Richmond, Virginia Wedding Photographer
Wedding Photography for
Real Moments & Epic Portraits
For couples who want gorgeous photos and are already warning me about their wedding party. Honestly, they sound like my kind of people.
Your Wedding is My Next Destination
Serving Virginia, North Carolina, and Washington, DC
Weddings, engagements, elopements, and destination celebrations.
Look Good. Act Like Yourselves.
Photos That Look Like You Had a Damn Good Time.
And a photographer who helps you actually have one.
I love bold color, great light, and a photo that makes you stop and look. Your flowers should pop. Your skin should still look like skin. And you should recognize yourselves in every picture.
If being in front of a camera makes you nervous, you’re in good company. I’ll tell you where to stand, give you something to do, and probably make a joke that earns an eye roll. Once you’re comfortable, we can get somewhere. By the end, you might be wondering, did we just become best friends?
I’ll help you look good for the portraits, then keep watching for everything happening around you. Your partner sneaking a glance. Your mom reaching for your hand. Your friends laughing so hard nobody can finish the story. Those photos matter just as much as the one you frame.
You don’t have to act more romantic, more outgoing, or more anything for me. Be yourselves. I’ll figure out the light.
Let’s make photos you love, with stories you’ll still be telling years from now.
PJ took the most beautiful photographs of our wedding! He is not only a great photographer but has a unique, creative eye, which set him apart from many other wedding photographers we were looking into. He truly captured the beautiful memories of our special day and was an absolute pleasure to work with!
— Shaylyn and Peter
Grand Bohemian Asheville, NC
Yes, There’s a Plan Behind the Jokes.
What You’re Getting Yourself Into.
Let’s See if We Click
Send me your date, your plans, and a little about you both. I’ll check my availability, then we’ll hop on a quick call to talk through what you’re looking for. You can ask questions and decide whether you want to hear my jokes for an entire wedding day.
Ready to make it official? A signed contract and a 25% retainer reserve your date. The remaining balance is due 30 days before your ceremony. Photographer checked off the list. That deserves a snack.
02. We Plan. You Get Married.
We’ll get you comfortable with the camera at your engagement session, then work through your wedding timeline, family photo list, and the moments you care about most. Tell me about any family dynamics, too. I’d rather know before I ask the wrong people to stand together.
On the day, I’ll guide you through portraits, keep the photography moving, and know when to give you space. You get to hug your people, eat your dinner, and enjoy everything you’ve put into this.
03. Relive the Good Stuff.
Within 48 hours, you’ll have sneak peeks to share while everyone’s still talking about the wedding. Your full gallery follows in 6 to 8 weeks, along with a highlight slideshow.
You’ll see the portraits we planned, the moments you remember, and a few things you had absolutely no idea were happening. Download your favorites, send them to your people, and print the ones you want to see every day. Save the embarrassing ones for birthdays. That’s just being a good friend.
Get to Know Your Professional Third Wheel.
Hey, I’m PJ. Photographer, Dad, Occasional Bad Influence.
Based in Richmond, Virginia. Photographing weddings since 2009. Still making jokes my kids wish I wouldn’t.
I’m the guy behind Memories by PJ, and if we’re going to spend your wedding day together, you should know a little about me.
I’m a dad to two kids who mean everything to me and have absolutely no interest in helping my ego. Watching them grow is a big reason I care so much about photographs. There are everyday moments I’d love to have back, and pictures let me keep a little piece of them.
At weddings, I’m a bit of a chameleon. If you’re nervous, I’ll be calm and help you through it. If your friends are giving you a hard time, I might join in. I take the photos seriously. Myself, considerably less.
I love bold colors, interesting light, and catching people being themselves. I’ll happily spend time making a portrait you want above your fireplace. I’m just as interested in your dad tearing up when he thinks nobody’s watching.
Mostly, I want you to feel comfortable having me around. You can ask questions, tell me you need a break, or admit you’re done with photos and want a drink. We’ll work together, have some laughs, and make pictures that mean something to you.
You bring your people. I’ll bring the camera and a deeply questionable sense of humor.
I Have Photos. And Opinions.
Real Weddings and Advice You Can Actually Use.
I Could Go On About Myself.
But They Say It Better.
“PJ was such a blast to work with! He was extremely professional, but also so personable and it made our experience with him so perfect! We received several compliments from our wedding guests about PJ and how kind/patient he was! His work speaks for itself, so I do not need to say it, but his photography is amazing!”
