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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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