I enter every year with fear that it could be my last. Not because I’m tired of it—far from it—but because I wake up in disbelief that I’m able to do this for a living. It’s a fiercely competitive industry that outdoes itself every season.

I value each and every person that works with me. I don’t care what you look like, what your wedding looks like, or where your wedding is located. Commissioning a photographer takes trust, collaboration, and heart. If you’ve got that, you’re all set.

These images are as much the people in them as they are me, and I can’t thank everyone involved enough.

And… just a note about why I choose the photos that I post. Every couple you see in wedding attire—that’s them on their actual wedding day! With the real-life constraints of a wedding day upon us. Believe me, I have thousands and thousands of beautiful moments of getting ready, ceremony, and receptions from every wedding I shoot. It’s just that… I prefer to show the times of the day when I’ve had the most creative control. Where my vision comes through the strongest. I find when that resonates with potential future clients… they turn out to be the absolute best clients I could ever work for.

Photographers… you can find deconstructions of images like these and more over on my patreon feed.

Everything edited with my Gainstage preset

A couple stands solemnly between weathered green doors, the woman seated and the man standing behind her, both dressed in formal attire. This scene was captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. Two silhouetted faces appear to be almost touching, set against a vivid red and orange textured background with scattered leaf-like shapes, captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam Hurd. A couple in wedding attire stands embracing in a room with walls adorned by countless suspended white letters, captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. Silhouetted couple standing close together at sunset overlooking a shimmering ocean with two birds perched in the background, captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. A man and a woman, both looking serious, stand in front of a stone wall with a red door; the woman is in the foreground. This scene was captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam Hurd Close-up of two young adults lying head to head, one holding a yellow book, focusing on the smiling woman with dark hair, captured by Sam Hurd. A woman and a man partially visible with light streaks creating an arc over the woman's face in a shadowy background, captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. A couple embraces in the background, partially obscured by vibrant yellow flowers in the foreground against a gray wall, captured by Sam Hurd, a Washington DC photographer. A bride in a white dress and a groom in a white suit with a green tie, holding hands and standing amid lush Washington DC greenery, viewed through a blurry circular green leaf frame. A bride in a white dress and a groom in a blue suit kiss passionately while the groom lifts the bride in front of a blue wooden fence, with green foliage on the side, captured beautifully by Sam A couple in formal wear embracing under a bridge, with a natural stream and graffiti visible in the background, captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam Hurd. A couple embracing on a city street in Washington DC, viewed through blurred green foliage in the foreground. A bride and groom kiss at an outdoor wedding ceremony in Washington DC, with guests watching them under a cloudy sky. A man in a suit whispers into the ear of a smiling woman in a floral dress, both standing near blurred green foliage in Washington DC. Outdoor wedding ceremony with guests seated facing a couple at the altar, decorative arches and chandeliers, and a green ivy-covered wall in the background, captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd A young couple sitting and smiling on a wooden deck with a dense ivy background, captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. A bride with red hair and a tattoo and a groom in a gray suit stand in a sunlit forest, blurry golden light creating a soft, dreamy background. Captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam A couple embracing in a sunlit park, sharing a joyful moment, captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam Hurd, surrounded by lush greenery and soft lens flares. A bride and groom standing by a lake, facing each other with a lush green backdrop and reflections in the water, captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. A groom, captured by Sam Hurd, seen through a circular metal sculpture, looking at a bride with her head down, standing in a lush garden. A bride and groom stand solemnly side by side against a brick wall, partially framed by green leaves in the foreground, captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam Hurd. A romantic moment captured at a wedding in Washington DC, showing a couple embracing, surrounded by colorful blurred lights. Left: a family with two children stands in a lush garden. Right: a couple holds an umbrella on a green lawn in Washington DC, gazing at each other. A couple stands close together on a rock in a serene lake, surrounded by misty forest, captured by Sam Hurd. Two faces peer through a patterned cut-out in yellow and green, creating an abstract and colorful visual effect captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. Man in a black jacket and white shoes joyfully jumping mid-air against a plain beige wall above a yellow curb, captured by Washington DC Photographer, Sam Hurd. A couple embraces under an archway with a ceiling painted like a starry night sky, captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam Hurd. A couple embracing on a cloudy day, with a yellow umbrella held above them by an outstretched arm, captured by Sam Hurd. A couple facing each other surrounded by warm lens flare effects, captured by Sam Hurd, creating a romantic and dreamy atmosphere. Wedding couple embracing, seen through the colorful, distorted view of a kaleidoscope, with a lush green background captured by Sam Hurd. Two people standing side by side backlit by bright sunlight with colorful vertical light streaks overlaying the image, captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. A bride in a yellow dress and a groom in a gray suit make a peace sign as they walk through applauding guests at a wedding ceremony, captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. A bride in traditional South Asian attire and jewelry looks intensely at the camera with a groom slightly behind, bathed in golden sunlight with lens flare, captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam Hurd. Reflection of a couple in the side mirror of a yellow scooter, captured by Washington DC Photographer, with a blurred urban background. A couple embraces in a romantic pose under glowing orange lanterns, with a blurred light effect creating a dreamy atmosphere, captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. Left: a couple joyfully embracing under autumn-colored tree branches in Washington DC. Right: a couple standing and talking against a plain orange wall. A romantic couple embraces while standing in a softly lit tunnel, displaying affectionate body language, captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam Hurd. A couple kissing, surrounded by a glowing halo of light, captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam Hurd, with a dark, blurred background. Two adults laughing joyously in front of a neon sign that reads "good vibes please," captured by Washington DC photographer Sam Hurd. Group of five people standing outdoors at night under multicolored lights, captured by Washington DC Photographer Sam Hurd, creating a vibrant, ghostly effect. A couple embracing at sunset with lens flare effects in Washington DC, creating a warm, romantic atmosphere. Split image by Sam Hurd: left side features a woman with blue and red lighting on her face. Right side shows a silhouette of a couple kissing behind a sheer curtain. Black and white photo by Sam Hurd of a couple embracing while sitting inside a circular, spiral architectural structure. Double exposure portrait by Washington DC photographer, Sam Hurd, featuring a man in a tuxedo and a woman in a wedding dress, overlaid with an urban cityscape.