Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Lamalle.
Hi Natasha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I picked up a camera for the first time when I was 16, growing up in Burgundy, France. It started as a way to see the world a little differently, and it turned into a lifelong obsession with capturing real moments as they happen.
My background is in photojournalism, and that training shaped everything about how I shoot today. I don’t do posed shots or shot lists. I follow the story as it unfolds, whether that’s a couple saying their vows or the chaos of a wedding day. The real moments are always better than anything we could stage!
I moved to the Washington DC area, and that’s where Natasha Lamalle Photography really came to life. I shoot weddings exclusively, and I keep my calendar to a maximum of 20 weddings a year so I can give every couple my full attention.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Going from photojournalism into wedding photography meant learning a whole new business, not just a new way of shooting. I had to figure out pricing, contracts, client communication, all of it, while still building a style that felt true to me.
Running a solo business has its own challenges too. I shoot every wedding myself, which means I’m the photographer, the editor, the person answering emails at night, and the one keeping the whole thing running. Capping my calendar at 20 weddings a year was a hard lesson. I learned that saying yes to everything meant I couldn’t give any one couple my best work.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a documentary wedding and family photographer based in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, originally from Burgundy, France. I’ve been in business for 10 years now, running two sides of one business: Natasha Lamalle Photography for weddings and Family Film Co for families.
What I specialize in is real, unscripted moments. No posing, no shot lists, no forced smiles. For weddings, that means I follow the day as it actually happens, the nervous laugh before the ceremony, the way a couple leans into each other during toasts, the chaos and joy of the dance floor. For families, it means letting kids be kids! I let them wear whatever they want, including costumes, and I embrace messy, real environments instead of a stiff studio setup.
I’m known for candid, elegant, and artistic images that feel true to the people in them. My clients often tell me my photos feel real, not staged, and that’s exactly the reaction I’m going for.
What I’m most proud of is staying true to that documentary approach for 10 years now, across both weddings and families, even when it would have been easier to just give people what they expect. I keep my wedding calendar to a maximum of 20 a year so I can give every couple my full attention and creative energy.
What sets me apart is my photojournalism background. I’m not just photographing a wedding or a family; I’m telling their story as it unfolds in real time. That’s a different skill than posing people well, and it’s the thing I’ve spent my whole career developing.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something surprising about me: even though I’ve spent 10 years photographing other people’s biggest moments, I started out as a photojournalist covering hard news, not weddings or families at all! The jump from documenting real-world events to documenting love stories wasn’t as big a leap as it sounds. I still approach every wedding and every family session the same way I approached a news story: watch closely, stay out of the way, and let the real moments tell themselves.
Another one: I’m not just a photographer, I’m also a freelance journalist! I write for outlets like French Morning on the side. So while I’m capturing your wedding day in photos, I’m also, in a different part of my life, telling stories in words.
Pricing:
- Starts at 3950 for weddings
- Starts at 875 for families
Contact Info:
- Website: https://natashalamalle.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashalamallephotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatashaLamalle
