RVA Location Guide
Selecting the right location for your session is important and fun! There are so many possibilities based on your personality, your pet’s personality and abilities, your style and decor etc. The first step to your photo session is a planning meeting. This is a meeting over zoom when we will talk about all these things and select the perfect location for you. Each location has something unique to offer. There’s a few things we want to think about when selecting a location. The first is how would you like to enjoy your images? Most people I work with want something for their wall and a memory book. When we are selecting an image for your wall, it’s important that it matches your style and decor. Each location has a different look. For example, if yellow will completely clash with your decor, we won’t select a location that has a lot of yellows in it. Another thing to think about is you and your pet/families personality. Do you go on hikes and do a lot outside? If not, then maybe something a bit more urban or at home would match your personality better. If there is a park or location that you spend a lot of time bringing your pet there, that might be a meaningful location for you. We are capturing memories after all. Another thing to think of is your pet’s abilities and disposition. For example, if they are older and have a hard time getting around anymore, places like Belle Isle that require a lot of walking, bridges or stairs might not be the best option. If you have a reactive pup that’s on guard when other dogs are around, we will opt for a less busy place or time of day. We want them to be comfortable in order to capture their true personality. We will talk about all of this during our planning meeting. I typically hold sessions either on location somewhere, or in my studio that’s located in the West End, or at the client’s home. Below are a list of some of the more popular locations I enjoy photographing and what makes them unique.
Belle Isle North & South
Belle Isle is a great place for photo sessions. There is an access point north of the river near Tredegar Iron Works Museum. This location is nice because it has a large variety in the area. We can photograph near the brick and industrial part of Tredegar before walking over the bridge to Belle Isle. The bridge has some nice architectural looks with grey colors. Then, once we get over the bridge there are green spaces, trails, an old rock building and of course, the rocks overlooking the James River. This is also near Brown’s Island and the Canal Walk (listed as locations below.)
There is another access point to Belle Isle from south of the river. This access point has some stairs and a little bridge. Then, it opens up to a wide area of rocks overlooking the river. There are some nice paths and green spaces as well. This access point is also close to the flood wall and south side of the Pottersfield bridge (listed as locations below.)
Bryan Park
If nature is your thing and natural looking spaces, Bryan park is a wonderful place. There is a good amount of variety depending on the time of year. There are some open field areas, as well as azaleas in the spring for some color and flowers. There is also an area with a pond, as well as a little bridge. In the fall there are fall colors, In the spring there’s lots of greens and some flowers.
Crump Park
Crump park is nice for a more rustic and timeless feel. There are some structures that make nice settings, like an old barn and rustic looking fences. There’s a cute dirt path, as well as wooded areas. There is an open field area with a pond as well. The thing to be aware of here is that they have some animals like sheep and chickens. So, if that will bother your pup we will have to stay away from the areas where the other animals are.
Flood Wall & Pottersfield Bridge
This access point is on the south side of the river. There is a nice amount of variety here including some architectural aspects like under the bridge overlooking the river with big arches, as well as the flood wall and a view of the city over the river. There are some green spaces here as well. This is near to the south part of Belle Isle as well.
Canal Walk
If you’re looking for an urban area with lots of variety, as well as some options for green and nature amongst the city, this is a great place. At the start of the canal walk are colorful murals. As we walk further in toward the city, there are tunnels, places where we can photograph with the city, as well as some natural areas with trees and grass. This is also near Brown’s Island. This area does go into the city, so when we approach bridges there will be cars and an occasional train. So, if your pup is super sensitive to noise and cars, that is a consideration here.
Brown’s Island
This location has a good variety as well. It’s a nice urban option with views of the city. There are some green spaces overlooking the canal. It’s a smaller area, so with a full session we can walk to nearby Tredegar for some rustic brick settings, over the Pottersfield Bridge to the other side of the river where there are more views of the city and some green natural areas on the other side, or we could head toward the canal walk and murals. Things to be aware of here is the bridge, if your pup doesn’t like walking over bridges or on different surfaces. There’s also a good amount of bikes and people out and about walking dogs depending on the time of day.
StonyPoint Mall or Short Pump Mall
Both Stony Point and Short Pump Mall have some nice architectural elements. They are colorful locations with curated flower pots, flower beds and fountains. They are usually decked out for the time of year. At Christmas there are Christmas decorations. In the spring there are pretty flowers. These are nice places to photograph in the morning before stores open. There aren’t many people around then.
Quirk Hotel
This is truly a unique Richmond location. If your decor is pink, this is a great place to incorporate pink in your images. It’s a dog friendly hotel with super cute spaces in the lobby and courtyard. It’s located downtown. So, we can also walk outside for some city scapes. This location needs to be reserved ahead of time. It’s pending approval by the hotel and there is an additional fee.
West Broad Village
West Broad Village is a pretty manicured neighborhood with a shopping area. There are manicured green spaces in the retail area, as well as a pond and walking path. This has a nice suburb feel with some architectural elements as well as manicured green spaces and flowers depending on the time of year. Architectural elements include the shopping area as well as the neighborhood area.
Deep Run Park
Deep Run Park has a good amount of variety in nature. There are wooded paths that feel woodsy with a little creek and rocks. There are open green spaces and ponds. In the fall there are beautiful fall colors and leaves here. In the spring and summer it's very lush and green. There aren’t many flowers here, but there are some cute elements like bridges and nature paths.
Goochland Farm
I have access to a beautiful little farm in Goochland. This farm has open areas with pretty scenery, trees and grass. Sometimes they plant sunflowers, so a couple times a year that is available. Year round is just a pretty open space. Very natural. They also have a vintage red tractor that might be able to be in a few images as well. This location does require prior approval and scheduling with the farm, as well as an additional fee.
At Home
Sometimes the best place to have a photo session is at your own home. This is the place where your pet is most comfortable. They have their favorite sleeping spots, play areas, walks around their neighborhood etc. These can make for meaningful storytelling sessions. For older pets, as well as cats at home sessions tend to work well. And don’t worry your home isn’t the star of the show here. You and your pet are. So, we can move any clutter etc. out of the way so that your pet and family has the full attention.
In The Studio
My studio is located in the West End not too far from Short Pump. Studio sessions have a minimalistic clean feel. We will talk through the look you want to match your home and select a background option that will work perfectly. From plain white to classic grey, to colors and more natural looking brick options, we will curate the images to have the look that matches you and your pets personality. Studio sessions work great for cats and smaller animals that can’t typically hang outside. They also work well for dogs and families.
