MELODY SMITH PORTRAIT
Women's Portrait Photographer Serving Richmond, Petersburg, and Central Virginia
When was the last time you were truly seen?
— not just photographed —
but seen?
Whether you are stepping into a new chapter, celebrating who you have become, or simply ready to see yourself differently,
each session is built entirely around YOUR individual
presence, personality, and authenticity...
WITHOUT the interference of your inner monologue,
the self-editing, and the second guessing.
All sessions are fully guided, styled and
art-directed so you never have to figure out what to do.
You just have to show up.
Editorial Style
Portrait Photography for
Real Women
at Every Stage of Life
This is not a glamour shoot.
This is not a makeover fantasy.
It is an editorial portrait experience designed to capture
who you actually are with depth, intention & a visual language that feels current, personal and completely yours.
Sessions range from bold fashion-inspired portraits to understated, intimate work depending on your personality and vision.
Every session begins with a design consultation so we build the experience around you specifically.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Every women's portrait session includes:
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Online design consultation and style planning
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Professional hair and makeup
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Multiple wardrobe changes using your pieces & my studio wardrobe
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Access to studio wardrobe — blazers, coats, bodysuits, bustiers, trousers and formal gowns
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Fully guided and directed photoshoot
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Live styling throughout your session
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Multiple lighting setups and backdrops
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Private studio experience
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Full retouching on all images presented
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Zoom reveal & ordering appointment 1-2 weeks post session
Sessions start at $489.
Photographs are purchased separately at your reveal appointment starting at $389 per digital file or in collections from $2,250.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This session is for the woman who knows something is there
— something worth seeing and experiencing —
but has never had a chance to see it reflected back to her.
She may be in the middle of a life transition, starting a new career, celebrating a milestone birthday, living with an empty nest, or is beginning a reinvention she can't quite name yet.
Or she may simply be ready,
after years of hiding and playing small,
to finally be seen.
She doesn't need to be polished,
and she certainly doesn't need to have it figured out.
She might deal with loss and grief, anxiety, depression, ADHD,
or a nervous system that makes her feel like
she's always too much or not enough.
That is not a problem here.
That is exactly who this work is for.
She is curious. Intentional.
She has depth, spirit and a quiet awareness of her own inner beauty that she's never quite allowed herself to claim out loud.
This is the space where she gets to claim it.
It doesn't matter where you're starting from.
Women's portrait sessions at Melody Smith Portrait are designed for:
— Women in Transition —
a new career, a milestone birthday, an empty nest, a reinvention
— Women Reclaiming Their Confidence —
who have spent years behind the camera instead of in front of it
— Professionals and Entrepreneurs —
that want to go beyond a standard headshot & tell a fuller story
— Women Who Have Never Done Anything Like This —
and are nervous, excited and ready all at once
— Women Who Simply Want to Be Seen —
clearly, honestly and beautifully
You do not need to be
model-thin,
"camera-ready"
or
have it all figured out.
You just need to be
willing to show up.
I handle everything else.
What to expect on session day
Your session begins with professional hair and makeup
— included in your creative fee —
From there I direct every movement, expression and wardrobe changes throughout the day. You will never be left wondering what to do or how to stand.
Sessions run from approximately 10am to 3 or 4pm and include multiple looks, lighting setups and backdrops.
Two to three weeks later we meet via Zoom for your image reveal where you view 45 to 55 fully retouched portraits and choose your favorites.
Want the full breakdown of the session experience?
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Investment
Creative Fee: $489
Your creative fee covers the full session experience including hair, makeup, styling, wardrobe access, direction and your reveal appointment.
Photographs are purchased separately.
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Individual digital files from $389
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Portrait collections from $2,250
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Wall art and print products available
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Payment plans available — ask during your consultation
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Why Choose 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 credentials are not why women drive from Richmond, Midlothian, Chesterfield, and across Central Virginia to sit in front of her camera.
They come because she sees people.
Not the version they perform for the world
but the version underneath it.
Melody has spent years learning what it means
to strip back the costume, the glam, the fantasy
and find the image that is actually true.
That work began with her own reflection.
She knows what it is to look in the mirror
and not recognize the person looking back.
She knows what it takes to find your way back to yourself.
That knowing is what she brings into every session.
Every shoot is personally directed by Melody from start to finish.
This is not a volume studio.
There is no assistant, no second shooter,
no one between you and the work.
Just an intentional, private experience designed entirely around you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know how to pose?
Not at all. Every movement and expression is guided by me throughout your session. Most of my clients have never had a professional portrait experience — the direction is built into every moment from start to finish.
What if I am nervous about being photographed?
This is the most common feeling clients bring through the door and the one they leave without most consistently. The session is designed specifically for women who do not feel comfortable in front of a camera. By the time hair and makeup is complete and we have spent time together the nervousness
is almost always completely gone.
What should I wear?
We plan your wardrobe together during your design consultation before your session. You will have access to my full studio wardrobe as well as guidance on what to bring from your own closet. Nothing is left to chance.
How many images will I see at my reveal?
You will view between 45 and 55 fully retouched portrait images at your Zoom reveal appointment. From there you choose your favorites and place your order.
You only ever purchase what you love.
Where is the studio located?
Melody Smith Portrait is located at 3 N. Sycamore Street, Petersburg Virginia.
We serve clients from Richmond, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Colonial Heights, Hopewell and across Central Virginia.
How do I get started?
Click the button below to book your design consultation.
We will meet online to talk through the full experience, pricing and how
you want to feel and be seen in your portraits.
Is this only for women?
No. While women's portrait sessions are the heart of the studio, Melody Smith Portrait also serves men, teens, children ages 10 and up, and professionals of all kinds seeking headshots and personal branding photography.
Every session is built around the individual,
regardless of where you're starting from.
You deserve to be seen.
Not hidden, not performing, not styled into someone else's idea of beautiful
— but seen exactly as you are right now —
When you're ready, I'm here.
Serving women across Richmond, Midlothian, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Central Virginia.