Sometimes you plan a wedding and the weather does not abide by your hopes and dreams. Sometimes you are unable to hide the cloud of disappointment and other times you just go with whatever the universe has planned for you. On this day, an October day 3 years ago, Inês and Renato said they yes on a slightly different place they had planned but with the same strength they would have done with if the day had gone along their exact plans from the beginning. Because it just feels the most important part is already at work. They were going to party amongst their favorite people and nothing would break the chain of massive fun they wanted to have. The magistral and powerful set of yeses they said during an outpour of rain outside meant the same as if they had been said a the end of a rainbow. And that’s exactly where they found themselves: completely inside a rainbow, treasured immensely by those present and it mattered nothing else other than this - they were together and all was as perfectly as it could ever come to be.

I can still feel oh so clearly how Lagos has then, that year, became one of my favorite coastal places in Portugal. It feels different than the rest of the Algarve. And I know Sara and Will feel that too. This was 3 years ago and it still feel so in tune with everything that matters to me to be able to document. It’s not only about pretty pictures. It is but about being able to read through a love so pure and being able to color it in a photograph that speaks to those who are imprinted in them forever. I loved these moments then and I still do. Sara and Will, I miss you guys.

I’m still blogging beautiful days from 3 years ago. I just can’t help but visit the client galleries sometimes and gather all the kind of nostalgia I can. It makes me feel so grateful for this journey, and it makes me deliver myself more and more to every new day that I am able to create something new. And it’s impactful the kind of supreme detail we can remember things about, even feelings we used to have, just by looking at a moment in a photograph. Even to myself this is such an intense experience - to relive over and over again the beauty of a day so very special and so very unique. I am always so grateful to be able to do this. To give myself fully to the ability of putting little bits of what I see, the way I see them, and what I believe in on a little composition that can come to mean so much to someone. And it’s the lost details I love most rather than the most expected ones. Sometimes you see something in a way nobody does and it’s there that lies your heart.

A kind of wilderness that words can not unwire, uncover, explain. I am still trying to comprehend the new things that were born on this day, in my life. Sometimes I can not truly word how much of what I do changes me. This day was 3 years ago, and I recall it all so vividly. I love Serra da Estrela with an unexplainable fire, always did. But to shoot a day like this, a love like this, emotions shining so brightly as they did right in the heart of it; when the day melts and you melt away with it - seemingly blending into one. I felt as if I was watching the most beautiful spectacle in the world. As if it was all meant to be that I was there. So that I could love what I do so much more fiercely. That I could understand that I might be worth a bit more to people than I at first understood. That my art matters, that it is possible to freeze so much more than just a moment in what I end up delivering. And that these people changed my life so much. Enriched it. Made it so much more worthy. And so much more golden. I still have no words to give and to try and explain the kind of honor and gratitude I still feel for all that unfolded on this day, under that big “carvalha”, where they shouted into the skies there was no other way other than this way; together always as one big family that could love no more than how they already did.

And as per usual this is going to be long. It deserves so.

I've been thinking about this session very often lately, yet again. It strikes me as pure luck that strangers find me and feel that what I create moves them. It moves me for the luck I gather to be able to have the humble gratitude to be the chosen one. Picking someone to navigate who you are and what you have together is tough and should resonate within you immensely. The choice of photographer should be an important one. I am so very grateful for being the choice of so many beautiful people. 

Lisa and Seva are beautiful beings. I still don't have words to explain how their relationship moves me deeply. Sometimes you have quietness in sessions which translates a lot of emotion and sometimes you have giggling full of fun ones that could not express that emotion better, either. This is one of the most honest, raw and happy sessions I've ever had. I think you can see why. 

Maggie is a hugger. I need to start this with that note because that is something about her personality that I just love beyond words.

On the morning before her wedding day I got a call from Maggie. As I was just getting ready to take a tour around Lagos before going out to finally meet one of the most special couples ever. I was excited to say the least. Maggie and I were exchanging e-mails for months, even though we were incredibly busy, and I just knew their day would be a different day. And as I was getting ready for just that when I heard my phone calling from the other side of the hotel room. I rushed to answer and after a few signal problems we finally made contact. Except it wasn’t Maggie on the other side, it was Bryce. Which was completely alright: “Maggie wanted to be the one talking to you but she has no voice.” And that was not so fun. Not so fun because she was scared she would have to cope not having her voice back on her wedding day, but even though she didn’t, not completely, this day was absolutely magical, and nothing got in the way of them having a blast, which was their goal from day one. 

Maggie and Bryce are one of the most special couples I probably have ever worked with. They are honest and straightforward. They are completely at ease just throwing who they are at whoever, whenever. And they are so kind that it just felt like home with them. They came all the way from New York city to get married in their beloved Lagos where they met 9 years ago, and which is like home for them. Neither of their friends or family had ever been to Lagos, so they just wanted to bring them here and throw them a party. Which made this day a completely and honestly magical one. Maggie made all makeup and hair herself and her stunning, stunning gown as well as the bridesmaids skirts were custom made specially for her by Johanna Johnson. 

Although their wedding was almost 2 years ago now this is a day still very close to my heart. I will never forget the hug they gave me the very first day we met. I grew very, very fond of Maggie and her brave spirit and I grew to love her a whole lot. These two are just truly meant to live absolutely incredible adventures together, just like they did up until now. 

I am truly so very honoured for this wedding was featured on HARPER'S BAZAAR and it was something that already made my year. These two deserve it. 

All weddings should have the essence Maggie and Bryce's had.

In the end it was a relaxed, yet emotion filled day which ended HARD on the dance-floor until late (early) hours and I just didn’t want to leave. See why. 

Featured on HARPER'S BAZAAR.