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Welcome to the blog, a place for RECENT weddings,  inspirING portraitS, BranD SHOOTS, tips, and MORe.

hi, I'm EMILY

find me elsewhere:

hi, I'm EMILY

As the magic of the holiday season quickly approaches, bringing with it the gathering of families near and far, I am often reminded how fortunate I am to be a photographer. I am the archivist of memory, the chronicler of time’s passing, of growing families, of cherished loved ones. What a privilege that is! And, […]

A Photographer for Every Season of Life

Everyone has that location that lives eternally in their minds. You know the one – it’s the place that instantly transports you back in time. That’s one of the things I truly loved about capturing Hilary and Griffin’s William & Mary engagement session. They chose the location for their session because it’s where they had their first date, shared their first kiss, and fell in love.

Hilary & Griffin: A William & Mary Engagement Session

thief, friends. Never moreso than this year. If pregnancy flies by as fast as it has over the past six months for me, I can only imagine how quickly time will pass when baby arrives. This simple recognition – the passage of time – has inspired me to take an inordinate amount of pleasure in photographing families.

Time is a Thief: Photographing The Cannon Family

With COVID still looming overhead, any reason to celebrate is a good one. So it’s no surprise that now, more than ever, folks are choosing to hire professional photographers to capture their proposal stories. Let me tell you, friends, I’m a fan! In fact, proposals have quickly become one of my favorite events to photograph. There’s just something so thoughtful about the forethought it requires to hire a photographer to capture this momentous occasion. So when Mike contacted me about capturing his and Jordan’s proposal story, I jumped at the chance.

Mike & Jordan: A Proposal Story

We all know that couple – the ones who can’t stop smiling when they’re together. They’re the couple who walk into a room and unwittingly fill the space with laughter. Somehow when they’re together, an ordinary day running errands turns into a grand adventure. That’s what Annie and Patrick have together, and it made photographing their engagement session a delight!

Annie and Patrick’s Adventurous Engagement Session

When I think of boss babes who exude confidence and personality, I think of Jade Bianca. Her confidence and bubbly persona is 100% appropriate and necessary for her business. As a dating coach, matchmaker, and founder of Dating After Divorce, her confidence and personality are key ingredients to running a successful business.

A Perfect Match: Branding Photography for a Matchmaker

Their eyes lock across the room. She reaches up and caresses his face. He reaches for her hand in the car. Whatever the gesture, grand or small, every once in awhile I photograph a couple and I’m immediately filled with a sense of their chemistry. That’s what it was like when I met Sweta and […]

An Engagement Session with Sweta and Pareen

One of the things that I love about weddings in this day and age is that there are so many opportunities to make them unique. And yet, it often feels like the same old trends are published online and in magazines. So when Meghan Butcher, owner of The Dirty Blond Stylist, presented me with the opportunity to photograph a spooky Halloween styled shoot, I jumped at the chance!

Til Death Do Us Part: A Halloween Styled Shoot

few things more miraculous and beautiful than growing a tiny, perfect human. It’s such an intimate experience, forging an unbreakable bond between parent and baby. That’s why it’s such an honor to photograph a maternity session: I’ve been issued an invitation into the most intimate experience of your life. So imagine my joy when Amanda contacted me back in March with news of her little one’s arrival. I was SO thrilled.

Amanda & Jason’s Maymont Maternity Session

The dog days of summer a melting away into what I can only hope will be a crisp autumn full of crunching leaves, apple cider, pumpkin patches and cozy sweaters. Another thing that brings me joy in this upcoming season? FALL MINI SESSIONS!

Fall Mini Sessions

Falling For Fall Mini Sessions

Recently, many couples have shifted their focus to the most important aspect of their weddings: getting married. That’s why Cheryl and Toni’s wedding is so dear to my heart – they invited me to be part of their intimate courthouse wedding. I may not be family, but it was an honor to be invited to bear witness to the most special day of their lives.

A Quaint Courthouse Wedding in Hanover, VA

Is there anything more romantic than a picnic proposal to your sweetheart? When Carsen contacted me at the beginning of August and told me about his plan to propose to his boyfriend Uly with a cozy, over the top picnic, I was thrilled. A little rain dampened our original plans, which forced us to reschedule and change locations. But I think the end result was a morning full of blue skies, delicious food, and an abundance of love.

A Cozy Picnic Proposal

It’s hard to believe that the dog days of summer will soon give way to crisp autumn days, crunchy leaves, all things pumpkin, and back to school season. But for now, I’m reveling in all things summer, including an abundance of opportunities to photograph family portrait sessions. This Holyers family portrait session is particularly dear to my heart. They had their hearts set on gathering their extended family together to enjoy a memorable afternoon in front of my camera.

A Large Family Portrait Session with the Holyers

If you follow EmmiClaire Photography on Instagram, you’ve probably already heard the news – Ben and I are expecting! Needless to say, I’ve had maternity on the mind A LOT lately. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing, but if you’ve ever experienced it, you know it can also be miserably uncomfortable. It’s time to get real […]

Staying Comfortable During Your Maternity Session

You’re wedding day is quite possibly the most important day of your life. It’s no wonder that there’s so much stress leading up to the big day. If you have a million questions rolling around in your head, that stress can often intensify. If you’re not a wedding professional or photographer, odds are you have A LOT of questions about your wedding photography. Never fear, EmmiClaire Photography is here to help! Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions I receive from my wedding clients:

Wedding Photography FAQs and Answers

“I hate my arms.” “I have a double chin.” “Can you edit my acne/rosacea/scar out of the photo?” I hear these kinds of comments all the time from my clients. The truth is that the most beautiful people on earth are plagued with insecurities too. We all struggle with it at one point or another […]

How to Boost Your Confidence for a Photoshoot

ou’ve gone out of your way to book a photographer, either to photograph a special occasion or to capture an ordinary but intentional moment that you want to treasure forever. So why haven’t you taken the time to print those photos? You’re not alone, my friend. About half of my clients never take the time to have photo prints prepared. While the digital age has done so many amazing things for our world, this lack of photo printing hurts my photography-loving heart. Why? I can’t imagine growing up without these photos. To this day they’re my treasured keepsakes that represent memories of my childhood and the people I love.

The Importance of Photo Prints in the Digital Age

Wedding planning is stressful, and never more so than when you’re discussing budget. According to theknot.com, in 2020 photographers accounted for the fourth most expensive wedding vendors for an average sized wedding of 131 guests. Only venues, catering, and live music ranked above photography in terms of expense. And yet, there are few details as important as photographing the cherished moments you’ll want to remember for the rest of your life. That’s why I advise my couples to consider hiring a second shooter for their wedding day…

Two Photographers are Better than One

While I love a big party, I can’t help but feel that COVID has brought many of us back to where we belong, shifting our focus from extravagant celebrations to intimate occasions full of meaning, and most importantly, the people we love. Few weddings have reminded me of that shift more than Mackenzie and Micah’s intimate coastal cottage wedding…

An Intimate Coastal Cottage Wedding

While I am a firm believer that the people who participate in your wedding day matter more than the stuff you choose to include, I understand that many couples today work diligently to curate special details to set their weddings apart. Whether it’s an heirloom ring box passed down through generations or a handkerchief you’ve had specially made for your mother to dry her tears during your ceremony, those details matter! And one of the things that sets EmmiClaire Photography apart is my ability to capture those heartfelt heirlooms so you can cherish them for years to come!

Wedding Detail Photography