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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

At EmmiClaire Photography, we have had the pleasure of capturing countless weddings over the years. However, Lynne and Trip’s wedding was one for the books.

Couple kissing after wedding on the aisle

EmmiClaire Photography’s Experience Capturing Lynne & Trip’s Wedding

Sarah and Hunter were married in an atrium wedding ceremony on a temperate summer day in Charlottesville, VA. 

The couple gaze at one another, both smiling, her hand on his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist

An Atrium Wedding in Charlottesville, VA

Back in July, I had the privilege of photographing Christavia and Dillon’s mellow studio Maternity Session in Richmond VA. I’m always thrilled when a couple chooses EmmiClaire Photography to capture such an exciting moment in their journey together.

Pregnant woman, gently holding her swollen belly gazes down while her husband nuzzles in close to her ear, also holding her belly during their mellow studio maternity session in Richmond VA

A Mellow Studio Maternity Session in Richmond VA

I can safely say that one of the very best things about being a photographer with a background in multiple fields is this: growing with my clients, especially those who are growing families. It is more common than you might guess for me to photograph an engagement session, a wedding, a maternity session, a newborn session, and family portraits… all for the same client!

Shana and Chris stand together on a stepping stone in the middle of a pond at Maymont Park.

Growing Families | Family Portrait Photography in Richmond, VA

On a beautiful spring day and May, Juli and Tony wed in a whimsical barn wedding at Great Marsh Estate in Faugquier County, VA. Rain drizzled over the couple, but that didn’t stop them from having the time of their lives!

The bride and groom, nose to nose, gaze lovingly at one another while the bride's veil encircles them.

A Whimsical Barn Wedding at Great Marsh Estate in Fauquier County, VA

On a beautiful spring day and May, Rakeshia and Greg tied the knot in an elegant museum wedding in Richmond, VA. Rakeshia & Greg’s Love Story How they Met Rakeshia and Greg met on Match.com but quickly discovered some things they had in common. They share a love of The Lion King and Jay-Z. Most […]

A black and white photo of the bride and groom, forehead to forehead. The brides veil flows in the breeze.

An Elegant Museum Wedding in Richmond, VA

I was over the moon when Justin contacted me about photographing his proposal at Libby Hill Park in Richmond, VA.

Justin and Caroline sit cuddled up under the gazebo immediately following their proposal at Libby Hill. Behind them, a luxury picnic experience. by RVA Picnics They gaze smilingly at one another.

A Picnic Proposal at Libby Hill Park in Richmond, VA

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