What Really Happens at a Portrait Session With Sarah McCall Portraits

If you've ever nervously searched "family photographer Virginia Beach" or "portrait photographer Norfolk" and wondered what it's actually like to get in front of a camera, this post is for you. I want to pull back the curtain on what a session with me looks like from start to finish, starting with your first inquiry email and ending with your gallery in your inbox.

It starts with a real conversation

Before we book anything, I want to get to know you a little. Sometimes that's a quick phone call, sometimes it's a few messages back and forth. I want to know who you are. Are you a family with toddlers who won't sit still for more than 30 seconds? A couple celebrating an anniversary? A mom who just wants beautiful photos of her kids before they grow up too fast? That context shapes everything, including the location I suggest, the time of day we shoot, and how I work with you on the day of your session.

"My job isn't just to take photos. It's to create an experience where you forget the camera is there."

Couple holding hands and laughing in the ocean waves at sunset, Virginia Beach couples photography by Sarah McCall Portraits

Choosing the perfect Norfolk or Virginia Beach location

One of the biggest advantages of shooting locally is that I know this area well. From the golden-hour light at First Landing State Park to the quiet streets of the Ghent neighborhood, I have go-to spots for every season and every style. I'll suggest a location based on your family's vibe and the kind of images you're drawn to, whether that's light and airy, moody and wooded, or that coastal feel that only Hampton Roads can deliver.

Here's how every session unfolds

Step 01 - The inquiry You reach out, we talk about your vision, and I answer every question you have.

Step 02 - Planning call/ email We nail down location, outfits, timing, and any little ones' nap schedules.

Step 03 - The session Relaxed, guided, and fun. I direct just enough so you never feel lost.

Step 04 - Your gallery Fully edited images delivered within two weeks, ready to print or share.

Family of five posing on the beach at First Landing State Park with lighthouse in background, Norfolk family photographer Sarah McCall Portraits

What to expect on the day

I want you to show up feeling excited, not stressed. I'll send a prep guide ahead of time with outfit ideas, what to bring, and tips for keeping kids calm and cooperative (yes, it really is possible). On the day itself, we ease in slowly. I never rush straight into posing. We walk around, talk a little, I crack a few bad jokes, and before long you've completely forgotten I'm holding a camera.

Most portrait and family sessions run between 20 minutes to an hour. That's long enough to get a good variety of looks and genuine moments, but short enough that kids and parents don't run out of steam. I work with natural light almost exclusively, which is why I schedule sessions around that soft, warm light in the hour or two before sunset.

After the session

Within two weeks of your session, you'll get a private online gallery of fully edited, high-resolution images. No watermarks, no blurry previews. Just beautiful photos that are ready for printing, framing, or sharing. I also offer print packages and heirloom albums for families who want something they can actually hold, not just a folder of files sitting on a hard drive.

If you're in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, or anywhere in the Hampton Roads area and you've been putting off booking portraits for your family, this is your nudge. These moments don't stick around forever, but the photos can.

Ready to book your session? Norfolk & Virginia Beach portrait photographer, booking now for summer 2026.

Young boy smiling at camera during family portrait session on Virginia Beach, photographed by Sarah McCall Portraits