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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

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.

How to Book Your Dream Wedding Photographer

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.

A 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!

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

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

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

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?

Your big day is on the way, and you’re trying to finalize your timeline. You know you have to set aside time to get ready for the day, time for the ceremony, a block for all reception events…but what you may forget in the hustle and bustle is to factor in time for your professional […]

How Long Do You Need For Wedding Photography?

When I was contacted to do some fall family portraits and maternity photography for the Jimenez family, I was excited. The beautiful fall foliage of Virginia provides a beautiful backdrop for family photography, and I love getting to know the families that I shoot! Plus, capturing these precious moments in time for an expectant mother […]

Capturing the Jimenez’s // Fall Family Photography

Preparing for a portrait session can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. If you’ve booked your session with EmmiClaire Photography and you need a little guidance for the next steps, you are not alone! It’s easy to over-complicate the process in your mind, so I’m here to lend a helping hand so that you can enjoy […]

Preparing For Your Portrait Session