Rana and I have been friends since the 7th grade, so when she asked if I would photograph her and Eric’s engagement session, of course, I said yes! They decided to revisit their first date location for the session – the James River in Richmond, Virginia – where they had taken Eric’s dog for a walk. Photographing friends is always so fun; we had such a laid-back session and it was so great to capture these two in their natural element.
James River Pumphouse
We started off the session at the James River Pumphouse, which is a gorgeous Gothic Victorian building built in the 1880s. Although the building no longer pumps water, the architecture is well-preserved, and it’s the perfect backdrop for a unique session like this one. The property includes multiple bridges that pass over the old canals and tons of beautiful greenery.
After the pumphouse, we made our way down towards the shore of the James River. This is a spot that Rana and Eric visit often with their dogs, and coincidentally we had a random dog crash some of their photos! I love having photo sessions in locations that are meaningful to my couples since it makes them extra special to look back on. Rana even kicked off her heels to hop across some rocks for a few beautiful photos surrounded by the river.
Richmond, Virginia Engagement Session
One of the great things about living in Northern Virginia is the accessibility to a variety of beautiful cities. While most of our work is in the D.C. and NoVA areas, I love taking occasional sessions and weddings in smaller cities like Richmond or Charlottesville for a change of scenery! Since Rana and Eric live in Richmond, it made sense that they would want to capture their story there as well. I had so much fun visiting them, and we made sure to grab the incredible tacos at En Su Boca before we headed home.
