MELODY SMITH PORTRAIT
The Portrait Session Experience at Melody Smith Portrait Studio — Petersburg, VA
Your Portrait Session Experience
— From Consultation to Reveal—
Every session at Melody Smith Portrait is fully guided, art-directed and designed around you specifically. There is nothing to figure out on your own. From the moment you inquire through the day you receive your finished portraits, every step of this experience has been thoughtfully designed to feel effortless, personal and unlike anything you have experienced before.
Step One
— The Consultation —
Your consultation is a casual online conversation where we talk through everything including
the full session experience, pricing,
your vision and how you want
to feel and be seen in your portraits.
Whether you arrive with a clear vision or just a feeling you cannot quite articulate yet, this is where we begin building your session around you.
Your consultation is complimentary
and there is no obligation to book.
It is simply a conversation.
Consultations are currently conducted via text through
Facebook or Instagram Messenger.
Links to connect are below.
Step Two
— The Design Process —
Once you decide to move forward the real creative work begins.
This is what I call
— Thoughtful Collaboration —
and it is one of the things that makes a session here genuinely different from a typical portrait experience.
You will be asked to take photos of yourself, your wardrobe
and any thing you want to be photographed in or with and
together we will collaborate on 3 curated and buildable looks.
Your Personalized Style Survey
You will complete a detailed style survey that helps me understand your personality, your current style, your aesthetic preferences and how you want to feel and be seen in your images.
— This is not a generic questionnaire —
it is the foundation of your entire session design.
Inspiration & Mood Building
We will exchange multiple images to establish the tone, mood and visual direction of your session. Think of it as building a creative brief together. You share what resonates with you and I translate it into a portrait experience that feels authentic rather than imitated.
Wardrobe Planning
One of the most important elements of your session is
what you wear.
Together we will review your existing wardrobe and identify pieces that photograph beautifully.
You will also have full access to my in-studio wardrobe collection which includes blazers, coats, bodysuits, bustiers, relaxed trousers and a curated selection of formal gowns.
We will build multiple looks using a combination of your own pieces and studio wardrobe so your session tells a layered, complete story.
Before your session you will receive my
Studio Session Prep Guide
with
— Secrets to the Perfect Photoshoot—
This covers everything you need to know to arrive feeling completely prepared, including:
-
Skin and nail preparation
-
What to bring to your session
-
What to expect on arrival
-
How to mentally prepare for being in front of the camera
-
Final wardrobe checklist
— Think of your session day as a reset —
a full day set aside entirely for you.
Knowing exactly what to expect
makes the entire experience
feel effortless from the moment you walk through the door.
Step Three
— Preparing for Your Session —
EXPLORE
Step Four
— Your Session Day —
Professional Hair & Makeup
Every session begins with professional hair & makeup
included in your creative fee.
You do not need to arrive camera ready — that is handled for you.
Hair and makeup is designed to complement your wardrobe,
your skin tone and the mood of your session rather than
create a look that feels overdone or unlike you.
The Photoshoot
From the moment hair and makeup is complete I take over entirely.
Every movement, pose, expression and detail is shaped and directed by me throughout your session.
You will never be left wondering what to do with your hands or how to stand.
Sessions run from approximately
10am to 3 or 4pm
and include
multiple wardrobe changes,
multiple lighting setups
and multiple backdrop options.
This is a fully guided experience.
Your only job is to show
up and trust the process.
Throughout your session I provide live styling — adjusting wardrobe, accessories and details in real time to make sure every frame is intentional.
Nothing is left to chance.
— Live Styling —
Step Five
— The Reveal & Ordering —
Two to three weeks after your session we
meet via Zoom
for your
Image Reveal and Ordering Appointment.
This is one of the most exciting
parts of the entire experience.
You will view 45 to 55
fully retouched portrait images.
From there you choose
your favorites and place your order.
This is the ONLY way to view
and/or purchase your photographs.
Images are available to purchase
in two ways:
À la carte — individual digital files starting at $389 per image
Collections — curated sets of images starting at $2,250
You only BUY what you LOVE.
There is no pressure and no packages
you are required to buy.
The reveal appointment is designed to be a
celebration of the work we created together.
CREATIVE FEE
$ 489
— due at booking to reserve your session date —
Your creative fee includes everything required to create your portraits:
- Online design consultation
- Professional hair and makeup
- Multiple wardrobe variations
- Access to studio wardrobe
- Completely guided photoshoot
- Live styling throughout your session
- Multiple backdrops and lighting setups
- Private studio experience
- Full retouching
- Zoom Reveal & Ordering Appointment
Photographs are not included with the creative fee and are purchased separately at your reveal and ordering appointment.
Portrait Investment
Purchasing Your Photographs
- Individual digital files from $389 -
- Portrait collections from $2,250 -
No Minimum Purchase.
Payment plans are available.
Ask about financing options
during your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the session take?
Sessions run approximately five to six hours from start to finish including hair and makeup.
Plan your day around a
10am start and expect to
wrap between 3 and 4pm.
Do I need to know how to pose?
Not at all.
Every movement and expression is
directed by me throughout your session.
Most clients have never had a professional portrait session before and the guidance is built into the experience from start to finish.
What if I am nervous about being photographed?
This is one of the most common feelings clients bring through the door and one of the most common things they leave without. The session is designed specifically for people who do not feel comfortable in front of a camera. By the time hair and makeup is complete and we have spent time together you will feel completely different about the experience ahead.
Can I bring someone with me?
Melody Smith Portrait
is a private studio experience.
Guests are not permitted
during sessions.
The studio environment is intentionally
intimate and distraction-free
and it requires full focus from both of us.
The only exception is for minors.
If you are booking a session for a child or teen, one parent or guardian must be present during the session.
*unless otherwise agreed on prior to booking
When will I see my images?
Your reveal appointment is scheduled two to three weeks
after your session date.
This is the only time to view and purchase your photographs.
Where is the studio located?
Melody Smith Portrait is located at 3 N. Sycamore Street, Petersburg, Virginia. We serve clients from Richmond, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Hopewell and across Central Virginia.
