As a luxury photographer in Northern Virginia, I specialize in maternity, newborn, family, and military moments that matter. I love capturing your family’s story in a way that feels effortless, authentic, and timeless - images that become art in your home and memories you’ll return to again and again. This blog is a little corner where I can share glimpses of the families, milestones, and military events I’m honored to document as well as tips for your best photo session yet.
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Welcome to my new favorite session – this sweet Northern Virginia Newborn Photography in-home session featuring sweet baby girl Ivy at only a few days old! There’s a certain magic that unfolds when you welcome a newborn into your home. The familiar space takes on a whole new meaning, filled with the soft coos, tiny […]

I’m Melissa – a military spouse, mom of two, and am now officially a Northern Virginia Family Photographer. I relocated to the Alexandria, VA area in summer of 2024 and am loving what Virginia has to offer so far! Fun fact, we were stationed in Charlottesville from 2019-2021, so this is our second time around […]
First of all, huge congratulations on your engagement!!! This is such an exciting time in your relationship. Now it’s time to plan your engagement session! Like many of my couples, you might be wondering what to wear for engagement photos. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! What to Wear for Engagement Photos Montgomery Alabama […]


Today marks my baby’s Last Day of Kindergarten! Claire completed kindergarten in a completely virtual setting for the 2020-2021 school year. While it wasn’t ideal and not at all what we had expected prior to the pandemic, she did well and made the best of it. She did have to switch teachers once, which was […]
Today I thought I’d get personal and share 10 things you probably didn’t know about me! 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Melissa Dayton, Ohio Photographer 1 | I have a bachelor’s degree in English Writing. I actually started out thinking I wanted to pursue nursing, but turns out I can barely pass a […]
