“Mariah Springs is an award-winning photographer based in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. She has been featured by Lemonade & Lenses, The Snap Society, Shoot and Share, Beauty & Lifestyle Mommy Magazine and more.”
My outdoor sessions all take place either just before sunset or in the early hours of sunrise to allow for soft and perfect lighting. Please know that weather does play a role in lighting, and rain is something I do reschedule for, but cloudy and muggy days are totally fine and often make for even more beautiful images!
My in-studio sessions take place in my natural light studio and are most often shot between 10AM-3PM to allow for soft and perfect lighting. These sessions may be rescheduled for very stormy and dark days.
Use the link below to check out our studio maternity wardrobe collection! Little Twig Sessions are our most popular option for maternity sessions. These are taken in-studio, but can also be taken outside in a field /trail area in Keeling, Virginia. You may include siblings and your significant other in these photos as well! Little Twig Maternity Sessions typically last about 45 minutes to an hour. I recommend taking your maternity photos at around 7 1/2 months or around 30-34 weeks, but this really depends on body type and how big you want your belly to be for photos! I started swelling around 35 weeks, so I always like mine done earlier rather than later!
Nude Strapless Bra | Nude Panties | Pretty White Panties (if you plan to show your belly)
Newborn sessions typically take place between 5-15 days of life. Most all of our newborn sessions take place in the studio, but we do offer in-home sessions as well depending on available light. Our style aims to capture the essence of natural newborn posing rather than using props or frog-like poses. Wraps, headbands, and plain white diapers are all provided in-studio. Newborn sessions typically take around 3 hours. Mariah takes family shots, individuals, mommy & me, daddy & me, sibling, etc.
Pacifier | Gas Drops | Formula or Breast Milk | Wipes
(Plain white organic diapers provided in-studio.)
Please plan to feed your baby either right before you get to the studio or right when you get here! Please know that your baby may eat WAY more than normal during our session. Even if it seems like they aren’t doing anything, they are still burning calories by being moved around and posed.
It will be WARM in the studio, so plan to dress cool and comfortably and change for your shots! 2-3 weeks after your session, you come to the studio to view your images and choose any portraits, etc.
Very important: The more people you bring to your session, the more stressful it becomes for mom. I recommend only Mom, Dad, baby, and if there’s a sibling you want photographed, arrange for someone to bring them for their photos and take them home before the individuals.
We offer in-studio wardrobe for boys and girls up to age 18 months! Please visit the link below to see our options! Let us relieve the stress of finding outfits, and style your child head-to-toe when you get here! Our Little Twig Session is a great option for ages 3 months to 3 years. These sessions typically last 45 minutes to an hour. Their attention span can’t take but so much, so I am quick on the draw! Older kid sessions are typically done outdoors and scheduled at sunset or sunrise. Be sure to check out our “First Year Plan” which includes maternity, newborn, sitter, and one year sessions!
Favorite toy to get their attention and/or a classic toy you want photographed | Small “Hideable" Snacks
Senior sessions mostly take place outdoors, although I’m open to in-studio sessions too! These take place right before sunset or in the early morning hours of sunrise to allow for optimal lighting. If you have a special place to shoot, I can come to you! Otherwise, I have several areas that I use in the Keeling area. I love creative ideas for locations! If you have an idea, don’t be afraid to ask. We just need to discuss lighting because lighting is EVERYTHING! 2-3 weeks after your session, you come to the studio to view your images and pick out your portraits/etc. See the “What to Wear to Your Outdoor Session” section below!
3-4 Outfits | Any accessories like hats, scarves, blankets, long necklaces, floral crowns
Family sessions mostly take place outdoors, although I’m open to in-studio sessions too! These take place right before sunset or in the early morning hours of sunrise to ensure optimal lighting. If you have a special place to shoot, I can come to you! Otherwise, I have several areas that I use in the Keeling area (See “Locations” section). 2-3 weeks after your session, you come to the studio to view your images and choose any portraits. etc. I specialize in immediate family portraiture only, so unfortunately, I do not do large group photos that include other family members.
Engagement sessions take place at a location of your choice. I typically shoot them outdoors, but they can be styled beautifully and done in the studio too in very casual wear with cups of coffee, etc (a lounging around the house scene, if you will). Since these are mostly shot outdoors, rescheduling may occur in the case of rain. Be sure to let me know if you have a hair and makeup appointment, so I will know to call it more ahead of time to let your artist know.
