Virginia Beach Wedding Photographer | Justin Hankins | Logo

Virginia Beach Engagement Photos with Valentina & Happy at the Cavalier Hotel and Oceanfront

Here are some images from Valentina and Happy’s engagement session in Virginia Beach. We began the afternoon at the Cavalier Hotel and finished up down the street at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
The famous, historic Cavalier on the Hill is preparing to shut down for renovations, so this was one of the final opportunities to explore the grounds for photographs. Most people stick to the external wings of the hotel in order to take advantage of the beautiful natural light and the uncluttered, classic design. After all, the interiors are much more challenging due to the abundance of visual elements one has to mitigate. (At any time, you’ve got checkerboard floors, vibrant blue magnolia wallpaper, alternating colors and patterns of upholstery, gold furnishings, and very little natural light.)

But I knew Happy and Valentina’s formal attire would work well with the interior and I felt compelled to utilize more of the inside space than usual just because of all the unknowns associated with the hotel’s future. (Who knows if we’d ever get the chance again!) Valentina and Happy certainly delivered on the looks we were after. I felt like I was directing professional actors who knew how to instantly fall into position and who, despite being two of the most cheerful and smiley people on the planet, could channel the more formal, serious looks so effortlessly.

After the Cavalier, we changed clothes and headed to the beach to enjoy the last few minutes of sunlight. The post-Labor Day crowds meant we had the beach to ourselves, and the setting September sun couldn’t have been more lovely and flattering. It was especially fun to watch how different Happy and Valentina’s personalities changed as soon as they traded in their formal attire for more casual clothes. (And by that logic, I might just show up to their wedding wearing sweatpants and flip flops. Watch out!)

Congratulations Valentina and Happy! Can’t wait for the big day.

art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-001
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-002
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-003
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-004
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-005
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-006
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-007
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-008
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-009
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-010
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-011
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-012
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-013
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-014
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-015
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-016
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-017
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-018
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-019
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-020
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-021
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-022
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-023
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-024
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-025
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-026
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-027
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-028
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-029
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-030
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-031
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-032
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-033
art-deco-gatsby-virginia-beach-engagement-portraits-cavalier-hotel-034

Posted on

Category: Engagement Portraits


«
»

Congratulations on your engagement!

Hi, there! My name is Justin Hankins, and I’d like to photograph the happiest day of your life. I have a reputation for taking incredible care of couples just like you, and can’t wait to surprise and delight you!

More about me »

    Check your date...