— all emotions welcome —

There is a misconception in the wedding industry that there are two emotions on a wedding day: pure existential joy and overwhelming love expressed in a waterfall of tears. These are placed on a pedestal above all else, which means the in-between and the sliding scale of expression are usually forfeited. While there are people who naturally express these emotions easily, the unfortunate reality is that it is common practice for photographers to manipulate their subjects to “get there” so that the photographs evoke a particular emotion. The misuse of power here is shocking and we feel it is imperative to defuse any pressure you have to perform for us. 

After studying thousands of people through our lenses over the years, we have come to appreciate the unique forms of expression and giving equal opportunity to the limitless emotions of what it means to be human. Sure there are moments of existential joy and overwhelming love, but there are also simultaneous, complex emotions pouring forth that deserve equal attention. You can be thrilled to be marrying your spouse, while at the same time sad that your dad is walking you down the aisle to give you away, while also anxious to be standing in front of 200 people. This small bit of depth is essential to telling the full story and may go unnoticed if all we were looking for was something that fit within the two “appreciated” categories.

We do not turn away from tension or anxiety but rather purposefully seek it out with the intention to give depth to this very human experience. 

One of the greatest compliments we receive is that our work feels real. We know that wedding blog after wedding blog showcases only images of smiles and tears, and we also know that people are much more than that. There is always something to see, there is always something weird happening in the corner, and there is always humanity in all its quirks on full display. We embrace the weird and look for moments of reality, rather than downplay the rollercoaster of emotions that happen on a wedding day. 

When it comes to your people, your stoic grandfather deserves to be represented just as much as your boisterous best friend. The dance floor is usually filled with people who more outwardly express themselves, but there are tender, sweet moments of conversation happening all around. These moments deserve our attention equally. It is easier to look for the most expressive, but the quieter presences in your life are just as worthy of documentation.

If you are not a crier, that does not mean you are not emotional about what is taking place. If you don’t show obvious visual signs of joy, that does not mean you are not happy. We appreciate the depth of you, whether you wear it on your sleeve or keep it all close to your chest.

Because of this, we will not prompt you to feel something or ask you to perform an emotion for the sake of the photo. The memories that are tied to the photograph will live forever and we want you to be able to remember what is true instead of some twisted manipulation of it.

We want to remove any pressure you may be feeling to perform and instead give validation to how it is you express your emotions. If you cry during your vows, we will not judge you. If you don’t cry during your vows, we will not judge you.

We respect and acknowledge you and are honored to share this sliver of time with you. You and your emotions are safe here.