ServingDC to Richmond

photographyMELISSA

ARLENA

The

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Lifestyle Newborn Photography For The modern mom to be

There are so many choices for your maternity & newborn photographer it can be overwhelming. You want Relaxed, Natural & Joyful photos of your new little family. But you also need someone who will guide you through what to wear and how to act in front of the camera. I've got you covered!

We'll be a perfect fit if ....

You started planning the nursery as soon as you found out you were pregnant
You think costumes should be reserved for Halloween and not your babies first photos
You want a photographer who will be there to capture not just when you bring your baby home but be there for family photos year after year

Check out my galleries of newborn photography Northern Va below!

View Galleries

Client Love

Melissa was amazing and
our pictures are beautiful.

We had another photographer lined up to do maternity pictures and that fell through and I was so impressed with how quickly Melissa responded and we were able to set up a shoot. I was nervous because the baby had a rough night but Melissa worked incredibly fast while the baby slept. She even posed our dog to get some great pics of him and the baby. We got our pictures so quickly and they were absolutely beautiful. I'd highly recommend Melissa to anyone and look forward for another opportunity for her to photograph our family.

- Kristin in Alexandria

Great experience and great outcome, we highly recommend her.

We had a great experience doing a newborn shoot with Melissa. She was relaxed and easy on the day - she shot a really wide variety, caught some hilarious and oh-so-sweet photos of my toddler, and captured our family as we are. (She wore a mask the entire time, was careful about hand hygiene, kept appropriate distance, etc). She interacted beautifully with my toddler and he had the best time - you can tell she's a mom herself, she just gets it. The photos came out light and bright and airy, exactly what we wanted.

- Rachel in Reston

Our experience with Melissa was nothing short of amazing!!!

In the current Covid pandemic, she made us feel super safe, took every precaution, and still delivered beautiful images we will always cherish! She is so easy to work with and goes above and beyond to make sure you get exactly what you want. We love her and highly recommend her!!

- Taylor in Fredericksburg

She brought cautious normalcy to us during a chaotic time and we are beyond appreciative of her work.

I messaged Melissa and inquired about her policies during the Covid outbreak. She eased my mind immediately and took all safety precautions while visiting our home. The entire session went smoothly. Melissa has a great personality and was very patient as we moved our little guy around for pics. She asked about must have shots we wanted, in addition to using her own expertise. The images she captured are family pictures and baby pictures we will treasure forever. We love them all and have enjoyed sharing them with our friends and family across the country who haven’t been able to visit during the quarantine.

- Autumn in Alexandria

I am so happy that I found Melissa for our newborn photographs.

I did a lot of research before choosing a photographer and found that many in the area were very expensive or not responsive. When I found Melissa’s website I loved the light and airy feel of her photos (which is not easy to capture in a townhouse in Old Town). I reached out and not only was she responsive but it was very clear that she has a passion for newborn photography. I was not disappointed! The photos she took are absolutely perfect and so beautiful. I cannot recommend Melissa’s services enough and I am already looking forward to using her again for future family photos.

- Victoria in Alexandria

The Collections

Maternity Photo Pricing

On-location outdoor maternity photo sessions in Fredericksburg or Stafford to capture this special time in your life.

BEGIN AT $750

Newborn Photo Pricing

At-home lifestyle photo sessions so you can relax and not worry about leaving home with a newborn.

BEGIN AT $750

Digital Files are available for purchase in each collection plus a print credit to get started displaying your favorite photos Advice, tips, and examples of what to wear for you and everyone in the family
Guidance during your session so you feel confident and look beautiful & natural
Editing to carefully enhance only the best images from your session so they are just as beautiful as you imagined
Complimentary design services to create the perfect products that fit your life & style to display your beautiful portraits. Think of me as a trusted friend by your side to help you make any decisions along the way
Add on a gorgeous Heirloom Print Box, Keepsake Baby Albums, and Custom Wall Art to enjoy for years to come

Sessions are typically scheduled 4-6 weeks in advance. In order to create a more personalized experience for my client, I only accept 6-8 portrait bookings per month.

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award winning DC Newborn photographer as seen on

What to Expect

01.

Review Portfolio

It all starts by checking out my Newborn, Maternity and Family galleries. Make sure that the images you see are what you are looking for in your own photo session! I don't use props or pose babies in baskets. My style can be described as Lifestyle which is casual and relaxed, natural photos of your new little family.

Next : Review Pricing

02.

Review Pricing

Learn more about The Maternity & Newborn Experiences below. If that sounds like what you are looking for Contact Me today for full collection pricing. Please be sure all decision-makers are involved so everyone is comfortable with booking me!

