I had the privilege of photographing Olivia and Dan’s effortlessly chic engagement session in Richmond, VA back in May. We had an amazing time exploring Maymont Park (a local favorite for portrait and lifestyle photographers alike), followed by a casual stroll along the ever-so-chic Carytown district of Richmond.

The Love Story

The Meet-Cute

You can read more about Olivia & Dan’s love story by heading over to their wedding blog post: A Romantic Barn Wedding in King William, VA , but suffice it to say that this sweet pair met online. It was a slight case of opposites attracting – he loved her exciting, bubbly personality and she was drawn to his kind and thoughtful gestures.

The Proposal

After a little over a year and a half of courtship, Dan popped the question under the guise of a “surprise birthday/Christmas date” for Olivia. Of course Olivia said yes.

The Engagement Party

Immediately after Dan popped the question, the newly engaged sweethearts celebrated with friends and family at a Hallmark Christmas themed engagement party!

An Efforlessly Chic Engagement Session with Emily Bartell Photography

Complementary Engagement Sessions: Part of Every Package

No matter what your wedding photography needs may be, each wedding package at Emily Bartell Photography includes a complimentary two hour engagement session. And here’s why: this is a truly special moment in your life; it deserves to be celebrated. And, as someone who operates under the sincere belief that you should unequivocally trust your wedding vendors, this is an amazing opportunity for us to get to know each other!

Not only do my wedding clients walk away from their engagement sessions feeling like they’ve made a new friend, engagement sessions give my couples an opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera, and I get to see how my couples interact and what poses might work best for them on their wedding day.

Olivia & Dan’s Effortlessly Chic Engagement Session

RVA: The Perfect Location for An Effortlessly Chic Engagement Session

One of the things I love about Richmond, VA is the abundance of locations to choose from. Whether my clients are looking for funky art galleries, stately architectural backdrops, or soft whispers of nature, there is truly something for everyone in RVA.

Because the City of Richmond played such an important role in Olivia and Dan’s love story, it made sense for them to choose an RVA-based location. The couple selected two locations that they loved, and which just so happen to demonstrate the city’s and the couple’s distinct, diverse personalities.

We were able to capture classic, romantic images as we meandered along the winding paths at Maymont Park, stopping to capture moments among the scenic architecture and lovely gardens.

And then, as we moved into the ever-so-chic, upbeat Carytown District, we changed wardrobe so the couple could relax and focus on having fun together.

An Effortlessly Chic Engagement Session Wardrobe

I love how Olivia and Dan’s wardrobe choices reflect their personalities and work with the locations they selected for their efforlessly chic engagement session. Olivia’s beautifully detailed white maxi is a personal favorite – it definitely added a hint of bridal elegance to our session, without being too over the top. For more engagement photo style tips and wardrobe inspiration, check out Emily Bartell Photography’s Engagement Style Guide on Pinterest.

I am so honored that Olivia and Dan chose Emily Bartell Photography to play a small part in their love story!