We’re so excited to feature Kieran Segaloff, owner of Fingerprint Photo Studio, on the blog today! As one of the newest members of the Richmond Weddings family, Kieran shares insight with us of her life behind the camera. Keep reading to see their adorable fur child!
Tell us how many years have you been in the wedding industry.
While I’ve been a professional photographer since 2015, I only launched full time into the wedding industry in 2024. I was lucky enough to know some stellar wedding photographers across Virginia who let me shadow them, apprentice with them, and form a community. That experience was invaluable and I still second shoot for them because it’s so much fun to work with friends and see how everyone’s different styles really shine through!
When should couples book their services with you?
I encourage you to inquire 6 – 9 months before their wedding but to not let that time frame scare you! I typically save a few weekends for closer wedding inquiries. Additionally, I only book 16 months out from the current date.
What’s your most frequently asked question by engaged couples?
The importance of an engagement session with your wedding photographer! This is your opportunity not only to meet your photographer, but get to know what their posing direction is like, how they work, and get a preview into what working with them on your wedding day feels like. Aside from your partner, the photographer is who you spend most of your wedding day with. From getting ready, to private vows, to dance floor fun- your photographer will be right there with you. It’s important that they’re someone you feel comfortable and confident with so you can be yourself without worrying about that stranger with a camera.
What are some trends you’ve seen in weddings recently that you’ve loved?
Personalized guest gifts have to be my favorite trend. When my wife and I got married in 2023, we hand painted 4×4 canvases and then attached each of our 150 guest’s name to their painting in vinyl. (Despite how stunning it was, I do not recommend going that hardcore unless you are a master of time management. Even with a solid timeline, we were still finishing the paintings the day before the wedding.) I’ve noticed that when the couple puts time and effort into customizing the guest gifts, it makes everyone in attendance feel special and loved. Knowing that a couple took time out of their busy schedules to make sure something speaks to the guests individually makes everyone feel included, valued, and a part of the celebration. A bonus is they can also double as the seating chart.
A few I’ve seen this year:
Decoupage oyster shells
Paper plane construction kits
Box of matches
Coasters
Wax sealed love letters
When it comes to food, what’s your guilty pleasure?
I joke at weddings that I fell into the best job possible: Professional Cake Taster. I am absolute sucker for dessert. How lucky am I that my job often leads me to try new ones? I often “work from home” at coffee shops with baked goods to liven up my day with a little treat.
Do you have any pets? Introduce them to us!
A platform to talk about my dog? That’s dangerous- we could be here all day. Francesca is a 7 year old pug who loves to snuggle, play chase, and lay down in the grass under shady trees on long walks. She is obsessed with a plush toy alien named Bubu and refuses to go to bed without it. You can often find her being a couch potato, hovering around the kitchen, or right under your feet.
What are you reading right now?
By the time you’re reading this, I’m lost in a different book. I read prolifically and listen to audiobooks while I edit galleries. In 2024, I read and listened to 54 books! I don’t set a goal for books read as then that seems to sap some of the fun out of it for me. Sitting in my front porch rocking chair reading and eating a popsicle while my pug watches, hoping for a drip of sticky strawberry, is my favorite summer evening activity. I love forgetting that time exists and looking up only when the darkness makes my eyes strain. By then, the bushes are glowing with fireflies and the crickets are chirping in a magical way that makes summer feel endless.
Some of my recent top reads include:
Happy Place by Emily Henry (A fun, quick rom com with a predictable ending but the journey is marvelous.)
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (A hilarious cozy mystery that had me audibly laughing while at the edge of my seat.)
All The Colors of The Dark by Chris Whitaker (A psychological thriller that isn’t too graphic with a slow burn that keeps you wondering “what’s next?”
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green (A nonfiction book about how TB shaped society and how global socioeconomic issues impact illness.)
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (A heart-wrenching narrative following the opioid epidemic in rural, southern Virginia.)
Email: fingerprintphotostudio@gmail.com
Website: www.fingerprintphotostudio.com
Instagram: @fingerprintphotostudio
