Charlottesville Maternity Photographer | Ravens Roost Overlook

As a Charlottesville maternity photographer, Ravens Roost was a location I had wanted to photograph for a while. Mandy and Bryan’s maternity session in March was my first time shooting there! Raven’s Roost Overlook VA sits along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Lyndhurst, Virginia and Shenandoah National Park. The overlook is in Augusta County with open skies that are especially beautiful around sunset golden hour!

Mandy and Bryan found me through Google and booked both their maternity and newborn photos with me. This mountain setting had special meaning for them because they love the outdoors and had gotten engaged in Shenandoah National Park. They wanted that same connection to the mountains for their maternity session. They had been through several years of IVF before becoming pregnant with Judd, so I was so happy to document this pregnancy!

Maternity Photos at Ravens Roost Overlook

I met Mandy and Bryan in the small parking lot at Raven’s Roost Overlook before we headed down toward the lower area. Mandy started in one of the ivory Reclamation gowns from my client closet. It was a long, off-the-shoulder gown that looked beautiful against the mountains. She also brought a fitted blue dress of her own. She wore it with one of my wide-brim hats with flowers painted underneath. Bryan wore a white button-down shirt with black diamonds and dark denim jeans.

We first walked down to the lower area to start the session. I had Mandy lay on a fallen tree while Bryan sat beside her. She leaned back onto his lap with the mountains and March golden-hour sun behind them.

Then we walked back toward the famous tree near the parking area. The iconic tree is a famous, solitary silhouetted tree near the edge of the overlook. As a Charlottesville maternity photographer, I loved it! I took some really wide photos so I could show Mandy and Bryan surrounded by the vast Blue Ridge Mountains. The sun was beautiful coming through the trees behind them.

Golden Hour Maternity Pictures in the Blue Ridge Mountains Virginia

For some of my favorite photos, we moved onto the rocks at the overlook. There is a short, unpaved path leading from the left of the parking area to a broad rock ledge. I positioned the golden hour sun between Mandy and Bryan and right above her pregnant belly to create a silhouette.

I also photographed Mandy by herself at the farthest point of the rocks. The orange sunset lit up the mountains behind her. She held her gown out to the side, cradled her baby bump and looked out over the view.

Mandy changed into her fitted blue dress, and we headed back toward the rocks. I gave Bryan one of my favorite prompts for couples…..I had Bryan whisper what he ate for breakfast into her ear in his “sexy voice,” which immediately made her crack up. Those real laughs gave us some of my favorite photos from the session.

We finished with a few more photos near the main tree and with Bryan sitting while Mandy laid along the brick wall. Before leaving, I took a photo of the three of us with Raven’s Roost behind us. I love doing that at sessions because it gives me a personal memory with the Charlottesville, Virginia families I photograph.

Since this session, I photographed Judd for his newborn photos and have photographed their family two more times. They later became pregnant with their second child, another rainbow baby.

Ready to Book Your Charlottesville Maternity Photographer?

If you love Mandy and Bryan’s maternity photos at Raven’s Roost in VA I’d love to help you plan a session that works for you. Whether you want mountain views, golden-hour light or a completely different setting, we can find a location that fits what you have in mind.

See more of my maternity portfolio and other locations that I have shot at!