Your wedding day is just the start of your relationship—and we don’t just mean with your spouse. Many wedding photographers work with past clients long after they’ve said “I do.” Get inspired by the milestone-marking sessions of these couples, each of whom have trusted their day-of documentarians to capture all of life’s biggest moments.
New Home
The Client: Sarah and Michael Newman
The Photographer: Wilderlove.co
When Covid regulations shut down Sarah and Michael Newman’s Argentinian honeymoon plans, they decided to put those funds towards their next major milestone as man and wife: buying a house! To commemorate the experience, they snapped this sweet new-home session with the help of Rebecca Crenshaw of Wilderlove Co., who also photographed their wedding to stunning effect. “I love that she captures those raw emotions that you don’t know you’re experiencing in the moment,” says Sarah. As the newlyweds both work in the construction industry (Sarah in residential interior design, Michael in commercial construction), they plan to renovate their new abode themselves room by room. But first they wanted to document its “before” state for the sake of posterity. Says Rebecca of the specialness of such a session: “A new home is a fresh beginning but also an important part of the legacy your family is making.” —Lydia Brooks
Anniversary
The Client: Ethan Halliday and Paula Wolf
The Photographer: A Sea of Love
Paula Wolf and Ethan Halliday were one of thousands of couples who had to cancel their wedding plans in the wake of Covid, opting instead for a mini ceremony with their families that Paula nevertheless describes as “magical.” The feeling was mutual for photographers Morgan Chidsey-Brosnan and Blake Brosnan of A Sea of Love, who consider the scaled-down “I do’s” a career highlight. Remembers Blake: “Every single person they surrounded themselves with that day was a light.”
As their first anniversary approached, Paula remembers, “We really just wanted some photos that felt like us—normal us—at this moment.” Inspired by a treasured vintage photo of Paula’s parents, the couple chose Austin’s High Noon—one of their favorite bars—as the site for an intimate and personal anniversary shoot. Morgan and Blake are always happy to have a chance to catch up with past clients, but also to continue to up their own game. “We really think after looking at their wedding photos during post production for so long, we truly get a great feel on how to even better capture our couples the next time,” says Blake. —L.B.
Maternity
The Client: Aleksis Alvarado and Nikka Aghazadeh-Alvarado
The Photographer: A Sea of Love
When Aleksis Alvarado and Nikka Aghazadeh-Alvarado were awaiting the arrival of daughter Carolina, choosing a photographer for their maternity session was a no brainer. The couple had worked with Morgan Chidsey-Brosnan and Blake Brosnan of A Sea of Love on their wedding day and knew the duo would be able to honestly capture the anticipation the soon-to-be parents were feeling. “They have a unique way of shooting that invokes emotion,” says Aleksis. “They were very meticulous in capturing those natural pauses or sudden looks that happen when you don’t think anyone is looking.”
The couple had a strong sense of how they wanted their images to feel, and their photographers more than met the challenge, suggesting the texture- and color-rich Trinity Institute (a historic retreat center in Tehuacana, Texas) as a location. “Their elevated style really fit the highbrow, weird nature of the location,” says Blake. “That isn’t easy to pull off—it was all them.” —L.B.
Family
The Client: Chad and Hillary Roberts
The Photographer: Wilderlove Co.
Everyone’s got to start somewhere, and for photographer Rebecca Crenshaw of Wilderlove Co., that somewhere was with Chad and Hillary Roberts. “They trusted me and believed in me when I had no clue what I was doing,” remembers Rebecca of the couple who, in 2014, became the first clients to hire her to shoot their wedding. “We knew she had talent,” remembers Hillary, who has since enlisted Rebecca to take newborn photos of each of her and Chad’s three daughters, Kate, Ellie, and Hattie; professional headshots; and many a family session. “We always feel that she captures our personalities perfectly and makes sure that we never feel staged or posed to the point that it doesn’t reflect who we are,” Hillary says. “We love how comfortable our girls are with ‘Ms. Becca.’ ”
The Robertses enjoy seeing how their family has grown and changed through the images—a testament to the power of photography that’s echoed by their friend and trusted partner. “Life goes really fast, memories and details fade, kids grow up, and no one is guaranteed a tomorrow,” says Rebecca. “Taking photos freezes time—not just for you, but for your kids, and their kids.” —Jessica Otte
Boudoir
The Photographer: Ellen Ashton Photography
More and more brides are indulging in keepsake boudoir photography as a gift to their soon-to-be spouse, but a sensual shot like this one—captured by photographer Ellen Ashton of Ellen Ashton Photography—makes a great anniversary gift, as well. While more modest types may have historically shied away from such a session, Ellen seeks to break any stigmas that surround boudoir photography, proving here that it can be elegant and tasteful to meet a bride’s comfort level. “I’m a big believer that boudoir does not have to be raunchy,” she says. “In fact, I prefer for my boudoir sessions to leave something to the imagination. I think it’s a beautiful way to celebrate the female body without exploiting it.” Though the pictured image was part of a professional shoot, styled by Sistered States, Ellen has shot many a past bride in various stages of their lives—a privilege she says she doesn’t take lightly. “It’s such an honor when I get to photograph someone’s wedding, but it’s an even better feeling when they come back again and again,” she says. “Sometimes the business of taking photos is really the business of people. When you try to love people well and celebrate their big victories with them, they remember.” —J.O.
Newborn
The Client: Paul and Maggie Hickey (and Baby Merritt)
The Photographer: Matt and Julie Weddings
When Maggie and Paul Hickey were selecting a photographer for their 2018 wedding, they met with Matt and Julie Norine of Matt and Julie Weddings at the advice of their planner, who thought their personalities would mesh well. That hunch turned out to be right—and as a bonus, the photographers’ timeless approach similarly suited the couple’s tastes. “It looks like it is always shot in the prettiest light of the day,” Maggie says. In the years since their “I do’s,” the Hickeys have enlisted their favorite shutterbugs four more times—including for maternity portraits and this newborn session with daughter Merritt, born July 14, 2021. “It’s so fun for us to be able to follow our clients through life’s biggest moments,” Julie says. “As a mom myself, I feel like I get to connect with my clients on a whole new level once they become parents.”
While going with the same photographers time and again has aesthetic benefits—the consistency of style makes the gallery wall in the Hickeys’ primary bedroom especially pleasing to the eye—Maggie says that’s not the main reason they stick with their trusted team. “Getting professional photos done can be awkward,” she says, “but since we know Matt and Julie so well, each session just feels so natural and fun.” —J.O.
