Bailey and Jake’s Dreamy Anniversary Shoot
On the Saturday prior to Halloween, I had the pleasure of capturing anniversary photos for my dear friends, Bailey and Jake, at Maymont Park in Richmond, VA. Not only was I honored to be chosen to take these photos for them, but I was also extremely grateful that they drove three hours for me to do so! Their anniversary was on Halloween (how cool is that?), so we had it done just in time.
With sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s, we really couldn’t have asked for a better day to shoot. While Maymont can sometimes build crowds on the weekends, we still had more than enough space to take photos in a few different spots around the park. I absolutely love this location for taking photos because of its versatility; you have European architecture, gardens, gazebos, meadows, and a pond straight out of a fairytale. Not to mention, it’s also free!
We started our shoot not far from the Hampton St/Mansion entrance to get some shots among the autumn foliage, which was perfectly vibrant at the time. There, we also had plenty of space to warm up and get comfortable without being surrounded by other people taking photos. As soon as we started shooting, I knew Bailey and Jake were going to be naturals. They were so goofy together, and it was super easy to capture their love in a way that felt genuine to them.
After taking our photos in the meadow, we journeyed onward to the Italian gardens, where we took a few quick shots before heading down the hill towards the pond. At the bottom of the hill, we found a little stone alcove surrounded by trees that had the most perfect little sun spots scattered all around. The light shined so beautifully on Bailey and Jake, and I managed to take some of my favorite photos from this shoot here. They were glowing and looked absolutely magical.
Before wrapping up our shoot at Maymont, we took a few more shots under some trees that were a short walk from the alcove. The light there was beautiful as well, and we got some gorgeous shots to accompany the others.
After our shoot, we quickly stopped for milkshakes at River City Diner and snapped a few more photos for funsies. I had never visited this spot before, but was pleasantly surprised by how gorgeous it was (their milkshakes were pretty fantastic, too). I highly recommend it for photoshoots, and would love to take additional pictures there in the future!
Overall, this day was such a dream. I had the opportunity to take stunning photos of a stunning couple, and I also got to spend quality time with great friends. While I’ve known Bailey for a long time, I love how much I was able to continue to get to know her and her husband throughout our shoot together. It’s always a great time learning more about your love stories by taking your photos!
Want to see more of Bailey and Jake’s anniversary photos? Check them out here:
About Maymont
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Cost to visit: Free!
Best place to park: The Hampton St/Mansion end parking lot will give you easiest access to most of the good photo spots. If you want to shoot closer to the farm and its surrounding meadows, try parking at the big Spottswood lot.
Things to keep in mind when shooting in Maymont:
Crowds - This is a very popular photo spot! You will likely find several photographers shooting here, especially on the weekends. You may have to wait your turn to photograph in the more popular areas if you decide to shoot during a busier time.
Bring comfortable shoes - There’s many stairs and a fair amount of walking up/downhill. If you or your model(s) are planning on wearing heels, be sure to bring comfortable shoes to change into just in case!
About Me
I’m Ashton—a photographer dedicated to capturing the magic and beauty of love through photographs reminiscent of stills from a film.
Ready to tell your story?