Meet Laura

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by and welcome to my photography website.  If you are in the vicinity of Alexandria, Virginia, you can now visit Laura Hatcher Photography at 218 North Lee Street, Alexandria. Laura is located in a studio on the ground floor of Crilley Warehouse.  Check out the Studio Tour.

My name is Laura.

There are three phrases that best describe me so much so, you'll find them on my business card:

Navy Veteran - Harley Rider – Photographer

I grew up in a military family being told, “you can do anything” and I have spent my entire adult life serving my country in uniform while living a "service before self" mindset.

While in the Navy I attended a predominately male college, threw myself out of perfectly good airplanes, dove to the depths of over 150 feet as a Navy Diver and influenced National Security-related decisions as a Naval Intelligence Officer.

Well the parents did say “you can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

Somewhere in my military journey I developed a love for mentoring, leading and paying attention to the details. It only made sense once I discovered photography, it would be my gateway to seeing the world differently.

As a Veteran, I treasure capturing the sweeping vistas and gritty streets that define our amazing country, after all I did spend three decades protecting them.

As a Mother, I raised boys who think it’s completely normal their mother wore combat boots in different colors. Because of them, I’m passionate about those special moments that will never be repeated.

As a car and motorcycle geek, I’m thrilled about the art and beauty that lies within the sculpted lines of a vintage fender.

When I pick up a camera, all these passions collide. I find I can capture all of my personalities and translate them into a single image that makes you stop, look and say, “wow, you can do anything you put your mind to.”

I currently live in Alexandria, VA and service the DC metro area and Northern VA with unique photographic support to car shows/meet ups,  local community events, small business websites, marketing needs, military ceremonies, family documentary, executive headshots and anything else you might need.

Looking for unique gift ideas? Check out my personalized calendars and classic car coffee books (under "Published Works"). All pictures are for sale (digital & print); look for the "buy" button.

Please feel free to leave me feedback or a review below, or on Facebook or Google.

I'm a proud member and graduate of the following associations and institutes:

Recent Testimonials:

"Simply put: Laura is amazing. I received word that my undergraduate college would feature me in their upcoming publication. I was excited about the opportunity but panicked when I realized I did not have an updated photo to share with the marketing team. I had a narrow window of availability to find a photographer...let alone to schedule an appointment. Laura is a friend and I knew that she had a fantastic eye with the camera...so I reached out to her for help. Laura not only responded within minutes, she also provided flexible hours and offered to meet me at my workplace to take the photos. When on-site, Laura unpackaged a mobile studio and made me feel like a superstar with every click of the button. Within a short 60 min shoot, we were done! I had multiple high quality photos (at an affordable price!) for my college to select from and their marketing team raved about Laura's work (which was submitted well in advance of their already pressing deadline). I highly recommend Laura for anyone who is looking to update their professional head shot." Phil York,  May 2020

"I hate having my picture taken but Laura made it really easy and fun. She is a real professional who does high quality work and turns it quickly. I would highly recommend her for your head shot requirements. You’ll be happy with the results!"  B Lynn Wright, February 2020

"Laura has a gift. PERIOD. She has not only served her country with dedication, perseverance, and passion, but she knows who she is and what she does well. Among countless gifts she has, Laura has a way with people. This, and her eye for the right "shot", has enabled her to capture the real person of the countless people who come to her for one of the most important career discriminator: the dreaded "headshot". Personable and easy-going, Laura finds a way to photograph the person...not just the face."  Margaret Grun Kibben, January 2020

"Laura has a unique ability to capture memories, personalities, and once-in-a-lifetime moments in a way that so few people can. When it was time to document my last day in uniform (retirement ceremony), I called upon the one photographer that I knew who would exceed expectations and ensure the pictures of that very special day would give me and my loved ones reason to smile whenever we reflected on that day. Thanks, Laura"  - Sean Heritage, August 2019

"Laura and I have known each other for years, so when I needed a professional photographer to redo my company website, update our hard and soft copy promotional brochures, and complete studio portraits of all of my employees, Laura was first choice. And the best choice! Everyone enjoyed working with Laura, she put them at ease, and she got some really good head shots. Her photos of Cross & Company’s commercial office buildings were truly unique, taking a static and very likely boring image and instead turning it into a game winner. Book Laura, in advance, for all your corporate professional photography" - Dan Cross, Cross and Company, April 2019

"Laura and I have known each other for over 30 years. She is passionate about her photography and achieves excellent results whether it be cityscapes, action photos or professional headshots. I recently scheduled a photo session with Laura and she captured some exceptional headshots. Patiently working with me through several poses, she expertly produced a selection of superior quality photos. I highly recommend you schedule a session with her whether for your family photos, professional headshots or special occasions. She has an incredible eye for detail and captures your best self!!"    -Steph Murphy, March 2019