Northern Virginia Family Photographer —

Candid, Documentary, Vibrant

WITH CHAYIL AT BLACK PEPPER PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

REAL MOMENTS. NOT REHEARSED ONES.

We're not chasing the picture-perfect pose where everyone's looking at the camera and smiling on command. We're chasing the real thing - the piggyback ride, the toddler who won't sit still, the teenager who finally cracks a real laugh.
That's what actually ends up on your wall.

Sessions are play-led and paced around your family, not the other way around. Whether it's just the three of you or a full multigenerational reunion, we document it the same way we document everything else: candid, documentary, and true to who you actually are together.

THE HEART + INTENTION BEHIND OUR FAMILY SESSIONS

How Our Sessions Work




‍We follow your family's actual rhythm instead of forcing one. New moms get room to breathe. Kids get room to move. Adults get to stop performing. Plus, we stay close enough to catch what happens in between the moments you were expecting. Clients tell us again and again that we're patient with kids and amazing with big groups — that's not an accident, it's the whole approach.

Photographer capturing a candid photo of a large group posed together outdoors in a garden setting with brick pavers and lush greenery, Richmond, VA.

Seasonal Sessions




Fall and holiday sessions are our busiest stretch, and for good reason - golden light is so much better when illuminating autumn leaves and layered outfits. We book these out in advance, so if you're thinking about a fall or holiday session, August through October is the best time to grab a date.

Couple laughing together while holding their puppy dressed in a red holiday sweater, kneeling by a stone bench during a fall session at Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC.
Family of four smiling together beneath the marble columns at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, dad holding his toddler, in Washington, DC.

Favorite Family Locations






From Old Town Alexandria's walkable streets to the open light at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Capitol Hill, we know where families photograph well across Northern Virginia and DC. Prefer to stay put? We also shoot in-home sessions - no location scouting required, just your own space and the way your family actually lives in it. Not sure what's right for you? Read our Fall Family Photos in Northern Virginia guide or just ask.

Extended & Multigenerational Families




Grandparents, cousins, the whole crew - we love a big family session. Group sizes up to 10 are built right into our pricing, and we plan ahead with you on logistics so wrangling everyone for one great shot doesn't fall entirely on you. Trust us - wrangling groups is a huge part of our job as wedding creatives.

Large multigenerational family gathered together laughing and embracing on a wooden deck under a white pergola, grandmother at the center, at Boathouse at Sunday Park in Richmond, VA.

"Chayil was an absolute pleasure to work with. My toddler was having a hard time cooperating during the photos, and Chayil went above and beyond to keep her engaged and capture amazing shots of her and our family. We loved Chayil's energy and would definitely book with her again. Her work is top-notch. Highly recommend!!!"

— Larissa, November 2025

Pricing + Investment

THE MINI / starting at $325

A short, intentional 30-minute session for quick updates, seasonal photos, or families who want something meaningful without an extended session.

THE REUNION / starting at $475

A more thorough 60-minute session with room to capture connection and movement; ideal for larger families, milestone gatherings, and multigenerational groups.

Book your family session

Your Questions, Answered

  • Genuinely, yes. Chayil's degree is in psychology with a focus on personality in children and adults, so reading a kid's energy and working with it instead of against it is part of how we approach every session. We build in time for warm-up, follow their lead, and some of our favorite images come from the moments that weren't posed at all.

  • Our pricing scales from 2 up to 10 family members. Have a bigger group than that? Reach out and we'll create a custom package for you.

  • Fall books up fastest for the light and layers, but we shoot family sessions year-round, including holiday minis.

  • Old Town Alexandria, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and Capitol Hill are consistent favorites. We also love in-home sessions for families who'd rather skip the location altogether and just be photographed where they actually live.

  • Absolutely - it's one of our favorite kinds of session, and our Reunion package is built with larger groups in mind.

  • Of course! Pets are part of the family too. Just let us know ahead of time so we can plan the timing and location around them. We don’t want to break any rules prohibiting animals in certain areas.

Recent Family Sessions Across Our Service Area

  • Family of four dressed in coordinated neutral tones - gray suits, cream sweaters, black boots — smiling together beneath the marble columns of the DC War Memorial in Washington, DC.

    DC War Memorial, Washington, DC

  • Couple standing close together with their dog beside a wooded creek, fall leaves scattered along the bank, at Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC.

    Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC

  • Family of four sharing a laugh on the marble steps of the Library of Congress, one son perched on the ledge and the other standing to be kissed on the forehead, on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.

    Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.

  • Three sisters in shades of blue dresses laughing together with arms around each other's shoulders, in front of the marble columns at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.

    Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC.

  • Family of four walking and laughing together down a brick sidewalk past a peach-colored colonial building with tall columns, in Old Town Alexandria, VA.

    Old Town Alexandria, VA

  • Couple sitting close together on a brick garden wall, smiling at each other in front of a historic rowhouse with hydrangeas blooming nearby, in Georgetown, Washington, DC.

    Georgetown, Washington, DC.