MELODY SMITH PORTRAIT
Maternity Portrait Photographer Serving Richmond, Petersburg & Central Virginia
Modern Maternity Portrait Photography in Petersburg, Richmond and Central Virginia
embodied maternity portraits for expecting mothers
your strength, your softness, your uncertainty. All of it.
Pregnancy is not just a glow and a bump.
It is the unraveling and rebuilding
of your entire self.
It is powerful, disorienting, sacred,
and sometimes scary.
Your body is changing in ways no one prepared you for.
Your mind is filled with questions, hopes, fears, and hormones.
And in the midst of it all, there is you, this woman carrying life, becoming something entirely new.
This moment goes by faster
than anyone tells you it will.
These maternity portraits at our Historic Old Town Petersburg, Virginia studio exist so that someday, when the newborn haze lifts and the years start to blur, you can look back and remember exactly who you were
and all the incredible emotions that come with becoming a mother.
Let us create something lasting from a moment that deserves to be witnessed and kept forever by your new little arrival in the years to come.
Maternity Portraits That Feel Real
at our Petersburg, Virginia studio
What Expecting Mothers Are Saying About Their Maternity Portrait Experience in Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia
"Melody photographed my first pregnancy and when my daughter turned 3, I became pregnant again and I had a second album created. My now 4 year old daughter thumbs through my album often, she calls me the "most beautiful" and points to my first baby bump and says, "thats me!"
There is NOTHING that beats this. My second daughter will have her own album just like this to carry with her through out her entire life. A celebration of motherhood passed down from generation to generation."
Jenn M.,
Richmond, VA
"I booked this session to capture the joy of preparing for my new baby, a season I wanted to remember forever. This was my second time in Melody's studio, and just like before, she made everything feel effortless and beautiful. At seven months pregnant, I had this powerful moment of seeing myself in a whole new light, and the portraits exceeded every expectation. They mark such a special milestone in my life, one I will proudly share with my family and my son for years to come."
Elizabeth P.,
Powhatan, VA
"I wanted to celebrate and remember my first pregnancy, but I was incredibly nervous because of past experiences in front of the camera. From the moment I arrived, Melody made me feel completely comfortable and at ease. By the time we started shooting, my anxiety had disappeared. She chose beautiful dresses that perfectly matched the vision I had in mind and guided me through every pose with so much confidence and care. When I saw my portraits for the first time, I was honestly in awe. I felt beautiful, strong, and fully confident in a way I had not expected. These portraits captured such a meaningful season of my life, and they will always be treasured in my home. Melody helped me see a side of myself I did not even know was there."
Janina A.,
Colonial Heights, VA
Who Is This Maternity Portrait Session For?
✦ The woman who wants to document this chapter in her life, not just the glow, but the full complexity of what it means to grow a life inside her body.
✦ The first-time mother stepping into something she cannot yet fully comprehend and wants to remember this moment forever, before it passes.
✦ The experienced mother who knows how fast it goes and refuses to let this pregnancy pass without being documented.
✦ The woman who has struggled to get here, through loss, through fertility treatments, through years of waiting, and wants maternity portraits that honor the full depth of what this moment means.
✦ The woman who has never felt comfortable in front of a camera but knows she will regret not doing this.
Maternity portrait sessions at our Historic Old Town Petersburg, Virginia studio are for individual mothers.
Partners and children are
not included in maternity sessions.
This time is entirely
and intentionally yours.
What's Included
in Your Maternity Portrait Session at Melody Smith Portrait
✦ Online Design Consultation
We connect via Facebook or Instagram Messenger before your maternity session to discuss your vision, wardrobe, and how you want to feel in your portraits. Everything is planned intentionally before you arrive.
✦ Professional Hair and Makeup Included with every maternity portrait session at our Historic Old Town Petersburg, Virginia studio. Camera-ready, polished, and natural.
✦ Wardrobe Guidance and Styling
You will receive detailed guidance on what to bring from your own wardrobe. The studio has a small curated collection of maternity gowns available as well. We plan your looks together during your consultation so nothing is left to chance.
