What comes to mind when you think about a perfect wedding day?  Of course, everyone will have a different opinion, but we can all agree that a perfect wedding day includes at least a beautiful bride, handsome groom, lots of love, family, friends, and a little sunshine?  Add one of Richmond’s best wedding venues, Celebrations at the Reservoir, and you have all the ingredients for a perfect wedding day.

We first met Michele and Jason at Katie and Brian’s beautiful wedding in Williamsburg.  Before we knew it, we were meeting with them about their own wedding and making plans to capture the moments that mattered most to them.  One of those being the “first look”…

When Michele and Jason first visited Heron’s View at Celebrations at the Reservoir, they fell in love with the long dock leading to The Garden at Celebrations.  Michele wanted to see Jason’s face when he saw her for the first time; since Michele wanted to walk in from the dock, Jason would see her long before she could see his face.  The solution was this beautiful ”first look”; a truly incredible moment that we’re honored to have been able to witness.

Michele and Jason, “Just Married” as they enter The Gardens at Celebrations VA from their beautiful Celebrations at the Reservoir Wedding at Heron’s View.

Wedding Venue: Celebrations Richmond
Hair and Makeup: Bon Air Med Spa
Dress: Alfred Angelo in Short Pump
Catering: Celebrations Catering

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Jayson and Rachael | Wedding Photographer in Richmond VA

For many Virginia and Maryland families, The Northern Neck is a place to get away from it all.  A place to enjoy quite sunsets that you never seem to notice back home.  A place to reunite with family and friends while spending time on the water or simply telling stories on the dock.  The Northern Neck is a place where family and friends finally find the time to do what’s really important:  making memories that last a lifetime.

A picture is and always will be a picture; however, it becomes something more when your memories can be attached to it.  When Lucy contacted us to inquire about family portraits at the family bay house in Lottsburg, we set out to take Lucy’s vision and deliver that perfect family picture to her and her family.

It’s hard to believe over a year has passed since we shot Julia and Doug’s wedding less than a mile from where Lucy and her family call home during the summer.

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Jayson and Rachael | Family Photographer in The Northern Neck

Located in Nelson County’s Rockfish Valley, Afton, Virginia has long been home  to many of the Virginia’s premere wineries and has recently become home to several of the Commonwealth’s top up and coming craft breweries.  Wild Wolf Brewing Co. just happens to be one of Brittany and JP’s favorite spots to fill their growlers with fresh VA brew.  After their engagement, they couldn’t think of a better place to say “I do”!

Even a rainy, overcast day couldn’t put a damper on the wedding festivities.  Surrounded by their families, Brittany and JP became husband and wife.

Brittany’s made her brooch bouquet using brooches owned by her grandmother and great grandmother!

After their nuptials at Wild Wolf, we visited neighboring Star Hill Brewery in Crozet, VA.

Wedding venue: Wild Wolf Brewing Co. – Afton, Virginia

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Jayson and Rachael | Afton, VA Wedding Photographer

When we first talked to Erica and Mike, we were so excited to learn that their nuptials would be in The Outer Banks… just our favorite vacation spot ever (thanks Mom and Dad!).  We also discussed their ideas and vision for their engagement pictures.  What developed is perhaps one of the coolest engagement sessions we’ve shot to date.

We’re truly honored to be working with this incredible couple and we’re completely stoked to be sharing their incredible OBX engagement session with you today.

Like us, Mike remembers visiting The Outer Banks as a child with his parents.  Those magical summers that never seem to end, our only cares in the world being sun burn and those pesky biting flies!  Together, Erica and Mike knew the beaches of OBX would be the perfect location for their engagement pictures and their upcoming wedding.

The idea for Erica and Mike’s “Save The Date” was inspired by a “paint fight” they shared while on their first trip to the mountains together.  We loved the idea and think the results speak for themselves.  Please note that the beach was not damaged or polluted during the session.  We used non-toxic, biodegradable paint and promptly cleaned the sand at the conclusion of the fight.

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Jayson and Rachael | Outer Banks Wedding Photographer

It all started a couple weeks ago when Jennifer called us to talk about her vision for family portraits while her parents came in from Virginia Beach and her brother and his wife were visiting from Arkansas to celebrate together.

It was a beautiful day in the beautiful city of Richmond, with a beautiful family, and a beautiful, sweet pup!  We are so happy that we had the opportunity to work with Jennifer’s amazing family and thank them for allowing us the opportunity to share in their love for one another.

We started off with a big family picture at the Main Street Train Station in Shockoe Bottom.  Afterwards, the plan was to visit Brown’s Island for pictures by the James River.  However, we noticed the sunlight was still harsh; so we suggested visiting the lower canal in hopes of finding some open shade to work in until the sunlight began to soften as sunset approached.

