Questions to ask when hiring an LGBTQ photographer When hiring an LGBTQ photographer, it's important to ask the right questions to ensure they align with your vision and needs. Here are some key questions to consider asking: 1. What is your experience working with lesbian weddings or being a lesbian wedding photographer?: Understanding their experience working with LGBTQ clients will give you an insight into their level of familiarity and sensitivity towards the community's unique needs.b 2. What is your photography style?: Every photographer has their unique style, and it's important to find one that resonates with your vision. Ask for samples of their work to ensure it aligns with your aesthetic preferences. 3. What is your approach to capturing LGBTQ stories?: This question will help you understand their commitment to authentic representation and their ability to capture the essence of LGBTQ experiences. 4. What is your pricing structure and package options?: Discussing pricing and packages upfront will help you determine if they fit within your budget and if they offer the services you require. 5. What is your availability?: Ensure that the photographer's availability aligns with your desired timeline for the photoshoot. By asking these questions, you can gain a better understanding of the photographer's expertise, style, and overall compatibility with your needs. Remember, open and honest communication is key to a successful collaboration.
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Are you searching for talented LGBTQ photographers in your area, ready to capture the unique essence of your identity? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the vibrant world of LGBTQ photographers near you, showcasing their incredible skills and the passion they bring to their craft. Whether you’re looking to celebrate love, showcase your personal journey, or capture the energy of your community, these artists know exactly how to create stunning visuals that reflect who you truly are. With their diverse perspectives and talent, LGBTQ photographers can capture the moments that matter most to you, while honoring and embracing your individuality. From candid portraits to artistic compositions, their work will not only inspire and empower you but also leave you with cherished memories that will last a lifetime. Get ready to connect with an LGBTQ photographer who will capture your story with authenticity, creativity, and pride. Let the search begin! The importance of representation in photography Photography is not just about capturing beautiful images; it is also a powerful tool for representation. The LGBTQ community has long been underrepresented in mainstream media, but through the lens of talented LGBTQ photographers, their stories, experiences, and identities can be showcased authentically. LGBTQ photographers understand the nuances and complexities of queer life, allowing them to capture moments with a depth and understanding that is often lacking in traditional photography. By hiring an LGBTQ photographer, you are not only supporting their art but also contributing to a more inclusive representation of the LGBTQ community in the visual arts. Their work has the power to challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and inspire others to embrace their true selves. Ryan and Tim's wedding day was one to remember. Surrounded by their family and closest friends, the couple exchanged their vows in a beautiful ceremony at Big Bear Cafe in Washington DC. The day was filled with love, laughter, and lots of happy tears, making it a truly special occasion for everyone involved. The couple chose Big Bear Cafe as their wedding venue for its warm and cozy atmosphere. The cafe, which is located in the heart of Washington DC, was the perfect setting for their intimate wedding ceremony. The cafe was beautifully decorated with flowers and candles, creating a warm and romantic ambiance for the occasion. The wedding ceremony was a touching and emotional moment for Ryan and Tim, as well as their families and friends. The couple exchanged their vows in front of a beautiful flower arrangement, surrounded by their loved ones. They pledged their love and commitment to each other, promising to support and care for one another for the rest of their lives. After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed a delicious meal at Big Bear Cafe. The cafe’s chefs prepared a feast of traditional American cuisine, The food was delicious and the company was even better, as the newlyweds and their guests laughed, shared stories, and celebrated their love and happiness. In conclusion, Ryan and Tim's wedding day was a celebration of their love and commitment to each other. It was a beautiful and joyous occasion, filled with love, laughter, and lots of happy tears. The couple will always look back on their wedding day as a special moment in their lives, one that they will treasure forever. article originally published on Bride.com
The music world sure is full of lovey-dovey ballads, but picking one that exemplifies your relationship for your first dance is a certain type of challenge—but this lengthy list of gender-neutral first dance songs might just simplify the process. Celebrating your love with a first dance is a classic part of any wedding. You’ve likely imagined the embrace, the candlelit room, and how you’ll waltz—or break dance—with your new spouse to kick off the reception. The only thing missing from that day dream? The perfect first dance song. You want the lyrics to make sense with who you are and how your relationship has played out. If only we could all be songwriters! Then, there is the fact that an overwhelming number of tunes are about a boy and a girl, and that might not fit you or your marriage. Luckily, there are plenty of love songs that don’t denote specific gender pronouns and musicians that praise “love is love.” For all couples, it’s about finding music that feels personal and expresses their tastes. The Best (and Worst) Best Man Speech EverNeed inspo? We checked in with some pros—planner and event designer Jove Meyer, DJ Brian B, and Nate Nelson of LeForce Entertainment—to share their top gender-neutral first dance songs. From Etta James to Beyoncé, here are 25 love songs perfect for same-sex and LGBTQ+ weddings. 25 Perfect Gender-Neutral First Dance Songs “At Last” by Etta James “Love on Top” by Beyonce “Stay with Me” by Sam Smith “A Perfect Day” by Holley Maher "You Are the Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne "Love Me Like You Do" by Ellie Goulding "I Am Yours"Jason Mraz "I Choose You" by Sara Bareilles "Latch" by Sam Smith "Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden "Halo" by Beyonce "It Had to Be You" by Billie Holiday "How Long Will I Love You"by Ellie Goulding "Make You Feel My Love" by Adele "Love Someone" by Jason Mraz "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran "Boom Clap" by Lennon & Maisy "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green "By Your Side" by Sade "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King “I Like Me Better” by Lauv “Clearly” by Grace VanderWaal “So Into You” by Childish Gambino “Butterflies” by Kacey Musgraves 7 Romantic Readings for an LGBTQ+ Ceremony
