Womens Portraits

I am a woman over 50.

That matters.

Because when a woman over 50 walks into my studio here in Charlottesville, Virginia, she isn’t stepping in front of just any camera. She’s standing with someone who understands the weight of the years—and the quiet power that comes with them.

I didn’t choose to photograph women over 50 by accident. Life chose it for me. Experience shaped it. Time confirmed it.

At this age, women don’t come to be “fixed.” They come to be seen.

So I slow everything down. The day begins with professional makeup and hair styling—not to change her, but to honor her. A wardrobe consultation that feels like a thoughtful conversation, not a judgment. Refreshments. Comfort. Care. The kind of pampering women so freely give to others, yet rarely allow for themselves.

And something beautiful happens.

She exhales.

I see it every time. The shoulders soften. The eyes brighten. The self-criticism loosens its grip. She begins to remember who she is beneath the roles, the responsibilities, the expectations.

As a Charlottesville photographer and a photographer for women, I believe this season of life deserves to be documented with intention. With respect. With heart.

Women over 50 carry stories in their faces—love, loss, courage, resilience, joy earned the hard way. There is a depth here that cannot be manufactured. It can only be witnessed.

The photoshoot becomes more than portraits.

It becomes a reclaiming.

She sees herself differently when she views the images. Not younger. Not someone else. Herself—confident, radiant, grounded. A woman who has lived and is still becoming.

What does a photoshoot result in?

It results in images she didn’t know were possible.
In confidence she forgot she owned.
In a tangible reminder that she is worthy of space, beauty, and celebration—right now.

She leaves with photographs, yes. But she also leaves with a quiet certainty.

That this chapter matters.
That she matters.
That being over 50 is not something to hide from the camera.

It’s exactly why she belongs in front of it.

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Welcome to my studio. I am genuinely so excited you’re here.

I’m a Charlottesville, Virginia photographer for women, and if there’s one thing I know to be true, it’s this: women over 50 walk through my door carrying far more doubt than they deserve.

They come in quietly. Thoughtfully. Sometimes apologetically.
Women of every shape and size who have somehow been convinced that they missed their moment. That beautiful portraits are for younger women. That being over 50 means staying safely out of the frame.

Let me stop that story right here.

Being over 50 is not a reason not to be photographed. It’s the reason you should be.

This is the age where you’ve lived. Loved. Lost. Learned. You’ve earned every line, every curve, every ounce of strength you carry. And when you allow yourself a portrait session where every detail is handled for you, something shifts.

You don’t have to worry about what to wear. I guide you through a wardrobe consultation so you feel confident, comfortable, and completely yourself.
You don’t have to worry about makeup. My professional makeup artist knows how to create anything—from bold, fashion-forward elegance to fresh, simple, hometown beauty.
You don’t have to take care of anyone but yourself.

We’ll pour your favorite drink. Yes, bubbly if that’s your thing.
You’ll settle into the makeup chair while we fuss over you, laugh, and ease you into the experience. Music goes on. We dance a little. Sometimes we sing. Because the best images happen when you forget you’re being photographed and simply exist.

That’s when magic shows up.

When the session ends, we sit together and look through the images—every single one. Unretouched. Honest. Real. No filters. No tricks. Just you as you are.

And this is the moment that never gets old for me.

You’ll lean in. You’ll go quiet. Then you’ll smile.
Because suddenly, there you are.

You’ll see what everyone else has always seen but you may have forgotten—your presence, your warmth, your beauty, your worth. And I promise you this: there will be so many images you love, choosing will be the hardest part.

These portraits don’t just give you photographs.
They give you proof.
Proof that you are worthy of being seen.
Proof that this season of life is powerful.
Proof that you didn’t miss anything—you arrived exactly on time.

If you’d like to see the women over 50 who trusted this process before you, I invite you to watch the slideshow below.

You might just recognize yourself in them.

Rhoda Wheeler, owner of Agents in Style Luxury Consignment Boutique poses for a black and white photo at Arnel Gonce Photography Studios in Charlottesville Virginia, wearing a white blouse and black slacks while sitting on a bankers stool.

