manassas virginia photographer

The Reeves Family

One of the better parts of my job is to capture multiple life events. I don’t narrow myself into one specific niche of photography, which enables me to capture both weddings and family portraits and such was the case for the Reeves family.

I first met Kaitlyn and Cody back in October of 2017 when I captured their engagement portraits in anticipation for their wedding, which I also photographed. It’s been so touching to see their family grow from two… then three… and now four! Kaitlyn is absolutely overwhelmed in a house full of boys and judging by these photos, she’s absolutely thriving.

Loved catching up with this sweet family this past fall - here are just a few of my favorite photos from their session!

Manassas Virginia Photographer
Virginia Family Photographer
Manassas Virginia Photographer
Manassas Virginia Photographer
Manassas Virginia Photographer
Manassas Battlefields Photographer
Manassas Virginia Photographer
Manassas Virginia Family Photographer
Manassas Virginia Photographer

The Chambers Family

As I was well into my fall shooting season, I was also planning my own family portraits. I'd put it off last year - and then never got around to it. The fact is, I know how stressful it is to put together a session. I dreaded it. But after working with the Chambers family for another year, and seeing how effortless Kari always makes it seem, I decided to schedule our session and make the best of it. I tried to simplify outfits to many pieces we already owned, and you'd never know by looking at these photos that Kari often works her magic in just days leading up to the session. Her laid back attitude sets the tone for the session and judging by these results - she nailed it. 

The Chambers Family


The Chambers are familiar faces here on the blog! I've worked with this sweet family since their oldest was less than 3 years old, photographed their youngest when he was days old, and grew up 3 houses down from the Man of the House. Their annual session is one I look forward to every year, much of which is due in part to Kali's gracious feedback. She knows how to make me feel like a million bucks and I love how eager she is to share how she's displayed the photos in her home. I couldn't ask for better clients! 









Why a Happy Client is my Best Advertisement

Noel Grace Photography


Recently one of my neighbors had some work done on the front of their home. We're talking brand spanking new wood and trim, new paint, and some good 'ol power washing. The home looks almost brand new, despite being over 20 years old. Unfortunately, there's no yard sign advertising the company that's done the work, as we often see with home projects that are a large undertaking. It's made me think about knocking on her door to get the name of the company, should I decide to invest in upgrades for our home as well.

Photography - whether it's posted on social media or displayed in the home - works very much like the story of my neighbor's exterior work. A happy client is my best advertisement. When someone changes their profile or timeline picture to one that I took? It still makes me giddy after all these years. At the end of the year when I open up a holiday card and I see a shot I took with gold embossing and a personalized note from a client? I proudly display it in my kitchen, probably a little too far into the next year. (As I also often do with my outdoor Christmas lights...)

Last year I spent less than $100 on advertising for the entire year. That sounds kind of crazy right? How can a successful business still bring in income with such a small advertising budget! That's because most of my clients come to me purely by word of mouth or seeing my work.

There's a good chance I will never knock on my neighbor's door, simply because it requires more effort than if the company's sign had been on their lawn. (Is that admitting to the world I am lazy?) As consumers, we're more likely to buy something with brand recognition because that recognition creates a sense of safety and assurance about our investment and the outcome of our purchase. Ever wonder why Nike and Coca-Cola continue advertising even though they're already billion-dollar powerhouses? Whether we realize it or not, equating a brand with a quality product (in this case the flawless Cherry Coke) makes us more likely to choose that product on recognition alone.

Combining a great photo with the photographer that took it creates a brand, creates recognition, and creates a sense of security for a prospective client. That truly is the best form of advertising that I could hope for - and the greatest thank you I receive from my clients.




Nicole and Bobby


I cannot believe it's taken me so long to share more images from this gorgeous session! While Bobby and Nicole are based out of Philadelphia currently, many members of their family are here in the DC area. We had just one short weekend for engagement photos, rain or shine, warmth or - bitter cold! It was an very, very brisk session, but don't these two look warm and cozy? I had so much fun working with these two and loved planning along with Nicole, and my heart skipped a beat when she said she was hoping to mix tulle and plaid. These two nailed it, and I cannot wait for the fall wedding!