A calm lake reflects a colorful sunset sky, with green hills, trees, and a farmhouse in the background.

Charlottesville, Virginia's Premiere Photographer

Aaron Watson Photography raises the bar for photographic excellence in Charlottesville. The award-winning and internationally published studio is committed to superior quality and exceptional customer service. Aaron's numerous accolades and highlight his relentless dedication to capturing vibrant and significant moments for his clients.

As Seen In:
Cover of BRIDES magazineCover of Martha Stewart Weddings MagazineMagazine cover of National Geographic Traveler features cyclists riding through dramatic mountain terrain.

Press

HGTV
National Geographic
Style Me Pretty
Martha Stewart Weddings
The Knot Magazine
Huffington Post
Brides Magazine
Equestrian Quarterly
Inside Weddings
Washingtonian Bride & Groom
Maharani Weddings
Virginia Living
Equally Wed
Carats & Cake
Wine & Country Life
C-Ville Weddings
United With Love
Every Last Detail
Project Wedding
The Wedding Yentas
The Lovely Find
One Lovely Day
Smitten Magazine
Hill City Bride
Rustic Wedding Chic
Wedding Wire
Southern Living
Condè Nast Traveler
Travel + Leisure
Business Traveller UK
Business Traveller Germany
Forbes Travel Guide

Awards

50 Best Wedding Photographers - WPJA
Voted Best Wedding Vendor by Virginia Living
8 time Wedding Wire Couple’s Choice Award
Three time Best of Zola (formerly Borrowed & Blue)
Silver Medal in the WPPI International Print Competition
Top 20 Wedding Pictures of the Year - Huffington Post
Six times Nominated Best of C-Ville Wedding Photographer
Nominated for Wedding of the Year by Wine & Country Magazine
2024 Wedding of the Year Winner - Wine & Country Magazine
2024 & 2025 Best of The Knot
The Knot Hall of Fame

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Owner & Primary Photographer

Aaron Watson

Aaron Watson is the founder and lead photographer at Aaron Watson Photography with over 20 years of expertise. His photography portfolio, boasting over 500 weddings and numerous family portrait sessions, has garnered multiple awards and widespread acclaim.

Aaron's dedication to his craft is evident through his work's emotional depth, vibrancy, and timeless elegance. At Aaron Watson Photography, the aim is not just to take photos, but to offer an unmatched experience that turns moments into cherished legacies. Aaron and his team have built a reputation that goes beyond awards, highlighted by a glowing 5.0 Star rating on Google from clients that attest to Aaron's personal and professional excellence.

In addition to his professional achievements, Aaron is an active member of the Charlottesville community. He and his wife Lisa are raising their two young sons, Hunter and Alexander, here in Central Virginia's acclaimed wine region—where they are proud to call home.

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Our Team

Meet The Team Behind the Scenes

Explore the creative force behind Aaron Watson Photography, where our team of expert artists and craftspeople excel in their fields, providing top-notch service.

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Photo Team

Our talented Photography Team works alongside Aaron at weddings and school/team portrait days, expertly capturing multiple perspectives. Handpicked for their skill, professionalism, and warm personalities, they ensure a seamless experience and deliver high-quality images you’ll cherish for years to come.

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Editior

Working closely with Aaron, our Photo Editor enhances each image with color correction, retouching, and consistency. Their artistic eye and attention to detail help us deliver polished, professional images you'll treasure - making sure every photo meets Aaron’s high standards before reaching your hands.

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Album Designer

Our Album Designer brings your story to life through beautifully designed wedding and portrait albums. Working closely with our Photo Editor and Aaron, they thoughtfully curate each layout to tell a story through your favorite images with elegance and flow—creating timeless keepsakes you’ll cherish for generations.

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Production

Our Production Manager brings your portraits to life with expert care—printing and stretching canvas gallery wraps, cutting mats and glass, and custom framing each piece. Their precision and passion ensure every finished product is beautifully crafted and ready to be proudly displayed in your home or business.

A statue stands on a grassy lawn facing a domed building with columns, surrounded by large green trees under a blue sky.
A couple stands on a rocky hilltop, holding hands, facing a sunset over rolling hills.
Couple sitting together in a field of pink and white flowers, viewed from above.
A winding road curves through a lush, green vineyard with a house in the background.
Arrow Left
Arrow Right
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My Story

The Watson Legacy

The Watson Legacy represents both my roots and our future, and is a story that shows the importance of preserving family photographic heirlooms. My journey into professional photography was deeply shaped by the loss of my father, before I graduated high school. Our last conversation was about buying a professional camera for me to pursue photography. It was a second heartbreak years later that I discovered all of my digital images with him had been lost on a crashed computer. Only the physical prints remained—a powerful reminder of how vital it is to preserve memories in lasting, tangible ways.

Now, as a father myself, and alongside my wife Lisa—who has joined me behind the camera—photography has truly become a family affair. Together, we understand the importance of creating a family history that our own children can cherish for generations. This shared commitment drives us to not only preserve our own family’s story but also to celebrate and capture the unique stories of every couple and family we have the privilege to photograph.

Family legacy is at the heart of our work, symbolized by the “W” in our logo—a floral-inspired design that reflects both growth and life. This emblem honors my father, who was not only a photographer but also a landscape architect. Just as he thoughtfully designed gardens that would flourish over time, the “W” represents the lasting influence of his legacy and the values that guide our work. Our purpose is to ensure that the memories we capture don’t remain trapped on screens, or lost in the cloud, but are transformed into timeless heirlooms—tangible pieces of your family’s story to be cherished and passed down for generations.

We invite you to let us help create a photographic legacy for your family—just as we’ve now done for our own. Through timeless portraits and beautifully printed artwork, we’ll preserve your most meaningful moments so your story can be cherished now and for generations to come.

Aaron and Lisa stand on grass with their two young boys in front, all smiling at the camera. Trees with fall foliage are visible in the background.Two young boys smiling and standing together in a sunflower field.Aaron, Lisa and their two young kids poses for a holiday photo in front of festive decorations, with two young boys wearing matching red plaid shirts.Aaron kneels on grass, hugging a brown and white dog. Both are looking at the camera. Yellow leaves are scattered on the ground.

Celebrating Two Decades of Photographic Artistry

Aaron Watson Photography is the go-to photography studio for Charlottesville's residents and visitors seeking artistry of their most precious milestones for over 20 years. With a deep-rooted presence in the Charlottesville community, Aaron's built a legacy of quality, reliability, and unparalleled photographic skill.

Bride and groom dancing on grassy field under a colorful sunset sky.

Weddings

Aaron Watson Photography crafts vivid, genuine wedding stories, capturing love stories across Charlottesville, Northern Virginia and beyond.

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Portraits

Portrait sessions include family, child, newborn and maternity photography, all done with a signature touch of vibrancy and connection.

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Commercial

Professional commercial imagery ranging from headshots, 360, aerial coverage, to advertising photography and more.

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