Tracy participating in a over 50 for women project in a navy blue silk dress with

A woman with curly hair sitting on a chair in front of a large window with a cityscape in the background.

A black and white portrait of a woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a turtleneck sweater and a jacket, standing with arms crossed against a dark background.

Black and white portrait of a woman sitting on a cushioned surface, wearing glasses, a denim jacket, and dark pants. She has short, tousled hair and is resting her chin on her hand, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

Black and white portrait of a woman sitting on a stool, wearing a leather jacket, wide-leg pants, and high heels, with curly hair smiling at the camera.

Black and white photo of a smiling woman with short hair, wearing a striped shirt, leaning on a chair with floral upholstery.

A black and white portrait of a woman with dark hair, smiling, resting her head on her hand, wearing a long-sleeve top and hoop earrings.

A woman wearing a black wide-brimmed hat, layered jewelry, and a fringed shawl or wrap poses in a dark setting.

Black and white photo of four smiling women standing close together against a plain background.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman older woman with short hair, wearing a black dress, jewelry, and seated with her hand resting on her chin against a plain dark background.

Black and white portrait of a woman over the age of 50 with curly hair wearing a long-sleeved black top and light-colored jeans, standing against a dark background.

A woman over the age of 50 with blonde hair sitting on a stool against a dark background, wearing a sleeveless black top and jeans, smiling slightly and looking at the camera.

A woman with long hair sitting on the floor against a dark background, smiling, wearing a black sweater, jeans, and knee-high boots.

A smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a black top and pants, sitting on a stool with one leg raised, set against a dark backdrop.

Black and white portrait of a smiling middle-aged woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a white blazer, a black top, and a long pearl necklace, standing against a plain background.

Smiling woman with long hair wearing a black top, posing against a plain background.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with short, curly hair, wearing a dark top, seated against a dark patterned background.

A black-and-white portrait of an elderly woman with white hair, sitting on a chair, smiling, with her right hand resting on her temple. She is wearing a black dress with a knot detail at the front, a necklace, and earrings.

An older mother with white hair and daughter over the age of 50 with dark, curly hair, standing close together and smiling at the camera against a dark gray background. They are embracing and dressed in black.

Black and white portrait of a woman with blonde hair, wearing earrings, smiling slightly, with her head turned slightly to the side, against a dark background.

A joyful woman with short hair, wearing a white shirt, laughing and touching her face with one hand, sitting at a table against a dark background.

A woman with shoulder-length hair sitting on the floor against a plain background, smiling, dressed in a black top, dark jeans, and black ankle boots with a block heel.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair smiling, sitting on a tall stool against a plain dark background, wearing a long-sleeved black top and dark pants.

Black and white portrait of a woman with long hair, resting her face in her hands, looking directly at the camera.

A black and white portrait of a woman with short hair, smiling, crossing her arms, wearing a turtleneck sweater.

Black and white portrait of a woman with short hair, sitting on a bench, wearing a denim jacket and a ring, with her chin resting on her hand and smiling gently.

A black and white portrait of a woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a black turtleneck sweater, sitting against a plain dark background.

A smiling woman with shoulder-length hair sitting in an ornate chair on a dark background

Black and white portrait of a smiling older woman with short curly hair, wearing a dark long-sleeve top, sitting with her elbow on a table and her chin resting on her hand.

A woman with long hair wearing a black turtleneck and distressed jeans, sitting against a dark background, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

A woman with shoulder-length hair laughing while sitting on an armchair, holding glasses, in a room with wooden paneling.

Black and white portrait of a woman with curly hair, sitting on a bench, wearing a black long-sleeve top and pants, with earrings and rings, against a dark background.

A woman with short hair, wearing a dark blazer and jeans, smiling and posing with her hand in her pocket against a plain dark background.

Black and white portrait of a middle-aged woman with short, wavy hair, wearing glasses and jewelry, posing with her hand on her face against a plain dark background.

