Lisa, her husband, and their four boys traveled from North Carolina for a family vacation photoshoot in Williamsburg, VA. They were visiting Colonial Williamsburg and wanted photos of them together in the historic downtown area. We met near the William & Mary Bookstore in Colonial Williamsburg on a humid June day! The session starts on the steps and in the courtyard of a historic brick building.
Downtown Colonial Williamsburg Family Portraits
Did I mention the Sandlers have four boys? 🙂 Josiah, 13; Jeremiah, 8; Levi, 6; and Malachi, 5. So I knew we’d have plenty of energy to work with! They were all so polite, had incredible smiles, and made the whole session fun.
Since it was a summer day in Virginia (so hot, sticky and humid), everyone wore blue tones with shorts and T-shirts. The outfits looked great together and made sense for walking around Colonial Williamsburg in the summer heat.
Family Photos in Front of Governor’s Palace
From the courtyard, we walked to Palace Green, the lawn in front of the Governor’s Palace. We took photos of the whole family, then made time for the boys together, individual portraits, and photos of each boy with each parent.
The boys kept us laughing with their jokes. At one point, they all piled in to tickle Malachi, the youngest. Then, the funniest thing happened! We were sitting on the blanket by the tree when a squirrel literally came up right next to us eating some nuts and hung out! It was not even phased by seven people, and everyone cracked up. Malachi SO wanted to touch him, but he soon scampered off, and we went back to business.
Josiah wanted a few portraits with his football, too. Later, the boys climbed onto the tall brick wall around the courtyard for more photos.
We ended this family vacation photoshoot in Williamsburg, VA with everyone wearing different colored sunglasses and making silly faces. Those photos feel just as much like this family as the ones where everyone is smiling at the camera.
A Few Photos of Mom and Dad, Too
I finished the session with portraits of Lisa and her husband together. Most parents don’t have many professional photos of just the two of them after their maternity photos, so I make room for those portraits during every family session.
By the time I drove home, I had sweated through my entire outfit and stuck to my leather car seats. That’s a June photoshoot in Williamsburg for you. I’d do it again, though. The Sandlers gave me four awesome boys, a lot of real smiles, and a family vacation they can look back on together.
Sarah’s Favorite Williamsburg Stops for Visiting Families
If you’re turning your family photoshoot into a Williamsburg getaway, these are some of my favorite places to explore, eat, and stay.
| Stop | My recommendation |
|---|---|
| Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary | Walk the historic streets and explore the beautiful campus. |
| Amber Ox Public House | My brunch pick. I’ve loved the hickory bacon, apple streusel French toast, and Bloody Mary. |
| Food for Thought | A fun dinner with conversation cards on the tables and photos of inventors and philosophers. |
| Fat Canary | My pick in Merchants Square for salmon and cocktails. |
| Second St. Restaurant | I love the happy atmosphere at the bar. |
| Kilwins | Stop in for a treat while you’re downtown. |
| Fife and Drum Inn | A quaint place to stay near Colonial Williamsburg, William & Mary, and Kilwins. Some rooms have clawfoot tubs. |
Vacationing in Williamsburg and Looking for a Family Photoshoot?
If you love the Sandler family’s photos and want to book a family photoshoot during your Williamsburg vacation, I’d love to help you plan one. Whether you’re traveling with little kids or teenagers, we can make time for photos of everyone together, each child, and just the parents.
If you’re planning photos during a visit, you can see more of my work in my family portfolio.
Sarah Creal is a family, maternity, newborn, and birth photographer serving Richmond, Virginia and Lawton, Oklahoma. With 10+ years in business and 95 five-star reviews, she is known for relaxed, connected photography and her ability to work with children and families of different needs. Sarah was also an occupational therapist for 25 years and is a member of Professional Photographers of America and the American Occupational Therapy Association.
