the human behind the camera
About me
Boy mom, multi-passionate creative, dahlia gardener, cat lover, book worm, and writer of rambly words
Meet Denise
My name is Denise McMahon (she/her/hers). I'm a creative at heart with powerful supporting character energy, and a deeply feeling human who believes that our ordinary lives are quietly extraordinary.
After more than two years trying to conceive my son, I understood on a bone-deep level how fleeting and precious these seasons are. Once he arrived (hard birth and all), I understood something else too: that the tender, imperfect, real versions of our lives deserve to be held just as much as the highlight reel.
That's what drives every session I show up to. Full presence. Quiet care. The conviction that being seen, exactly as you are, is one of the most loving things there is.
I also make original artwork through my sister studio, West Meadow Creative. Same heart, different medium.
I hope you'll stay a while
all families are welcome.
Creativity resides in all of us.
the small things are actually the whole thing.
life doesn't have to be perfect to be absolutely wonderful.
the color of your skin matters.
love is love.
you deserve to be in the frame.
all of you, exactly as you are.
art is healing.
photography is proof.
where to find me
Out and About
digging in my garden
creating more art
with my boys
making/eating food
taking me-time
at home
adventuring
Maya Angelou
We need joy as we need air.
We need each other as we need the earth we share.
We need love as we need water.
I want you to remember these moments
The older we get, the quicker life accelerates. And so, the time spent with your loved ones as they grow is equally fleeting and precious.
Document it. Live these little moments now in the present and then... come back to them years later in your photographs.
because they are your ‘why’.
is committed to diversity & inclusion and giving back to the community.
Denise Van Photography
THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN MATTERS TO ME. To know me is to know that I take deep pride in editing true-to-color for skin tones and ensuring that your beautiful skin is represented accurately. My son is biracial with a Chinese mother and a Caucasian father and I want him to grow up proud of his skin, his features, his personality, and his big heart. All of the things that make him uniquely him. I want the same for all of my clients.
THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY IS WELCOME HERE. I am proud to be an Equality Ally, a community partnership program created by Equality Loudoun. To know me is to know I am a firm believer that ALL love deserves to be captured and treasured in your photographs for years to come. I have always told my clients to come as you are, be authentically you, and I mean it. There are many different kinds of families and couples and friendships and they are all so incredibly important. They define us. Love is love and it is all beautiful to me. I welcome you with open arms.
WE GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. Community is important to me and so is giving back towards causes I believe in. My monthly give backs include: World Central Kitchen, Women Giving Back, ACLU, and Resolve. I also volunteer as a photographer for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Investing in my artwork ensures I can also continue giving back to our community.