✦ Fully Guided Maternity
Portrait Session
Every pose, expression, and detail is directed from start to finish. You will never be left wondering what to do or how to hold yourself.
✦ High-End Retouching
Every portrait presented at your reveal is professionally retouched to enhance your natural features while staying true to who you are in this moment.
✦ Zoom Reveal and Ordering Appointment
One to two weeks after your maternity session we meet via Zoom to view your fully retouched portraits and place your order. This is the only time photographs are available for purchase.
Creative Fee
$489
Photographs are not included
in the creative fee and are purchased separately during your
Zoom Reveal and Ordering Appointment.
Individual digital files from $389
Portrait collections from $2,250
In house financing available for all collection purchases.
Ask during your consultation.
Maternity Portrait Session Investment
When to Book
Your Maternity Portrait Session
in Petersburg, Virginia
The ideal time for your maternity portrait session at our
Historic Old Town Petersburg, Virginia studio is around
32 to 36 weeks,
when your bump is beautifully full and you are still comfortable enough to move through a session with ease.
Every pregnancy is different, so we will discuss your specific timeline during your consultation.
Book your consultation as early as possible. Maternity portrait sessions are limited and fill quickly, especially in spring and fall.
Why Choose Melody Smith Portrait
for Maternity Photography
in Richmond and Central Virginia
Melody Smith is a Triple Master Photographer based in Historic Old Town Petersburg, Virginia, with over 30 years of experience and more than 100 international awards, including recognition from WPPI, the ICON Awards, and Gold and Platinum Photographer of the Year from Professional Photographers of America.
But what brings expecting mothers to this studio from across Richmond, Chesterfield, Midlothian, and Central Virginia is not the awards.
It is the way Melody sees people.
Not the version they perform for the world. The version underneath it.
The one that exists in quiet moments, in the sacred space between who you were and who you are right now.
Pregnancy is one of the most
profound experiences a woman
will ever move through.
These maternity portraits exist to
honor that, not to overly glamorize it or filter it, but to witness it
honestly and beautifully.
Every maternity session is personally directed by Melody from start to finish at our private studio in Historic Old Town Petersburg, Virginia.
This is a private, individual experience.
No partners,
no other clients,
no assistants.
Just you,
your changing body,
and a photographer
who will help you feel beautiful and seen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maternity Portrait Photography in Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia
When is the best time to book my maternity portrait session?
Around 32 to 36 weeks is ideal, typically when your bump is full and beautiful but you are still comfortable enough to move through a session with ease. Book your consultation as early as possible to secure your session date,
especially in spring and fall when availability fills quickly.
What should I wear
to my maternity portrait session?
We plan your wardrobe together during your design consultation. You will bring pieces from your own wardrobe, things that feel like you, that fit your body comfortably, and that align with the mood and tone you want for your portraits. The studio also has a small curated collection of maternity gowns available. You will receive detailed styling guidance before your session so nothing is left to chance.
Can my partner
or other children be included?
Melody Smith Portrait specializes in individual maternity portraiture. Partners, spouses, and children are not included in maternity sessions. This time is entirely and intentionally yours.
Is hair and makeup included?
Yes.
Professional hair and makeup are included with every maternity portrait session at our Historic Old Town Petersburg, Virginia studio.
How long does the
maternity session take?
Plan for approximately 4 to 5 hours including hair and makeup. The session itself typically moves
through two to three looks with full direction throughout.
Where is the studio located?
Melody Smith Portrait is located at
3 N. Sycamore Street, Historic Old Town Petersburg, Virginia, serving expecting mothers across Richmond, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Colonial Heights,
Hopewell, and Central Virginia.
How do I get started?
Reach out using the button below. We will connect via Facebook or Instagram Messenger to talk through your vision, pricing, and the full maternity portrait session experience before anything is booked or paid.
You are in the middle of something extraordinary right now.
It is worth witnessing.
It is worth remembering.
It is worth documenting yourself becoming a mother.
You aren't just growing a new life,
you are transforming an old one.
When you're ready to reach out,
our Historic Old Town Petersburg studio is here for you.