After a short walk, we arrived at the canal and found the perfect spot for a fall family picture with the family dog!  Boston was such a good boy for the pictures and even got to play in the leaves with his family.

We LOVE dogs!  So much in fact that we have two of our own, Elphie, a black lab and Glinda, a Golden Retriever.  When Jennifer told us about Boston, the family Golden, we were so excited!  He was a little camera shy at first; but by the end of the session, he was photo-bombing every shot.  Like a true gentlemen, he always knew just where to sit and always had a nice smile and a big doggy tongue for the camera.

During our first conversation with Jennifer we discussed her vision for her family pictures.  She wanted to incorporate elements into her family pictures that were very Richmond.  We later made plans to visit the Main Street Train Station, Lower Canal Walk, and to finish at Brown’s Island for pictures by the James River and a shot incorporating the Richmond Skyline.  When she mentioned how cool the Mead West Vaco building is, we knew just spot!  This is, without a doubt, one of our favorite pictures of the year!

As we were setting up the last shot of the evening, Rachael was off camera holding Boston so he wouldn’t get into trouble.  Little did she know, he had other ideas!  As soon we started taking pictures, Boston ran for his family and dove in the middle of them as though someone had fumbled a football!  Dogs will be dogs… and that’s why we love them!

Jayson and Rachael | Family Photographer in Richmond, VA

Candy and Mike are such a wonderful couple and we’re honored to be working with them.  We’ve had the incredible honor of working with his brother and wife, Brian and Katie and his cousin and wife, Jason and Michele, and we couldn’t be happier to be working with this precious couple.

Both VCU alumni, it only made sense to visit their alma mater and take their engagement pictures at the VCU Monroe Park Campus in the city that means so much to them.  These two are so in love and we cannot wait until their wedding this coming July!  Congratulations you two!

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Jayson and Rachael | Engagement Photographer in Richmond, VA

Having purchased their dream home in the Williamsburg area, Brittany and JP wanted to find a great local spot for there engagement pictures.  These two believe in keeping it local – whether it be supporting the local brewery or visiting a local farm to buy produce and cooking an awesome meal together, staying local was important and they wanted that local flare reflected in their engagement pictures.

Having booked the clubhouse at Freedom Park Williamsburg for their wedding reception, we decided it would also make the perfect local sport for their engagement pictures.

When we scheduled the first planning session, Brittany and JP offered to cook us dinner after the work was done.  We graciously accepted and when the date arrived, we found ourselves witnessing an incredible meal prepared before our eyes by a team very much in love, doing what they love, together.

We found ourselves wishing we had a camera with us, it would have been a wonderful opportunity to capture Brittany and JP doing one of the things they love most together.  It was then and there we all decided another dinner date was in order, perhaps after their engagement session for somewhat of an encore to the portraits at Freedom Park.

After wrapping up Brittany and JP’s engagement pictures at Freedom Park, we packed it in and headed for our dinner date.  This was, without a doubt, one of the most unique and exciting sessions we’ve ever done.  We shot this completely from a documentary point of view and in doing so, captured the love and interactions they share while working together to prepare a great meal.

We’re truly honored to have spent this time with Brittany and JP.  Not only did they feed their photographers well, but they also opened our eyes to a few new beers from the local brewery, Williamsburg Ale Works.  We look forward to sharing their big day with you soon.

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Jayson & Rachael | Engagement Photographer in Williamsburg, VA

We had the honor and privilege of meeting and working with this fantastic couple, Jason and Michele.   They knew that they wanted to have engagement pictures, but they did not want a “quintessential” portrait session done.  A dear friend of theirs was singing the national anthem at a Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball game and they saw it as a perfect opportunity to have their pictures completed doing something they love as a couple: watching baseball!

We couldn’t have asked for a clearer summer night!  The weather was perfect and the atmosphere was fun and inviting.  Although the Squirrels did not win, we all had a blast!  It was so fun to do this session in such a creative place and it was an honor to work with this wonderful couple.  Best wishes to you both!

What a perfect night at the ballpark for these two!  They are completely in love and so excited about their upcoming wedding and we were thrilled to capture this excitement for the two of them!

Nothing says baseball like an ice cold beer on a summer’s day!  This picture was captured towards the beginning of our session and fits perfectly with our “baseball themed” engagement session and the things that these two love.

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Jayson and Rachael | Photographer in Richmond, VA

Thankfully the rain held off just long enough to get the session in before the skies opened up and drenched us all.  Big thanks to Jess and her beautiful family for spending some of their vacation hanging out on the beach with us!

Jayson and Rachael | Outer Banks NC (OBX) Photography

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Location: Kill Devil Hills, NC