Letter & Lens

For the Wildly in Love

Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia

Travel area: Within 300 miles See details

5.0

Verified reviews from real couples

Derya is an amazing photographer! She was able to capture so many amazing memories both for our engagement shoot and our wedding. When we did our initial phone call she was professional but also very generous with her time. There was never a doubt in my mind that she would do a wonderful job and out of everyone we hired for the wedding she was by far the best vendor to work with. You will not regret booking with Letter & Lens!

Alyssa M.

5.0

We couldn’t be happier with our wedding photos! Derya made us feel so comfortable and relaxed throughout the day, and every photo turned out absolutely beautiful. We’re so grateful she captured our special day so perfectly!

Laura S.

5.0

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Derya Happe

OWNER & LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Typically responds within 24h

AWARD WINNER

Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot

Letter & Lens is a wedding photography business based in Norfolk, VA, where it's all about preserving the real moments: the quiet ones, the joyful ones, and the ones you didn't even realize were happening. You deserve photos that feel true to you — warm, bold, and timeless — so you can relive your day exactly the way it felt. At Letter & Lens, I specialize in working with couples who want honest storytelling and a supportive experience from start to finish. From our first conversation to your final gallery, you'll be guided, cared for, and genuinely celebrated. Whether you're planning a big celebration or something small and soulful, I'm here to document your love in a way that feels effortless and meaningful. Every wedding collection includes sneak peeks within 48 hours, a full gallery of professionally edited images, timeline guidance, and unlimited support. If you're looking for a photographer who captures the light, love, and emotion of your wedding day — without the awkward poses or pressure — I'd love to connect. Let Letter & Lens tell your story, your way.

Veteran-owned and Woman-owned Business

4+ years in business

Speaks English, Spanish, Turkish

Just me

Details

Destination Weddings

Destination Wedding Packages

Photo Shoot Types

Bridal Portraits

Day After Session

Engagement

Photo & Video

Digital Files

Photo

Same-Day Edits

Social Media Sharing

Wedding Albums

Photo & Video Styles

Artistic

Classic

Documentary

Lifestyle

Wedding Activities

Getting Engaged

Rehearsals & Parties

After Party

Wedding

After Party

Awards and Affiliations

2026 'Best of Weddings'

Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding

Meet the team

Derya Happe

Owner & Lead Photographer

Hi, I’m Derya! I’m the photographer behind Letter & Lens—obsessed with golden light, real emotion, and timeless images that feel like you. I’ve been behind the camera for 14 years, and started photographing weddings in 2022. I’m based in Norfolk, VA, serving couples who value connection, warmth, and a little bit of adventure. When I’m not photographing love stories, you’ll find me tending my flower garden, cooking something cozy, or reading with my kitten Ravioli nearby.

5.0

out of 5.0

13 reviews

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Review Summary

This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.

Letter & Lens Photography is widely praised for professional, friendly service and stunning, consistently edited photos. Reviewers say the photographer creates a relaxed, detail-oriented atmosphere that puts camera-shy couples at ease and captures every moment. Many call the experience worth the cost and highly recommend booking.

Search reviews

Alyssa M

Highlighted review.

8/14/2026

Derya is an amazing photographer! She was able to capture so many amazing memories both for our engagement shoot and our wedding. When we did our initial phone call she was profess...

ional but also very generous with her time. There was never a doubt in my mind that she would do a wonderful job and out of everyone we hired for the wedding she was by far the best vendor to work with. You will not regret booking with Letter & Lens!

Laura S

8/11/2026

We couldn’t be happier with our wedding photos! Derya made us feel so comfortable and relaxed throughout the day, and every photo turned out absolutely beautiful. We’re so grateful...

she captured our special day so perfectly!

Any questions?

James H

7/13/2026

Hi! I’m unable to send messages through the app, I’m reaching out here instead. Our wedding date is currently set for July 20, but every time I select it in the app, it changes au...

tomatically. We’re considering changing the date, but we’d like to hear back from you first. I’m not very active here, so please feel free to text me at 9012054601. Thank you! We look forward to hearing from you.

