We only had about 20 minutes for Sally & Chad’s Virginia Beach Oceanfront engagement session. The sun had slipped behind the clouds and we were losing light FAST. Luckily, I’ve worked on my portrait session flow and knew that 20 minutes is more than enough time to capture the best of each couple. We made it work for us!
Even if we weren’t racing the fading light, sometimes couples (*ahem* grooms) don’t want to spend more than just a few minutes taking portraits. I totally understand this! It can feel awkward or just not be your favorite thing. My own husband only has about a half an hour of photo taking in him before he’s ready to call it quits. I’ve learned that it is a-okay to prefer shorter to longer. It’s the quality that matters.
I really want you to enjoy taking your photos and love the quality of the images you receive, so I plan our time together to be efficient and fun. Most of my posing is gesture-based and focuses on the two of you interacting with each other. No static, stiff poses for me! I work quickly, adjust slightly, and move on. If you only want 20 minutes, we’ll get the best in that time.
For those of you who enjoy taking photos and want to spend a bit longer on the session, we will slow down and savor the moments or add an additional location to capture some variety. Engagement sessions are usually longer to leave time to get to know one another and have more options to showcase your personalities.
Whether you prefer quick and efficient or slow and focused, I will deliver timeless images that help you remember how it all felt.
Let me be honest with you: planning a wedding in coastal Virginia can sometimes feel like rolling the dice. One moment, you’re dreaming of a gorgeous beach ceremony or a sun-kissed garden party, and the next, you’re watching the forecast frantically as clouds gather, or worse—there’s talk of rain, thunderstorms, or a hurricane brewing offshore […]
When Nicki and I first spoke on the phone, I immediately felt that we would be a great team to capture her wedding in August. Nicki wanted an elegant and sophisticated event that would focus on joy and celebration rather than posed photo ops, and I was completely on board with that! Over a glass […]
The forecast called for all-day rain up until a few days before Mike and Lydia Grace’s wedding at the Virginia Cliffe Inn in Richmond, Virgina. Despite the rain scare passing, the forecast still predicted nothing more than overcast skies and drab clouds. Fortunately, the weather cleared up at the last minute, and the day turned […]
I am thrilled to share Michelle and Tim’s Norfolk Botanical Gardens engagement session on the blog today! Recently, the three of us spent an evening at the Gardens to celebrate their upcoming wedding with beautiful pictures of their story so far. Despite the overcast skies, the gardens are a beautiful and serene setting, and were […]
At the beginning of this year, I teamed up with House of Nataliah for a special giveaway that included professional hair and makeup with Nataliah and a couples session with me. After hundreds of entries, Kamryn & Lawson were my lucky winners! Kamryn was so excited when she won. “I never win anything!” were the […]
Scott & Carolyn officially joined their lives in matrimony amongst a backdrop of spring florals, surrounded by beloved family and friends. Their ceremony and reception were held at The Maine of Williamsburg, a breathtakingly beautiful new venue in Williamsburg, Virginia. The mood was calm when I walked through the stone entrance of The Maine. Tracy, […]