Highlight: D.C. Elopement
Ryan and Robert have probably the coolest wedding I’ve ever been apart of, and they’re certainly some of the best wedding photos I’ve taken.
Ryan and Robert eloped to wed themselves in D.C. away from their friends and family - in fact I was the only actual witness to the wedding (and I do consider them friends).
Their wedding started slow and… with phone calls for directions for me to get to the AirBnB they had rented for their elopement. They designed everything, decorated - everything. I’ve never apart of a wedding more true to a couple than this one. Ryan there even made her own wedding dress.
Robert & Ryan putting their finishing touches on the patio
These flowers, that food - it was all done by them and them alone.
The day started with food. I mostly just buzzed around and stayed out of the way at this point. Lots of sweet food, from the looks of it.
(They did offer me food, by the way. But I don’t eat when I’m working. lol)
Their ceremony consisted of giving each other presents. Things they had kept, things they had written. Both of these collections of things were in tiny boxes, given to the other to open at their own pace. There were no, “you may kiss the bride” sayings or flower girls. Only some rain and joined solitude. I even walked away for them to share their own vows, which were more like long letters read aloud from the looks of it.
Shutting the doors to read to one another in privateAnd when they were done, it was time for a few more photos - and then off to the metro before it would start raining (more on that later).
For some reason, I feel like this shot says a lot about them as people.
As does this shot.
So we left, rain looming, down the streets to the metro. Robert specifically wanted some photos reminiscent of their engagement shoot. I like to do this thing, if couples will let me - where we just go on a walk together. The location and the walk and the conversations and the shots are all unique to you, that day, that time, that path, those choices. Makes people be themselves in many ways. So, we walked.
These are two people who are utterly comfortable with each other.
Arriving at the Metro
Most of this walk was just idle chatter - some reminiscing, some catching up. And many congratulations from total strangers.
And at some point, Rob gave Ryan his jacket and we got on the train heading to the Smithsonian.
Oh and Rob took my camera bag, for extra fashion points, of course.
It’s funny because, I remember being kids with these people. Going out and going bowling - right out of high school. Everybody trying to figure the world out. And yet here they are.
Said bowling, years prior. Very competitive. We all suck at bowling.
These next set of images are from the old post office tower and the garden behind it. It was a spot I believe Ryan suggested. It was absolutely perfect.
This was the photo they sent out to friends and familyThen some art installations and finally, The Smithsonian before wrapping up and heading back to the apartment. This segment contains what is my favorite photo from the whole day.
This is it. It’s not perfect, some are the shadows are punched out, and it’s off center to the foreground. But it was shot in the moment, on the walk, with these installations, on this day. Just silhouettes, and minimal color.All of the shots inside the Smithsonian were on my Hasselblad (a 6x6, medium format camera), but I was having some issues with it on the day - so some didn’t make it. But the ones that did? Well, here.
On the elevator back down to leaveWhy leave? Such a cute idea to shoot your wedding in the Smithsonian! Well - because it started to rain. And not just rain a little bit. Like, end the session now rain. haha. It was kind of lousy to have to leave, but I was confident in what we shot.
When we got back to the apartment, we shot a few more with the rain in the foreground. And that was that.
I suggested they take their own photo in the mirror. All I did was focus the shot.
With rain coming down and a super slippery spiraling metal staircase as the apartment’s entrance, I left. That photo above is one of the last we took that day. And to say I was satisfied with the wedding would be an insane understatement. I felt lucky to be there, to be involved, and I was so happy they had asked me to do it.
There will be other weddings and other elopement weddings, but maybe none quite like this. If you’re interested, here are some of my favorites that are actionable. Just click on what you’d like to highlight. Thanks for reading. And thanks to Ryan and Robert for the opportunity.
Thanks for reading/viewing!
-OKL
