Cake Smash Photography

~Keegan~ Charlottesville Cake Smash Mini Session

ByAngela McNaul 03/19/201602/13/2025

~Keegan~ Charlottesville Cake Smash Mini Session

Keegan came to visit me for a cake smash mini session. What a joy it has been watching him grow this past year.

Angela McNaul

I’m Angela, a newborn and baby photographer. Before photography, I was a NICU nurse. As a mom of two, I know how fleeting these moments are and love creating timeless portraits to celebrate them. When I’m not behind the lens, I’m running marathons, knitting, or enjoying Disney vacations with my family.

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3 Ridiculously Good Reasons to Book Your Newborn S

3 Ridiculously Good Reasons to Book Your Newborn Session NOW (Like, Yesterday)

1. Your baby will never be this tiny, snuggly, or agreeable again
Right now, they sleep like 23 hours a day and can be wrapped up like a Chipotle burrito. In a few weeks? They’ll be flailing like a baby octopus with opinions. Let’s capture the calm before the poop storm.

2. You have no idea what day it is
You think you’ll remember how small they were… but your brain is 97% sleep deprivation and Goldfish crumbs. Let’s be honest: you’ll barely remember what you had for lunch. Photos are your backup memory drive.

3. You don’t need 600 iPhone pics where they look like a squashed raisin
You’ve got 84 blurry shots of their foot and one where they look mildly offended by existence. Let me get you wall-worthy, frame-it-forever magic before they start teething and biting everyone.

Book the session. Bring the baby. I’ll bring the magic (and maybe snacks).
#charlottesvillephotographer #crozet #cvillemoms #charlottesville #crozetphotographer #crozetmoms #newbornphotography #charlottesvillenewbornphotographer #angelamcnaulphotography

Parents, You’re Not Alone…” Confession Threa

Parents, You’re Not Alone…” Confession Thread"
🙃 Caption:
Let’s normalize the chaos.
Parents, finish this sentence:
“I knew I was a parent when ___.”
I’ll go first in the comments 👇
(PS: No shame, only solidarity!)
#newbornphotographer #newbornprops #charlottesvillenewbornphotographer #cvillemoms

5 Weird (But True!) Things I Use During Newborn Se

5 Weird (But True!) Things I Use During Newborn Sessions 🍼📸😄

Newborn sessions may look soft, serene, and sweet—but behind the scenes? It’s a creative jungle gym of unexpected tools and tricks. Here are some of the weirdest (but most effective) things I use in my studio:

A dog bed—with legs.
That metal-framed “bed” in your photos? Originally made for dogs! It’s the perfect size and shape for cozy flat-lay poses and blanket setups.

A toothbrush.
Not for teeth—this little tool smooths out baby fuzz and tiny flyaways. It’s my go-to for that polished, angelic look in close-ups.

A coffee table.
Those layered, textured blanket poses you love? They’re usually built right on top of a coffee table. It’s the perfect posing platform for baby perfection.

A cat scratcher.
Hidden under rugs to help support baby in upright poses. It’s round, firm, and exactly what I need to get that beautiful curl and support—no cats involved.

Puppy pads.
Everywhere. Under blankets, props, wraps—you name it. Babies are adorable and unpredictable, and puppy pads save the day (and the props)!

Newborn photography is 10% baby cuddling, 20% camera work, and 70% creative prop engineering. 😆

Which one surprised you the most? Drop a comment and take a wild guess at what else I’ve secretly repurposed in the studio…

#StudioSecrets #charlottesville #NewbornPhotography #CharlottesvillePhotographer #BehindTheScenes #PhotographerLife #MomsOfInstagram #NewbornMagic #cville #cvillemoms #charlottesvillephotographer

I’m opening up one more round of Heirloom Minis—and this will likely be the last one for a while!

📅 Date: Monday, April 28th
These sessions are perfect for capturing timeless portraits of your little one in a classic, fine art style.

Spots are very limited, so if you've been thinking about it, now's the time! These have sold out each time so be sure to grab one quick!

