Happy Finch Photography is a seasoned wedding photographer operating out of Fishersville, Virginia.
Joyful, vibrant, and timeless! Happy Finch Photography is a perfect fit for couples who want warm, friendly collaboration and a wedding collection that conveys every tender emotion and gorgeous detail in a clean and colorful way.
I aim to capture the true spirit of a wedding day, and how it felt as you and your partner celebrated the first day of your marriage. So much more than just point-and-capture, I compose images that will bring all the joy, romance, and humor of the day rushing back to mind. Vibrant colors, radiant light, beautiful scenery, and – of course! – effervescent newlyweds are my favorite subjects, and I take pride in capturing all of these in a creative and authentic way.
Style & Approach
I give every couple a high level of attention to detail and make sure our plans are well-coordinated before the wedding. On the big day, I always arrive early and well-prepared to capture the moments that are most important to you. Behind the scenes, I offer constructive posing suggestions and group instructions when appropriate, remaining unobtrusive during the ceremony and other key moments. (I have found this hybrid of fine art photography and photojournalism to be an ideal approach for weddings.) After the wedding, I spend considerable time retouching your images until they are perfect. Your final collection will have a balanced mix of candid and formal images suited to the unfolding parts of your day and guided by the preferences you've shared with me.
Your final images will look bright, crisp, and natural. My goal is to edit your photos in a way that will never go out of style, in a way that will allow you to remember the color and lighting as it really was, as it was written in your mind's eye.
Services Offered
My standard package is fantastic on its own, or it can be customized in a variety of ways to suit your unique desires and budget. Services that I offer include:
Pre-wedding coordination
Engagement or bridal session
High-res digital images
Online gallery
Personal print release
Multiple locations
Additional hours
Two photographers
Prints and albums
Areas Covered
Happy Finch Photography couples are located throughout Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. In addition to Charlottesville, Keswick, and Afton, couples can also be found in Staunton, Waynesboro, Fishersville, Lexington, and Harrisonburg.
Woman-owned
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the starting price for your wedding photography services?
$3,200
Which of the following are included in the starting price?
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Toning
Digital Files
Proofs
What is the price of your most popular wedding package?
$3,600
Which of the following are included in the price of your most popular wedding package?
Add'l Hours
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Toning
Digital Files
Proofs
What primary photographic style do you identify with?
We absolutely LOVED Melinda for our engagement and wedding photos! She is fantastic, super personable and doesn’t make you feel awkward while taking photos! Not to mention her photos are stunning! She was super thorough as to what we wanted for our wedding and engagement photos and honored all requests. She has also been around the block and made very valuable suggestions that helped streamline every thing! I would highly recommend Melinda for any photography needs!
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Whitley, you are so kind! Thank you so much for this great feedback. I'm so glad you loved working with me for your wedding and engagement photos. :)
Katherine D. Married on 10/29/2022
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Gorgeous photos and a delight to work with
Fantastic wedding photographer - a really great blend of artistic and candid shots, guides the process really well, and was just very kind and pleasant to work with. During the ceremony and reception, she got in on the action without it feeling like she was even there. Highly recommend!
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Thank you, Katherine! I’m so glad you felt comfortable with me and are pleased with the blend of photos we captured together! I appreciate this great feedback. :)
Stacy W. Married on 10/15/2022
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Amazing experience!!
Melinda was wonderful! She was so easy to work with - she created a relaxed environment and made everyone feel at ease and confident. She just felt like a friend hanging out with us! My husband and I are awkward about getting our photos taken and were really worried they’d look awkward and staged, but we shouldn’t have worried! Melinda helped lighten the mood and the photos ended up looking amazing. We’ve received so many compliments on them. She also worked really well with our videographer and it felt like they had worked together constantly even though they'd never met. It was a great experience and we would definitely recommend working with her!!!
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Thanks so much, Stacy! I loved hanging out with you guys, and I'm so glad you felt comfortable with me on your wedding day. I'm thrilled to hear how much you've been enjoying your photos! :)
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Erica B. Married on 09/17/2022
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I cannot say enough good things about Melinda!
Melinda was an absolute pleasure to work with. Like a lot of people, my husband and I are not naturals in front of the camera but she sure made it look like we were!! She has the most calming and sweet demeanor which is exactly what I was looking for on my wedding day. She was so helpful in posing us and helping us get the best shots and kept the whole thing stress free. We had so much fun with her and the photos have turned out fantastic so far, I am absolutely blown away!! I cannot wait to see the rest of them. I would highly recommend her to anyone.
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Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Erica, thank you so much for this wonderful review and for letting me join you on your wedding day! I'm so glad I could put you at ease and help you have fun with the photo process. :)
Can't wait to keep working on the rest of your gorgeous collection!
Hannah G. Married on 09/03/2022
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Wonderful photographer!
My husband and I were very pleased with Melinda's quality service and the lovely results of her work! Her photos are beautiful, bright, and definitely capture our special day well. Our family and friends had many compliments on the excellent choice of Melinda as our photographer. We chose her to shoot our wedding as we could tell she was very detailed, conscientious, and capable. She was pleasant and easy to work with, and she delivered a great selection of photos with professionalism and promptness. We are so happy with these memories and would recommend Happy Finch!
