MELODY SMITH PORTRAIT
Maternity portrait photographer serving Richmond, Petersburg & Central Virginia
MATERNITY
embodied maternity portraits for expecting mothers
Witness your strength, your softness, your uncertainty — all of it.
Pregnancy isn't just a glow and a bump
it's the unraveling and rebuilding of your entire self.
It's 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's you...
this woman carrying life, becoming something entirely new.
This moment goes by faster than anyone tells you it will.
These portraits exist so that someday
— when the newborn haze lifts and the years start to blur —
you can look back & remember exactly who you were
and all the incredible emotions that come with becoming a mother.
Let's create something lasting from
a moment that deserves to be witnessed and kept forever
by your new little arrival in the years to come.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
"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, Richmond, VA
Who is this 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
✦ The first-time mother stepping into something she
can't yet fully comprehend and wants to
remember this threshold moment forever
✦ The experienced mother who knows
how fast it goes and refuses to let this
pregnancy pass undocumented
✦ The woman who has struggled to get here
— through loss, through fertility treatments, years of waiting —
and wants portraits that honor the
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
These sessions are for individual mothers.
Partners and children are not included in
maternity sessions, this time is entirely yours.
What's Included
✦ Online Design Consultation
We connect via Facebook or Instagram Messenger before your session to discuss your vision, wardrobe, and how you want to feel in your portraits. Everything is planned intentionally before you arrive.
✦ Professional Hair & Makeup
Included with every session.
Camera-ready, polished and natural.
✦ Wardrobe Guidance & Styling
You'll 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.
✦ Fully Guided 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 image presented at your reveal is professionally retouched.
✦ Zoom Reveal & Ordering Appointment
One to two weeks after your 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 and are purchased separately.
Individual digital files from $389 —
Collections from $2,250
Payment plans available — ask during your consultation.
When to book
The ideal time for your maternity session
is around 32 to 36 weeks
— when your bump is beautifully full and you're still
comfortable enough to move through a session with ease.
Every pregnancy is different,
so we'll discuss your specific timeline during your consultation.
Book your consultation as early as possible
Sessions are limited and fill quickly,
especially in spring and fall.
Why Melody Smith Portrait
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.
But what brings expecting mothers to this studio from across Richmond, Chesterfield, Midlothian and
Central Virginia isn't the awards.
It's 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 transitions, in the sacred space between who you were and who you are becoming.
Pregnancy is one of the most profound
transitions a woman will ever move through.
These portraits exist to honor that
not to overly glamorize it or filter it,
but to witness it honestly and beautifully.
Every session is personally directed by Melody from start to finish.
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
When is the best time to book my session?
Around 32 to 36 weeks is ideal
Typiccally when your bump is full and beautiful
but you're 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?
We plan your wardrobe together during your design consultation.
You'll 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 has a small curated collection
of maternity gowns available as well.
You'll 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 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 & makeup are included with all maternity sessions.
How long does the session take?
Plan for approximately 4 to 5 hours including hair and makeup.
The session itself typically moves through 2 to 3 looks with
full direction throughout.
Where is the studio located?
Melody Smith Portrait is located at 3 N. Sycamore Street, Petersburg, Virginia — serving expecting mothers across Richmond, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Colonial Heights, Hopewell 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 your vision, pricing,
and the full 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 — I'm here.