The Love (ha!) | Ideas: Champagne, Champagne Glasses, Old Car
DO pick a floral pattern long dress and match your family to it
DO add layers and vests and cardigans in winter time
DO go barefoot if season allows
DO wear neutral fingernail polish
DO use a color palette of 3 or more soft/neutral colors to work with
DO visit our Pinterest page for ideas
DO wear plain button-ups or plain t-shirts for guys
DO go classic and pick clothes that will last through the ages
DO come comfortable because images suffer by adjusting the entire time
DO wear flowy shirts, skirts, and dresses
DON’T wear bulky watches and jewelry
DON’T wear bright bold colors unless it’s part of a floral
DON’T wear glasses (IF this is possibility and this is only because of the glare when working with natural light)
DON’T wear bright fingernail polish
DON’T match everyone perfectly or wear jeans and white t-shirts; you want variety
DON’T pick busy patterns or stripes because they look funny from a camera’s perspective
DON’T wear logo t-shirts or even some monogrammed clothes because often you won’t be able to read the entire monogram
DON’T wear sport tennis shoes, but wear something timeless and plain
DO pick a gown from our wardrobe collection
DO wear a studio top for your newborn session if you don’t want to wear a gown
DO show up in jeans or khakis to your newborn session (see links above)
DO wear neutral fingernail polish
DO visit our Pinterest page for ideas
DO wear plain button-ups or plain t-shirts for guys or use the ones in-studio
DO go classic and pick clothes that will last through the ages
DO come comfortable because images suffer by adjusting the entire time
DO put siblings in either white shirts/khakis/ white dress/light jean dress/jeans and light shirt
DO let me help with me outfits for older siblings
DON’T wear bulky watches and jewelry
DON’T wear bright bold or dark colors unless it’s part of a floral, white and pastels work best in-studio
DON’T wear glasses (IF this is possibility and this is only because of the glare when working with natural light)
DON’T wear bright fingernail polish
DON’T wear logo t-shirts or even some monogrammed clothes because often you won’t be able to read the entire monogram
DON’T wear socks in your photos; everyone will be barefoot in studio photos
DON’T plan for girls to wear large bows; we have several organic tie-back headbands in-studio
DON’T worry about newborn clothes, everything is shot using wraps
Whether you received a package with images via an online gallery or flashdrive, there will be two sections, one for PRINT FILES and the other for WEB FILES. Print files are the files you use to actually print your images. These are large size files and can be blown up to whatever size you would like. The WEB FILES are sized for Facebook, Instagram, etc. These have my logo on them and will look terrible if you print them, so be sure to PRINT the PRINT files and just use the WEB files for sharing online.
Not only do you have the privilege of printing wherever you’d like at a cheaper cost, but you also have the images archived forever. Your child can print images of themselves 10 years later, which is priceless in itself.
If you buy digitals, absolutely! But use the WEB FILES provided to you when sharing on Facebook and Instagram.
I always recommend Mpix.com. They have great quality prints available to the public.
I post all of my images to Facebook FIRST and then hold my finger down on the image and save it to my phone to post to Instagram. If you screenshot it, you will lose quality.
It’s similar to a copyright release, but allows me to maintain the rights to my images to submit to contests, share on my website, print, advertise, etc. You still have the right to print those images in any way forever.
Feel free to use them as your profile photo and share them and spread your beautiful face as far and wide as the sea! Just don’t print those images. Not only will they look horrible because of the way they’re sized, but if you didn’t purchase that digital image, it’s unlawful to print images not purchased.
I include this section because if you don’t deal with digital images regularly, how would you know? I in no way fault anyone for not knowing what you should and shouldn’t do with a photographer’s work, but I think it’s good for photographers to educate their clients on the world of digital etiquette.
Professional hair and makeup is not a requirement at all, but man, does it make a big difference! Consider contacting one of these ladies below and scheduling an appointment with them. Please know that weather reschedules would obviously cause a hair and makeup reschedule, so let me know if you plan to schedule hair and makeup, so I can call it in plenty of time to let them know!
Cheveux Salon
(434)797-1141
Pappillon Salon and Day Spa
(434) 791-4500
Salon One 11
(434) 791-2211
Fusion Salon
(434) 792-5500
Genesis Day Spa
(434) 792-2662
Laura Motley (makeup only)
(434) 688-2584
Sherri Myers-Keatts
(434) 770-7966
Shelby Adkins Clark
(434) 282-7050
Monica Machuca
(276) 806-1044
Amburn and Co. Salon
(434) 799-5775
Jenna Regans (hair only)
(434) 548-3552
Jessie Motley (spray tan)
(434) 334-8888
