lgbtq — BLOG — riley west photography - boston and new england wedding photographer

Diners, Dates, and I-Do's: Retro LGBTQ Engagement in Boston

I always love when I shoot with clients who feel like friends. Truj (they/them) & Brian (they/them) are just Like That - magnetic and companionable. When we first met, we talked for ages about everything: art, poetry, video games, tattoos, cosplay, music, travel, podcasts, food. They love everything, they want to know about everything, and they want to try everything, together.

It was clear to me that these are people who share a zest for life, and found each other to explore what it has to offer. That, personally, is what the Ideal truly is.

boston, engagement, lgbtqRiley VecchioneJanuary 16, 2024engagement, lgbtq, nonbinary, genderqueer, queer

From Cozy Nooks to the Open Road: A Stylish Boston LGBTQ Engagement

I've been told love comes to you when you least expect it, and Caitlin (she/they) + AJ (she/her) are evidence of that. I am constantly overjoyed to capture queer love and tell the stories of creative, passionate people who found themselves in this wild world.

For their Boston engagement photoshoot, we started off in their lovely home adoringly decorated and fabulously stylish, before moseying over to the Arnold Arboretum with AJ’s motorcycle.

boston, engagement, lgbtq, lifestyleRiley VecchioneNovember 8, 2023engagement, lgbtq, boston

Rooted in Community: An Earthy and Cozy LGBTQ Boston Engagement Session

These two are extremely dedicated and invested contributors to the local arts. Shira (they/them) works as a director and dramaturg and Colin (he/him) is an experienced stage manager.

Together they invest their time and skill in showcasing the talent, thoughts, and works of the LGBTQIA+ artists and activists in the greater Boston area. Their dedication is evident in the work they do, and I can tell they build off each other, inspire each other, and most of all, support and love one another.

lgbtq, engagement, bostonRiley VecchioneNovember 3, 2023lgbtq, trans, engagement, rhode island, transgender, nonbinary

Tea and Fantasy: An Enchanted Forest LGBTQ Engagement, Providence RI

Rae (he/him) and Marlowe (they/them) have what I personally believe to be the Ideal in a relationship: creative harmony. They constantly pursue enrichment through the arts: from their professions, to their communities, to the clothes they wear — often handmade. When they contacted me about capturing their engagement and wedding, I knew from our first conversation we would get along. Rae and Marlowe’s lives are opportunities for creating, and I felt that when I met them, and felt that even more when I captured their engagement.

engagement, lgbtq, transgender, editorialRiley VecchioneOctober 29, 2023engagement, rhode island, providence

Cozy Boston Seaport LGBTQ Proposal

It was a beautiful sunny day. Not too cold, but it IS Boston in the winter, so naturally it was quite windy at the ICA, where these avid museum-goers were on a date that afternoon. Tucked away in a quiet shady corner by the water, Sylvie got down on one knee. Smiles and happy tears were had, which are my favorite things to photograph :) We made the windswept look work for us as we walked along the harbor, taking some photos in front of the gorgeous sunlit Boston skyline before warming up in a nearby cafe.

boston, proposal, lgbtqRiley VecchioneFebruary 12, 2023lgbtq, boston, proposal, engagement

Autumnal LGBTQ Vineyard Wedding - Virginia

I met Nate at Emerson College back when we were in school - it’s kinda crazy how time flies, thinking about it. Amidst marketing major blues, Nate was a pal that I could always sit next to and crack jokes with (I mean, totally pay total one hundred percent attention, totally!). So when he asked if I could photograph his wedding with his beautiful bride CJ, I was really touched and excited.

lgbtq, weddings, transgenderRiley VecchioneOctober 8, 2022lgbtq, wedding