ABOUT TEAM BPP
the hearts and souls behind the magic — supporting your day with
creativity, care, and the confidence that makes every moment feel effortless.
CHAYIL
OWNER + LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
the storyteller turning real moments into art, the hype woman who keeps your day joyful and ease-filled, and the creative force behind black pepper, crafting intentional imagery rooted in connection, authenticity, and soul.
I know you’re wondering,
“How the heck do I say her name?”
It’s Kyle. That’s it.
From a high school elective to a thriving business…who knew? Since I started taking shots on a beginner film camera in 2016, I have loved taking photos. Starting my business during my time at college in 2020, I transformed my “for-fun” photos into “for-funds” photos, and the rest is history.
I live to document the stories of laugh-loving, sun-chasing, care-freers. People who approach life with the idea that it is both too short and too long to care much about what others think.
I am based in Richmond, VA, and Washington, D.C. but absolutely love to travel - take me anywhere you want me to go!
WE ARE DEFINITELY A GOOD FIT IF…
You have IBS (hate to start with it, but alas, i didn’t choose this life)
You’re a big time foody and love trying new things (and regret it later cause you have IBS?)
You love reality tv shows just as much as you love true crime documentaries
You’re a hugggeeee romantic and love love
You care about other people deeply and love to see others smile
You are your own worst critic, but you’re working on it
You like doing work in coffee shops because it makes you (feel) more productive
You like pink moscato and vanilla ice cream not because you’re basic, but because they’re great
You’re hiring a photographer with years of experience in lighting, posing, psychology, and timing. I bring creative direction, education, and the intuition to anticipate emotion before it happens, guiding you with a calm, grounded presence throughout your day. You’re investing in a trained eye, not just equipment, and in curated storytelling, not just documentation.
Every image is hand-edited with intention to protect the richness and depth of your skin, your colors, and your environment. No washed-out highlights. No one-size-fits-all presets. Just true-to-life tones that honor you and everyone you love. A typical full-day wedding equals 40 to 60 hours of culling, editing, color grading, retouching distractions, crafting 35mm film scans, and delivering a no-limit, cohesive gallery. Your photos are treated like artwork, because that’s what they are.
You receive clear communication, timeline guidance, location planning, and support that keeps your wedding day flowing smoothly. Behind the scenes, a team of talented second shooters, videographers, and assistants uphold the Black Pepper standard with calm energy and consistency. Paying my team fairly allows you to experience a level of service that feels steady, intentional, and truly elevated from inquiry to delivery.
JUST ADMIT IT…WE’RE MEANT TO BE.
MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
Behind every gallery, every laugh-filled session, every tear-soaked vow, and every perfectly-timed moment, there’s a team of people who pour just as much heart into your day as I do. These are the hands, eyes, and minds that support me so I can support you fully.
They’re the calm in the chaos, the problem-solvers you don’t see, the artists and professionals who step in exactly where I need them so I can be fully present, fully creative, and fully yours on your wedding day.
This team strengthens me, steadies me, and helps carry the weight of every timeline, every detail, and every emotion so nothing gets missed and everything feels intentional.
They deserve every ounce of love.
And I’m endlessly grateful you get to have them with you, too.
MICHAEL
LEAD VIDEOGRAPHER
the calm, creative eye turning your wedding day into a cinematic love story.
Michael’s love for storytelling started way before he ever picked up a wedding camera—back when he was filming home movies with his friends (and yes, you can totally find some of them on YouTube). In college, he turned his lens toward music, creating videos for his friends and peers in the program, then came the wave of engagements and weddings among his friends— and just like that, Michael found his calling in capturing love stories.
Fast forward 10 years, and Michael is now happily married to Erin, raising three kids, and calling Richmond, VA home. When he’s not behind the camera, you’re likely to catch him thrifting treasures to resell, logging his latest film opinions on Letterboxd, or dreaming up creative ways to help couples relive their most unforgettable moments.
For Michael, videography isn’t just about documenting the day—it’s about telling a story that feels as real, joyful, and alive as the people in it.
View his portfolio here!
RACHAEL
BUSINESS + LIFESTYLE COORDINATOR (ASSISTANT)
the heartbeat of our client experience, keeping everything organized, supported, and stress-free.
What happens when a bubbly, extroverted bride, meets a bubbly, extroverted photographer? Well, they become best friends, decide to work together after Chayil shoots her wedding, and live happily ever after, of course!
Rachael and her husband Paul, hired Chayil to photograph their wedding in April of 2025, and they got on like a house on fire! The rest is history. While Chayil’s out on the front lines making the magic happen behind the lens, you can find Rachael behind the scenes (and the computer screen!) coordinating schedules, answering emails, handling quotes and contracts, and making sure every couple is personally cared for and attended to! Some might call her the silent hero of Black Pepper… and no, she totally didn’t write this herself, why do you ask?
MORGAN
LEAD PHOTO EDITOR
the artist behind the final polish, honoring every skin tone and bringing each gallery to life.
Introducing the lovely, the amazing, the fantastic, the childhood bestie,
📣MORGANNNNNN📣
As life would have it, Papa Black Pepper was Morgan and her husband’s teacher and coach, so from the time they met, Chayil knew she was something special. So we at BPP decided to keep her. Morgan has a background in family + portrait photography as well as wedding photography, but decided her real passion is in photo editing! Second only, of course, to cultivating the world’s prettiest house plants, and raising the universe’s best niece (Chayil’s favorite human).
Like yin and yang, every extrovert needs their cozy couch-loving introvert, and that’s exactly what Morgan is to Chayil. When Morgan isn’t editing or curating social media posts, you can find her snuggled up with a good book, or planning her next Michelin-star creation for dinner.
MEGAN
reserved for larger wedding stories, she’s the extra set of eyes capturing every candid, quiet, in-between moment you didn’t even know was happening.
SECOND SHOOTER
Last but certainly not least, we have the lovely Megan! She’s Black Pepper Photography’s newest addition as our second photographer on wedding days, or as we like to call her, our Associate Peppercorn Photographer. She graduated with a degree in Media Arts + Design, with a concentration in Digital Video + Cinema, and has gone on to enjoy her own successful career as a photographer before joining forces with Black Pepper. She got her start in photography in 2019 when working for the local newspaper.
She loves cuddling up with a good cup of coffee and her favorite book, and practicing her sun salutation and warrior pose. She’s a proud hopeless romantic who loves love as much as we do, and adores the constantly evolving nature of photography as an art form. Everybody say, “hiiiiiiii Megan!”