The 10 Best Lifestyle Photographers in Richmond

Lifestyle photography is one of our favorites because it is such a diverse art form! Family lifestyles, maternity lifestyles, lifestyle portraits … And helping people better understand what it’s like to be you from an artistic perspective means partnering up with a creative person who shares your vision. So why not consider one of the top 10 Richmond lifestyle photographers as potential partners this year?

1. Katherine Comparetto

Fans of rich saturation, warm Golden Hour tones, and outdoor natural light are going to love Katherine Camparetto, one of our favorite of all the Richmond lifestyle photographers! Born and raised in the area, she has intimate knowledge of where and how best to photograph your family. And when it comes to collaboration, Katherine has years of experience in doing that. She even provides an online styling tool to help you choose apparel that closely matches your vision. In this way, you can better convey the lifestyle narrative you have in mind when sharing your images with loved ones.

2. Stephanie Lane

Stephanie Lane is one of the more original Richmond lifestyle photographers who sees herself as a “creator of bright and storyful images!” We fully agree with her assessment. Stephanie favors bright, vibrant lighting where illumination positively fills the frame for a cheerful, even celebratory atmosphere. And the slightly subdued, cinematic quality of her colors feels gentle, which balances perfectly with the soft skin tones of children. From births and maternity shoots to engagements and weddings, there are a few life milestones that Stephanie doesn’t already have experience with.

3. Allison Kuhn Creative

Allison and her partner Travis are the Richmond lifestyle photographers behind Allison Kuhn Creative. They photograph families, weddings, commercial images, portraits, lifestyle, and aerial drone photography for Richmond residents.

Their strengths as a team truly complement one another. But we especially love the documentary context that Allison favors when photographing her subjects. Spontaneous, intimate presentations of families as they are can carry greater lifestyle expression than posed portrait sessions! As she explains her approach: “my photo sessions are centered around capturing natural connections and freezing memories rather than focusing on more contrived traditional images.”

4. Emily Gerald

As Emily Gerald well knows, newborns and children are some of the sweetest family subjects to work with! She’s one of the few Richmond lifestyle photographers who focus on the youngest members of your household. And she seems to have a baby-whispering talent since newborns tend to be famously unwilling to smile or pose in any fashion. We also adore Emily’s personal style, where white clothes and contemporary interior backgrounds add to the classic lifestyle narrative on display.

5. Meghan McSweeney

Commercial and lifestyle photography are the specialties of Meghan McSweeney! Her images have a relaxed, natural aspect that reflects both her artistic vision and you in all your authenticity. She shares the lifestyle moments from family outings to in-home documentary photography, where viewers see you and your loved ones free of planned poses. Meghan’s color grading is an excellent match to her more true-to-life vision, using gentle colors and classic monochrome profiles when they add to your story.

6. Elise Welker

Elise Welker is one of the most versatile of all Richmond lifestyle photographers, focusing on businesses, families, and life milestones. These can include weddings, maternities, newborns, and much more. She especially enjoys working with children, who are less intimidated when the photographer is working a foot away to capture every adorable expression they put on!  Elise has two distinctive styles: a matte black and white style and an earth-toned, richly contrasting one. Both approaches convey a nostalgic quality that’s perfect for family lifestyle photography.

7. Wade Hysell

Few Richmond lifestyle photographers have the subject breadth of experience that Wade Hysell has! Boudoir, fashion, portraiture, beauty, events, and business headshots are the subjects he focuses on from a lifestyle perspective. Rather than relying on vibrant colors and distracting backgrounds, Wade prefers a people-centric approach, with clean compositions and even lighting.

And in telling lifestyle stories about his subjects, he finds that his inner walls come down in his attempts to find authentic expressions for the world to enjoy. Wade’s preference for candid captures enhances this approach since what his subjects are presenting is unplanned and spontaneous.

8. Hunter Henkel

Hunter Henkel obtained her bachelor’s of fine art in photography when working at the Richmond Times-Dispatch daily newspaper. From there, she continued photographing until she had her first child, which inspired her to refocus her efforts towards building her own brand of art! Hunter has collaborated with hundreds of wedding, portrait, event, and business clients over the years. And we love the celebratory-feeling lifestyle narratives she specializes in. Her subjects’ high-energy expressions and poses speak to her ability to help people forget about posing and just be as they are.

9. Kaleigh Brayboy

Outdoor family lifestyle photography is the specialty of Kaleigh Brayboy! Rich afternoon sunshine, beaches, motorcycles, tattoos, and other deeply personal expressions of your favorite things are so much nicer to look at than generic “nice clothes” and scenic locations that aren’t special to you. We are especially impressed by the diversity of ways people express their love in Kaleigh’s images. The moments captured are more about the uniqueness of the connections shared rather than being pretty just to look good in front of the camera.

10. Sarah Kane

Sarah Kane has over a decade of experience photographing mothers, families, newborns, and children. She’s especially talented at working with children, thanks to her 12 years as a middle school teacher! She knows how not to push and is entirely unruffled by uncooperative kids. Sarah is also an especially great fit for folks who want a lifestyle angle on their maternity shoots. Her outdoor and studio maternity sessions allow you to craft fine art moments from your pregnancy that go beyond a simple documentation of the moment.

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