Alison and Shubhi first won me over during their engagement session in New York City, and by the time their wedding day rolled around at Poplar Springs Manor in Virginia, I already felt like I was photographing friends. I’ve shot at this venue plenty of times, so I know how good that string-lit tree-lined path looks at golden hour, but the couple made it feel brand new. From the henna and the blue sari to the champagne-soaked exit standing up out of a bright red convertible, this day had a rhythm that was equal parts celebration and pure joy. And yes, there was even a cat tattoo detail shot, which tells you everything you need to know about how personal this wedding was.

Here’s the part that got me though. Somewhere during the reception it hit me that I’ve now photographed four weddings for couples in this same friend group over the years. Before the night wrapped I managed to pull everyone together for a quick photo, and I honestly can’t think of anything more fulfilling than watching a community grow up and keep inviting me back into their most important moments. There’s nothing better than being a small, recurring part of people’s legacy, and this wedding reminded me exactly why I do this.

Photographers… you can find deconstructions of images like these and more over on my patreon feed.
Everything edited w/ my profile.