FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER IN VIRGINIA
Meet Anna Dobrovolskaia, a documentary-style family photographer capturing timeless, artistic moments
Hi, I’m Anna
I’m a family photographer based in Richmond, VA, and I believe there’s magic in the ordinary — in quiet gestures, soft light, and fleeting glances. My work is about honoring that magic and helping you see your life the way I see it through my lens: rich with emotion, beauty, and story.
My journey with photography began long before I owned a camera. As a child, I was fascinated by film and Polaroids — tiny windows into past moments. I didn’t think I’d ever become a photographer, but the dream stayed quietly with me for years. In 2021, after leaving a career that no longer fulfilled me, I picked up my first real camera and something just clicked. I started photographing friends, then clients, and before long, photography became not just my passion, but my full-time work and calling.
Today, I specialize in documentary and artistic photography for families, newborns, and motherhood. I’m drawn to natural moments — the way a mother strokes her baby’s hair, a toddler’s laughter, or the way light pours through a window just right. I don’t aim for perfection. I aim for feeling.
My approach is gentle and intuitive. I’ll guide you when needed, but I also know when to step back and let the moment unfold. My editing is careful and intentional, preserving the realness while enhancing the quiet beauty in every frame.
Photography, for me, is a way of seeing and connecting. It’s how I make sense of the world and how I give something meaningful back to it. And if you choose to work with me, I’ll bring all of that care, experience, and heart to telling your story — exactly as it deserves to be told.
The other day, a client asked me why I chose to photograph families, newborns, and maternity—what led me to this field of work. It got me thinking. The answer feels both difficult and easy at the same time.
When I first picked up a camera, I was photographing everything. I was curious, excited, and eager to try it all. But over time, I began to notice which sessions left me feeling the most fulfilled—and it was always the ones centered around family. There’s something about being invited into that intimate, everyday world that just feels right to me. It’s where I feel most comfortable and most inspired.
I love exploring each family’s unique dynamic, learning who they are, how they connect, and what makes them them. No two families are ever the same. I especially love working with children—they usually warm up to me quickly, and it’s such a joy to watch them just be themselves. They’re open, expressive, full of life, and they don’t worry about the camera. It’s all so natural.
At the heart of it all, I think what draws me in is witnessing love and connection. That’s what I try to capture in every session—a real, honest story of one family. I want someone looking at those photographs to feel who these people are, what they mean to each other, and the quiet beauty in their everyday life.
That’s why I do this. That’s why I love family photography so much.
Serving Richmond, VA and beyond
Meet Anna Dobrovolskaia — timeless, artistic family photography in Richmond, VA, capturing love, connection, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. Specializing in documentary-style newborn, maternity, and family sessions, serving families who value authentic storytelling and heartfelt moments.
Madison Stout
Anna has a gift for capturing real, meaningful moments. She made us feel so at ease during both our maternity and family session. Her warmth, patience, and natural connection with our baby made the experience even more special.
Brittany Goodwyn
Working with Anna was a delight. She truly helped me realize the vision that I had for our session. I could not recommend her enough. She has great energy and knows how to get the most out of each person. She captured our family in exactly the way I envisioned, and I adore our photos.
Morgan Thatcher
Anna created such a comfortable space for us to feel natural in our home. Having candid photos in our own space allowed for her creativity and she truly created works of art! We also now have these memories of this season of life captured for us to keep forever. These pictures are exactly what we were looking for and working with Anna allowed us (and our kids) to have fun with the process!