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…

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…

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!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but there truly are no words to describe the lasting magic of a family portrait session. Why? Because family portraits are still-framed memories captured for you to cherish for the rest of time. Whether you look at your family portraits 1 year or 50 years down the road, you’ll be transported to that place, that time, those people you love, and that morning spent together as a family.

Breoyna is a beautiful high school senior at Clover Hill High School in Chesterfield County, Virginia. I had the privilege of photographing her senior portrait session back in April. I truly cannot remember the last time I photographed someone as confident as Breoyna. Most clients need a little coaching before they’re truly comfortable during their photo sessions, but Breoyna came to life in front of the camera with little prompting!

When Christina and Preston described their wedding as “rustic,” I knew it was going to be full of fun, but I had NO idea how beautifully they’d infuse southern, romantic charm into every single detail. From the stunning rustic backdrop of the open air chapel and event barn at Alturia Farm to the wood flowers handmade by the bride and her sister, every detail of this southern wedding was dripping with personality!

A lot goes into planning your dream wedding. From the venue to the flowers, the menu to the dress, the details matter! But perhaps few things matter more than the work your dream wedding photographer does to memorialize your special day. After all, those images last forever. Choosing a wedding photographer whose style you love and who goes out of her way to get to know you and your love story will make the difference between photos that stay tucked away in a dusty attic and photos that will become cherished heirlooms.

2021 has been a strange year for all of us (thanks, COVID). But it’s been even stranger for high school seniors. If you’ve been to high school, you remember the anticipation of senior prom, spirit week, class competitions, and the long anticipated high school graduation. I can’t imagine attending all of my classes virtually, missing […]

Styled shoots can be a bit of a crapshoot in terms of how they develop. Sometimes one vendor has a vision for the shoot and they execute that vision to a tee. Other times, that original vision morphs into something entirely different thanks to collaboration with talented vendors with style and design visions of their own. And sometimes, there is no overall concept for a styled shoot, just the knowledge that you want to work with specific vendors who you trust to create a beautiful concept and execute it flawlessly. And, yes, sometimes styled shoots are a combination of all three – a vision, a collaboration, and a desire to work with specific industry professionals. The latter was much the case for Tatiana Sizemore, owner of Simply Charmed Weddings and Events, for her most recent styled shoot at Avonlea Farms.

Popping the question is one of the biggest moments in a person’s life, and one most couples don’t ever want to forget. While I’m a fan of proposals in any form – spontaneous, semi-planned, meticulously planned surprises – I LOVE when I’m brought in to capture that moment! Luke reached out to me this April because he was planning to propose to his lovely girlfriend (now fiancée), Ashley. Ashley’s only request for the proposal was that a professional photographer be there. I’ve got to give Ashley props on communicating that desire to Luke. While proposal photography has become popular in recent years, hiring a photographer may not immediately come to mind, especially with so many other details to consider and plan!

Waiting for Spring to Burst Into Bloom Every year, I anticipate the blooming of the cherry blossoms here in beautiful RVA. It’s one of the first signs of spring after what is inevitably a long, dreary winter. But this year, with COVID still looming heavy in the chilly air, winter was particularly isolating. So I […]

in this time of COVID, when personal interactions are limited, it’s important to have confident, authentic headshots, or even just some fresh, captivating photos to populate your social media and online dating profile. That’s exactly what my client, Joe, was looking for when he contacted me back in December – a mixture of professional photos and fun social media/online dating photos that would draw the right kind of attention.

Spring has officially sprung! In true form, March blew in like a lion and went out like a lamb, giving way to April’s warm, gentle breezes which have (sadly) swept away one of my favorite first signs of spring – the cherry blossoms. What better time to talk about some of my favorite Richmond locations to photograph (or even just enjoy during a lazy afternoon off)?

Every now and then, I get the opportunity to be a part of someone’s exciting new adventure. And that’s exactly what happened when I connected with Katie Christo! Katie, an ASHA Certified Speech-Language Pathologist, recently struck out on her own and opened Every Voice Speech and Language Therapy. With her private practice, she hopes to […]

Spring has officially sprung, and we all know what that means: wedding and engagement season is about to be in full swing! Spring is a wonderful time to shoot your engagement photos. Color is returning to the world, and soon enough fresh florals will be adding lively pops to the natural scenery around Richmond. But […]

When I got the opportunity to work with Higgins Center For Healing for their psychotherapy branding photography, I was thrilled to be able to put a spotlight on these amazing women who are working so hard to benefit the mental health of our community! As a Richmond business photographer, one of my favorite things to […]

As both a photographer and a business owner, I cannot stress enough the value of branding photography for marketing! With the shift to social media and emphasis on visual marketing, quality product and brand photos can make a huge difference in obtaining lucrative leads for your business. If you’re ready to book your branding photography […]

I love celebrating love. As a Richmond wedding photographer, there is no greater joy for me than getting to participate in one of the happiest days of your life. From prep to send-off, the unique energy of each individual wedding I attend is infectious! While every wedding is special, Brian & Patrick’s was particularly joyous! […]

Graduation season is just around the corner, and it’s unbelievable how quickly time passes! For those families who haven’t gotten them yet, now is the perfect time to get senior pictures done. Some of my favorite portraits to shoot are senior portraits, and Richmond provides so many amazing opportunities for seniors to display their personalities! […]

Breathtaking. I’m not one to use this word lightly, but when Meredith used it to describe her elegant, traditional black-tie wedding at The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, I couldn’t think of a better choice! Overcoming all of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, these two celebrated their love in an intimate and heart-stirring […]