Oak Grove Lake Park Maternity Pictures | Chesapeake Photographer | Sam + Lacey

Oak Grove Lake Park Maternity Pictures | Chesapeake Photographer | Sam + Lacey

Sam and Lacey got married less than 3 years ago, and it was an absolute honor to photograph their elopement at the Virginia Beach courthouse. Meeting them again with a little girl due in less than a month was such a joy - and so surreal! A lot of my brides have started to grow their families within the last year, which makes me feel extremely proud (and a little old, if we’re being honest).

Marriage has been so good to Sam and Lacey. They are settled into their home and have wanted a child of their own for a long time. Yet they are still the same relaxed, fun-loving couple they were just a few years ago when they said I do. Their relationship today is clearly so much stronger than it was on their wedding day, and I know it will continue to grow by leaps and bounds…

Williamsburg Anniversary Winter Session | Williamsburg Photographer | Rob + Lauren

Williamsburg Anniversary Winter Session | Williamsburg Photographer | Rob + Lauren

I’ve known Rob and Lauren now for coming up on two years. I first photographed their engagement session just a few weeks after Willow came home (I couldn’t even tell them yet!), then their wedding took place last January on a beautiful day at Kiln Creek Golf Club. Now, over a year into marriage, they wanted to celebrate again with pictures and it felt like everything came full circle once again.

Rob and Lauren were so sweet during their engagement session when I first met them, but seeing them as husband and wife just made me realize how much more comfortable they are around each other (and in front of the camera!) than even just a couple years ago. They shared more looks between the two of them. They snuggled a little closer. They still didn’t shy away from kissing, and it’s obvious that their relationship has already grown stronger. When I asked the biggest lesson they have learned from the first year, they couldn’t tell me - mostly because it’s just been full of joy to finally live side by side every single day…

Norfolk Botanical Gardens Bridal Portraits | Elysse

Norfolk Botanical Gardens Bridal Portraits | Elysse

You may just recognize Elysse from her wedding at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens a few weeks ago! In general, we schedule bridal portraits to happen before the wedding, but in this case we booked a date that ended up being the Friday Hurricane Florence rolled in. Of course we had to cancel and reschedule, and with a busy fall in front of us it had to happen after she got married. But oh was it worth the wait!