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Thank you so much, Hannah – this is so kind! It was a joy to work with you and your guests, and I'm so happy you're pleased with the way I captured your special day. :)
Liz D. Married on 08/06/2022
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Absolutely Incredible - Exceeded All Expectations!
Melinda was the best choice from day 1! About a year out from our wedding, we did our engagement photos with Melinda. She asked what our vision was and did extensive research, making recommendations on where we should do them. She made us feel comfortable throughout taking the pictures, and it was a great way to get to know one another! We got the pictures back quickly, and they were beautiful!
Melinda communicated with us leading up to the big day. She helped set our expectations and worked with us to make sure we got all the important pictures! She was extremely pleasant to work with the day of, and captured so many special, unposed moments perfectly. We got our pictures back within a month via email and she quickly also sent us our USB (which was beautifully and thoughtfully packaged).
Melinda's attention to detail is what stood out to us most. She was kind, but also effectively managed our expectations of how many moments we can capture in a small period of time. She did an incredible job - we cannot recommend her more!!
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Liz, thank you so much!! I'm so glad to hear that you felt so comfortable working together and that you were so happy with the process and the final product! Your wedding day was so much fun, and I'm thankful to have played a part. :)
Emily J. Married on 07/02/2022
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Kind, encouraging, professional, and BEAUTIFUL photos!
A wedding photographer is one of the most important vendors since they will be around you all day-- and Melinda was EXACTLY the right person to have by our side! We have a crazy, big, complicated family, and she was perfectly poised and equipped to handle that. We did a first look, which she coordinated perfectly, and the photos are some of my favorites. She knew exactly where and when to take photos to get perfect lighting and gorgeous greenery in the background. Our detail shots are STUNNING. But the highlight of working with Melinda is that she is just such a sweet, encouraging, lovely person-- just the perfect positive energy you want to be surrounded by on your wedding day. Can't recommend her highly enough.
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Thank you so much, Emily!!! This is the sweetest praise, and I am just so happy that I could be the perfect fit for your beautiful day. :)
Dana V. Married on 11/20/2021
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Professional and Great Energy!
Melinda was absolutely FABULOUS to work with! She was incredibly professional and responsive, but had great light hearted and fun energy. She was able to be flexible with our engagement photo location, and helped to provide great shot suggestions to support our vision. On the day of our wedding, Melinda was punctual and kept us on a schedule without feeling rushed. She interacted beautifully with us, our bridal party, families, and guests. We had several people come up to us following the wedding and share how much they enjoyed Melinda as a photographer at our wedding. She is truly a delight to work with and cares for her clients dearly. Highly recommend!
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Dana, this is so generous!! I love hearing how much you and your guests enjoyed working with me. It was such a pleasure to capture your beautiful relationship – thank you, thank you! :)
Claire W. Married on 10/30/2021
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Picture-Perfect!
Melinda was our photographer for our October 2021 wedding. From our first meeting with her, we knew she was exactly what we were looking for in a photographer! She is incredibly organized and makes sure she knows exactly what’s important and what you’re looking for on your wedding day. She made us more organized and gave us planning items to think through when she shared her questionnaire. Beyond her organizational skills, Melinda is a skilled photographer and wonderful people person. Our more natural vision was compatible with her use of minimal filters and light-handed editing. Despite a rainy day, she took beautiful photos of our venue’s surroundings. She also put people at ease in front of the camera. She really struck the balance between being polite and direct. She was moving and taking pictures for the entire event – we don’t know how she covered as much as she did! Finally, she turned the pictures around really quickly, exactly as promised! We’d highly recommend her to anyone looking for an event photographer.
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Claire, thank you so much! It was such a beautiful celebration, despite the weather, and I'm so glad I was able to help you capture your vision! Best wishes to both of you! :)
Meghan T. Married on 07/05/2021
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Wonderful, professional, and fun wedding photographer! 10/10 Recommend!
Melinda was an absolute joy to work with. She always answered my questions in a timely manner and was very flexible and understanding when I had to change my wedding plans several times during the pandemic. We did not meet in person until my wedding day, but it felt like I had known her for years! She was relaxed and easy-going and in turn helped me to stay relaxed and calm on my big day. She captured some amazing candid shots throughout the day and overall the pictures turned out fantastic. I am having the hardest time deciding which ones to frame because they are all incredible! Highly recommend Happy Finch Photography!!
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Meghan, I really appreciate this wonderful review! You all were so much fun, and I'm so happy we could finally celebrate together after so many pandemic setbacks. Thank you so much! :)
Katie R. Married on 06/05/2021
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Highly recommend!
We are so happy we found Melinda for our wedding photography! She was wonderful to work with, and we absolutely love our pictures. Melinda is so sweet and personable. She did a great job of putting our camera shy group at ease :) She really captured every special moment, and I'm so glad we have these photos to look back on. I can't recommend her enough!