A woman with blonde hair, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a thoughtful expression, wearing a lace long-sleeve top and dark pants, against a dark background.

A black and white portrait of a middle-aged woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a dark sweater, striped shirt underneath, and jeans, against a dark background.

Three women, triplet sisters smiling and hugging each other, black and white photograph.

Black and white photo of a woman sitting on a stool, smiling, wearing a denim jacket, white shirt, black pants, and high heels.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman wearing a white button-up shirt, checkered pants, a pearl necklace, and jewelry.

Black and white portrait of a woman with short hair, sitting with her chin resting on her left hand, wearing a sleeveless top and light-colored pants, smiling softly against a dark background.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing a black top and earrings, sitting with her hands clasped near her face.

A woman sitting cross-legged on a wooden floor, smiling at the camera, with one hand resting on her knee and the other touching her neck, wearing a black sweater and jeans, in a dimly lit room with dark walls.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with short hair, resting her head on her left hand, sitting at a table with a dark background.

Black and white photograph of a woman with long hair smiling, seated at a table with her head resting on her hand, looking at the camera.

A woman with dark hair, wearing a white blouse, black skirt, and black high heels, reclining on a light-colored couch laughing with head tilted back, in a room with dark wood-paneled walls.

Black and white photo of a woman sitting on the floor against a dark wall with decorative molding, legs extended forward, wearing a sweater and jewelry, smiling softly.

Black and white portrait of a woman sitting on a chair with animal print fabric, wearing a blazer, with a wooden-paneled wall background.

A portrait of an older woman with short blonde hair sitting on a chair in front of a dark wall. She is wearing a white top, dark pants, and boots, with her hand resting on her face and a slight smile.

A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a dark blazer, sitting at a round table with a wood grain surface, in front of a dark background.

Black and white portrait of a woman with wavy shoulder-length hair, wearing a dark coat with a fur collar, leather pants, a belt, and jewelry, standing against a wooden paneled wall with her hand on her hip.

A woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing earrings, sitting on the floor with her legs crossed and hands clasped, smiling at the camera against a dark wooden paneled wall.

Black and white photo of a woman sitting on a chair with a leopard print cushion, smiling, with her hair flowing, wearing a button-up shirt, black pants, and high heels, in a room with wood floors and paneled walls.

A woman smiling and posing in a black satin dress, standing on a wooden floor with dark paneled walls behind her.

A woman with shoulder-length hair sitting on the floor, leaning against a wooden wall, wearing a dark top, jeans, and bracelets, looking up and smiling.

A smiling woman wearing a large brim hat, hoop earrings, a white blouse, and a patterned skirt, sitting with hands clasped in her lap against a dark background.

A woman with curly hair partially concealed behind a black hooded jacket, peeking out from the zipper.

A woman sitting on a vintage armchair, laughing with her head tilted back and hand resting on her head, in a room with dark wooden paneling.

A woman sitting cross-legged on a tufted ottoman, wearing a black shirt and jeans, with her right hand resting on her chin and smiling at the camera, against a dark wall with decorative wall panels.

A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white short-sleeve top and a layered skirt, leaning on a round table in a room with dark wood paneling.

A woman with short hair and a big smile, wearing a white shirt, dark jeans, and heels, sits on a stool in front of a dark wooden wall.

A black and white photo of a woman sitting on a chair, resting her head on her hand, in a room with dark walls and wood flooring.

A woman with wavy hair laughing, wearing a black off-the-shoulder dress, pearl necklace, bracelet, and rings, sitting on a bench with her leg raised, in a black and white photo.

A black and white photo of a woman with long wavy hair, sitting on a cushioned armchair with her legs crossed. She is wearing a patterned blouse and dark jeans. The background shows wooden paneling on the wall.

A woman with dark hair smiling while sitting on a vintage armchair, resting her arm on the back of the chair, wearing a patterned cardigan, black top, and jewelry.

