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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

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!

A Proposal Story

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 […]

Spring Mini Sessions are in Bloom!

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.

Photographing Professional and Casual Portraits for Joe | Richmond Portrait Photographer

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)?

5 Gorgeous Locations for Spring Photoshoots in RVA

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 […]

Katie // Speech-Language Pathologist // Richmond Branding Photography

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 […]

Must-Have Engagement Photos From Your Session

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 […]

Higgins Center For Healing // Psychotherapy Branding Photography

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 […]

How to Prepare for Your Branding Photography Session

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! […]

Unique Covid Wedding // Brian & Patrick // The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

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! […]

It’s Always A Good Time For Senior Photos!

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 […]

Traditional Black-Tie Cathedral Wedding // Meredith & Philip // The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

I had just moved to California on October 3, 2015, and while applying for jobs I decided I would investigate Price is Right tickets. To my surprise, they were free! So I signed up for some. I absolutely love the Price is Right. I have watched it for as long as I can remember and […]

The Price Is Right

You may not know it, but my dad is a photographer himself and he inspired and encouraged career choice from a young age! With such a strong familial connection to photography, I absolutely love shooting family portraits and immortalizing those beautiful bonds. When I connected with the Donnellys about taking their family photos, I knew […]

Richmond Family Portraits // The Donnellys

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”  As a branding and portrait photographer, I can appreciate the full impact of this statement. When preparing for your professional headshots, you aren’t just planning photographs to be keepsakes for loved ones; you’re doing the background work for a valuable marketing tool! So, how do you prepare for […]

How To Prepare For Your Professional Headshots

You’re getting married? Congratulations! Planning a wedding can be extremely overwhelming, and endless Pinterest scrolling, while sometimes fun, can also be exhausting. As a wedding photographer, I appreciate fun, unique, and quirky photos that show the personality of the couple. But, there are a few classic images that you may not realize you want to […]

8 Wedding Photos You Don’t Want To Miss On Your Big Day

Virginia is a beautiful and diverse state that offers so many options to capture you in your perfect environment. However, choosing the perfect space for your portrait session isn’t always the easiest. There are several factors to think about when making the decision, and finding just the right spot may be harder than you think. […]

How To Choose a Location for Your Portrait Session

The holidays are here at last, and it’s engagement season! In fact, did you know that 40% of engagements typically happen between Christmas and Valentine’s Day?! If you’re one of the lucky couples to pop the question this time of year: congratulations! I’m sure you’re ready to shout your love from the rooftops as soon […]

Planning For A Winter Engagement Photoshoot

As a Virginia branding photographer, I was so excited the day I got the opportunity to work with Southern Marsh! Getting to connect with such an iconic and timeless brand was like a dream come true. Theirs is a brand committed to honoring Southern culture and inspired by the balance of urban life and outdoor […]

Southern Marsh // Branding Photography

I love my work as a branding photographer because I truly enjoy taking branding photos. There’s something beautiful about getting to tell someone’s story and being a part of helping to bring their dream to life…and that’s exactly what professional branding photography does! Branding photography takes you, your brand, and your product and puts you […]

Why Do You Need Branding Photos?

Today I want to talk about one of my favorite shoots of the last few months: Peyton and Aaron’s rustic and elegant fall Virginia wedding at the Mayhurst Estate Inn. The one word that Peyton used to describe her wedding was “dreamy” and I could not agree more. The personality and love of this couple […]

Peyton & Aaron // Intimate Fall Virginia Wedding // Mayhurst Estate Inn