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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

when I stumbled on a photo of Luca at two months old, sleeping peacefully in his bouncer. Where did my tiny baby go?! I can’t believe how much he’s grown. It’s wild to think that in the next handful of months, he’ll be ONE YEAR OLD. And cue the mama tears. But this month Luca did a lot of learning and growing!

Eight months already. I can’t even believe it! I often look back through photos on my phone and find a photo or video of Luca when he was just a few weeks old. So tiny and brand new. And before I even realized it, our sweet baby is the cutest chunky monkey and is growing so so quick!

what a month it’s been. It’s been full of leaps and growing and so many tears and tantrums. From me, mostly! In all seriousness, Luca has grown so much and we have been hitting milestones like crazy.

It is so hard for me to wrap around my mind that my baby is HALF A YEAR old today! It feels like he was just born. It feels like I’ve known him forever too. This year has been flying by faster than I’d like but I look forward to all the future milestones he’s hitting.

Along with Luca turning five months, today is also Mother’s Day! I’m so excited to celebrate Mother’s Day with my sweet little guy. Last year, I was just 8 weeks pregnant and so excited about what Mother’s Day in 2018 would hold.

© MJ MENDOZA PHOTOGRAPHY 2022

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