Alan H

11/06/2025

Working with Derya was a wonderful experience! She created a relaxed atmosphere that resulted in stunning photos capturing every special moment. Derya is professional, talented, an...

d detail-oriented. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking an experienced and skilled wedding photographer.

Angela K

10/29/2025

We had an amazing experience with Letter & Lens Photography for our engagement and wedding photos. From start to finish, Derya was a fantastic communicator and made us feel like we...

were working with a friend. She captured every moment beautifully, and the photos turned out absolutely stunning. If you’re looking for a talented photographer who’s easy to work with, we highly recommend her!

William P

8/09/2025

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Derya, and she was amazing from start to finish. She created such a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere that made us feel completely at ease. ...

The photos turned out absolutely stunning and captured every special moment perfectly. Derya is incredibly professional, talented, and has a great eye for detail. My husband and I truly enjoyed the entire experience with her. We would recommend her to anyone and everyone looking for an exceptional photographer.

Meaghan S

7/19/2025

Derya is the most attentive photographer I’ve worked with! She’s so kind and compassionate and put us at ease. Would absolutely book with her again!!!

Harli H

7/15/2025

Working with Derya was a dream! She made my wedding experience so easy. I was super stressed out with everything else but she made sure her work wasn’t one of them. She is extremel...

y professional and friendly. Everything I told her I wanted, we did and she made it work. My husband and I aren’t photo taking people, so she helped us get comfortable and even told us how to pose when we weren’t sure. All my friends that have seen the sneak peaks have been in awe of how beautiful her work turned out. I have already been recommending her to anyone I know getting married. If I have to say one thing to convince you to go with her, it’s that the money is worth it. Every single penny. She was absolutely amazing and I wouldn’t have picked anybody else! Thank you for making my wedding day special!

Sofia O

7/03/2025

Derya is the best in the game. As a Navy vet and military brat, she understands how special capturing each moment is— whether it’s your wedding, an anniversary, a coming home, or j...

ust an everyday opportunity to capture a special memory. She goes above and beyond to make you feel prepared and comfortable before the shoot to understand your vision. During the shoot, her humor and professionalism keep things light and fun, making it easy and natural (critical for awkward-in-front-of-the-lens people like me). Derya is our #1 go-to photographer and we’ve been super lucky to book her as she’s made a name for herself in the photography game— book her ASAP (I hear she’s getting busy!!) ;)

Sami C

7/02/2025

You will not be disappointed choosing Derya to capture your special day!! She is so talented at getting all the special moments, editing the photos to make them look high-class, a...

nd making you feel very natural. You can tell she is passionate about photography and that shows through her work and will deliver the exact vibe that you are seeking. I would trust her with all of my special moments 100%

Erica I

7/02/2025

Incredible photographer and person!! Super detail orientated and extremely patient! Would recommend to anyone!

Louise Z

7/01/2025

Derya is hands down the BEST photographer my family has ever worked with. We have used over a dozen different photographers throughout the years and she has exceeded all of them. S...

he has done several sessions for us ranging from engagement, couple photos, and newborn photos. We love them all. She is flexible, professional and delivers significantly more quality photos(and fast too!) Take a chance with her, you will not be disappointed!

Delaney T

7/01/2025

Der has an eye for photography like no other! All of her photos turned out beautifully - seriously she made us look SO good ☺️ Her photography is incredibly well composed and consi...

stent. What you see on her website aren’t just a few highlights - it’s exactly what you’ll get. On top of an excellent product, you can tell she’s in this business because she truly loves it. She was so fun to work with and will be my go to for all of the rest of my family milestones! I feel like she’s more than our new fave go to photographer - she’s a friend, too!

Service area & Contact info

Travel area: Within 300 miles

Additional charges may apply

(170) 344-70201

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Letter & Lens

Derya Happe

Owner & Lead Photographer

Typically responds within 24h

Letter & Lens's photos

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Letter & Lens

About this vendor

Review Summary

Service area & Contact info

Wedding vendors in Norfolk

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