The Experience + Pricing
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The Experience + Pricing *
My Way
I do things a little differently.
I know what it feels like to be on the other side of the camera—being told exactly where to stand, how to pose, when to smile. It can feel forced and unnatural. The photos might look beautiful, but they often lack the emotion, connection, and real story behind the moment.
That’s not what I want for you.
I don’t want your wedding day or session to feel like one long photo shoot. I want you fully present—laughing, connecting, and simply enjoying the person you love. My approach is natural and candid, focused on capturing moments as they genuinely unfold rather than creating them.
I stay present with you, gently guiding when needed, but never interrupting what’s real. I pay close attention to the in-between moments—the belly laughs, quiet touches, and emotional glances—and capture them as they happen, so nothing meaningful is missed.
At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to document your relationship as it truly is—so when you look back at your photos, you don’t just see how it looked, you feel exactly how it felt.
I START EACH SESSION WITH WHAT I CALL “GRANDMA’S PHOTOS.”
Let me explain.
Grandma, whether it’s mine, yours, or anyone’s, is the one who carefully selects the family pictures that go up on the fridge. She loves the photos where faces are clear, smiles are bright, and everyone looks their best. So we get those out of the way first!
After that, I want you to forget I’m even there. I encourage you to imagine you’re in your own movie trailer—just living your best life with the person you love most. We’ll move, laugh, chat, kiss, and play, and I’ll be right there capturing those genuine moments, as if I’m not even in the room.
While I may offer some gentle prompts to guide you, my main goal is simple: to capture the raw connection and deep love between you and your person. No posing, no pretending—just you, being you.
Portrait Sessions
Engagements
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Family
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Individuals
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Branding
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Couples
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Engagements 〰️ Family 〰️ Individuals 〰️ Branding 〰️ Couples 〰️
Your session is all about capturing you—your story, your personalities, and the moments that feel genuine. Whether it’s a couples session, family portraits, senior photos, or branding, my goal is the same: create images that feel effortless, authentic, and true to you. I focus on guiding your session without forcing poses, letting real connections and natural expressions shine.
From $500
Wedding Coverage Philosophy
Here for the story, not the stopwatch.
Half Day, Full Day, + Weekend Packages
Your wedding day is not meant to be rushed, segmented, or measured in minutes.
The most meaningful moments—the deep breaths, the quiet glances, the unexpected laughter—don’t happen on a schedule. That’s why I now photograph weddings based on story and flow, not hourly limits.
Rather than offering coverage by the hour, I provide thoughtfully designed collections that allow your day to unfold naturally, without the pressure of watching the clock or making hard choices about what deserves to be documented (because, hint: ALL of it does!).
When coverage is built around hours, couples often feel subtle pressure to rush moments, pad timelines, or worry about whether staying present might cost extra time. I believe your wedding day deserves better than that.
By removing hourly limits, I’m able to:
Focus fully on your experience, not the clock
Allow space for moments to happen naturally
Adapt seamlessly when timelines shift (because they always do)
Tell your story in a way that feels unforced, intentional, and true
What’s Included?
Wedding Day sneak peeks, timeline support, second professional photographer, planning guides and booklets, and an intentionally crafted final gallery.
Half + Full Day Packages
Coverage can include rehearsal dinners, welcome get-togethers, after parties, or morning after brunches, capturing the entirety of the celebration and each special moment.
For Full Weekend Celebrations…
Reach out to receive the full pricing guide and learn more about the packages I offer.
Want To Know More?
AVAILIBILITY & PRICING
A FEW SPOTS REMAIN FOR 2026.
NOW BOOKING LIMITED 2027 DATES.
Average investment for Virginia Weddings: $5,000.
Starting investment: $3,000.
The Process
Planning a wedding and booking vendors can be overwhelming and even sometimes stressful, I get it! Allow me to make your photography experience one of ease, support, and excitement from the initial inquiry, to the final gallery delivery. Here’s a glimpse of what it looks like to work with me:
Send me an inquiry through my contact form and fill me in on the details and your vision for the day you’ve been dreaming of. You’ll see me pop in your inbox with my full Pricing Guide and everything you need to know to make the next steps.
01 Reach out.
Once we decide to move forward, I’ll send over your custom proposal with the contract + retainer to make the date on my calendar yours. Then it’s official!!
