Your Elder Millennial Photographer
“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote, To travel is to live.” - Hans Christian Andersen
Kathleen Ricker - The Photographer
I’ve been glued to a camera since I was 14 years. There’s just something about the magic of black-and-white film; the smell of fixer bath (if you know you know), and then watching your image appear like a secret slowly revealed. My love for film turned into a degree in Photography, and then my own business for over 15 years.
Fast forward to today, my camera has carried me everywhere from mountaintops to dance floors and sometimes dance floors on mountaintops. Weddings and elopements are where my heart truly landed. Why? Because these aren’t just pretty pictures. These are your people, your love, your laughter, your tears. These are memories you’ll hold onto for decades and images that will outlive you and be passed on for generations.
My style? A little documentary grit + a lot of epic art. I’ll catch those unfiltered, blink-and-you-miss-them moments, then turn around and create portraits that belong on your wall, not hidden on a hard drive. I use the world around us the city streets, the mountains, the wild spaces to tell your story in a way that feels big, bold, and totally you.
But here’s the thing: I’m not just a photographer. I’ll help you plan so your wedding day feels like an adventure, not a checklist. And trust me you’ll actually get to enjoy it because that is my number one priority.
Kathleen – Adventurer | Improv Comedian | Halloween Addict | Animal Lover | New Mom
I chase life like I chase adventure: hard, fast, and with a camera in hand. I’ve visited 50+ countries, all 7 continents, and officially as of this May 2025 all 50 states! My passport is basically a scrapbook of epic stories. I’ve hiked the Inca Trail, snorkeled with orcas, trekked with gorillas (more than a dozen times, not that I’m counting), and yes… I’ve polar plunged in both the Arctic and Antarctica. Freezing? Absolutely. Worth it? Every second.
When I’m not photographing weddings, I get to share this magic with others by leading safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Watching someone see their first elephant in the wild? Literal goosebumps every time. My wildlife photography work has been featured in magazines, and galleries around the world- including the Kennedy Center here in DC. I even won an award and was flown out and hosted by the Prince of Monaco to debut my image.
Originally from New York, I’m the oldest of four and made my way to Maryland at 18 (with a detour in Orlando for five years). My partner and I have been together for 20 years, married for 11 (wedding date: 11-12-11), and yes… we celebrated in New Orleans because parades are mandatory there—even if you’re a “total introverted extrovert” like me. We recently welcomed a little girl into this world through IVF at the age of 43. So now we are a family of 3 humans and 3 pups!
The coolest gig I’ve ever had? Being THE Times Square photographer on New Year’s Eve. Mariah Carey meltdown included. Most Epic place I’ve photographed an Elopement - On Safari in Kenya - A Wedding- 500+ people on the island of Chios in Greece!
Things I Love (other than my family of course): Halloween - Improv Comedy - Wildlife - Gardening - Politics (Yes… I am one of those controversial people that loves to talk politics and religion!)
At the end of the day, I capture love and life’s wildest moments from weddings, to wildlife, and even documenting your little ones growing up. If you are looking for a photographer with alot of energy, a good sense of humor (albeit, sometimes it can be more sarcastic), and the ability to talk to anyone about anything… I’m your girl!
What do you get when you hire Love & Adventure Photography ?
You get a photographer who:
Has over 15 Years of Wedding Photography Experience
Was ranked as a Top 3 Wedding Photojournalists in the World in 2021.
Loves wildlife and has literally traveled the entire world photographing endangered species.
Has a Bachelor’s Degree in Photography from Towson University
Has worked as an Event Manager at Walt Disney World ( So I know how to run events)
Only shoots Real Weddings. No Styled Shoots. Everything you see is real.
Knows how to pose people for their body types
Can complete a list of family photos in 15 minutes or less
Has Photographed over 500 Weddings on 4 Continents (Including Antarctica & Africa)
Runs a Green Company. We try our best to use sustainable materials. Reduce Waste and Reuse as much as possible.
Supports the LGBTQI+ community 🏳️🌈
Respects and honors all religions and races.
Is Obsessed with Halloween and loves creative couples that feed the left side of my brain!
What we love most about being a wedding photographer…
Your wedding is a reflection of who you are and the people you cherish the most in the world joining you to celebrate..
It never goes exactly how you expected it to go! After months or even years of planning and saving up for your dream day, its over in the blink of an eye.!
Trust me, when I got married I couldn’t believe how fast it all went by ! I’d forgotten SO much about the day. Now the photos are all we have left of that amazing day – and especially after my mom passed away just a year after we got married it was those moments and those last photos I have with her that I cherish the most.
That’s why your photography is so important. And that’s why people invest so much into their wedding photography.
Wedding photos are memories. Photographs can bring back a memory or emotion that you may have forgotten.We’re not into oldschool posing or faking moments. Our goal is to capture your day authentically and organically -Its our goal not just to capture gorgeous photos, but to make your wedding photography an incredible experience. We believe that your love story deserves an hand-crafted, one of a kind approach.
We look for those real moments, real emotions to capture natural, candid wedding photographs. We’ll step in to tweak where you need a little guidance or help, but we do our best as wedding photographers to make sure you feel comfortable and can forget the cameras as much as possible. Our style is more about getting you interacting with each other, rather than a lot of really formal posing .Because we care deeply about making real connections with our couples, we take only a limited number of weddings per year. We are excited to meet you and to capture your story!