Article originally posted on the knot.com We love these thoughtful, moving and loving readings for LGBTQ+ wedding ceremonies. by Brittny Drye Readings can infuse personality and romance into a ceremony but, admittedly, it can be tough to find writers who waxed poetic in a gender-neutral manner. We pulled seven ceremony-worthy readings from our favorite poems, children's books and even court rulings, that celebrate love, give a nod to the LGBTQ+ community and reflect couples across the spectrum. 1. On June 26, 2015, US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy read a majority opinion that changed the lives of millions of Americans, bringing marriage equality nationwide. Not only was this ruling historic, it was downright poetic. "No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right." --Justice Anthony Kennedy, Hodges v. Obergefell 2. Speculated to be gay or bisexual, Walt Whitman's works were labeled as provocative for their time. But the last stanza in his "Song of the Open Road" evokes an incredibly romantic adventure—and what's more adventurous than happily ever after? "Camerado, I give you my hand! I give you my love more precious than money! I give you myself before preaching or law; Will you give me yourself? Will you come travel with me? Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?" —Walt Whitman, "Song of the Open Road" 3. Mary Oliver's work entwines love, nature and observances, and she was greatly inspired during walks around her home in Provincetown, Massachusetts, which she shared with her partner, Molly Cook, for 40 years until Cook's death in 2005. "When we are driving in the dark, on the long road to Provincetown, when we are weary, when the buildings and the scrub pines lose their familiar look, I imagine us rising from the speeding car. I imagine us seeing everything from another place-- the top of one of the pale dunes, or the deep and nameless fields of the sea. And what we see is a world that cannot cherish us, but which we cherish. And what we see is our life moving like that along the dark edges of everything, headlights sweeping the blackness, believing in a thousand fragile and unprovable things. Looking out for sorrow, slowing down for happiness, making all the right turns right down to the thumping barriers to the sea, the swirling waves, the narrow streets, the houses, the past, the future, the doorway that belongs to you and me." --Mary Oliver, "Coming Home" 4. Before the 2015 SCOTUS ruling, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that made the state the first to legally recognize same-sex marriage was the most popular reading during gay wedding ceremonies. It still remains at the top of the reading list, particularly for couples who like to highlight the history of equality in their ceremony. "Marriage is a vital social institution. The exclusive commitment of two individuals to each other nurtures love and mutual support; it brings stability to our society. For those who choose to marry, and for their children, marriage provides an abundance of legal, financial, and social benefits. In return it imposes weighty legal, financial, and social obligations....Without question, civil marriage enhances the 'welfare of the community.' It is a ‘social institution of the highest importance... Marriage also bestows enormous private and social advantages on those who choose to marry. Civil marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to another human being and a highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family.... Because it fulfills yearnings for security, safe haven, and connection that express our common humanity, civil marriage is an esteemed institution, and the decision whether and whom to marry is among life's momentous acts of self-definition." --Judge Margaret Marshall, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health 5. Taken from the popular YA novel Wild Awake, this excerpt can be interpreted as a celebration of individuals' identities, and the journey of becoming yourself, no matter where that may be on the gender-identity spectrum, and finding that special person who loves you for being you. "People are like cities: We all have alleys and gardens and secret rooftops and places where daisies sprout between the sidewalk cracks, but most of the time all we let each other see is a postcard glimpse of a skyline or a polished square. Love lets you find those hidden places in another person, even the ones they didn’t know were there, even the ones they wouldn’t have thought to call beautiful themselves." —Hilary T. Smith, Wild Awake 6. This reading from children's book The Velveteen Rabbit is particularly popular amongst LGBTQ couples, thanks to its non-gendered verbiage. We love the idea of a child reading this, for an extra touch of "awww." "What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nanna came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?" "Real isn’t how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. "Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt." "Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?" "It doesn’t happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." —Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit 7. There are several quotes and poems we could pull from legendary poet and gay rights activist Maya Angelou that would feel at home in a ceremony, but the themes of bravery and love in her "Touched by an Angel" prose are a beautiful, and obvious, choice for LGBTQ couples. "We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight live coiled in shells of loneliness until love leaves its high holy temple and comes into our sight to liberate us into life. Love arrives and in its train come ecstasies old memories of pleasure ancient histories of pain. Yet if we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls. We are weaned from our timidity In the flush of love's light we dare be brave And suddenly we see that love costs all we are and will ever be. Yet it is only love which sets us free." —Maya Angelou, "Touched by an Angel" Brittny Drye is the founder and editor in chief of Love Inc., an equality-minded wedding blog that celebrates both straight and same-sex love, equally. |
About CrystalCrystal Vandegrift is a wedding photographer covering Virginia, D.C. NC and Maryland. Interested in being a guest blogger on our site? Contact us below!
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Pictures were one of my top priorities for my wedding. I spent a lot of time reading through photographers and even contacting some. I was also pretty nervous, I had never been professionally photographed before. Crystal and her team were SO easy to work with and immediately took away the nerves. I trusted her completely and I am so happy I did. Cannot recommend enough! Ellen - Yorktown VA
If you're looking for an amazing photographer who is relaxed, has experience, and knowledge look no further. Crystal took our engagement and wedding photos. Not only were her photos amazing, but she is extremely responsive to messages and will even help you when planning your big day. It was important to us to work with a photographer who has experience with same sex couples, and Crystal and Casey did a great job capturing everything for my wife and I. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. - Emily - Nellysford, VA
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