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Attributes highlighted by couples

Capturing memories
Seasoned with weddings
Pristine quality
Skilled photographer

About

On WeddingWire since 2015

Joyful • Vibrant • Timeless! Happy Finch Photography is a seasoned wedding photographer operating out of Fishersville, VA and serving the communities of Charlottesville, Staunton, Harrisonburg, and beyond.

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! Through a combination of candid and composed images, we'll create a collection of photos 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

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?

Contemporary
Natural
Photojournalism

What photography services do you offer?

Additional Hours
Destination / Travel
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Second Shooter
Wedding Portraits

What photography items do you offer?

Albums
Canvas
Digital Files
Prints
Proofs
Save the Date
illustration question

Any other questions?

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5.0 out of 5 rating
46 Reviews
  • Quality of service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
93% Recommended by couples
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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Melinda from Happy Finch Photography is highly recommended by multiple reviewers for her wedding photography services. She is described as professional, organized, and personable, making the process easy and enjoyable. Reviewers appreciate her ability to capture natural and beautiful moments, as well as her attention to detail. The quick turnaround time for receiving the photos is also praised. Overall, Melinda comes highly recommended for her excellent photography skills and positive energy.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Melinda from Happy Finch Photography is highly recommended by multiple reviewers for her wedding photography services. She is described as professional, organized, and personable, making the process easy and enjoyable. Reviewers appreciate her ability to capture natural and beautiful moments, as well as her attention to detail. The quick turnaround time for receiving the photos is also praised. Overall, Melinda comes highly recommended for her excellent photography skills and positive energy.

L
Lauren G. Sent on 11/01/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Best Photographer ever

Melinda was absolutely amazing!! She captured some of the most beautiful photos, was so fun to be around, and helped keep all our family organized. She was so professional and helped us with posing as well as getting some inspo for fun shots. She also was able to get us some sneak peak photos the day after our wedding. I’d recommend Happy Finch to anyone looking for a photographer.
W
Whitley S. Sent on 05/25/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Love Love Love!!

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!
K
Katherine D. Sent on 11/24/2022
5 out of 5 rating

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!
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Awards

46
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner

Real Weddings

Natalie & Josh
26 photos · 09/23/2023
Daren & Michael
31 photos · 06/03/2023
Hannah & William
33 photos · 05/06/2023
Ameera & Jim
26 photos · 10/08/2022
Erica & Austin
41 photos · 09/17/2022
Erica & Austin
8 photos · 09/17/2022

Deals

Pricing

Team

Melinda Genda
Melinda Genda
Owner & Lead Photographer

I'm a Virginia girl, the oldest of three kids, and happily married to a Virginia guy. We're raising our kids (and pets! and plants!) on a little homestead in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I've been crazy about photography since childhood, when I got my very first (pink) Minolta camera! • Now, with over a decade of experience as a wedding photographer, I continue to feel thrilled and honored to be capturing priceless moments for my couples as they share their beautiful, joyful celebrations with their favorite people. •

I'm deeply invested in making your images and experience the best they can be! Former couples say my energetic, friendly demeanor elevated the mood and happiness of their day. • I love all the creative possibilities that come from working with a variety of couples at a variety of venues. I really enjoy capturing the details that make your celebration unique to you and freezing the candid moments that will bring all the memories of your day rushing back. •

When I'm not behind the camera, you'll find me reading adventure stories to my kids, harvesting fruits and veggies from our garden, assembling vibrant bouquets of wildflowers, or planning campouts and travels for our family. I'm a sociable introvert who recharges by spending time outside, reading, doing yoga, and editing photos with a cup of tea! •

Can't wait to chat with you!

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Map

Happy Finch Photography frequently asked questions

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.
Happy Finch Photography currently offers 1 offer promotion for wedding services.

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