Newlyweds sharing a kiss at sweetheart table surrounded by lush floral arrangements outdoors.

Timeless Wedding & Lifestyle Photography

Documenting weddings, couples, and families throughout Salem, Roanoke, and Southwest Virginia.

Bride and groom exit white barn wedding venue through sparkler send-off at night. Bride and groom sparkler exit at Blue Ridge barn wedding

roanoke Virginia Wedding Photographer

timeless, documentary & lifestyle-inspired photography

I photograph weddings with a light, guided hand, enough direction that you never feel lost, but never so much that it feels staged. The best moments are usually the ones that weren't planned: a quiet look, a laugh mid-sentence. That's what I'm there for.

Your gallery will look like your actual wedding, not a version of it. From quiet portraits to your loved ones' reactions, I want you to relive your wedding day for years to come, and have real artwork to show for it, not just a folder of files.

You deserve to be fully present on your wedding day. Whether it's an intimate elopement or a full wedding day, my job is to capture it quietly in the background so you don't have to think about the camera at all.

Eight years in the Air Force taught me how to stay calm, prepared, and easy to work with under pressure, which means your other vendors can count on me too, not just show up and shoot, but actually be part of the team that makes your day run smoothly.

Meet the photographer

Chasing Love Throughout

Salem • Roanoke • Bedford • Lynchburg • Lexington • Blacksburg • Christiansburg • Floyd • Smith Mountain Lake • Charlottesville•Blue Ridge Mountains • Southwest Virginia

Bride and groom share a tender moment at wedding unity candle ceremony table adorned with swan decorations.

"Madison Rae Photographs was incredible to work with on our wedding day! From the first time she reached out to the final gallery delivery, her communication was clear and reassuring. When we got our photos back, we were blown away by the quality and how beautifully she captured our favorite moments. We cannot recommend Madison enough to any couple looking for an amazing wedding photographer!"

-Daniela & Jodiah

Ivy Rose Farm, Rocky Mount, VA

Bride and groom share a romantic moment inside a white barn venue with chandelier overhead.

Bride and groom posing in elegant white venue with grand staircase and chandelier overhead. Ivy Rose Barn, Rocky Mount, VA

Female wedding photographer smiles while sitting on rocks by a stream holding a professional camera.

Meet Madison

Hi, I'm Madison. I'm the face behind the camera and owner of Madison Rae Photographs, LLC. I'm based in Salem, Virginia, and I photograph weddings and families across Southwest Virginia and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

I got my start young, photographing wildflowers and landscapes long before I ever photographed people. Since then I've served in the Air Force, become a wife and mom, and built this business around one idea: photographs that feel like you, not like a version of you trying too hard.

Learn More About Me

Family of four posing on a gravel path surrounded by golden autumn aspen trees.

Select Your Chapter Below

From documenting your wedding day to becoming a mother, as well as all life's moments in-between, I'd love to preserve all of your memories for you to hold on to!

Weddings

Documentary-style coverage for weddings and elopements across the Blue Ridge and Southwest Virginia, real moments, not just posed ones.

Bride and groom exit white barn wedding venue through sparkler send-off tunnel.

Bride and groom share romantic kiss on grand staircase with white bouquet.

Black and white photo of bride and groom cutting a tall five-tier wedding cake surrounded by hydrangeas and roses.

Bride and groom kiss under wedding veil in white chandelier gazebo venue.

Bride and groom light unity candles at elegant wedding ceremony altar together.

Back view of Black bride in lace corset wedding gown holding a colorful bouquet of orange, yellow, and blue flowers.

Groom in black tuxedo with white boutonniere smiles at wedding ceremony altar.

Bride and groom sharing a loving gaze under green trees near a pond, groom in burgundy suit with boutonniere.

Bride and groom kissing at sweetheart table surrounded by lush colorful floral arrangements under a weeping willow tree.

Bride and groom sit at sweetheart table during elegant barn wedding reception.

Wedding guests watch slideshow projection at romantic candlelit barn reception venue.

Black and white photo of bride and groom sharing a romantic kiss outdoors at their wedding reception.

Black and white portrait of bride in strapless gown seated by a pond under a weeping willow holding a bouquet.

Groom in burgundy suit tenderly embracing bride holding a pastel bouquet near a willow tree and pond.

Bride and groom cut white tiered wedding cake in black and white photo.

Radiant Black bride in a strapless ball gown with floral veil twirling outdoors under willow trees with string lights.

Outdoor wedding reception setup at dusk with draped cocktail tables, string lights, and a rustic wooden fence backdrop.

Elegant outdoor wedding floral arrangement featuring blue agapanthus, blush roses, and green hydrangeas in a white vase.

Bride walks down aisle with escort in black and white wedding ceremony photo.

Elegant black and white wedding reception table setting with tall candelabra centerpiece.

Black and white photo of bride and groom sharing a romantic dip kiss at outdoor wedding ceremony.

View Weddings

Portraits

Relaxed, connection-focused sessions for families and couples, capturing the quiet, everyday moments worth holding onto.

Young woman in a red dress sitting in a field at sunset with mountains in the background.

Family of four sitting on a blanket under a large tree with mountain views behind them.

Couple embracing under a sunlit tree while two children run through an open field with mountains.

Two young siblings hugging and smiling outdoors in a black and white portrait with mountain backdrop.

Happy family with baby celebrating Christmas outdoors at night with festive lights and decorations.

Young couple kissing their baby girl outdoors during Christmas with holiday lights in background.

Family portrait with parents, two children, and black dog standing in a sunlit home hallway.

Black and white photo of young boy lying beside newborn sibling on a soft blanket.

Peaceful newborn baby sleeping wrapped in a soft blanket in a black and white portrait.

New parents tenderly holding their newborn baby in a softly lit nursery with floral wallpaper.

View Portraits

Mini Sessions

Shorter, seasonal sessions for the year you just need updated photos, no big production, still full of real moments.

Black and white photo of a smiling mother holding her toddler in a decorative peacock chair.

Family of five with three young children playing with bubbles in a bright white living room.

Family of four on a wooden bridge in a lush green forest, parents swinging toddler between them.

Three siblings sitting together on a woven bench, smiling at the camera in a bright studio.

Black and white portrait of a baby sitting on a wooden bridge surrounded by trees.

Mother and laughing toddler sitting in a black peacock chair beside a potted tree indoors.

Parents with beards and dark hair admire their baby boy amid pink and white spring blossoms.

View Mini Sessions

some moments are better in black & white

You'll see a natural mix of color and black and white throughout your gallery, whatever feels most true to the moment. I will absolutely change any of your images to black & white within one week of delivery, included in any collection!