ERIN THOMPSON

NOVA Family Photographer | Jones Point Park | The Miller Family

Family Session

When Claire reached out to me over the summer about taking their fall family photos, I was thrilled. Not just because it was my first lead before our cross-country move. And not because I knew NOVA would be stunning in the fall. While both of those were true, I was truly honored because Claire and her family don’t live in NOVA. They live two hours away in Delaware and were willing to travel (with little ones) for me to take their photos. That alone was enough to bring a big smile to this NOVA family photographer’s face! Emerson didn’t get the two hour car nap that his parents hoped for though, so I quickly learned that I was going to have to work to get him to smile too!

NOVA Family Photographer

Claire wanted pretty fall colors as a backdrop for their photos and I had been wanting to check out Jones Point Park, so it was a perfect opportunity to shoot there. I knew it was a popular place when we arrived and saw lots of other families dressed for photos and fellow photographers with their gear in tow. For as many families as there were though, the big open space and the variety of backgrounds made it quite comfortable. It didn’t feel crowded. We never had to wait for a spot. Honestly, I was pretty impressed!

We started with some family photos under a big tree. The kids were happy to sit with their parents initially, but I quickly incorporated some movement. Alida loved dancing with her daddy. Emerson loved when he tossed him. They both loved running! I followed this lead and had the whole family make their way towards the river. We captured some more shots there and let the kids throw rocks in the water.

The highlight for me was when the Millers walked out along the rocks and I shot from a porch across the way through some beautiful gold leaves. I was able to create a gorgeous scene with leaves in the foreground and the Potomac in the background. These are some of my favorite photos of the year!

Nate and Claire, thank you so much for trusting me to capture these memories for your family and for spending four hours of your Saturday in a car to make it happen. I hope you cherish these photos for many years to come! 💕

If you’re looking for a NOVA family photographer, I’d love for you to reach out soon! You’ll be needing photos for Christmas cards before you know it! 😉

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more about me

I've been navigating military life with my family since 2008. In that time, I went from a full-time classroom teacher to an online course designer to a photographer. Actually, I still teach a little math on the side because I just love it too much!

Through it all, I've discovered how passionate I am about connecting with military families. Whether it's taking photos at a retirement ceremony, coaching a fellow milspouse photographer, or just grabbing coffee with a new squadron friend, I love this community. And as a teacher at heart, I'm excited to use this space to share what I've learned about business and life with you.

I'M ERIN.

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