Mariam & Thomas

Every session I photograph starts with a conversation, and honestly it is one of the parts I look forward to most. I am a quiet person by nature, but when a couple starts telling me how they want their photos to feel, I get so energized. With Mariam and Thomas we talked through the look they were going for, the outfits and details they had in mind, the kinds of shots they loved and the overall vibe of the session. Save the dates are the very first thing your guests see of your wedding, so I want them to say something true about the two of you, and those conversations are how I find out what that is.

The Westfields Marriott gave us so much to work with. The grand piano by the window, the old paintings in the lounge and the gilded mirror in the lobby all carried the feeling of another era, and I leaned right into it. I have always loved photos that feel like film, that classic, moody, vintage look, as if you found them tucked away in a drawer years later and remembered exactly how that day felt. When Mariam and Thomas sat down at the piano together, it felt like stepping right into one of those photos, and I loved every frame of it.

Save the date photos at the Westfields Marriott

What made this session so special, though, was the two of them. Mariam and Thomas are one of those couples who are sweet together without even trying, and the easy affection between them made my job a joy. I kept things relaxed and fun, gave a little direction when they wanted it and stepped back when they didn’t, and we moved from the piano to the lobby and out into the garden, where the evening light turned warm under the trees.

I treat every couple with love and respect, and I try to make every session feel magical and memorable in its own way. For Mariam and Thomas, I hope these photos always remind them of how calm, close and happy they felt at the very beginning of planning their wedding.