03 Make It Official.
Between booking and your wedding, you have full access to me! We will keep open communication and schedule calls as needed to make sure we are all on the same page and prepared to make magic together.
05 I’m here for you.
Let’s meet briefly on Zoom for a consult call. Getting to know each other is so important and helps determine if we are a good fit. Plus, I love to put a face to the name!
02 Let’s Meet.
We’ll block off a date to capture your engagement photos (if applicable), and I’ll share my detailed style + prep guide beforehand so you feel prepared, confident, and camera-ready.
04 Engagement Session.
Let’s get you married! I’ll arrive ready (and probably with an Alani in hand) to document this incredibly special day and every meaningful moment. You will receive a mini sneak peek gallery within 48 hours and the full final gallery in 1 month.
06 Wedding Day!!!
“If you're looking for a photographer in the DMV who captures the perfect moment, can take both candid and posed photos, can give good direction, is good with kids, and is kind... look no further!! Our family is new to the DMV, and I was searching everywhere for the perfect photographer, and I'm so happy we did. Alyssa is great at communicating with you from the start to bring your vision to life, which I really appreciated. She is also very familiar with the area, which is super helpful when you are not. During the shoot, she did not make us feel rushed and was very intentional with our kids so they had fun too. The experience, from inquiry to getting the photos back (which was very fast, btw), was a 10/10. We can't wait to use Alyssa again.”
— Taylor + AlvinYour Questions, Answered
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Not at all. Honestly, most of my couples feel this way going in. You don’t need to know how to pose or perform—I’m not expecting that from you. My approach is very natural and low-pressure. I’ll gently guide you when needed, but more than anything, I’m paying attention to how you naturally interact. The way you laugh together, the way you reach for each other without thinking—that’s where the magic is. You don’t need to be “good in front of the camera.” You just need to be yourselves.
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I focus heavily on candid, in-between moments, but I also understand the importance of having those timeless, frame-worthy images. I’ll step in with direction when needed—especially during portraits or family photos—but I keep it simple and natural. Nothing stiff or overly posed. Think of it more as gentle prompting than posing, so your photos still feel like you.
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You can expect a generous, fully curated gallery—typically 400+ images for a half day and 700+ for a full day. I deliver sneak peeks within 48 hours so you have something to relive right away, and your full gallery is delivered within one month. I don’t rush the process, but I also won’t leave you waiting endlessly.
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Weddings rarely go perfectly according to plan—and that’s okay. I come into your day prepared and flexible. If timelines shift or weather changes, I’ll calmly adjust and guide where needed so you’re not carrying that stress. Some of the most meaningful moments happen in the unexpected, and I know how to work within that without it feeling chaotic.
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Of course. If there are moments or people that are especially important to you, I want to know. I’ll always prioritize what matters most to you. At the same time, I don’t work off a strict shot list all day—I stay present so I can capture moments as they naturally happen, not just what’s pre-planned.
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I’m not here to create a version of your wedding that looks perfect for photos—I’m here to preserve what was real. My approach is rooted in observation more than direction. I pay attention to the quiet moments, the emotions, the things you didn’t even realize were happening. The end result is a gallery that feels honest and true to your day—not staged or forced.
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Yes, absolutely. I don’t expect you to figure that out on your own. I’ll help you build a photography timeline that feels realistic and allows space to actually enjoy your day. If you have a planner or coordinator, I’m more than happy to work alongside them as well—we’ll collaborate to make sure everything flows smoothly and nothing feels rushed or chaotic. My goal is to create a rhythm to your day where you can be fully present, not constantly being pulled in different directions.
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Once you’re ready, I’ll send over a contract and invoice to secure your date. A signed contract and retainer officially reserves your spot on my calendar. After that, I’m here for you throughout the entire process—whether it’s timeline questions, vendor recommendations, or anything in between.
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Yes—I’m always open to travel. Travel is already included in my pricing, so there are no hidden fees or surprises. Whether your wedding is local or a little further away, I’m there. Just let me know, and I will send you my Destination Wedding Info + Pricing Guide!
Ready to connect?
LET’S CAPTURE YOUR CELEBRATION!
Can't wait to hear your story and start planning your day