Alycia found me through Google when was looking for a photographer to do a mommy and me photoshoot! She really wanted to celebrate her first baby Eli’s first birthday with a special session just for the two of them. We chose Maymont Park in Richmond for their photos. Everyone loves Maymont and btw it just celebrated its 100th year in 2026!
Alycia is in the Coast Guard and actually drove up to me from Chesapeake. Since this session, we have done three more sessions together, with her driving about two hours to meet me each time. I don’t take that very lightly and consider it a huge honor.
This session happened on a perfect, sunny morning in May. We planned it in the morning because that was the best time for Eli, especially with them driving to and from Chesapeake.
A Mommy and Me Photos at Maymont RVA
Alycia wore a rust-colored sleeveless dress with ruffles that I brought from my Client Closet. Eli wore a little set of oatmeal-colored overalls. We took all of their photos barefoot for the first part of the session.
We started in front of some shorter trees and taller bushes not far from the Maymont Mansion. I had them sit on a blanket of mine that is actually an old antique tablecloth. Honestly one of my favorite props for a mommy and me photoshoot!
As usual with babies and toddlers, I had Alycia hold Eli on her lap facing her and snuggle him. She lifted him up in the air like an airplane and bounced him on her knee.
From there, we moved to another part of Maymont with a wooden bench and pink flowering bushes.
I gave Eli a couple of the flowers to hold, and he and Alycia smelled them together while she tickled him. Alycia also put on one of the wide-brim ivory hats from my Client Closet.
Eli immediately became interested in playing with her necklace and putting flowers down the front of her dress.
I love mommy and me photoshoot at this age because the little things they do are usually better than anything I could plan. We had plenty of traditional photos, but some of my favorites were simply Eli exploring, playing with the flowers and interacting with his mom.
Motherhood Photography with Eli and Alycia
Alycia also put on one of the hats from my Client Closet. It was a wide-brim ivory hat with a brown ribbon.
She held Eli close while he played with her necklace and put some of the flowers down her dress, haha.
We finished their session down in the lower part of Maymont near the little creek, not far from the one-mile Virginia Wildlife Trail that winds through part of the property.
There was a beautiful old tree beside the water, and Alycia and Eli sat together with their bare feet in the creek. By that point, we were not trying to get a particular pose or expression. They could just sit together, look around and take in all the nature and wildlife around them.
It ended up being one of my favorite parts of the morning because everything slowed down.
After all the playing, flowers, tickling and exploring, ending barefoot beside the water. Felt like the perfect way to finish their first birthday session.
Ready to Book Your Richmond Mommy and Me Photoshoot?
If you love Alycia and Eli’s photos at Maymont and are looking for a mommy and me photoshoot with your little one, I’d love to help you plan a session that works for you and your little one. You can choose Maymont or any of my other beautiful locations!
Want to see more of my family photography sessions?
Hi! I’m Sarah, founder of Sarah Creal Photography. I’ve been specializing in photographing families for over 10 years, and I’d love to do the same for you. I’m a member of PPA, Professional Photographers of America, and have over 90 five-star reviews on Google.
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.
