Location
GUIDE
+ Next steps for your next session
MEET HEATHER
hiiiiii, I’m currently based out of Charleston, West Virginia. I strive to try new things, and make people feel their most confident selves, so I can truly get moments that feel genuine to you and your loved ones. I will be giggly and so so random during our time together but I promise you’ll love it!
Let's run through the mountains, jump in a lake, hug your dog, go eat some hamburgers - whatever it is you want to do for your session, I'm here for it, and you can trust me to capture every moment.
Make sure to read through everything below!
how to pick the
right location
- Reflect Your Story: Pick a spot that resonates with your history or interests.
- Consider Lighting: Opt for soft, natural light during golden hour for flattering photos.
- Match Your Style: Ensure your outfits and location complement each other.
- Accessibility: Choose a location that's easy to reach with ample parking.
- Permissions: Check for any necessary permits or photography rules in advance
are you ready?
Choosing your shoot location is like picking the perfect earrings for your outfit—not essential for a great look, but oh, it can elevate it! Imagine your happy place; that's our goal.
Got the perfect outfit? Great! Let's ensure it pops against our backdrop. Green dress? Skip the forest to avoid blending in. Eyeing beach shots? White against the ocean's blue will look stunning.
This is about showcasing you!
Complement each other's outfits
Avoid matching
DO'S
DO's + DON'T
DON'T
flatter your body type
Avoid bright colors (neons, bright red)
neutrals + earth tones
Leave the baseball hat at home
Accessorize and layer
Avoid chipped nails and apple watches
get your nails done
Avoid restricting clothes
Avoid anything with logos or writing
Do your hair/makeup
location spots
handpicked
IN OR AROUND CHARLESTON
PARKING GARAGE
STATE CAPITAL
WATER DOCK
DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON
FIELD 1
FIELD 2
WATER OPTION 2
NEW RIVER GORGE
State
ENTRANCE FEE & PARKING: No entrance fee. Free parking on weekends, but not weekdays (metered parking). To get inside the capital, you need to get there before 4pm!
CHARLESTON, WV
RECOMMENDED TIME:
This location is beautiful ALL year round! If you want outside only - start an hour before sunset. If you want to do inside/outside - start at 4pm.
KEY FEATURES: Historic building with beautiful marble steps. Lots of different places to take pictures! Ideal for those who want more of a classy option.
NOTE: Pops of color look amazing here against the white / marble!
A slice of history with beautiful steps, perfect for capturing timeless, romantic moments. It's where every photo tells a story.
Capitol
Water
ENTRANCE FEE & PARKING: No entrance fee! This location has a massive parking lot to parking cars/boats!
WINFIELD, WV
RECOMMENDED TIME:
This location is ONLY good at sunset - otherwise the water reflects in the pictures, making it look white.
This is about 20+ minutes from all of the other locations
KEY FEATURES: Scenic water views, water dock to stand or sit on, boat ramp that you can stand on and get in the water if you want!
NOTE: Neutrals look great here! White, light blue, light green, and black colors stand out the most here!
The water dock is a stunning location. It can be dressed up or casual - whatever your vibe is!
DOCK
Downtown
ENTRANCE FEE & PARKING: NORMALLY free parking (bring money just in case). I recommend parking in the Summers Street parking garage beside DP Dough and walking towards Ellen's Ice Cream.
LEE STREET, WV
You can shoot here all year round and it'll still look great! This is one of the locations I shoot at about 2-3 hours before sunset to avoid it being too dark - there's quite a bit of shade downtown.
KEY FEATURES: Accessible for all visitors, great for any season, lights are strung up (sometimes they aren't always on though), multiple spots for pictures! Sometimes it can be crowded.
NOTE: Neutral colors look best here. Stay away from reds, oranges + pinks. Pops of color tend to clash with the brick.
Downtown Charleston is a VERY popular location. This is one of those spots where you can dress it up OR dress it down and be comfortable. There's tons of spots downtown!
CHARLESTON
Parking
ENTRANCE FEE & PARKING: This parking garage is usually free, but it just depends on the hours. Bring $5 just in case.
CHARLESTON, WV
RECOMMENDED TIME:
This location you HAVE to shoot at sunset or else it's super bright.
KEY FEATURES: Scenic views of downtown Charleston with a gorgeous city scape!
NOTE: Neutrals + pops of color go great here since the location is pretty neutral! Stay away from tans and beige colors.
I've shot at many parking garages, but this one is my favorite! This parking garage provides a beautiful city space of downtown Charleston! This is perfect during ALL seasons!
GARAGE
Field
ENTRANCE FEE & PARKING: No entrance fee. Free parking
Charleston, WV
RECOMMENDED TIME:
I WILL ONLY SHOOT HERE DURING SUNSET. If you go before then, it's extremely sunny - there's no shade.
KEY FEATURES: Scenic views with woods, very green in the spring/summer/fall
NOTE: Neutrals + pops of color look great here! White, muted blues, muted reds, and black colors stand out the most here!
This field is perfect year round, but really shines in the summer and fall. During the winter/early spring it's pretty brown, but during the late spring/summer/fall it's very lush and green! I ONLY shoot here during golden hour before sunset.
Option 1
Field
ENTRANCE FEE & PARKING: No entrance fee, free parking. Big gravel parking lot
St. Albans, WV
RECOMMENDED TIME:
I will ONLY shoot here during sunset!
KEY FEATURES: Scenic views with beautiful sunsets, lots of room to lay down, and chase your partner!
NOTE: Neutrals, blacks, and whites will look amazing here with all of the greenery!
This field option is perfect for those who want to run in an open field. During the summer it has very lush greenery perfect for up-close or wide-angle shots, ideal for creating Instagram-worthy photos!.
Option 2
Water
ENTRANCE FEE & PARKING: No entrance fee, free parking!
Close to Cathedral Falls, WV
RECOMMENDED TIME:
I will only shoot here at sunset - the water can be super reflective!
Spring/Summer/Fall is best here to showcase the greenery!
KEY FEATURES: Scenic views with river access. You CAN get in (but it's not exactly the cleanest)
NOTE: Neutrals look great here!
This location is perfect for showcasing the true beauty of West Virginia. It can definitely be hit or miss sometimes. If it rains super hard the day before or if the river is high, you won't be able to access the rock. If you want to use this location, let me know and I can double check what it looks like that week!
Option 2
If you are a senior with multiple locations (2-3 locations), this location is *not* accessible for your session.
New River
ENTRANCE FEE & PARKING: No entrance fee, and free parking everywhere we go! The bottom is easy to access and the top is a short 2-3min flat walk!
Fayetteville, WV
RECOMMENDED TIME:
I will shoot here at sunset. You don't want to shoot before that or else when you get to the top of Beauty Mountain, it'll be super bright and sunny - which you don't want.
KEY FEATURES: Scenic views with woods, trails, streams, and varied landscapes. Lots of places to stop and take pictures in the road (if that's your vibe)!
NOTE: Usually neutrals look the best here!
New River Gorge National Park is a PERFECT location. There are so many places to take photos, especially when the river is down since you get more ground to work with!! Typically I start at the bottom and then work our way to the top!
Gorge National Park
If you are a senior with multiple locations (2-3 locations), this location is *not* accessible for your session.