Curved text reads FOR REAL PEOPLE & REAL LOVE in a light, pale font on a plain light background.

All About the Photography by Jo Team

We Don’t Care About Perfect. We Care About You.

Wedding photography isn’t just about pretty pictures.

It’s about holding space: for you, your loved ones, and the memories you’ll make on your wedding day. It’s about freezing a feeling and coming back to it later, recalling the way you teared up as your partner walked down the aisle and how hard you laughed during toasts. It’s about reliving the day again and again, keeping the memory fresh even years from now.

Yes, your photos will be beautiful. But even more than that, they’ll be an authentic record of your most important moments.

A woman in a dark green dress stands on a light floor, holding a camera up to her face. She is surrounded by colorful flower arrangements on either side. The background is plain and light-colored.

Meet Jo Mahaney

Black and white photo of a woman with shoulder-length hair and glasses, smiling and sitting sideways on a stool against a plain background. She is wearing a sleeveless top and striped pants.

A woman with brown hair and glasses, wearing a white blouse, sits on a desk holding a green mug. She is smiling. On the desk are notebooks, a camera, and a pen. Behind her, there is a chair, a mirror, and a fireplace.

Mother of two tiny humans, six (less than tiny) animals, and a Staunton, Virginia Wedding Photographer.

Work with jo

Jo grew up rummaging through the boxes of photographs scattered throughout her grandmother’s home. Despite being a single mother of three boys, her grandmother spent her twenties and thirties photographing weddings, traveling around the world, and advocating for those in her community. She passed her passion for truly seeing people and preserving their memories through visual storytelling on to Jo.

Now, Jo uses this passion to document love stories as authentically as possible. Her own experience as a bride showed that the unplanned experiences are often the most precious. With eleven years of experience photographing weddings throughout Virginia and beyond, she’s learned how to document genuine emotion without interrupting it, honoring the beauty of the memory while preserving it. Her photography focuses on true-to-life color, authentic feelings, and candid images that bring you right back to the moment.

Meet The Team

We serve people first and take photos second.

As the Photography by Jo team has expanded, so has our heart for the people we serve. Every member of the team has extensive experience not just taking pictures, but working alongside couples to create a safe environment and effortless experience. Our approach is rooted in human connection, comfort, and care.

No matter who’s behind the lens, the comfort-first experience stays the same: intentional, kind, and quietly observant.

A woman with light brown hair and glasses, wearing an orange outfit, sits on a chair in a bright room decorated with colorful flower arrangements near large windows.

Jade

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair sits smiling on a cream-colored chair in a bright room, surrounded by colorful flowers. She wears a sleeveless beige top, gray pants, and sandals. Sunlight streams through large windows behind her.

Becca

A woman with medium-length brown hair, wearing a cream blouse and dark pants, sits on a light chair in a bright room with large windows. Colorful flowers are arranged on the floor around her. She is smiling at the camera.

Emily

A young woman with long blonde hair sits on a cream chair in a bright room with large windows, surrounded by colorful flowers on the floor. She is wearing a white top and light blue pants, smiling at the camera.

Holly

A woman with long hair sits on a cream-colored chair in a bright room with large windows. She wears a gray blazer, jeans, and black sandals. Colorful flowers are arranged around her on the floor and rug.

Cameryn

A woman with long, gray hair sits on a beige chair in a bright room with large windows. She wears a sleeveless green top, jeans, and sandals. Colorful flowers decorate the floor around her.

Jessie

Additional Associates: Megan, Jordan, Melissa

A bride and groom stand smiling under a floral arch during an outdoor wedding ceremony, with an officiant holding papers between them. The scene is surrounded by greenery and guests are visible in the foreground.

Emily E.
Faith K.
Glenn B.

“If you are considering having Jo as your photographer, do it!”

Jo is incredible at what she does! My now husband and I never kissed until our wedding day and she helped us feel comfortable with each other and have fun at the same time. She is so easy to work with, on time, super professional but not stiff. She is so relational and kind. Her quality of work is out of this world! Do it. Do it. DO IT! YOU WONT REGRET IT!

“Photography by Jo was such an incredible addition to our wedding experience!”

She is not only an amazing photographer but is also very personable and felt right at home with our families. Even my husband, who is typically uncomfortable around cameras, loosened up and enjoyed every shot being taken. Thank you so much for being there for us! We couldn’t have dreamed of anyone better!

“Jo was an absolute pro on the day of our wedding”

Photography is VERY important to me, and after becoming engaged, it was the FIRST vendor I wanted to book. We had 3 vendors narrowed down within 2 weeks of getting engaged, and quickly booked Jo. She has an eye for detail and her photos truly captured the love and excitement we had that day.

A close-up of a bride smiling with her eyes closed as her partner, partially hidden by a veil, kisses her cheek. The bride wears pearl earrings and a strapless dress, and the scene feels intimate and joyful.

A simple, hand-drawn illustration of two interlocking wedding rings in dark green, symbolizing marriage or partnership, on a white background.

The Photography by Jo Team Values

radical hospitality
We lead with empathy, presence, and service. From the very first message to the final gallery delivery, our approach is rooted in generosity. We want you to feel held, seen, and supported, not just as subjects, but as real people experiencing one of life’s biggest days. Every member of our team extends that same spirit of hospitality and attentiveness.
presence over performance
We prioritize comfort, connection, and real moments, not a performance for the camera. You don’t want your day to feel like a photoshoot, and we don’t want that either. We know how to read the room, when to gently guide, and when to step back. We help you feel and look like yourself. Relaxed, joyful, and truly present.
Comfort is the cornerstone
People may forget the timeline, but they’ll never forget how they felt. We create space for you and your guests to be your whole selves. Whether you’re camera-shy, neurodivergent, deeply sentimental, or navigating complex family dynamics, we know how to meet you exactly where you are. Comfort isn’t just a byproduct of our work. It’s the foundation.
legacy and meaning
We’re not here for fleeting trends. We’re here to preserve the moments that matter. We photograph with the future in mind. Our work honors the long-term value of photography, heirloom albums, printed images, and thoughtful documentation that outlives social media. We create images that you can print out, hold in your hands, and encourage families to gather around for generations.
belonging, always
We believe everyone deserves to feel fully themselves, quirks, culture, and all. We embrace a wide range of couples, personalities, family structures, and wedding styles, from second marriages to micro weddings to Mario Kart in place of a first dance. Our work celebrates real people and the ways you express love, whatever that looks like.
integrity in every step
If we’re not the right fit, we’ll help you find someone who is. We lead with honesty, clarity, and a genuine desire to serve. We don’t upsell what you don’t need, and we don’t compromise on care. We stand behind our work, our team, and the experience we’ve built.