Today we’re sharing Lindsey and Chris’s summer engagement photos at the VMFA in Richmond, and honestly, we’re still swooning over these two. The VMFA is probably our go-to engagement session location – it’s like our home away from home.

There are so many reasons we love the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) for engagement sessions. First, it offers so much variety in such a small space. You don’t have to jump between locations because you get everything right there. City street vibes from the Fan area, beautiful gardens, clean architecture, and classic Richmond scenes. It’s the perfect backdrop, especially in the summer when the greenery is lush and beautiful.

Why We Love it – VMFA Summer Richmond Engagement

We especially loves the clean lines and architectural elements of the VMFA. There’s something about shooting against crisp off-white stone paired with greenery that feels timeless and elegant. It’s similar to why we love the Capitol or the Virginia Museum of History & Culture – they combine natural beauty with stunning architecture for a classic engagement session vibe.

For Lindsey and Chris’s engagement session, we started at the front of the VMFA building. Even though there was another photographer there that evening (popular spot, obviously!), Lindsey and Chris were so laid back and just rolled with it. They came in with open minds, ready to have fun and trust us, which always translates to natural, joyful photos.

A Relaxed Summer Evening in Richmond

We loved how relaxed Lindsey and Chris were during their session. Lindsey asked beforehand if she needed to prepare anything, but honestly, our biggest advice is to just show up as yourselves. Engagement sessions aren’t about stress or posing perfectly – they’re about spending time together, having fun, and letting us do the rest. These two were the perfect example of that. They trusted us fully and were up for anything, from sitting poses to pickups at the end (which turned out to be some of our favorites!).

After shooting in front of the museum, they changed outfits, and we moved to the courtyard before finishing up on the back side by the Pauley Center. That’s kind of our classic VMFA route, but every couple makes it unique. Lindsey and Chris brought such a joyful, easy energy to the evening, making it feel so effortless and fun.

Richmond Weather – VMFA Richmond Summer Engagement

If you’ve been in Richmond this summer, you know thunderstorms have been a daily occurrence. On the day of their session, the forecast threatened a few storms right at golden hour. Thankfully, it held off on the evening despite our phones saying to us that it would downpour in a minute more than once!. That’s Virginia weather for you – unpredictable but worth it!

Congratulations, Lindsey + Chris!

These two are getting married next year, and after their engagement session, we’re even more excited for their wedding day. Enjoy a few of our many favorites from this classic summer Richmond engagement session at the VMFA.

Other RVA engagement sessions we love

Richmond engagement – Capitol

Richmond engagement – Tredegar