Last year, when I first went full time as a photographer, I was often asked how I was able to be at home all day. It was definitely a change from commuting 3 hours everyday to my corporate job. I had so much time back in my day! I’d reply that even though I was […]

One thing I love about being a wedding photographer is helping my brides with the details of their wedding day. Most brides have never done this before and it can be pretty overwhelming. Part of my job as their photographer is to educate as well as capture every little detail. Before the wedding day, my […]

More than likely you’ve heard the phrase “unplugged ceremony.” What exactly does “unplugged ceremony” mean? A few months ago, we received my cousin’s wedding invitation. On her invitation it read she was requesting an unplugged ceremony. When my husband saw that phrase, he asked what exactly it meant. He thought it meant he would have […]

Hosting My First Workshop That’s a wrap! I can’t believe I hosted my first ever Essential DSLR Basics Workshop! This workshop is something that’s been on my heart and mind the last year or so. After guest speaking at Liberty University this past fall, it gave me the confidence I needed to go for it. […]

My flight from this year’s 2019 Styled Shoots Across America landed last night around midnight and I made it home around 2am! Definitely will be drinking that second cup of coffee today. I’ve lost count how many flights I’ve been on but now that I’ve flown with my gear a few times, I thought share […]

Starting a photography business is not as easy as one may think. Having a camera and calling yourself “John Smith Photography” doesn’t mean you’re in business, yet. Having a camera and a business name is only the beginning. I’ve been asked and have seen this question so many times, how do you start a photography business? […]

As a wedding photographer, having a second shooter is essential! This post is all about how to be the best second shooter possible! I personally love having 1 or 2 second shooters that work with me throughout the year because I believe this builds trust and friendship. A few benefits from consistently working together is […]

For years, I never wanted to photograph in DC because the thought just gave me so much anxiety! Logistically getting there, traffic, not to mention the permit you had to apply for just to photograph there. In the Spring of 2018, I had so many requests for cherry blossom sessions, I knew I had to […]

This past month has been a blur and filled with really awesome opportunities including being a guest speaker at Liberty University!! An old professor asked me if I would be interested in being a speaking to his advanced photography class and photography club about wedding photography!! Um yes!! I felt SO incredibly honored and I realized […]

As brides and and groom’s plan their wedding timeline with me and get ready for their wedding day, a few questions often come up. Questions like what side does the boutonnière go on and how do I put it on? A few of these questions I hear at every wedding and others only once or […]

Photographers, let’s talk about shoes! Wedding days are long and tough on the feet so we know how important it is to find a good shoe! Since we are on our feet for 6-10 hours with a lot of walking, carrying equipment, going outside, walking through grass, etc., we need to find a durable shoe […]

There is always a lot of hype and a lot more traffic in the area two weeks around the peak of the blossoms. There really isn’t anything like seeing little pink blossoms all over the trees around the Tidal Basin. After this year’s DC Cherry Blossom Mini Sessions, I wanted to share my experience with […]

Have you ever seen those cute little questionnaires on Facebook or instastories where it asks questions like do you prefer chocolate or vanilla or what’s one word you’re friends would say you say too often? I thought it be super fun to have a “Get to Know Sarah Botta Photography – Virginia Wedding Photographer” blog […]

In 2017, all the brides and grooms that booked me as their wedding photographer lived in other states but were getting married in Virginia. Crazy right? Couples drove from Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, etc. to Virginia for their engagement session. One couple even flew me to Minnesota to photograph their engagement photos!! Why? Because I was able […]

Will you Edit my Newborn? A question I hear fairly often at my newborn sessions is will you edit my newborn or can you edit my newborn? This question is usually followed by “he was born sunny side up or she scratched her face on the way over.” My answer is “Yes! Of course I […]