FINDING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN WASHINGTON DC
Finding a Washington DC Wedding Photographer is easy. Choosing a wedding photographer is HARD. With so many wedding photographers, it can get overwhelming. Just because a photographer is based in Washington DC, isn’t a guarantee they’re the right fit for your wedding. Having a photographer whose work you LOVE is crazy important – And so is actually LIKING being around them! After all, you’re going to be spending most of your wedding day with your wedding photographer… Its probably important they’re fun to be with!
WE LOVE DESTINATION WEDDINGS
Planning something totally unique or off the grid?
Catamaran Elopement through the islands of Greece?
Fairytale ceremony in Iceland?
A mountaintop wedding in Colorado or Utah?
We’re in LOVE with unique and intimate weddings!
We’re adventurers, explorers and artists at heart.
Even though we are based in Washington DC I am a bit of a travel expert and well versed in Destination Weddings and Elopements. I have photographed International Weddings, Elopements, and Engagement sessions in Antarctica, Greece, Kenya, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Iceland, Canada, Aruba, and the Bahamas. I have photographed Weddings, Elopements, and Engagements in the following states; Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
So where will your adventure be ?
If you are looking for the most creative wedding portraits along with the images of the most beautiful moments between you and the ones you love then Love and Adventure Photography is for you. We strive to create unique images for our Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and worldwide couples. With over 15 years photographing weddings in the DMV I am constantly striving to create photos that don’t look like every other wedding. I create images that are personal to my couples. Our wedding images focus on their personality, relationship, and love.
My Washington DC weddings draw brides and grooms from all over the world not just the DMV area. I am prepared to meet with local clients in person, but I am also happy to set up virtual meetings with clients that live elsewhere. Whether we talk via Skype, Facetime, email, or a simple phone call, I am here to provide you with as much information possible about your Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, or Destination Wedding.
I will also provide you with other wedding information in the DMV area. Whether you are looking for more top of the line vendors, the perfect location for your elopement, or even some fun activities for your guests to do while in the Washington DC, Maryland, or Virginia area. I will also help create a wedding day timeline for your wedding day, decide how many hours of coverage you need, and write your family formal list so you will know who we will be grouping together for family formals.
Africa Elopements and Wedding Photography
If you are interested in getting married in Eastern or Southern Africa; Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, or Uganda I not only will photograph your wedding but I can book your entire trip. I also run a Wildlife Travel Company in Africa bringing groups of people on tours of the above countries twice a year. I have been traveling to Africa twice a year for the past five years and I bring my clients on tour with extremely qualified guides. My clients experience the best wildlife and landscapes in each country while staying in luxury safe accommodations. You can learn more about my tours by visiting my travel companies’ site: Ricker’s Wildlife Safaris.
Wedding Photographer for Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, and West Virginia & International Destinations
Serving Baltimore, Washington DC, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, Stafford, Price William, Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, Richmond, Shenadoah National Park Frederick, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Ellicott City, Frederick, Glen Burnie, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Bethesda, Dundalk, Bowie, Towson, Severn, Wheaton, North Bethesda, Bel Air, Potomac, Odenton, Catonsville, Hagerstown, Annapolis, Clinton, Severna Park, Randallstown, Olney, Owings Mills, Pikesville, College Park, Eldersburg, Pasadena, Reisterstown, Laurel, Middle River, Clarksburg, North Potomac, Arnold, Landover, Elkridge, Cockeysville, Cumberland, Arbutus, Westminster, Hyattsville, Oxon Hill, Takoma Park, Beltsville, Damascus, Havre de Grace, Urbana, Cambridge, Forestville, Accokeek, Timonium, Linthicum, Lanham, Lexington Park, Brandywine, Jessup, Mount Airy, La Plata, White Marsh, Monrovia, Frostburg, Fallston, Edgemere, Landsdowne, Taneytown, Thurmont, Savage, Bowleys Quarters, Hampstead, Walkersville, Berlin, Chestertown, Deale, Chester, Manchester, Chestertown, Naval Academy, Chesapeake Beach, District Heights, Ocean City, Capitol Heights, National Harbor, Leonardtown, Boonsboro, Sykesville, Riva, Kingsville Denton, Princess Anne, Huntingtown, Delmar, Emmitsburg, Golden Beach, Jarresttville, Chevy Chase, Price Frederick, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Dunkirk, University park, Solomons, Mountain Lake Park, Owings, Adamstown, Derwood, Point of Rocks, Lusby, New Market, Crownsville, Charlestown, New Windsor, Potomac Heights, Buckeystown, Algonquin, Morningside, St. Michaels, Calvert Beach, Willards, Funkstown, Mount Vernon, Queen Anne, Tilghman Island, Union Bridge, Upper Marlboro, Port Deposit, Kent Narrows, Assategue Island, Darlington, St. Leonard, Tall Timbers, Cordova, Chevy Chase, Glen Echo, Rosemont, Quantico, Tolchester, Deal Island, Smith Island, National Harbor, Burkittsville, Rock Point.