From hobby to heart’s work
Kala Caruso is owner and photographer/videographer of Kala Caruso Photography. is year marks a major milestone for her, as she celebrates 10 years in business and winning Best of the Best Photographer 2026, a journey that began with a simple love for capturing people and the stories that shape their lives.
Kala rst picked up a camera as a hobby, never imagining it would grow into a full-time career. What started as a creative outlet quickly evolved as clients were drawn to her warm, natural style and her ability to make people feel comfortable in front of the lens. Over the past decade, she has captured everything from weddings and newborns to family milestones and personal celebrations, building a reputation for authenticity, connection, and heartfelt storytelling. Each session, she says, is a reminder of why she started in the rst place.
“People invite me into some of the most important moments of their lives,” Kala says. “It’s an honor I never take lightly.”
Today, Kala is proud to run her business full time while also embracing her roles as a wife and stay-at-home mom. Balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship hasn’t always been easy, but she
describes it as one of the most rewarding chapters of her life.
“I’m grateful every day that I get to do what I love,” she says. “Capturing people’s stories is a privilege, and being able to do that while raising my family means everything to me.”
For Kala, the heart of her work has always been the people — those who trust her with their memories, who return year a er year, and who allow her to witness their stories unfold.
“Ten years later, I’m still grateful every single day,” she says. “ is business has given me purpose, joy, and a way to serve others. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for my business.”
Special thanks to 2026 Best of the Best Photographer Kala Caruso and the Windmore Foundation for the cover photo at the Culpeper State Theatre.
From hobby to heart’s work
Kala Caruso is owner and photographer/videographer of Kala Caruso Photography. is year marks a major milestone for her, as she celebrates 10 years in business and winning Best of the Best Photographer 2026, a journey that began with a simple love for capturing people and the stories that shape their lives.
Kala rst picked up a camera as a hobby, never imagining it would grow into a full-time career. What started as a creative outlet quickly evolved as clients were drawn to her warm, natural style and her ability to make people feel comfortable in front of the lens. Over the past decade, she has captured everything from weddings and newborns to family milestones and personal celebrations, building a reputation for authenticity, connection, and heartfelt storytelling. Each session, she says, is a reminder of why she started in the rst place.
“People invite me into some of the most important moments of their lives,” Kala says. “It’s an honor I never take lightly.”
Today, Kala is proud to run her business full time while also embracing her roles as a wife and stay-at-home mom. Balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship hasn’t always been easy, but she
describes it as one of the most rewarding chapters of her life.
“I’m grateful every day that I get to do what I love,” she says. “Capturing people’s stories is a privilege, and being able to do that while raising my family means everything to me.”
For Kala, the heart of her work has always been the people — those who trust her with their memories, who return year a er year, and who allow her to witness their stories unfold.
“Ten years later, I’m still grateful every single day,” she says. “ is business has given me purpose, joy, and a way to serve others. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for my business.”
Special thanks to Kala Caruso for the 2026 Best of the Best Winners’ Guide cover photo.
of Culpeper
Hook-N-Up,
Battlefield Toyota
BEST PLACE TO BUY TIRES &
OIL CHANGE Thompson Auto Repair
BEST CAR WASH Culpeper Car Wash BEST
BEST USED AUTO DEALERSHIP Koons Automotive of Culpeper
BEST CHARITY EVENT Pamper Me Pink
BEST COLLEGE Germanna Community College - Daniel Technology Center
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE & BEST PLUMBER Appleton Campbell
BEST ELECTRIC COMPANY Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
BEST HISTORICAL PLACE Museum of Culpeper History
BEST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
PlayDate: A Children’s Museum
BEST PARK Rockwater Park
BEST PLACE TO WORK Culpeper County Public Schools
BEST PRESCHOOL Brynmor at Culpeper Baptist
BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL Culpeper Christian School
BEST RADIO STATION WJMA
BEST HOSPITAL UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center
BEST HOTEL Holiday Inn Express & Suites
BEST LIBRARY Culpeper County Library
BEST NEW BUSINESS The Sippin’ Shack
BEST NEWSPAPER Culpeper Times, Rappahannock Media
BEST SMALL BUSINESS Ventura Hair Studio
BEST SUMMER CAMP Camp Red Arrow
MOST RESPECTED FUNERAL HOME Found and Sons Funeral Chapels & Cremation Service
MOST RESPECTED HOUSE OF WORSHIP
Mount Olive Baptist ChurchCulpeper
A’Myah Robinson BEST
BEST
Country
•Conversation
•Conversation
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• Medication reminders
• Medication reminders
•Laundry & light housekeeping
Harvey...
