This was an unseasonably warm weekend at the end of December for this family portrait shoot. I ventured down south to Stafford County to a lovely little gem on the grounds of Belmont Estates. It is the home to the home and studio for Gari and Corinne Melchers. The estate is nestled right off of I-95 near Fredericksburg. And though it is winter there is so much character on the grounds of the colonial estate. The extended family portraits for this day included three sets of families. My friend, Winn wanted to give the portraits as a gift for her brother, her parents and her brother's in-law's family. Since they were all coming together for Christmas it was a perfect time to shoot their portraits.

Whaley Family PortraitsWhaley Family Portraits

Like many busy families, this session would be the first formal portraits for her brother since their wedding. Initially hesitant that their daughters will be so energetic they would not be able to get a perfect portrait.  Assuring them this is exactly what I hoped to capture, these images show the essence of these two lively girls. Indeed, their daughter had so much energy, spunk and sass. The younger daughter would just get up with such explorative attitude or when she running after their Pop-Pop. On the other hand her older sister had such sweet shyness jumping along the cobbled path.   

Whaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VAWhaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VA Whaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VAWhaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VA Whaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VAWhaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VA

It is easy to see how the love from both sets of grandparents overflows to the entire family. All the couples were amused by my request for them to give each of their spouses the little love pecks. 

Whaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VAWhaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VA   Whaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VAWhaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VA

Yet one of my favorite couples portrait came from Winn's parents where there's just a confident ease, connection and joy that exudes from the two. 

Whaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VAWhaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VA

Coming from a large family myself, I find it rare to have just a portrait with each of my siblings. So it was nice to sneak in a few portraits with the sisters together and the brother-sister portraits.  

Whaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VAWhaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VA

Whaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VAWhaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VA

Lastly, the amazing woman who orchestrated this portrait session for her family and her brother's in-laws family portrait needed to have a few portrait shots for herself.  She's one of the most generous hearted people I personally know and has one of the best smiles anywhere, and as I recall another friend once quoted "wished she could bottle the sunshine" of her smile. I was glad to be able to give her a few well deserved portraits for this awesome woman! 

Whaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VAWhaley Family Portraits - Stafford, Fredericksburg - VA