Tell Me About Your Day

What you actually want is someone who can show up, read the room, and let you forget the camera is even there. Someone who gets your people, doesn't make things feel awkward, and still catches every real moment - the laugh you didn't plan, the tear you didn't see coming, the quiet in-between stuff that made your day yours.

You want photos that actually look like you. Not a highlight reel of forced smiles and coordinated outfits.

Real photos. No stiff poses. Just you two, exactly as you are.

I'm Mason, a Richmond wedding and elopement photographer known for candid, documentary-style coverage, from outdoor ceremonies in Charlottesville to backyard weddings in Williamsburg and mountain elopements in the middle of nowhere.

Richmond is home base, but home is a camper van I share with my wife and our two pups, so I'm usually on the road.

I travel year-round in an RV, love the outdoors, and I'm not going to spend your whole day moving you around for shots. I'd rather blend in, get to know your people, and catch the moments that actually happened. The ones you'll want to look back on in 20 years.

I'll give you enough direction to feel comfortable on camera. After that, just enjoy your day and trust me to handle the rest.

I'm Mason - a laid-back Richmond wedding and elopement photographer who just wants you to enjoy your day.

hey!

Meet Mason

Jump to pricing

"I instantly felt at ease, like I was chatting with a down-to-earth friend rather than a vendor. He felt like part of the celebration, not just someone behind the camera."

Mill at Fine Creek, Powhatan VA

What Couples Are Saying

"He made us feel so comfortable, nothing was forced, and he let us enjoy our day while capturing every moment naturally. Our photos turned out absolutely stunning - natural, fun, and timeless."

Barns of Kanak, Prince George VA

What Couples Are Saying

"Years ago I told my wife that my dream was to have wedding photos I could look back on decades from now and feel the love we had that day. Mason gave me exactly that."

Maymont, Richmond Virginia

What Couples Are Saying


"I love the natural and authentic-ness that he was able to capture. The photos truly show our personalities that we will have forever."

Virginia Cliffe Inn, Glen Allen VA

What Couples Are Saying


"It felt like having a good friend behind the camera who just happened to be crazy talented. He never forced poses or made things feel awkward - he really got to know us and our people."

Annie + Sal - Williamsburg, VA

What Couples Are Saying

Richmond wedding venues

A few recent favorites

I shoot everywhere, from backyard ceremonies to intimate elopements. With over 150 weddings photographed across Richmond and Virginia, these are a few of the venues I keep coming back to.

Mankin Mansion

An Italianate-Georgian estate 15 minutes from downtown Richmond. English gardens, a grand pavilion, and one of the best bridal suites I have shot in.

Barns of Kanak

A historic 13-acre farm in Prince George, 30 miles south of Richmond. Restored barns, open farmland, and golden hour field portraits that are hard to beat.

Main Street Station

A landmark train shed in the heart of Richmond. Industrial ceilings, warm brick, and the kind of light that makes reception photos look like they cost twice as much.

Historic Tuckahoe

One of the oldest surviving historic estates in Virginia. The grounds, the architecture, and the natural light make it one of the most photographable venues in the area.

A collection of real moments: laughter, quiet glances, and the joy in between. These images don’t just show your love, they let you feel it all over again.

Weddings & Elopements, Captured Naturally

The details

From Richmond
to the Blue Ridge

Whether you’re getting married at a Richmond venue, a vineyard outside Charlottesville, or on the coast in Virginia Beach, travel anywhere in Virginia is included. I’ll help you build a timeline with room to breathe, then document your day as it actually happens.

Candid Virginia wedding recessional, Mason Jesmer PhotographyPHOTO 1
candid Virginia wedding (the recessional)

Virginia Weddings & Elopements

Collections begin at $3,800

For courthouse vows, backyard celebrations, full wedding days, and wedding weekends anywhere in Virginia.

What’s included:
  • Half day, full day, and multi-day collections
  • Timeline and planning guidance before the day
  • Travel throughout Virginia included on every collection
  • 35mm film included with Full Wedding Day and Multi-Day collections
  • Sneak peeks within 48 hours
  • Full high-resolution gallery delivered within 4 weeks
Tell me about your Virginia day
Good to know

Richmond wedding questions

Do you only photograph weddings in Richmond?

No. Richmond is home base, and travel anywhere in Virginia is included in every collection, half day or full day. That covers Charlottesville vineyards, Williamsburg estates, Virginia Beach, and the Blue Ridge.

My wife and I live full time in a camper van, so I travel beyond Virginia too. If you're getting married somewhere farther away, here's how travel works.

Do you photograph elopements too?

Yes, and they're some of my favorite days. Courthouse vows downtown, a backyard ceremony with your closest people, or sunrise on a Blue Ridge overlook. Every one gets the same planning help and the same attention as a full wedding.

Dreaming of the mountains? Here's everything on Virginia mountain elopements, from permits to timing.

Which Richmond venues have you photographed?

A few I keep coming back to: Mankin Mansion, Main Street Station, Barns of Kanak in Prince George, and Historic Tuckahoe.

I also love backyard weddings and smaller spots most people haven't heard of. If your venue is new to me, I'll scout the light and the layout before your day so nothing catches us off guard.

When should we plan portraits for the best light?

Aim for the 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. In Richmond that shifts a lot through the year: sunset is around 8:30pm in late June, 6:30pm in mid-October, and before 5pm in December.

I'll build your timeline around your date's actual sunset, so you're not guessing. More on that in when to start golden hour photos.

How much coverage do we actually need?

If you want everything from getting ready to the last dance, most couples choose a Full Wedding Day.

For a courthouse ceremony, a backyard celebration, or a smaller day, a Half Day collection is usually plenty. Not sure? That's exactly what our first call is for.

We're awkward on camera. Is that a problem?

Not at all. Most of my couples say that before the wedding. I'll give you a little direction to get started during portraits, then step back and let you two be yourselves.

The rest of the day I'm mostly out of the way, catching the real moments with your people. You won't spend it performing for a camera.

How far ahead should we book?

Most couples book 8 to 14 months ahead. Spring and fall Saturdays in Virginia go first, so if you're set on May or October, reach out early.

I only take a limited number of weddings each year, so every couple gets my full attention.

Your Story Starts Here

If you’re looking for a calm, easy-to-be-around photographer who will help you stay present on your wedding day, you’re in the right place.

Collections begin at $3,800. Share a few details below, and I’ll text you within 24 hours to hear more about what you’re planning and talk through the right coverage for your day.

2027 dates are now booking.

Dear Mason,

Here's a little about our day: the date, the place, and what matters most to us.