Next : Save the Date

03.

Save the Date

Pop the apple cider & cue the confetti!! We are a match made in heaven! Now it's time to secure your date on my calendar. I typically book maternity photo sessions when you are 32-36 weeks, with newborn photo sessions taking place 7-21 days after birth.

Next : Book Now

04.

Book Now

You've submitted the Contact Form, reviewed the pricing and are ready to move forward! Next I will send over a quote, contract and Getting to Know You questionnaire. You can pay your retainer online and we are ready for baby!

Next : Review Tips

05.

Review Tips

Once booked I'll be sending you my Tips & Advice email to review to prepare for the perfect photo session. It includes ideas on what to wear for everyone so you look stylish and coordinated. Right before your session I'll send out last minute tips on preparing your home and your baby for a smooth session.

Next : Let's Decorate

06.

Let's Decorate

Before your newborn session I like to ask my clients to walk around their home and think about where they want to see their photos. Is it a beautiful album on a coffee table, a print box on the bookcase or a wall gallery over the stairs? When we plan it out ahead of time we can be sure to get exactly the photos we need!

Next : Your Maternity Session

07.

Your Maternity Photos

All maternity photo sessions are done on location typically 1-2 hours before sunset during the week. We can go to a favorite spot of yours or I can recommend some options based on your style! Sessions typically last about 45 minutes.

Next : Your Newborn Session

08.

Your Newborn Session

I like to make it easy on my clients so I will come to you! Lifestyle newborn photo sessions take place in your home typically in the nursery, living room and master bedroom depending on the light. Most photo sessions are usually an hour long and our focus is on your new little family. Your job is to stare adoringly at this little person you made and my job is to capture it!

Next : Online Gallery

09.

Gallery Download

Prepare yourself for tears! I have yet to have a client that didn't cry over photos of her new baby. Your slideshow will be ready 2 weeks after your photo session and will be uploaded in an online gallery. You have 24 hours to view the slideshow and decide on your collection purchase.Then you can download your digital files and spend your print credit in your gallery from the comfort of your couch!

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The Experience

Newborn Photography Northern Va

There are big moments in your life that deserve professional photography and having a baby is definitely one of them! I can't tell you how often I hear from clients that they are so glad they had a session because that tiny baby grew so quickly. In fact, they are shocked at how different their baby looks just 6 weeks after they are born. As a Northern Virginia newborn photographer it's my job to capture all those tiny features so you never forget how small they once were.

Experience

When you hire me as your newborn photographer you get someone who has been there done that three times now, lol!

I know how excited you are as you approach your due date and how overwhelmed yet completely blessed you will feel during those first weeks as a new parent.

So my job as one of the photographers in Northern Va is to prepare you ahead of time as much as possible and reassure you on the day of our session that you guys are doing everything right.

Preparation

From the moment you hire me, we will start prepping for your session. This includes tips and advice on what to wear from me plus my Pinterest boards full of ideas to help you coordinate the entire family.

I'll be sending you my Maternity and Newborn Tips so you know exactly what to expect on the day of your session. Once that day comes I'll walk you through our session and give you plenty of direction on what to do, it's easy I promise!

Reveal

After your session, I'll get to work editing your gorgeous photos and getting your gallery ready as soon as possible. I know how excited you will be to see your photos!

I know traveling and schedules can be tough so you get to see your photos from the comfort of your own couch. I'll send over the slideshow link and you have 24 hours to watch it over and over again before you decide on your collection purchase. I love when couples make a date night of it and enjoy a glass of wine as they look through their photos!

Ordering

You can decide on your favorites together and order prints, wall art, and even a baby book right from your gallery. I love designing gallery walls for my clients that include photos from their session plus personal photos they might have. I can take all of the guesswork out of what size to order and how to arrange them!

As your Northern Virginia newborn photographer, I want you to have beautiful images to display in your home along with digital files to share with family and friends on social media. Don't forget to send out the link to your gallery to your family so they can see the portraits we captured of you!

Maternity, Newborn & Familyinquiries

Collections begin at $750

Northern Virginia Newborn Photographer

Melissa Arlena Photography is based in Fredericksburg, Va but serves all of Washington, DC and Northern Virginia including Alexandria, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Fairfax, Herndon, Lorton, Manassas, McLean, Quantico, Reston, Springfield, Stafford, Tysons Corner, Vienna, and Woodbridge. She offers maternity, lifestyle newborn, and family photography in her relaxed, natural, and joyful style.

VIEW MY LATEST WORK AS A NORTHERN VA NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER ON INSTAGRAM

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