Val - owner of Val Photo Co holds a camera and stands outdoors by a ledge with decorative tile trim, adjacent to a tree trunk wrapped with string lights, surrounded by foliage, in black and white.

ABOUT VAL

Love is beautiful in all its forms, and I am honored to celebrate and document every couple’s story, regardless of race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation — proudly welcoming and affirming LGBTQIA+ love with the same care, artistry, and respect I give to all my clients.

My love for photography started as far back as I can remember and has now become an extension of who I am. Serving couples from a place of empathy, hospitality, and a deeper understanding of who they are and what’s important to them, while providing them with a heartfelt piece of their family legacy.

As someone who is married, I have a sense of how significant and special your wedding day truly is - don’t be surprised if I’m caught tearing up during toasts or ending the night on the dance floor with you - it’s these fleeting moments that make the day unforgettable.

Wedding day philosophy

A wedding ceremony outdoors with mountains in the background, featuring the bride and groom exchanging vows on a decorated altar, surrounded by bridesmaids and groomsmen, with guests seated on either side watching.

I believe in you enjoying your wedding day to the fullest

This is a top priority when it comes to celebrating you. Your wedding day should not feel like one big photoshoot but rather a day filled with tender moments of laughter, happy tears, and love. I let the important moments, details & interactions in your day dictate what I capture, and not the other way around. It’s incredibly important to me that you look back on your wedding day and have not only gorgeous photos but fond memories. On top of actually enjoying your wedding day, happy couples make the most beautiful photos.

Travel Schedule + Wedding Seasons

Elegant outdoor dining table with white tablecloth, white floral centerpieces in glass vases, and lit candles, set against a mountainous background with string lights overhead.

Passport and Pre-Check ready

Seasoned in navigating travel logistics with ease, I bring decades of personal and professional travel experience — from international adventures to countless cross-country wedding journeys — every wedding is approached with confidence, foresight, and meticulous planning.

Arizona Weddings: Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Sedona | November through April

California Weddings: San Diego, Palm Springs, and San Francisco | Year-round

Oregon + Washington Weddings: Portland, Bend, Seattle, and surrounding cities | May through October

Destination Weddings: Hawaii, Europe, Mexico | Year-round

Kind words from clients

  • Kendall and Matt

    Working with Valerie on our wedding day was the best.decision.ever.

    Valerie is a one in a million person, and and incredibly talented photographer. She was supportive, helpful, and communicative through every step of the process (which is admittedly overwhelming). She heard out our creative requests and worked with us to get exactly what we wanted captured on our big day!

    She made us both feel at ease and comfortable in front of the camera with her effortless warmth and genuine spirit. We still gush over our pictures and can't imagine anyone else doing as great of a job. Thank you, Val!

  • Wesley + Keith

    Valerie is absolutely amazing. Obviously her work is so good, but she made the experience so much more! She was so incredibly easy to work with, so timely, couldn’t have been nicer, and overall an amazing photographer. I would choose her a million times over! My dad actually thought she was one of my friends from high school or college, because of how personable she was to all of our friends and family. She listened to everything we wanted and definitely delivered. We had a call a few weeks ago to discuss our timeline and she was so patient and helped us understand how the day would go / what we actually wanted. There were times when I was stressed and I can’t even tell you how calm she was and made us feel. My husband hates having his picture taking and didn’t expect to like the experience very much. He could not stop talking about how comfortable Valerie and her second shooter made him feel. We chose to do super 8 as well and I am so glad we did. I love that she has film option ad ons, as it definitely fit the vibe we were going for. Overall- Valerie is SO great to work with. She is so talented. I would absolutely recommend her- you won’t regret it!!!

  • Katherine + Will

    Val was the best wedding photographer I could've asked for - I do not love being behind the camera and she made me feel so comfortable and I love all the photos she took for us. She did both digital and film photography for our wedding and an engagement shoot and having her do both was perfect so we could get to know her and get a posing advice at the engagement shoot. She is so organized and coordinated everyone for all the wedding pictures so smoothly and tailored the timeline to perfectly work with the wedding schedule. She is seriously the best I cannot recommend her more!

  • Dani + Mike

    Val is a true gem. She made us feel so special and comfortable (coming from people who have never taken professional photos before). She’s one of the loveliest people you’ll ever encounter, and I can’t recommend her enough! She’s communicative, thoughtful, professional, and overall just a beautiful soul.

    We did our engagement and wedding photos/video through her, and we’re in love with the outcome! I received so many compliments from family members and friends on the quality of her work, as well as compliments about her character.

    Do yourself the biggest favor and hire Val to be a part of your special event. You won’t regret letting this wonderful human into your life.

  • Anna + Brian

    Our wedding at the Arizona Biltmore was beautiful beyond words and are so happy that we put our trust in Valerie to photograph it. She did an extraordinary job capturing the ethereal qualities of our Wedding in a way that we didn't know was possible.

    It's one thing to simply take photos of an event, but Valerie's vision exceeded that job description - she created mementos that capture the essence of those fleeting moments. It is true what they say, the wedding day flies by – but thanks to her we have these wonderful memories to enjoy for a lifetime. To say we recommend her would be an understatement. Thanks again, Valerie!