— Nichole and Dominick
Mankin MansionPJ is wonderful! He made the trip all the way up to Philadelphia to photograph our engagement sessionwhich was the perfect way to get to know him. His work is beautiful and he was able to capture such wonderful memories from our wedding day. On top of all of this, his services are an incredible value.
— Rachel and Shawn
Brody Jewish Center @ University of VAIf you are looking for a wedding photographer, look no further than PJ. He is fantastic. He is crafting magic and is very talented at composing beautiful portraits. He is incredibly easy to work with and is so calm. He puts you at ease and you hardly notice he is there.
We have received countless compliments on our photos and all the credit for that goes to PJ!
— Gwin and Jason
The Boathouse at Sunday ParkLet’s Find Your Fit.
Your Wedding. Your Kind of Coverage.
Keeping it small or making a whole weekend of it? I’ve got options from five hours to a full wedding weekend. Tell me what you’re planning, and I’ll help you figure out how much coverage makes sense.
Send me your date and a little about your plans. I’ll check availability and send over my welcome guide with pricing and everything each experience includes.
Every experience includes help with your timeline, sneak peeks within 48 hours, an edited online gallery, and a highlight slideshow. You get to relive the day. I get to turn your friends’ questionable dance moves into photographic evidence. Love that journey for me.
Make a Weekend of It.
The Legacy Experience
Perfect For
Couples bringing their favorite people together for a whole wedding weekend who want photos of the catching up, the getting married, and the celebrating that follows.
With rehearsal dinner or welcome party coverage, up to 12 hours on your wedding day, and two photographers, we have time to get to know your people before the ceremony even starts. The hugs when everyone arrives. The stories over dinner. The friend already announcing they’re closing down the dance floor tomorrow. Smile! You're having the best time of your life!
By the morning of the wedding I’m a familiar face with a camera. We’ll have room for the big plans, the quiet moments, and a few detours along the way. You’ve gotten everyone together. Let’s make sure you have plenty to remember it by.
Our Most Popular Experience
The Full Story Experience
Perfect For
Couples who want the getting ready chaos, the vows, the portraits, and the party photographed, with extra breathing room along the way.
Ten hours and two photographers gives us time for more of what you’ve planned and the things you couldn’t. An extra hug with Grandma. A few sunset portraits. Your friends going from polite dinner guests to shirts unbuttoned on the dance floor. Boy, that escalated quickly.
We’ll build in time for moving between locations, gathering your people, and taking a minute together. You get to settle into the day while we catch the moments happening around you.
The Vows, the Happy Tears, the Questionable Dancing.
The Signature Experience
Perfect For
Couples who want the getting ready excitement, the ceremony, and a good chunk of the party photographed, with time to actually enjoy it all.
Eight hours and two photographers means we can catch what’s happening in more than one place. Your entrance and their reaction. The speech and your best friend absolutely losing it.
We’ll build a timeline that makes room for portraits and gets you back to your people. You’ve picked the food, booked the music, and gotten everyone together. Treat yo’ self to actually enjoying it. We’ll handle the photos.
Smaller Guest List. Still a Big Deal.
The Intimate Experience
Perfect For
Couples planning courthouse vows, a backyard celebration, or a small wedding with their favorite people.
Five hours, one photographer, and plenty worth remembering. I’ll be there for the vows, the portraits, and your people getting a little emotional before getting a little loud.
We’ll plan the coverage around what matters most to you, with time to enjoy yourselves. Fewer guests, less wrangling, and so much room for activities.
This Could Be the Start of Something Fun.
You Make the Memories.
I’ll Keep the Evidence.
Got a spreadsheet for everything? Excellent. Still figuring out what half the wedding words mean? Also fine. Tell me where you’re at, and we’ll take it from there.
My kind of couples want beautiful photos, time with their favorite people, and a photographer who can handle a little smartassery. I’ll help you look good, keep portraits moving, and catch whatever happens when everyone loosens up.
Send me your date and a little about your plans. I’ll personally get back to you within a couple of hours with availability, pricing, and next steps. Then we can set up a quick chat to answer your questions and see if we click.
You don’t need to have everything figured out or be ready to book. We’re just getting to know each other. Though I can’t promise you’ll escape the first conversation without a dad joke.
Tips, Dos, and Don’ts to Ensure Your Outfits Reflect Your Personality and Look Stunning on Camera.