•Mail & paperwork organization
•And much more!
much more!
BEST FINE DINING & NEW
RESTAURANT
Ferlazzo 1938
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Nanay’s Kitchen
BEST GOURMET FOOD SHOP
Taste Oil Vinegar Spice
BEST ICE CREAM
The Country Creamery
BEST LATIN RESTAURANT
El Jaripeo Mexican Restaurant
BEST SANGRIA
Mountain Run Winery
BEST SEAFOOD
Piedmont Steakhouse
BEST STEAK & CHEESE
Steak N’ Cheese Please
BEST SWEET SHOP
The Frenchman’s Corner of Culpeper
BEST WINE & WINERY
Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery
BEST
LIVING The Culpeper
BEST DENTIST
All Smiles Dental Care
BEST DERMATOLOGIST
Warrenton Dermatology & Skin Therapy Center
BEST DOCTOR
Wellspring Family Practice & Specialty Clinic
BEST OB/GYN
Dr. Kevin Stocker
BEST ORTHODONTIST
Gri n & Errera Orthodontics
BEST ORTHOPAEDIC DOCTOR
Dr. Armin Harandi, UVA Orthopedics
BEST PEDIATRIC THERAPY
SPECIALISTS AND BEST SPEECH THERAPY
BEST EYE CARE Eye Care Of Virginia
BEST HEARING SPECIALIST (TIE) Freedom Hearing Aid Center
BEST HEARING SPECIALIST (TIE) Wagner Hearing of Culpeper
BEST HOME HEALTH
FirstLight Home Care
BEST HOSPICE
Hospice of the Piedmont Culpeper Regional O ce
BEST MENTAL HEALTH BUSINESS
Amy Columbus, LCSW
BEST NURSE
Teresa Campbell, RN
Community-STARs Pediatric Therapy Specialists
BEST PEDIATRICIAN
Joshua A. Jakum, MD
BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY
Blue Ridge Physical TherapyCulpeper
BEST REHABILITATION CARE
UVA Health Therapy Services
Powell
BEST URGENT CARE
Wellspring Pediatrics & Walk-in Clinic
BEST VETERINARY OFFICE
Blue Ridge Animal Hospital
BEST APARTMENT COMPLEX
Southridge Culpeper LP
BEST CARPET AND FLOORING
Early’s Flooring Specialists & More
BEST CLEANING SERVICE
Top Shelf Cleaning Services, LLC
BEST CONCRETE CONTRACTOR Action Group, Inc
BEST ELECTRICIAN Lights by Knight Electric, LLC
BEST FENCE CONTRACTOR ATH Builders, LLC
BEST HANDYMAN
Brian Pullen - TMT Home Improvements, LLC
BEST HARDWARE AND HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE
Cherry Street Building Supply
BEST HEATING AND AIR (HVAC)
Able Heating & Air
BEST HOME BUILDER ATH Builders, LLC
BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER Marisa Banks - Banks Floors and Decor
BEST LANDSCAPING COMPANY
Lenny’s Landscapes
BEST LAWN/GARDEN EQUIPMENT
K&M Lawn, Garden and Arborist Supplies
BEST MOVING COMPANY
3 Dave’s Moving & Storage
BEST PEST CONTROL Virginia Pest Management
BEST PLUMBER Appleton Campbell
BEST POWER WASHING COMPANY ARK Services
BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT VHS Property Management
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY RE/MAX Gateway - Culpeper
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT Vicki Jenkins
BEST REAL ESTATE TEAM The Signature Team of RE/MAX Gateway
BEST REMODELING SERVICE Dodd Contracting
BEST ROOFING COMPANY My Roofer
BEST SNOW REMOVAL Fants Tree Service
BEST STORAGE & MOVING Storeland Storage
BEST TREE SERVICE BUSINESS Professional Tree Surgeon
BEST WATER TREATMENT Country Water Systems
BEST WINDOWS AND SIDING Paul Henry’s Windows
Shear
M. Andrew Gayheart
Culpeper
BEST
Dolls&Flaws
BEST
Megan Wince
BEST LASH TECHNICIAN
Draž Beauty
BEST LIFE COACH
North Acre Life Enhancement
BEST MANICURE & PEDICURE
Katian Corado
BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST
Lindsay Barnes at Old Town Massage Studio
BEST NATURAL SELF-CARE
BOUTIQUE
Cloverleaf Nook
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER
Heather Boggess
BEST SKINCARE
Skin by NV
BEST SPA TREATMENT SKINTOLOGY, LLC
BEST WEIGHT LOSS BUSINESS
Wellness Revolution, LLC
BEST YOGA CLASS/ INSTRUCTOR
Tisha Downing
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
BEST
German
BEST
Andrew
BEST
Pete’s
BEST
BEST
Authentic Wealth Partners
BEST
Kash Imprints
BEST INSURANCE AGENCY
The Better Insurance Agency
BEST INSURANCE AGENT
Trish Hulsey - State Farm Insurance Agent
Davies Barrell Will Lewellyn & Edwards, PLC
BEST LAW FIRM (TIE)
Gayheart & Willis P.C
BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY
Embrace Home LoansCulpeper, VA
BEST PHOTOGRAPHER
Kala Caruso Photography
BEST TAX PREPARATION SERVICE
Freedom Tax ServiceJessica Weimer
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY In Your Corner Travel
BEST ANTIQUE SHOP
Country Shoppes of Culpeper
BEST ART GALLERY
Village Frameworks & Gallery
BEST BARBER SHOP
Successful Hands Barbershop
BEST BEE KEEPER
Bees & Trees Farm
SHOPPING & SERVICES
BEST BOUTIQUE
Rusty Willow Boutique
BEST CATERER
Uncle Elder’s Family Restaurant BBQ
BEST CHILD CARE & BEST PRESCHOOL Brynmor at Culpeper Baptist
Our Patients Are the Best of the
Thank you for naming Culpeper Medical Center best hospital.
We take great pride in caring for our communities.
At UVA Health, we understand that staying healthy allows you to do the things you care about most. That’s why our experts are driven to help you thrive at every stage of your life. And if your needs become complex, UVA Health offers seamless access to the most advanced specialists, innovative treatments and clinical trials available. Good health isn’t a given. UVA Health being here for you is.
VENTURA HAIR STUDIO
Persimmon
Boutique
BEST
Culpeper Petroleum Cooperative
BEST
BEST
BEST DUMPSTER COMPANY GFL Environmental
BEST ELECTRONICS REPAIR iRepair & Graphics
BEST ENGRAVING Eddie’s Engraving
BEST FARM & FEED STORE CFC Farm & Home Center
BEST
Endless Creations Flowers and Gifts
BEST GARDEN CENTER/ NURSERY
Windmill Heights Garden Center
BEST GIFT SHOP The Chaotic Collector
BEST GROCERY STORE MARTIN’S
BEST HOBBY SHOP Final Boss
BEST OFFICE SUPPLIES Eagle Postal Express
BEST PET BOUTIQUE & SUPPLY STORE Reigning Cats & Dogs and Kindness
BEST PIANO TECHNICIAN Note By Note Tuning
BEST PRINTER (AND SCREEN PRINTER) Xpress Copy & Graphics
BEST THRIFT STORE Full Circle Thrift Store
• Behavioral Health • Family Practice • Intervention Pain Management • Pediatrics • Urgent Care/Walk-In • Weight Loss
Looking for quick, convenient, and comprehensive medical care in Culpeper and the surrounding communities? Look no further than Wellspring Health Services. Our walk-in care services provide residents with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries the treatment they need without the hassle of high copays. From urgent care services to follow-up care with our experienced family practice team, we’ve got you covered all under one roof. Scan to schedule online with one of our Wellspring providers! No Insurance? No Problem. Ask about our Membership Program.