 Base Looks with Layering & Accessorizing
✦ Access to Studio Wardrobe for Layering Pieces
✦ Fully Guided Session with Patient, Age-Appropriate Direction
✦ High-End Retouching on All Revealed Images
✦ Zoom Reveal & Ordering Appointment
Session Fee:$489 —Girls
Session Fee: $389 — Boys
Photographs are not included and are purchased separately at your Zoom Reveal & Ordering Appointment.
Individual digital files from $389
— Collections from $2,250
Session fee does not include photographs.
Photographs are purchased separately during your Zoom Reveal & Ordering Appointment.
STYLING & WARDROBE
WHAT WILL YOUR CHILD WEAR?
What your child wears has a powerful effect on the
tone & timelessness of their portraits
but it doesn't have to be complicated.
During your consultation
you'll both complete my Style Survey,
which helps establish the
mood and character that you see in your child and
how your child wants to see themselves.
You'll receive guidance on what to look for in their own closet
and what to shop for if needed that include
pieces that photograph beautifully
& won't feel dated in five years.
Your child will also have access to my
studio wardrobe for layering pieces and accessories.
This session isn't about quantity of outfits
— it's about creating personality, mood, and character
through layering, accessorizing, expression, and light.
We coordinate three base looks together
and let the session build from there.
WHY THIS AGE MATTERS
This is not a “kids’ mini photo shoot.”
It’s a thoughtful portrait of who they are right now
as thoughtful, unsure, expressive, strong and anything
else they bring to the table.
I’m not here to turn children into miniature adults or dolls.
I’m here to create space for them to feel
grounded, confident, and completely themselves
They’re a gift for you and for them and
something they’ll carry into adulthood with pride.
For the boys
Yes — I photograph young men too.
Boys ages 10 through 17 are welcome and the session experience is specifically adapted for them.
No awkward posing, no fussiness, no experience required.
Just straightforward, confident direction from start to finish.
Boys Session Fee: $389
✦ Online Style & Design Consultation
✦ 3 Base Looks
✦ Light Hair Adjustments — arrive with hair already styled
✦ Fully Guided Session
✦ Zoom Reveal & Ordering Appointment
✦ Full Retouching Included
Photographs are not included and are purchased separately at your Zoom Reveal & Ordering Appointment.
Individual digital files from $389 — Collections from $2,250
ABOUT MELODY SMITH
Melody Smith is a Triple Master Photographer with over 30 years of experience and more than 100 international awards
including recognition from WPPI, the ICON Awards, and
Gold & Platinum Photographer of the Year
from Professional Photographers of America.
She is also a mother. She lives in Prince George, Virginia
(where she grew up) with her husband, Mike, her son Perrin,
and their mischievous Siamese, Mr. Tumnus.
She understands what it means to want to hold onto
a moment with your child before it disappears.
How quickly their round, innocent faces change into the more
contoured features that come with age and wisdom.
She understands the tenderness of the in-between years
and the way identity shifts, confidence wavers,
and personality emerges in ways that surprise
even the people who know them best.
That understanding is what she brings into
every children's and teen session.
Every child is directed with patience, warmth,
and complete respect for where they are
and not where someone else wants them to be.
Every session is personally directed by Melody from start to finish.
This is a private, individual experience
with one photographer who is fully focused on your child.
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"You don't find yourself you create yourself."
-George Bernard Shaw-
Frequently asked Questions
What is the age range for children's sessions?
Children's and teen portrait sessions are for ages 10 through 17.
High school senior portraits are a separate specialized experience
— visit the Senior Portraits page to learn more.
Is hair and makeup included?
Professional hair and makeup are included for girls. Boys arrive with their hair already styled and I make light adjustments during the session as needed.
Will my child be comfortable?
Most children and teens walk in feeling a little unsure but leave surprised by how natural it felt. Every session is adapted to your child's personality and comfort level. There is no pressure, no rushing, and no expectation that they perform. I create space for them to relax and just be themselves.
Can siblings be photographed together?
Melody Smith Portrait specializes in individual portraiture. Each child is photographed individually in their own session.
Sibling or family group sessions are not offered at this time.
-Only one parent or guardian may be present during the session-
What should my child wear?
We plan wardrobe together during your design consultation.
You & your child will complete my Style Survey before
the session so we can build looks around their personality,
your vision, and what photographs beautifully.
The studio wardrobe is available for
layering pieces and accessories.
Where is the studio located?
Melody Smith Portrait is located at 3 N. Sycamore Street, Petersburg, Virginia — serving families across Richmond, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Henrico and Central Virginia.
How do I get started?
Click the button below to reach out.
We'll connect via
Facebook or Instagram Messenger
to talk through the full session experience
and pricing before anything is booked or paid.
