Sometimes you’re reminded of how impactful the simple things can get to be, how they can beautifully get to us, under our skin. This day was so long ago already but I didn’t want it to go by unpublished because it always reminds me of the why I started shooting weddings. Sometimes I get to photograph absolutely masterly put together weddings, aesthetically driven colossus, and I am so so grateful for that. But other times I get to photograph simplicity and to be honest that’s where this honour gets to me. And Lauren and Marty will always remain some of my favorite people in this life.

It rained and sunned on this day. The passing of the seasons in a single day. And not for a moment they took their eyes from each other. From the first look to the ceremony to the sharing of moments with their closest family and family who traveled all the way from Ireland and other parts of the world to celebrate their love with each other. To teary and funny speeches and to the presence of even those who were gone too soon (yet never truly gone), present in little tokens on their attire and hearts, this was a day that is full of what I love most to document. And not only to document but to also witness as a girl who believes kindness to be the most powerful foundation of humanity. And that is what I found in Lauren and Marty,

A day filled with wonder of the simplicity, against the odds of life’s turns and twists. They found each other and that is what they vowed to protect from this day on - the singleness of a moment their worlds collapsed and made it possible to carry love as an emblem.

Also the party was insanity represented. And I loved every moment of this day.

Photographing destination weddings is something so very unique. It’s not only the possibility of traveling but the humility that comes with it, from it, towards it. When a couple who is getting married picks you as their photographer that in itself is something so very special already, but when a couple from another country (ou different countries themselves) pick you to photograph them in any other country other than Portugal you just feel so very valued and your art so very appreciated.

When Jenny first contacted me and she told me about her and Victor I fell in love right away. A relationship that endured miles and times apart, but was ultimately meant to be. So it was more than willingly, so very excitedly and gratefully that I traveled to Cassis, in the beautiful south of France, to meet up with these two beautiful souls. I am still very grateful I can say I do this for a living because the people and places I get to meet continue to take my breath away, without end.

I don’t quite realize how I get to call this my “job”. How not only I am privileged to visit places I have never been before, but specially so that a couple trusts me to the point of grabbing a Portuguese girl out of her land to shoot their day, amongst so many photographers to chose from. I feel so very honoured and grateful for the people I get to meet. The showcase of their love as banner in all that they are. And the absolute trust in my art as in my heart. Thank you so much Jenny and Victor. I am humbled by your love.

Por vezes demoro bastante tempo a publicar no blog algo que fotografei num momento específico da vida. Mas nem sempre consigo evitar revisitar um dia tão lindo apenas passado um pouco mais tempo do que seria de esperar, depois de ser testemunha desses momentos em tempo real. Parece que me desloco a uma nuvem de nostalgia imensa e intensa, e isso é tão bonito.

A Marta e o Afonso são duas almas lindas que amam a sua cidade, as suas pessoas e o seu incrível ser de quatro patas que é o Zé. Hoje a sua família tão bonita já tem mais um membro, e eu sinto-me tão grata de poder testemunhar o que de tão bom e bonito acontece àqueles que em mim confiaram, durante o resto da sua vida.

Sinto-me imensamente grata por vocês os dois Marta e Afonso. Para comemorar também isso, aqui está uma selecção do vosso dia e das memórias que criaram através de tanto amor.

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Sometimes it takes me a long time to blog but I can’t help but want to revisit beautiful days only a bit after actually witnessing them in real time. It feels like I move into an immense and intense cloud of nostalgia and it is so beautiful.

Marta and Afonso are two beautiful souls who love their city, their people and their four-legged Zé. Today their beautiful family has already another member, and I feel so grateful to be able to witness everything so beautiful that comes to those who have trusted in me.

I feel immensely grateful for you two Marta and Afonso. So here’s a selection of your day and the memories that you have made through so much love.

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.

This is going to be very, very, very long. And I have no shame about that fact.

I remember this day. Crystal clear. Like a party, like the sky falling down in multicolour fairy dust. Like I was born to do this. Like these two clearly were made for each other. Like a reunion of friends that were born to heal each other wounds. Like families bounded to become one. I remember the day fading into night and it felt like never ending. Normally wedding days go in a glimpse. They dissipate like an explosion of happiness. This day felt like it was made of years, and that there were more hours than 24. This is one of those days that embraced my heart and marked it hard. I remember when João played for Rita, their friends and family and it felt magical. It felt like a beautiful get together without better purpose to be than to be a true celebration. Some days are more special than others. I will always feel this to be one of those. It has been 3 years, and this day still beats fast in my heart when I recall it. It truly was something special. In fact I was so in love with all that happened on this day that I got home and wrote a draft of what to share once I was ready to make a post on this. It reads as the following: 

"Sometimes you just get lucky. 

Once upon a time I photographed one gig of an awesome band called Kikin'Bora with very awesome and rad people. People I count myself very lucky to have met. Flash forward a year and I meet with this couple that said one of his friends recommended me. Hugo you rock. 

This is why. Truly. I get to shoot an awesome show, one of the last shows of an amazing band and one that I hope will stay in history with my photos, and next thing I know I am meeting two awesome humans that brought life to my year, sweet people who have put together one of the most amazing days I remember of experiencing. It is kinda odd that I classify one of my "work" days as one of my favourites in 26 years. That I, as an outsider, can feel so much love flowing my way, when I am supposed to, after all, pass on as invisible. Rita and João's day will never be recreated. In this day not only taste spoke louder but the people - damn the people - were beyond surreal. From the location to the venue's team, to the promise of rain that went out unnoticed all day long, to having friends and family treating me as part of the whole thing, to two, yes two, band performances and then a DJ for the rest of the night that went on without promising to end... This was a wedding of rockstars and I wish they were all like this - open, not having a single care in the world but being themselves and showing their love for one another. And did I say have fun? That was their ultimate goal. Nothing else mattered to them. Rita was beyond beautiful - I don't think I have it in me to try to get words that can make justice to her beauty. The little tokens scattered everywhere of what their friends and family meant to them - from a short film put together by their friends and family, to the groom and his band giving an absolutely amazing live show, to their vows, to the band that occupied the stage right after a very awesome cake cutting, and the unpretentious session we had during cocktail hour.. This is them - right here. I am completely unable to express my gratitude, even though I tried so many times already. I had an idea this day would be a dream - but I wasn't waiting for heaven on earth. But it was that and beyond. It happens to show how it all comes down to people and their love for one another."

And without any more words here's what happened.
 

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.