Richmond Family Photographer

Serving Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, and all who call RVA home

Family of four playing in the parents' bedroom

There’s no place like home.

Home is where your heart is (cliché). It’s also where you let your hair down (or put it in a messy bun). Where you gather around the kitchen table for all your meals. Where your family lives, breathes, and lets down their guard.

Home is where the tantrums are. But it’s also where the cuddles happen, where bandaids live, where snacks are abundant, and toys and books are within arm’s reach.

As a mom of two little kids, I know how fast the years fly by, spilled snacks giving way to school bags on the floor. That’s why I’m passionate about freezing time for your family right here, right now, while they’re little (or little-ish), in photos that feel like *you.*

A family of four lounges on their couch at home together. Mom and older son are laughing and looking at each other, Dad's arm is stuck behind Mom, toddler son is laughing at the camera.

“Love and connection through the chaos”

“It’s amazing to have photos of this moment in time. Of our love and connection through the chaos.”

— Melissa | Richmond, VA

A photo of Allison Patel, captured by Megumi Bacher.

We’re going for real emotion, here.

Hey there, I’m Allison, a Richmond mom who gets the struggle of being too busy taking care of your kids to remember to get into pictures with them.

I know how it feels, when you want photos of your whole family (including you) but you don’t want perfect poses and school-picture smiles. You want real.

You want your kids to remember this life you’re working so hard for, and you want them to remember you being in it with them.

You don’t need perfect photos.

You need to see your life, documented in a beautiful, real way.

Your family doesn’t spend a lot of quality time in open fields at sunset.

Instead of trying to find the perfect field, perfect outfits, and keep your kids up past bedtime for the perfect photos, how about we don’t.

Let’s choose a time that works for you, and hang out at home for an hour.

We’ll walk through it together, step by step, and make your family photos easy, and maybe even fun.

A dad walks behind his son through leaves on their street. The boy is smiling at the camera and holding his dad's fingers.

“The entire experience felt so natural…”

“Allison is the most laid back, easy going photographer to work with, and she is so approachable and professional, the entire experience felt so natural. We didn't feel awkward or out of place at all.”

- Lindsay | Richmond, VA

Let’s create photos that will mean everything to you.

(Without the stress of perfection.)