I had the opportunity to spend time with this wonderful family in Historic Yorktown, Virginia for their Fall Anniversary Session. It was such a joy to be around their energetic kids who were so much fun to capture. Crystal did a fantastic job at planning their session attire. They looked great! I especially loved how they just “rolled with it” during their session.
Kids, no matter if they are really little or late elementary school aged, need to be able to act like kids. While that may sound obvious, it is important to expect what is reasonable for their particular age and maturity level. Stephen and Crystal were so gentle, affirming, and completely incredible with their kids. The best part about their anniversary session was how fun their kids were. Their younger two children were so full of silly giggles! The oldest son had the “preteen vibes” going on, which made my heart smile because it reminded me of my own kids. I am one of those people who loves teenagers, and even used to teach middle school English…and I survived. 😉 Through being silly and a little help from a stuffed Spiderman (and two really awesome parents), we were able to capture lots of silly giggles and even a few snuggles.
We started out next to On the Hill Gallery, then headed down Main Street to the historic Nelson House. We spent time there while the golden light was gleaming through the trees, spilling over into the garden next to the house. The Nelson House is beautiful and is a significant part of Yorktown history. (source )
This early Georgian architectural structure was originally the home of William Nelson, a prosperous merchant, who built it in 1730. William Nelson’s son, Thomas Nelson, Jr. inherited the home from his father. Thomas Nelson was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In addition to this honor, he served in the Continental Congress, the state legislature, and as the governor of Virginia for a brief period of time in 1781. He served as a brigadier general and commanded the Virginia militia at the Siege of Yorktown during the Revolutionary War.
After he passed away, his wife continued to live there for the following 30 years. During the Civil War, it served as a hospital for the Confederate Army, and then eventually for the Union Army as well. You can find images captured of the Nelson House in the 1860s from the Civil War in various books and on historical websites such as this one.
I always consider it an honor to capture families and couples in Historic Yorktown, an area rich with our nation’s history.
