Benches, Barcades, and Black & White: Hillary & Kathryn’s Joyful Wedding
There are weddings where two people are clearly, undeniably in love, and then there are weddings where that love acts as a gravitational pull, drawing in an entire universe of joy around them. Hillary and Kathryn’s day was the latter. I have documented countless love stories, but I have rarely seen a collective of friends and family surround a couple with such fierce, unbridled celebration. Their entourage didn’t just attend the wedding; they elevated it, wrapping the brides in an absolute masterpiece of support and happiness.
When we first sat down to prep for the big day, Hillary and Kathryn had one recurring concern: their height difference. They worried about how it would translate on camera and whether it would make the framing look awkward. I had to laugh, not to dismiss their worry, but because the solution in photography is always honesty. I told them, “Let’s lean into it and just be as authentic as we can.” And lean in we did. Throughout the day, we took full advantage of the landscape, famously utilizing park benches so we could get their heads on the exact same level. The result? A series of beautiful, soulful kisses that made every single one of us swoon.
The aesthetic of the day was nothing short of a dream. They exchanged vows at a lovely, ancient park that felt like a sanctuary out of time, followed by a vibrant reception at a venue we already knew and loved. But the absolute highlight of their itinerary was when they giddily announced, “We also want to go to the barcade in town and spend a few cups of tokens.” I honestly almost offered to shoot the wedding for free right then and there. Barcades and a glowing cabinet of Ms. Pac-Man are my absolute jam. Watching them navigate the flashing neon lights, cheering over skeeball, and laughing through the arcade aisles brought a dynamic, playful energy to their gallery that you simply can’t stage.
As we discussed the final look of their gallery, Hillary and Kathryn mentioned how much they admired older, timeless portraits—the kind that feel just as alive and breathing today as the moment the shutter snapped decades ago. That gave me the perfect excuse to do something I had been dying to do. I delivered their collection in our signature, beautiful color grade and retouch, but I also delivered the entire series a second time in pure black and white.
Seeing their reaction was everything, but noticing that the black and white images were the ones they shared the most was the ultimate compliment. The monochrome edits stripped away the distractions and left only the raw emotion: the laughter over a skeeball machine, the overwhelming love of their entourage, and the quiet, leveled-out kisses on a park bench. Hillary and Kathryn’s wedding was a masterclass in joyous authenticity, proving that when you surround yourself with your favorite people—and maybe a few arcade tokens—the memories capture themselves.
But for this artist, there is something so magical about the love of these two ladies and their passion shared under the neon glow of skeeball, shown in all of its color and glory:
