I'm a
photographer
Stephen Lawson
About Me
As a Richmond-based photographer, I specialize in capturing the authentic moments that tell your unique story. My approach combines artistic vision with technical expertise, whether I'm documenting the intimate emotions of your wedding day or creating timeless family portraits. For weddings, I offer comprehensive coverage that includes everything from candid ceremony moments to carefully crafted couple portraits, complete with engagement sessions and a curated online gallery of edited images. My portrait sessions are tailored to showcase your personality, whether it's celebrating milestones, updating family photos, or creating professional headshots. Every image is professionally edited and delivered through a secure online gallery, where you can easily share, download, and order premium prints. I believe photography is about more than taking pictures – it's about preserving emotions and creating heirlooms that will be cherished for generations. Let's work together to capture your story in a way that feels genuine and timeless.
How do I operate?
- I shoot with professional Sony Alpha digital cameras and use Sigma, Rokinon, Viltrox, and Tamron lenses. I also shoot 35mm and medium format film!
- Your raw files will be stored stored safely on two different storage media and with a secondary offsite backup.
- My business is registered in the state of Virginia and insured.
- I always have back-up equipment at hand and on location.

Portrait

Graduation

Engagement

Wedding


Wedding
Your wedding day is a celebration of love, joy, and commitment—a story that deserves to be beautifully captured. From the heartfelt 'I dos' to the lively moments on the dance floor, our wedding photography ensures every detail is preserved.

Portraits
Every person has a unique story to tell, and our portrait photography is designed to capture yours. Whether you're looking for professional headshots, creative artistic portraits, or casual lifestyle images, we work with you to bring out your personality and style.

Engagement
Your engagement marks the beginning of a beautiful journey together, and our photography is here to celebrate that love. Whether you envision a romantic sunset shoot or a playful session in your favorite spot, we create images that reflect your unique bond.

Graduation
Celebrate your academic achievements with a stunning graduation photoshoot! Whether it's capturing the excitement of turning the tassel or preserving the pride in your cap and gown, we create timeless images that commemorate this milestone.

Event
From corporate gatherings to milestone celebrations, I capture the energy and excitement of your special occasions. Every handshake, every smile, every spontaneous moment tells part of your event's story.

Couples
Your love isn’t posed—it’s inside jokes, stolen kisses, and goofy moments. I’m here to snap the real stuff: relaxed, unscripted, and 100% you

Family
Preserving your family's genuine connections and precious milestones through natural, heartfelt photography. Whether it's tender moments between siblings, multi-generational portraits, or candid playtime at your favorite park.

Film
You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” – Ansel Adams. Film is deliberate, unhurried, and rooted in craft. No filters, no undo button—just light, chemistry, and intention. Let’s create, not click.
"Stephen is wonderful to work with. Despite the holidays, he was able to turn the pictures he took around really quickly."
December 12, 2024
Read More"Stephen was very professional and responded to emails quickly and gave us the impression that nothing was too much trouble. On the day of the event, he was still very professional but also really friendly. He made everyone feel comfortable and at ease about being photographed. I’ll definitely work with him again."
November 30, 2024
Read More"Stephen was very kind and anxiety-reducing during the photography session by being so personable. The photos he delivered after were nothing short of awesome too. 10/10"
November 25, 2024
Read More"Working with him is a pleasant, professional, good quality work and easy to contact and responsive to communications."
October 28, 2024
Read More"Absolutely amazing work. Easy to communicate with and just an all around Professional. This man is amazing!!"
October 15, 2024
Read More"Stephen was amazing to work with for our wedding! He went above and beyond to make sure we took the most beautiful pictures for our special day. He was also professional, friendly and a great communicator. We highly recommend him!"
October 11, 2024
Read More"Stephen was terrific and the photos of my car were fantastic!! He was a real pleasure to work with and I highly recommend!"
September 15, 2024
Read More"Hired him for a big family reunion. Did a good job of getting all of us in one shot as well as numerous smaller groups"
August 27, 2024
Read More"I had the pleasure of working with Stephen Lawson Photography LLC, and it was an incredible experience! From start to finish, the session was fun and exciting, capturing not just stunning images but also the joy and energy of the day. Stephen has an amazing eye for detail and a unique ability to make you feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. The final photos exceeded my expectations, perfectly reflecting the moments we shared. I highly recommend Stephen for anyone looking for a top-notch photography experience!"
August 10, 2024
Read More"We are truly thankful to have Stephen help us share our engagement with some phenomenal photos!! He was able to capture beautiful shots in challenging weather and in a very busy location!! The finishing product made us feel like our story came right out of a novel!! Thank you so much for the lifetime memories you captured in our engagement photos Stephen!!!"
July 24, 2024
Read More"Stephen Lawson Photography exceeded our expectations in every way, and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a professional and talented event photographer. The turnaround time for receiving the photos was impressive, and we were thrilled with the quality of the final images. Each picture highlighted the best aspects of our event and the people involved. Overall, working with Stephen Lawson Photography was a pleasure!"
July 06, 2024
Read More"Had my professional portraits taken by Stephen and they came out great. I recommended him to my coworkers."
July 02, 2024
Read More"I loved our photshoot with Stephen!! My son had a one year photoshoot with Stephen and he went above and beyond! I walked into the photoshoot with my one year old and to my surprise, Stephen had set up the studio BALLOONS and provided CAKE! for our cake smash. How many photographers do you know that will provide that? If you are already thinking about hiring him, just do it! Stephen was patient with my child and overall had a great experience! Thanks Stephen (sorry for the late review)"
June 07, 2024
Read More"Stephen was at our office recently to take professional headshots. He was friendly, knowledgeable and professional. I love the quality of my photos. They turned out great! Thank you so much. I highly recommend the quality of his photography."
October 11, 2023
Read More"We recently hired Stephen to take multiple headshots of employees at our company event and he was absolutely fantastic. The headshots turned out extremely high quality, he was very affordable compared to others in the area, easy to work with on setup and flexible throughout the chaos of employees coming in and out. We will definitely use him again for future events and were lucky to find him - so don't keep looking!"
October 10, 2023
Read More"We loved working with Stephen! From start to finish, he has been so easy and a pleasure to work with. Our family photos turned out absolutely stunning and looked so natural. Definitely found our fave photographer in the area."
October 03, 2023
Read More"Very responsive business owner, I was able to book an appointment quickly and had proofs to review the day after the shoot. Stephen was very friendly and super easy to work with-would definitely book with him again! Thanks Stephen!"
August 23, 2023
Read More"Stephen is amazing to work with. I needed some headshots to use for an upcoming audition and Stephen not only understood what I wanted but also made valuable suggestions to ensure that I best represent myself in the pictures once the end product is done. His communication was clear, direct and we got things done in a reasonable amount of time. In fact, he went above and beyond to make sure that I get my copies on time to send them for printing. If you are looking for a photographer, Stephen is your guy! Thank you Stephen!"
August 23, 2023
Read More"Stephen was the best! He took both my Airbnb and engagement photographs. I’m very pleased with his work. Prior to my photoshoot, my now husband and I had no idea what to expect from a photo session and posing was an out of this world concept for us by then. Stephen truly understood our vision and the essence of our love story; he managed to capture it all. He skillfully utilized various settings, lighting techniques and poses to create a diverse range of stunning shots. Stephen’s attention to detail is unmatched; from checking that my stray hairs stay away from my face, to helping us nail the ..."
July 13, 2023
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