EF AutoMapper Proxy Tests:

gistfile1.txt

using System.Data.Entity;
using System.Linq;
using AutoMapper;

namespace EFTests
{
    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main()
        {
            Mapper.CreateMap<Building, ViewModel>();

            using (var context = new MyContext())
            {

                var building = context.Buildings.FirstOrDefault();

                var building1 = new Building();
                building.Section = new Section();

                // works
                var viewModel1 = Mapper.Map<ViewModel>(building1);
                
                // does not work
                var viewModel = Mapper.Map<ViewModel>(building);
            }
        }
    }

    public class ViewModel
    {
        public SectionEnum SectionEnum { get; set; }

        public ViewModel()
        {

        }

        public ViewModel(SectionEnum section)
        {
            SectionEnum = section;
        }

        public string Description { get; set; }
        public int Id { get; set; }
    }

    public class MyContext: DbContext
    {
        public DbSet<Section> Sections { get; set; }
        public DbSet<Building> Buildings { get; set; }
    }

    public class Section
    {
        public virtual string Name { get; set; }
        public virtual int Id { get; set; }
    }

    public class Building
    {
        public virtual int Id { get; set; }
        public virtual string Description { get; set; }
        public virtual Section Section { get; set; }
    }

    public enum SectionEnum
    {
        A, B, C, D
    }
}