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Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Katie, I'm so happy you found me too! I enjoyed your group so much and felt privileged to be part of your intimate celebration. Thank you!!
Jessica S. Married on 05/16/2021
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Could not have asked for a better experience
Melinda was the perfect fit for us! We had a small wedding and wanted an elegant but relaxed and unfussy feel. Melinda captured that perfectly and was so kind throughout the whole process! Her warm and easygoing personality put us at ease from the start and made it fun to be in front of the camera. As someone who did not have every detail of the day planned out months in advance (and often didn’t even know what details needed to be accounted for), Melinda was super helpful when it came to planning the timeline of the day and how to incorporate time for pictures. She clearly has the expertise to make sure things run smoothly and was always available for any questions that came up. She took the time to figure out every detail and picture that were important to us and definitely delivered in the final photos. I honestly could not love our wedding (and engagement!) photos more and would highly recommend her!
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Jessica, thank you! This is such a treat to read. I'm so glad I could be the perfect fit for you on your beautiful day. :)
Stephanie D. Married on 04/17/2021
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Definitely the BEST!
From our first consultation to the final delivery of our stunning wedding photos, Melinda was a true professional and made the whole experience so easy and such a fun process!
We had the opportunity to do an engagement session beforehand which was a blast! My husband and I both are usually so awkward in front of the camera, but Melinda made us feel completely at ease during our session and captured truly natural-looking, beautiful pictures. Getting to “practice” in such a way really made such a difference for the whole process on the day of our wedding. She helped us feel like old pros by then!
Melinda was incredible to work with and she absolutely elevated the atmosphere of the day with her positive attitude and enthusiasm. On our big day, she was on top of every special moment and never missed a beat! After the many hours she spent with us, we even got to see our sneak peak only 2 days later! Talk about dedication! She was so kind and responsive throughout the whole process and we could not have been happier with the entire experience!
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Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Stephanie, thank you for this sweet, wonderful review! I loved getting to know you both, and I was thrilled to capture all the highlights of your beautiful, colorful day! Thank you, thank you. :D
Lauren H. Married on 10/16/2020
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Highly Recommend!
Melinda was so sweet and easy to work with! I gave her some Pinterest pictures so she could see what kind of photos I was envisioning for engagement pictures and wedding pictures which she took into consideration while she was taking our photos. Melinda was awesome at finding the right angles and all of our pictures turned out amazing! We cannot recommend Melinda enough!
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Thank you so much, Lauren! I loved helping you achieve your vision for your wedding and engagement photos, and I'm delighted to hear how much you've been enjoying them. You make a beautiful couple!
Brittney F. Married on 10/14/2020
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Wonderful and Thoughtful Service from Start to Finish!!
We are so incredibly happy that we went with Melinda and Happy Finch Photography for our small, outdoor wedding. From start to finish, she was thoughtful, responsive, and an absolute joy to work with.
After a few emails, we had a quick zoom interview to discuss our event. Melinda was so cheerful and thorough that we knew we wanted to work with her and booked her quickly. In the weeks leading up to the wedding, she was careful to understand our ceremony, venue limitations, and to confirm what shots and moments were most important to us. She also gave us tips and pointers to make the day run smoother and she was completely on board with following all COVID safety measures.
On the day of the ceremony, she showed up on time and knocked out the details (ring, bouquet, etc) shots (which turned out absolutely gorgeous!). She worked independently, making sure to catch all of the pre-ceremony moments we had discussed. Because of her attention to detail during our emails, we didn't have any worry she would miss any key moments during the ceremony. After the ceremony, she did a wonderful job working through family and bridal party photos. The highlight, however, was definitely during the couple shoot after the ceremony. Both of us were concerned about looking too posed or awkward in our photos, but Melinda was able to make the entire process comfortable and natural. We really felt like we just stood and strolled around enjoying the first few moments of being married, yet the final photos turned out amazing! (Seriously, my fiance is convinced we look like professional models).
We received our sneak peek photos only four days after the ceremony, and our digital photo gallery about three weeks after the ceremony. Our flash drive with digital copies arrived a few days later. As we kind of hinted before, the quality of the photos were beyond our expectations! Both the posed and candid photos look natural, and the details shots are beautiful. We seriously cannot recommend Melinda and Happy Finch photography highly enough!
Happy Finch Photography's reply:
Brittney, thank you!! Your small wedding was so special, and it was a joy to work with you and your families! I really appreciate this wonderful feedback. :)
Happy Finch Photography includes the following photography services in the starting price:
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Toning
Digital Files
Proofs
Happy Finch Photography includes the following photography services in their most popular wedding package:
Add'l Hours
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
Multi. Locations
One Event / Day
Toning
Digital Files
Proofs
Happy Finch Photography offers the following photography styles:
Contemporary
Natural
Photojournalism
Happy Finch Photography offers the following photography services for weddings:
Additional Hours
Destination / Travel
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Second Shooter
Wedding Portraits
Happy Finch Photography offers the following photography materials for weddings:
Albums
Canvas
Digital Files
Prints
Proofs
Save the Date
Happy Finch Photography is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
