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the newest work, featured weddings & engagements, helpful posts for the couple planning a joyful wedding & see more about the heart behind the lens

Here’s my favorite wedding venues in Virginia for the most incredible portraits, coming from a Richmond VA wedding photographer who knows that not only should your venue be a spectacular place for hosting a wedding but should also have equally spectacular features for your wedding day photography.

Modern & Classic VMFA Wedding

It was an incredible day filled to the brim with stunning details. Luisa & Matt decided on March 19 for their wedding date and we were blessed with one of the most beautiful Virginia spring days I’ve ever seen for a wedding. Luisa’s eye for a classy and modern wedding came to life and I was blown away by the details and how her vision came together for their VMFA wedding in Richmond, Virginia.

They waited 441 days for this day. It was so evident on their wedding day just how loved they are by the people who know them and knowing them, you just can’t help it. I loved every minute of working with these two and it never even felt like work because it was just so much fun! It was truly my honor being their photographer and friend. Enjoy scrolling through my favorites from this gorgeous whimsical and colorful summer Old Silk Mill wedding!

Last Friday I got to meet Matt & Luisa at Libby Hill Park in Richmond VA for their engagement session and I have to say it was definitely one of the most fun engagement sessions I’ve ever done! The weather was perfect and it was a sunny day which made for gorgeous golden hour portraits! Luisa and Matt were so fun to talk with and getting to hear more about them and their sweet pets! Especially since their 5 month old puppy, Max, joined us for photos and I was over the moon!

Engagements

Weddings

Wedding photographer, Dunkin' enthusiast, and lover of all things romance and weddings.

MEET MONICA

boudoir

For Brides

Vicente and I started dating officially, in Japan. He and I both love traveling and seeing new places and experiences. We went to Washington DC together, we explored North Dakota, road tripped from North Dakota all the way home to our hometown in Virginia stopping in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. We went to New York City Spring 2017, and that was our last getaway together since I was at the time, just a couple months pregnant with Luca. So for my 25th birthday, Vicente told me that he was taking us to Mount Vernon for a few days. So we found a good weekend to go, booked the hotel, and off we went!

A long overdue post but such an amazing walk down memory lane. Plus, this is where it started really. Spring 2015 I was in school, majoring in Visual Arts & Photography while Vicente (my not even then boyfriend) was stationed overseas in Misawa AB in Northern Japan. I know when people think of Japan, they […]

We celebrated Luca’s first birthday with both our families and we had such a great time. Our families both love Luca so much and he is so blessed to have so many grandparents, aunts and uncles that love him.

It was such a fun party for our Luca and we couldn’t be more thankful. Luca had such a fun time opening his gifts and playing with his new toys but his most favorite part was eating the cake!

Happy birthday, my sweet boy.  When I was pregnant, everyone told me to enjoy it, it goes by too fast. When you were born and just weeks old, everyone told me to enjoy it, it goes by too fast. And nothing has been more true.  You were born Dec 13, 2017 at 8:26pm. You weighed […]

Ten months already. In two months, my sweet baby boy will be ONE YEAR OLD. I cannot believe where the time has gone and it’s so wild to see how fast the time has gone by. This month was full of learning and growth, laughing and tears (mostly from me).

© MJ MENDOZA PHOTOGRAPHY 2022

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