Diners, Dates, and I-Do's: Retro LGBTQ Engagement in Boston
I always love when I shoot with clients who feel like friends. Truj and Brian have that way about them - magnetic and companionable. When we first met last year in the dead of summer at Jaho, we talked for ages about everything: art, poetry, video games, tattoos, cosplay, music, travel, podcasts, food. They loved everything, they wanted to know about everything, and they wanted to try everything. It was clear to me from the beginning that these two 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.
Truj went to Emerson and Brian went to Northeastern. They met on OKCupid in 2014…and they had no idea they were going to find their Forever person when they had their first date at Kelly’s Diner in Somerville. But did they ever!
The saying goes, “when you know, you know” and I daresay these two just Knew. They’ve been attached at the hip ever since, cheering each other on and inspiring themselves every day.
In their free time, Truj is passionately involved in slam poetry communities and pulls owt the most fire outfits every day, it seems. Brian, equally as stylish, is an avid concert-goer and gamer (we randomly ran into each other a couple months ago at the Skatune Network concert and had a BLAST). Together, these two fill their home with laughter, music, and good coffee and food. They even have a podcast about food – breakfast food, to be specific. These two can honestly talk about anything and make it interesting, because they share an enthusiasm, curiosity and passion that makes life an open road.
I look at them and I see a blueprint of what I and anyone else should aspire to find in someone. Sounds cheesy but tbh, they’re #relationshipgoals. You can feel the love they have for each other through their unabashed joy in these photos, and that’s the kinda stuff that leaves me smiling like a goofball at my computer at 1am while editing.
For people who have never been in front of a professional camera before, these two had no trouble having their photos taken. I try not to be too posey with my direction, and prefer instead for the couple to simply fall into a suggestion of a pose, making it their own. They were excited, open, and eager; that’s exactly the kind of attitude they approach new things with, and it resulted in warm, joyous images.
For their engagement shoot, we started at the queer-friendly retro candlepin bowling joint Sacco’s in Davis Square. The staff there was SO nice, and made sure we had space to ourselves to get some great shots. The food was amazing, too. I’ll definitely be dragging my friends here for a night of drinks and bowling, so if that’s your jam, def give this local gem your business. Afterwards, we enjoyed a walk on the warm winter day to Kelly’s Diner and snapped a few keepsakes outside their First Date spot. :)
Truj and Brian are both nonbinary, and their wedding vendor list is stacked to the brim with local Boston-area trans talent. I’m honored to be among the trusted pick as their photographer, and these two are so stinkin’ excited about the big day.
Their wedding will be at a venue I assisted at right at the start of my wedding career in 2017 (when I was second shooting for brotogs who never gave me my photos back…) so I’m really stoked to return to that gorgeous spot again over half a decade later to run my own show with clients that feel like friends. Redemption arc, baby.
I can’t WAIT for the big day soon. For now, enjoy these tooth-rottingly-sweet photos of this dynamite duo.
