One of the greatest honors I have as a portrait photographer is when a fellow photographer entrusts me to create something extraordinary for them. It’s a rare occurrence—after all, we are surrounded by photographers throughout our careers, with endless opportunities to be photographed ourselves. But on those special occasions when I do have the privilege of capturing one of my peers, it is always a deeply meaningful experience.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing three incredible stories—each one highlighting a unique experience of photographing a fellow photographer. I hope you’ll follow along as I take you through these moments that have left a lasting impact on me.

An Unforgettable Anniversary Commission

Perhaps one of the greatest honors came when a well-established photographer from Maryland reached out to commission me for a very special occasion—his 50th anniversary with his partner. The fact that he was willing to drive three and a half hours for this session was already a great compliment, but when I asked why he chose me, his response was truly humbling.

He said, “Whenever I scroll through social media and one of your images appears, it makes me stop. The light, the quality, the emotion—it’s unlike anything else we see today. That’s what we want for ourselves.”

Hearing those words from someone who shares my craft was one of the greatest affirmations of my work. As we planned the session, I took time to understand their style, selecting wardrobe pieces that reflected their personality and love story. I envisioned a regal purple velvet suit jacket for him—his favorite color—and sought out just the right one to complete the look. For Linda, I sent her several options from my client wardrobe and we were able to find the perfect on for her - also in purple.

During the session, I playfully asked whether they saw themselves as a “power couple” or a more affectionate, romantic pair. Their images revealed both sides of their relationship—strength, elegance, and deep love. The final result exceeded their expectations, and they left with three breathtaking portrait images for their wall and a collection of 20 carefully curated images to cherish forever.