L + J, Long Boarding in Springtime Sun

A reflection on friends and clients.

When it comes to photography, photoshoots, getting your photos taken, whatever you want to call being in front of a camera, I find there’s a lot of fear surrounding it. Whether it’s fear of being misrepresented, judged, or insecurity. And the results of photos can leave you with many feelings, about yourself or the person who was behind the camera.

I’ve been there.

I think about how people are interpreted through a camera lens a lot. Partly because it’s my job, partly because I’ve spent as long as I can remember trying to accurately depict people and how beautiful they are to me.

Solo or with a partner, photos can be as shallow or deep in meaning as we let them be.

I’ve known L for a couple of years now. An Instagram friend turned into a real life friend. We’ve know each other since before she got married to J. I hadn’t seen them together or interacting more than once before this session, but we’ve talked about marriage, specifically being young and married, and life with a partner.

The same way I approached this session with L and J is the same way I approach every engagement session and wedding day. I may not know you like I know some of my best friends, but I know love. I know the inside jokes, and weird circumstances, and long talks, and learning to love well that comes with committing to live life with someone.

And I know the fear of a wedding vendor treating you as a dollar sign or name on a list.

We don’t have to be best friends for me to treat you and your partner with the same respect I give good friends. In a non spiritual way, love is so very sacred. It means so much more than money, so much more than just a job.

I see you, and I love your love.

XX, eden.