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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Northern Virginia Family & Newborn Photography

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Today marks my anniversary of 5 years in business! And it’s my birthday too! 🎂 You can read my whole journey about creating my photography business here. But the long and short of it is… one day, we were driving back home to Texas from a trip to my in-laws. I saw a field of […]

5 Things I’ve Learned in 5 years in Business

Business & Tips

woman writing in planner
What to Wear Spring Family Pictures Melissa Sheridan

Happy first day of spring! I’m excited to talk about what to wear for spring family pictures today. What to wear for family pictures is my most asked client concern, right behind “we’re terrible in front of the camera! Can you help us?” to which the answer is: absolutely. But that’s a topic for another […]

What to Wear for Spring Family Pictures

Business & Tips

I’m really excited to share my first two rolls of 35mm film with you today! I was born in 1989 which makes me almost 32. Most my early childhood was still documented on film that my dad got developed at Price Club. I fondly remember disposable cameras. But my own first experience capturing images has […]

My First Two Rolls of 35mm Film

Personal

pink flowers shot on 35mm film

There’s nothing like the first snowfall of the year, right? Our first snow falls in both 2020 and 2021 were both in January. I grew up in Colorado and always loved playing in the snow as a kid. My kids had yet to experience much snow yet as we came from Hawaii before we moved […]

Snow Day in Charlottesville, Virginia

Personal

Hey friends! Happy Friday! I’m starting a new blogging series called Five on Friday. Every other Friday, I’ll share five of something. It might be five things I’m loving lately, five recent photo sessions, five of my favorite Amazon finds – who knows! They may be photography related or they may not. I thought it […]

Favorite Photography Business Tools | Five on Friday #1

Business & Tips

Favorite Photography Business Tools | Melissa Sheridan Photography

2020 was a rough year for many of us, but it was still a great year of family photography in for my business. Being a Family Photographer is a really meaningful job for me. So many of my clients still came out despite what was going on in the world in 2020. I know as […]

Family Photographer | Best of 2020 | Family Portraits

Families

2020. What a year. While most of us are looking back in it in disdain and hoping we soon forget everything that dumpster fire of a year held for us, there are many moments I hope to not soon forget. Lots of photographers struggle with taking personal photos of their family. In 2020, I finally […]

My Favorite Personal Photos of 2020 | Charlottesville Photographer

Personal