Elopement at Shenandoah Park | Shawna + James

I have no words to describe how much fun I had with Shawna and James at their Sunrise Mountain Elopement at Shenandoah Park in Virginia.

These beautiful souls reached out to me saying “a normal wedding didn’t feel like our thing”. These are exciting words to me! We continued the conversation and decided that a sunrise session at Shenandoah National Park would be perfect. Shawna and James are really into hiking and the outdoors and wanted their photos to reflect that. Needless to say, we made it happen and WOW.

Photos by Richmond Wedding Photographer | The Gernands Photography

Hi, I'm Samuel, a fine art wedding photographer based in Chicago, IL. The day you choose to say "I do" to your partner and start a new chapter of your lives together is one of the most special moments you'll have. This day deserves to be captured artfully and authentically so it can be remembered by yourselves and your loved ones for many years. Providing this for couples brings me so much joy!

My approach to photographing couples and weddings is simple: create an experience where you and your partner can feel completely comfortable and actually enjoy yourselves! I focus on a candid style rather than a more posed or staged style. This means that I like to prompt you to interact with each other in different ways, allowing me to capture your genuine personalities and dynamic. It also takes the pressure off being in front of a camera!

If you're looking for a wedding photographer in Chicago, IL who will help you feel free to be yourselves, give you a laid-back experience, and treat you like lifelong friends, we might just be a perfect fit.