At the beginning of June, I had the pleasure to step in as second shooter for Amy Hoyt of Lemon Wing to photograph my first wedding: featuring Annie and Kai Steele. 

What a gift it was to witness and document such a luminous expression of love and adoration — made all the easier by a couple so deeply, tenderly in love.

I’ve been in the world of self-love so deeply that I have hardly gone to any weddings as an adult. That, and living in Sweden for so long probably had an influence. Witnessing the celebration of love between two people — rather than just within the Self — felt like a natural extension of everything that I do. 

Isn’t that the end goal? We work deeply within ourselves to become better, moreloving and open-hearted people… so that we can eventually share that love with others. Maybe, someday, our forever penguin. 

Since I was busy shooting, I didn’t have a notepad to jot down the exact words exchanged during the ceremony, but the essence from the groom was this:

“Just as there is no question of sureness that the sun will set to rise tomorrow, there is no question of sureness in my love for you.”

Listening to the vows was one of my favourite parts of the shooting experience, and I imagined the array of different vows that you get to witness if you are shooting wedding photography regularly.

Kai spoke about how there’s no such thing as being “sure” when it comes to love or marriage. There’s no need for certainty — just as we don’t question whether the earth will keep rotating, or the sun will rise again.

Love, he said, isn’t a choice. It’s a natural way of being.

Solo self-love shoots will always be my first muse (speaking of love), but capturing the beauty of love shared between two people this weekend has (perhaps unsurprisingly) woven itself into my heart in the most seamless, satisfying way.

Speaking of which… Did you know Sanskrit has 96 words for love?

However it shows up — self-love, sacred partnership, platonic tenderness, the fierce love of a parent, the sweet ache of nostalgia, the unconditional love of a furry companion — the world needs more of it. Always.

If you’ve been looking for a sign to get married or elope — consider this your invitation, and book Amy as your wedding photographer so I can second shoot. 😉

Happy ever after to Annie & Kai! ❤️