the blog

Hi! I'm Emily, a Richmond, Virginia based wedding and portrait photographer.

weddings

ENGAGEMENT

senior
portraits

lifestyle  branding

Featured on

freebie

Congratulations on your engagement! As you prepare to capture this exciting time in your relationship, an engagement session is a wonderful way to celebrate your love story. To ensure your session goes smoothly and results in beautiful, timeless images, I’ve put together this guide based on my years of experience as a photographer. 1. Select […]

Posted in: engagement

April 1, 2025

How to Prepare for your Engagement Session

Gabriella dn Dan smile and laugh while walking together during classic engagement session at Maymont Park in Richmond, VA.

As a wedding photographer in Central Virginia, I’ve had the privilege of capturing countless beautiful moments between couples on their special day. One of the most intimate and emotional moments I recommend to all my couples is the “first look.” This private meeting before the ceremony allows for a deeply personal and unforgettable experience. Here’s […]

Weddings

October 21, 2024

Why I Highly Recommend a First Look on Your Wedding Day

Nina and Loy’s wedding at Upper Shirley Vineyards was a timeless celebration of love, surrounded by family and friends on a beautiful late summer day. The vineyard, nestled along the James River, provided a picturesque backdrop for their classic wedding, featuring a sophisticated palette of white, champagne, navy, and lush greenery. Preparation The day began […]

Posted in: Weddings

October 21, 2024

A Timeless Celebration of Love at Upper Shirley Vineyards

Gabriella and Raphael’s timeless and glamorous wedding in Richmond, VA, beautifully illustrates the essence of true connection and building a life together. They first met at VCU in Richmond, Virginia—a city that has become the backdrop for some of their most cherished moments. Now living in Northern Virginia, Gabriella shines as a Washington Commanders Dancer, […]

Weddings

July 10, 2024

A Timeless and Glamorous Wedding in Richmond, VA

I recently had the incredible opportunity to photograph an event at the luxury wedding venue, Dover Hall. It is a stunning venue located in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. While this experience allowed me to capture the beauty of this historic estate, it also allowed me to provide insight into what makes it a truly exceptional setting for […]

Posted in: Weddings

April 19, 2024

Luxury European Wedding Venue: Dover Hall

What makes a branding session unique, especially for a small business? They combine the element of a professional headshot with your unique personality. In a personal branding session, we dive deeper into not just who you are personally but begin telling the story of your brand visually

branding

March 12, 2024

Creating a Connection: A Branded Headshot Session

Couple standing together in a branded headshot session.

A true love story for the ages, where every detail whispers of sentiments of a classic romantic wedding. The Love Story A Romance for the ages Caroline, a financial adviser and Jason, a software engineer, met in high school but really became friends during their freshman year at college. Their love story officially begins when […]

Posted in: Weddings

February 20, 2024

A Classic Romantic Wedding in Midlothian, VA

bride and groom walk hand in hand on the golf course at the Estate at Independence

Dan and Olivia were married on a languid summer day during a romantic barn wedding in King William, VA. The couple was surrounded by a community of friends and family, who uplifted them with an outpouring of love and support.

Weddings

July 25, 2023

A Romantic Barn Wedding in King William, VA

bride and groom are smiling nose to nose on romantic barn wedding day in King William, VA

Stephanie and John said “I do” in a modern romantic wedding celebration at Upper Shirley Vineyards on a sunny day in late May.

Posted in: Weddings

July 10, 2023

A Modern Romantic Wedding in Charles City, VA

The groom dips the bride and steals a kiss halfway down the aisle during the recessional at their modern romantic wedding ceremony in Charles City, VA.

Kelly and Mitchell were married this past July in a classic southern wedding in Richmond, VA. The Love Story After chatting for awhile on a dating app, Kelly and Mitchell agreed to meet at a bar. Kelly spotted Mitchell first, and was instantly struck by how cute he was! The pair have been together ever […]

Weddings

December 12, 2022

A Classic Southern Wedding in Historic Richmond, VA

bride and groom share kiss while wedding party flanks them for a portrait before classic southern wedding

@emilybartellphoto

let's be instafriends