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

Charlottesville Virginia Engagement Photographer

Celebrating Where You Are, Right Now

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Engagement sessions are about more than checking a box or getting photos for your save-the-dates. They’re a chance to pause. To step out of planning mode and just be together, without distractions, deadlines, or to-do lists. Because this season, like everything else about your relationship, deserves to be remembered.

Circular logo with the text “Photography by Jo” in the center and “Charlottesville, Virginia” below, all in green font on a white background. The design is bordered by two thin concentric circles.
A young couple sits on outdoor stone steps. The woman, in a white dress and heels, sits on the lap of the man, who wears a white t-shirt and jeans. They laugh joyfully, surrounded by greenery.

Engagement sessions are included in every wedding package we offer—and for good reason. After more than a decade photographing weddings, we’ve seen just how impactful they can be—for you, and for us.


This session gives you space to get comfortable in front of the camera without the pressure of a timeline or a guest list. You get to feel what it’s like to be photographed by someone who sees and supports you.


Think of it as a relaxed, low-stakes trial run. You’ll see how we work with light and gently guide you into natural movement. We’ll see what feels most effortless for you—so when the wedding comes, we’re all in sync.


Engagement sessions are included in every one of our wedding photography packages, but if you would like an individual engagement session, we offer several engagement-only experiences starting at $600.

When to take engagement photos

We recommend planning your session three to six months before your wedding. This is usually the perfect time to slow down and really appreciate the season you’re in. Plus, if we schedule your session early enough, you may even be able to use your engagement photos on your wedding save the dates or invitations! 

Since our weekends are usually booked with weddings, most engagement sessions happen on weekday nights. The timing depends on the season, since we are always chasing the best light for your photos!

Where to plan your engagement session

This is entirely up to you! We love taking photos at locations that are special to you, and we have photographed couples around parks, restaurants, city streets, and even their own living rooms! The more creative, the better. Jo also co-owns a natural-light studio in Staunton, Virginia, which we can use for indoor portraits, getting ready, or changing between locations. Feel free to explore our guide of 40+ engagement session locations in Virginia!

The What to wear for your session

We’ll send out a much more detailed guide before your session, but there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your outfit for your engagement photos. Most couples choose one casual outfit and one dressy one. We encourage you to coordinate with your partner, rather than match them exactly, and we think neutrals look good on everyone! Ultimately, though, our biggest piece of outfit advice is this: be comfortable. Wear something you feel good in, and your pictures will reflect that!

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Planning Your Engagement Session

  • A woman in a blue floral dress and a man in a light blue shirt and khakis hold hands while standing on stones in a lush garden pond, surrounded by greenery and trees under soft sunlight.
  • A couple stands on a sunlit path surrounded by vibrant autumn trees. The man kisses the womans forehead as they hold hands, with golden leaves and sunlight creating a warm, romantic atmosphere.
  • A couple stands outside a house, kissing and embracing. The woman extends her hand toward the camera, prominently displaying an engagement ring.
  • A couple stands in a garden, the man embracing the woman from behind as they both smile. The woman wears a blue dress, and the man wears a light blue shirt. Greenery and flowering plants are in the background.

“Working with Jo was one of my favorite experiences of getting married”

(aside from actually marrying my husband of course!) 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 married and quickly booked Jo. Her light and airy photos really appealed to us and matched the look and feel we were going for with our wedding. Our package included engagement photos which was a wonderful introduction to Jo’s personality, styling, and vision. It allowed us to become comfortable with her direction and guidance and gave us a sneak peek at her work prior to our big day.

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  • A couple stands closely under a garden arch, gazing into each others eyes and smiling. The woman wears a floral dress and the man wears a light blue shirt, both surrounded by greenery in a sunlit outdoor setting.
  • A man in a cowboy hat sits on a horse, smiling down at a woman in a patterned shirt and cowboy hat as she holds his hand. The scene is outdoors and captured in black and white.
  • A man kisses a smiling woman’s cheek as they embrace outdoors. She wears a blue dress and sneakers; he wears dark pants and a light shirt. They stand in front of a blooming tree and a tan building on a sunny day.
  • A couple poses outdoors; the woman in a white dress smiles at the camera while the man stands behind her, holding her and kissing her head. Lush green foliage and a stone path are in the background.
  • A couple stands close together on a cobblestone sidewalk next to a brick wall covered in ivy. The man in a blue blazer smiles at the woman in a brown dress and visor as they look at something in her hand.
  • A couple stands holding hands and smiling at each other in front of a black iron gate and a wall covered with green ivy. The woman wears a white dress and sandals; the man wears a beige shirt, navy pants, and brown shoes.
  • emily-ron-engagement-2022-17

Picture your own engagement session

View our engagement galleries

Equestrian engagement session at river’s bend ranch

A Dreamy Morning Engagement at Virginia’s Waterperry Farm Gardens

Summer engagement session at king family vineyards

A couple sits barefoot on sandy ground among rocks, smiling and gazing into each others eyes. The woman wears a white strapless dress, and the man wears a light shirt and jeans. The scene appears joyful and intimate.
A man and woman stand holding hands and facing each other in a botanical garden—one of the stunning engagement session locations in Virginia—surrounded by lush greenery and grand planters, with a glass-domed conservatory in the background.
A young couple holds hands and smiles at each other inside an ornate stone archway with stained glass windows—one of the most charming engagement session locations in Virginia. Both wear white; the woman is in a dress, and the man is in a t-shirt and jeans.

Your Charlottesville Virginia Engagement Photographer

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