A woman with short, wavy blonde hair, wearing a sleeveless black dress with sheer details at the top, is laughing with her eyes closed while standing against a dark textured wall.

A woman with short wavy hair wearing a dark sleeveless dress and pearl necklace, leaning against a textured wall, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

Black and white portrait of a woman with dark curly hair, wearing a dark top, sitting at a table with her hand resting on her chin, looking at the camera.

A black and white photo of an elderly woman sitting on a cushioned bench with her left leg crossed over her right, holding her left knee with both hands. She is wearing a long-sleeved black top, black pants, and has short hair, earrings, and a contem

A smiling woman with shoulder-length wavy hair sitting on a stool in front of a dark wall, wearing a blazer, a patterned blouse, jeans, and boots.

A woman with short blonde hair wearing a white turtleneck, black leather skirt, and black high-heeled boots standing behind a beige sofa in a room with dark walls.

A woman sitting on a chair in a room with dark wooden walls and flooring, smiling, wearing a black dress, high heels, and a pendant necklace.

A woman with shoulder-length hair smiling and winking, wearing a black leather jacket, black top, and black pants, standing indoors against a dark wall with wooden flooring.

Black and white photo of a middle-aged woman laughing, wearing a white button-up shirt and a patterned skirt, with short hair, earrings, a necklace, and a watch.

A woman with short curly blonde hair smiling, wearing a black blouse and patterned skirt, sitting on the floor next to a light-colored tufted armchair against a dark backdrop.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, smiling, sitting on a stool against a dark background, wearing a black long-sleeve blouse, jeans, and boots.

A woman with light-colored, wavy hair, sitting cross-legged on the floor, smiling broadly in a black and white photo, wearing a sleeveless top, pants, and jewelry.

Black and white portrait of a woman with long wavy hair, sitting on a chair with one leg crossed over the other, posing confidently in a black dress against a plain dark background.

A middle-aged woman with short hair sitting on a chair, wearing a white blouse and black pants, holding a glass, with her head resting on her hand, in a contemplative pose against a plain background.

A woman with long, wavy hair sitting on an ornate chair against a dark background, wearing a black top, jeans, and floral patterned shoes, smiling for the camera.

A smiling woman with short hair, wearing jewelry and a patterned blouse, sitting at a table with a dark background, black and white photo.

A woman with long wavy hair reclining on an armchair, wearing a sleeveless black dress and high heels, against a dark background.

A woman with curly hair sitting on the floor, leaning back against a couch, smiling and looking upward. She is wearing a sleeveless top, floral pants, and sandals. The image is in black and white.

Black and white portrait of a woman smiling with arms crossed, wearing jewelry and a dark top, against a dark background.

Black and white portrait of a woman smiling, wearing a leather jacket and jewelry, sitting with her hands clasped, against a plain dark background.

Black and white portrait of an older woman with short, curly hair, wearing a polka dot blouse and layered necklaces, standing against a dark background.

Black and white portrait of a woman smiling, wearing a dark top, patterned pants, and a necklace, standing next to a chair against a dark background.

A woman with light skin, shoulder-length hair, wearing a black button-up shirt and jeans, sitting on the floor with her legs crossed, smiling, in a black and white photo against a plain dark background.

Black and white portrait of a woman with short hair, wearing a turtleneck and accessories including earrings and bracelets, sitting against a dark background.

Black-and-white portrait of a woman with long hair, smiling, wearing a dark top and a light, textured open cardigan, standing against a dark background.

Black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman over the age of 50 with shoulder-length hair, wearing a dark embroidered top and seated against a plain dark background.

Black and white portrait of a middle-aged woman smiling with her hands clasped, wearing a turtleneck sweater.

A smiling woman with long, wavy hair sitting on a stool against a plain backdrop, wearing a dark long-sleeve top and jeans.

Woman in a black and white portrait from Arnel Gonce Photography Studios in Charlottesville Virginia. Woman with blonde short hair, long sleeved black turtleneck sweater and jeans sitting on a bench, for a women over 50 photography session.