Today we’re so excited to share Mary and Chris’s engagement session here in Richmond. We started their photos at Maymont and wrapped up at the Carillon in Byrd Park—two of our favorite spots for Richmond engagement photos.

Starting at Maymont

Maymont is always such a dream location. The gardens, the stonework, the fountains—everywhere you turn is beautiful. We’ve photographed there countless times, and yet every session feels unique. Even when we use our “go-to loop,” we can change an angle and it looks completely different.

For Mary and Chris, Maymont was also sentimental. They grew up visiting the park, so it was the perfect place to begin. The weather couldn’t have been more ideal—cool enough for running around, warm enough for relaxing, and absolutely perfect for golden light.

And we have to say, Mary and Chris made our jobs way too easy. They started out telling us they were nervous and didn’t love having photos taken… and then immediately turned into natural models. Chris’s smile is contagious, and their laughter with each other made every frame so much fun. You’ll see what we mean when you scroll through the photos below.

Finishing at the Carillon

After their first outfit at Maymont, Mary and Chris changed before we headed to the Carillon in Byrd Park. We’ve been shooting here more lately since they removed the fencing, and it’s quickly becoming a new favorite spot for us.

The Carillon has such a different vibe than Maymont – it’s quieter, easy to park at, and has gorgeous light filtering through the trees. The stone steps and white architecture reflect the evening glow in such a stunning way. Honestly, we could spend an entire session just on that staircase.

Why We Love These Two Spots Together

One of the reasons we often split engagement sessions between Maymont and the Carillon is variety. Maymont gives you lush gardens and that historic mansion feel, while the Carillon brings clean stone architecture and a calm, open setting. Together, they offer the perfect mix of Richmond backdrops.

Mary and Chris made the whole session such a joy. From cracking jokes to rolling with our (many) photo prompts, they kept us laughing the entire time. They also ended up with a lot of photos because, well… when a couple is this much fun and this photogenic, it’s impossible to stop clicking the shutter.

We seriously cannot wait for their wedding day. For now, scroll through some of our favorites from their Maymont and Carillon Richmond engagement photos below.

Congrats, Mary & Chris!