Norfolk Botanical Garden Motherhood Photography in Norfolk, VA

We met at Norfolk Botanical Garden on a bright summer afternoon. The sun was high, the air felt warm on our skin, and the whole place smelled like flowers. Hydrangeas spilled over their beds in soft blues and pinks, roses reached for the sky, and a little white fence peeked through the greenery. Bees moved lazily from bloom to bloom, and the crunch of gravel followed us as we wandered down the paths.

She arrived in a soft off the shoulder dress, her baby balanced easily on her hip. We didn’t follow any plan. We just explored, stopping whenever something caught our attention. Sometimes it was a shady spot that gave us a quick break from the sun. Other times it was a quiet bench that felt tucked away from the rest of the garden. More often it was flowers so bright and full you couldn’t help but get closer. Her baby looked around wide-eyed, reaching for petals, leaves, and anything new within reach.

Mother and baby sitting together at Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk, Virginia. Mom is wearing a flowy off-the-shoulder dress and holding her baby close while surrounded by blooming flowers and greenery during a summer motherhood photography session.

One of my favorite moments from this Norfolk Botanical Garden motherhood session was so simple. Her baby’s bare toes rested against her dress. Every now and then they wiggled, and she looked down with a smile. One day those same feet will be running ahead of her on these paths. For now, they fit perfectly in her arms. These are the little things I love most about photographing motherhood sessions in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. They are the details you might not notice in the moment but will treasure later.

Close-up of a baby’s tiny bare feet resting against their mother’s light, flowy dress during a summer motherhood session at Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk, Virginia.

Norfolk Botanical Garden is beautiful all year, but there is something about summer that makes it feel extra alive. It is the perfect backdrop for family and motherhood photography. If you have been thinking about booking a Norfolk Botanical Garden motherhood session or family photos in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, or anywhere in Hampton Roads, I would love to help you capture them. We can take our time, follow your child’s lead, and make photographs that bring you back to this exact stage of life every time you see them.