📩 Send me a message if you'd like to book yours today!

Can't wait to see your little ones in front of my lens again.

XO,
Angela

#heirloomsessions #heirloomphotos #minisessions #charlottesvilleva #charlottesvillephotographer

It’s been a little quiet around here… because

It’s been a little quiet around here… because I was off the grid for spring break on a cruise with my son and some dear friends! 🛳️ We had the best time, and I came home with some great memories—and a few stories, of course.

🧗‍♀️ Fun fact: I climbed a rock wall for the first time ever. TERRIFYING. I was so scared, I tried to climb back down instead of repelling. Not my finest moment, but hey—technically, I did it.

🏃‍♀️ I’m also in the taper phase for my marathon, so yes… I ran on the cruise ship. 36 laps around the pool deck = 6 miles. SIX MILES dodging sunbathers, kids with ice cream, and towel piles. Truly an elite obstacle course.

🎬 And we even won a trivia game! "Name That Movie" with only 4 movie clips—and I was 100% not the MVP. But I celebrated like I was!

Now that I’m back, I’ll be catching up on messages and back to posting more regularly. Thanks for your patience—more beautiful babies, bumps, and cake smashes coming your way soon!

#maternityphotographer #charlottesvilleva #cvillemoms #bumptobaby #charlottesvillephotographer #crozetphotographer

✨ When Should You Book Your Newborn Session? ✨

✨ When Should You Book Your Newborn Session? ✨

The best time for a posed newborn session is within the first 7-21 days after birth. Babies are still super sleepy, naturally curly, and more likely to settle into those squishy, womb-like poses.

But let’s be real—life happens! Maybe you didn’t book ahead, or recovery took longer than expected. That’s okay! With patience and a little flexibility, I can create beautiful, traditional newborn portraits up to 8 weeks old. The sweet bug in todays photo was over 5 weeks old for her session and had CHEEKS for days <3

Older newborns may be more alert and less curled up, but we’ll capture sweet moments unique to their stage—gorgeous wide-eyed expressions, wrapped poses, and even some sleepy shots with the right timing.

Booked your session yet? If you're expecting, now is the time! Reach out to secure a spot, and we’ll plan for the perfect timing after baby arrives.

#charlottesvillenewbornphotographer #cvillephotos #newbornphotographers

✨ Timeless. Classic. Forever. ✨ There’s just

✨ Timeless. Classic. Forever. ✨
There’s just ONE spot left for my *discounted* Heirloom Mini Sessions—your chance to create a portrait as beautiful as the generations who will cherish it. This isn’t just a photo; it’s a legacy.
Don’t miss it—send me a message today! 📩
www.angelamcnaulphotography.com

#heirloomphotos #charlottesville #crozet #babyphotographer #childphotographer #charlottesvillephotographer #classicphotoshoot

We all have things we choose to splurge on. For me

We all have things we choose to splurge on. For me, it’s running shoes, race entries, and trips to Disney. Those things bring me joy, and they’re worth every penny. But you know what I don’t really care about? Designer purses, fancy water bottles, specialty coffees . They’re just not my thing, and it’s ok if they are yours.

And that’s the point—what we value is personal. Photography is a luxury, but so are the things we all choose to spend our money on. Some people invest in the latest tech, others in daily lattes, and some in capturing the moments that matter most.

I know times feel uncertain, and it’s hard to decide where to put your money. But here’s a little reminder: your baby’s first weeks, your family’s milestones, these fleeting moments—you can’t get them back. If preserving those memories is something you value, I’d love to help.

So tell me, what’s your splurge? Drop it in the comments! ⬇️ #WhatDoYouValue #MemoriesOverThings #PhotographyIsAnInvestment #charlottesvillephotographer #crozet #cvillemoms #crozetphotographer #charlottesville #crozetmoms #newbornphotography #angelamcnaulphotography

Charlottesville & Crozet Newborn Photographer
Serving Charlottesville, Crozet, Richmond, Keswick, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, Staunton & Lynchburg