Pride month may be only one month out of the year, but my support for the LGBTQ+ community is year-round. I don’t come out on June 1st waving a rainbow flag and then shrink back into the shadows once July starts. The LGBTQ+ community needs support and love the other 11 months of the year. And I aim every day as a queer wedding photographer to offer that support and love.
I’m not blind to the fact that though I am a part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I come to the conversation with a lot of privilege. I am a white, cis woman in a straight-assuming marriage. I’m not straight, but appear that way to the world. I’m not transitioning or in a same-sex marriage. I don’t need to hide from my family who I am, I don’t need to stay in the closet out of fear of retaliation or violence. And for that, I am so incredibly lucky and privileged. I wish every member of my community could feel that way but I know that is not the reality for many people.
As a wedding photographer, I see all kinds of love. Loud love, quiet love, young love, and old love. But without a doubt, the best kind of love I get to experience is queer love. It is strong and powerful because it has been built through adversity and finding yourself. Whether that is love amidst your found family or with your soulmate. I feel so honored every time I get the special task of documenting that love. And it is my goal as a queer wedding photographer to help your love feel seen, recognized, and valued.
How I celebrate LGBTQ+ love year-round as a queer wedding photographer:
Featuring LGBTQ+ couples on my website and using non-gendered, inclusive language
You deserve to see representation of yourself and not feel othered. I include LGBTQ+ love on my website as much as I can and I am always adding more. I do also ask my LGBTQ+ couples if it is okay that I put them on my website because I would never want to unintentionally out someone or put my couples in harm’s way. As an additional plus: if someone happens onto my website who is offended by that incredible love, they’ll see themselves out real quick.
You ever gone to a craft store and every single item in the wedding section said “Mr & Mrs”? I have to imagine that is so freaking frustrating. Not all marriages are between a Mr and a Mrs, in fact, a lot of them aren’t. On my website and in my correspondence, I try to use non-gendered, inclusive language. I only use Bride and Groom when referencing weddings where there were, indeed, a Bride and a Groom. I want you to see yourself having this amazing wedding experience, not just a hetero-normative “Mr & Mrs”.
A note about this: I’m not perfect and my website is huge lol so things slip through the cracks. If you see any non-inclusive language both on my website or in my correspondence, please tell me and I will fix it immediately!
Advocating for you every step of the way
You have the right to an inclusive, stress-free wedding day filled with love and laughter. Protecting your peace is #1 priority and I will be right by your side to ensure that happens. That starts wayyyyyyyy back when making your guest list. (I know, why does a wedding photographer care about your guest list). Your guest list determines the vibe of your day. Don’t invite anyone who should be there just because they’re blood or it may cause drama if they’re not. No one is entitled to be at your wedding. If they are not 100% supportive of you and your marriage, give ’em the boot!
Getting personal here. . .my husband and I are estranged from my husband’s family and we have been since 2021, the year we got married. His family did come to our wedding, though we should have made better judgements about that at the time (but hey, hindsight is 20/20). They caused stress to us leading up to the wedding, at the rehearsal, and on the wedding day itself. We look back at photos they’re in like, ugh. But we move on, and now I know what it is like to have disruptive family at your big day. It sucks, man. On your wedding day, I will be your biggest champion, doing my absolute best to make sure no drama touches you.
Only recommending LGBTQ+ celebrating vendors
There are, unfortunately, wedding vendors out there who are not accepting of queer marriages. Because of this, I make sure to vet every single vendor and venue that I recommend to my couples. And I don’t just make sure they are LGBTQ+ accepting. I make sure they are LGBTQ+ loving, celebrating, honoring, rejoicing, and whatever other words you want to use.
Standing up against bigotry and homophobia
In our current political climate, it doesn’t do to just say you’re LGBTQ+ friendly. It doesn’t mean we can stay silent and turn a blind eye to the world around us. It means we must stand up against the people wanting to keep us down. It means protesting or marching and speaking up when you see homophobia around you. And if you’re in a marginalized group and you’re tired and you don’t have it in you to fight right now, that is where those with privilege are obligated to step in and fight the fight marginalized groups have been battling for so long. Because “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” – Desmond Tutu.
Donating to LGBTQ+ non-profits
Lastly, I know that supporting my couples as a wedding photographer only goes so far. But there are a huge number of non-profits out there doing incredible work for the LGBTQ+ community. So I donate a portion of my profits from every wedding booked (not just LGBTQ+ ones) to a local or nationwide non-profit.
In 2025, I’m donating to the Colorado organization: Parasol Patrol. Parasol Patrol is a local Colorado non-profit dedicated to protecting children and young people at LGBTQ+ and BIPOC events. Straight from their own website: “We use umbrellas to create a visual barrier so kids won’t have to see the signs and angry faces and we even have noise canceling headphones for the little ones because grown adults come with bullhorns to yell at children.”
Do you know of an amazing non-profit I can help support? Send me a message and I’ll add them to my list!
The world has come a long way when it comes to LGBTQ+ acceptance but we still have a long way to go. In the meantime, as a queer wedding photographer, I will be here celebrating queer love and making sure you have a wedding that honors your love the way it should be honored.
