April 5, 2023 • 42 mins
Get to know me a little bit better!!!!
This week I share about my origins (aka my coming out story) and how that's related to why I started Wildly Connected Photography. I also share on why having representation and equality are super important in the wedding world.
Please consider donating to the following in response to all of the anti- trans and anti-lgbtq+ bills circulating our country.
The Trevor Project
The National Center for Transgender Equality
Sign the petition for stopping anti-LGBTQIA legislation
And please continue to uplift trans voices as well as finding your own ways to support.
The intro and all instrumentals were written, sung and recorded by @JaynaDavisMusic
Queerly Beloved, I'm so glad you joined!
Please keep the community going by checking me out on instagram @wildlyconnectedphoto and come say hi! I'd love to hear from you! :)
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
Hi everyone.
What a weird and whirlwind pastcouple weeks it's been, I didn't
feel like I could start thisweek's episode without
acknowledging the terriblethings that are happening in the
world right now.
And I'm sure many of you haveseen either via the news or
social media, all of the billsand debates and conversations
(00:22):
that are happening right now.
So I didn't feel like this couldjust be a normal episode or.
A fully published episodewithout acknowledged what's
happening.
There are currently 431 antiLGBTQ plus and anti-trans bills
in America right now.
(00:43):
Everything from banning drag toforceful detransition to banning
lgbtq plus books in schools, oreven outing students to their
parents and more.
If you're in the community,these aren't new ideas to you
and.
Attacks certainly aren't new asthe lgbtq plus community has
long been a community underattack, but that doesn't change
(01:06):
the fact that when these thingscome up, it's still both harmful
and immensely scary, and that'ssuper valid.
It feels like we haven't knownwhat the future holds for us for
the past year.
I first and foremost want allthe listeners here today that
are part of the LGBTQ and transcommunity to know that you are
(01:27):
loved and supported by everyonehere, even when you aren't by
the world.
Please be taken care ofyourselves during this time when
it feels like there's somethingconstantly or someone constantly
coming after your joy and youridentity.
And secondly, I want us to allbe finding ways that we can make
(01:49):
our voices heard during thistime, whether it's protesting,
lobbying, signing petitions, ordonating.
There's all sorts of ways we canfight for our community and
allies too.
I hope that you're listening andrecognize that you have a place
here too.
I will link some places you candonate in the show notes, so
(02:11):
please consider checking thoseout.
And beyond that, I hope youlistening today, especially our
trans friends out there to knowthat you are truly beloved.
And with that, we can hop intothis week's episode, but I did
also wanna point out that thisis a continuation of last week's
(02:33):
episode.
So go listen to that one firstif you haven't already.
Um, I just wanted to say that inthis episode I sort of continue
the conversation and share moreabout my experience in being
part of the community.
However, I do also wanna pointout that I am such a small
(02:54):
percentage of the community, andI do really appreciate those of
you who are listening to me and,and hearing me out.
It, it means a lot.
And I also want to encourage youto be actively seeking out other
perspectives and other people'sstories within the community to
listen to, because I just can'teven speak for their experience.
(03:19):
And I think we really need totake this time to be actively
seeking out folks in the transcommunity to be hearing their
story and uplifting their voicesright now as well.
So just wanted to put that.
Before where the episode starts,and now let's dive right in.
Clearly, beloved, welcome backto this week's episode.
(03:43):
Thank you so much for joiningagain this week.
I feel like I'm proud to saythis in the last week's episode,
but my name's Anna.
I'm your host.
If you didn't know and you'llnever guess who this week's
guest is.
What's up everybody?
(04:04):
My partner Angie, is back withus, I think.
Thought you got the last forlast week, but she is back here.
We got more things to say.
So Angie, will you please justquickly reintroduce yourself for
those of you who dunno her?
Yeah.
What's up everybody?
I'm Angie.
I am Anna's partner.
(04:25):
Um, that's the most importanttitle I own.
I was here last week chilling,talking all about myself, so.
Okay.
and we share the same pronounshere.
Yes.
Sheer.
Yep.
And I'd also like to note, ifyou have not listened to last
week's episode, you shoulddefinitely go back and listen to
(04:46):
that.
We share a lot about ourexperiences as being gay people
in this world.
Very interesting.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
Also like to point out that ourdog is with us here today, so if
you hear any noises from her, Ido apologize.
Jump in it.
(05:07):
Yeah.
Well I was on last week and hada blast and talked all about
myself, which is my favoritething to do.
Um, but I realized I think Ishould probably.
Reverse my seat, my role andactually interview Anna this
week because I feel like whatshe hasn't done the best job of,
you know, Letting you guys in tosee how weird and exciting and
(05:32):
great she is.
So, dunno I to say weird first,but you know, on the nose.
But, um, yeah, so I'm taking themic over this week and MCing
this bitch and not appropriate.
(06:01):
Is that not appropriate?
Why would you?
I dunno.
It just came out.
(06:34):
Are you gonna cut that out?
Where were we?
I'm Scene this bitch.
How are we doing today?
I got this, babe, I got this.
(06:56):
Do you?
Yeah.
Well, I nailed it the firsttime, but you had to laugh.
Sweet.
So you ready?
Ready As are.
Okay.
Question number one.
Are you homosexual?
Oh, oh, goodness gracious.
I didn't think we'd start outwith a, with a hard one.
(07:16):
Okay.
Um, yes, yes, I do.
I identify, depends on the day.
Sometimes lesbian, sometimesit's gay.
Just depends.
But all days loving me, which isthe most important.
It's pretty bold of you to say.
Yes, that's.
All right.
So now that we have theimportant question answered, how
(07:39):
about you tell us everyone'sfavorite question and a little
bit about your coming out story,and then give us all the tea,
all the deeds.
Oh gosh.
Um, I think my coming out storyis a bit of a weird one because
it didn't necessarily happen inone go.
(08:00):
Like you see in the movies wherea kid comes home from school and
they're like, mom, dad, I havesomething to tell you.
And that's, that it was kind ofall over the place.
So like technically I came outwhen I was 16 to my, just to my
(08:21):
brother because he's also.
Um, and I was seeing a girl atthe time, but after that I just
kinda shoved that like way, waydown.
And, I tried, I really tried todate guys and it was just, ugh.
Just gave me the ick every time.
(08:43):
So, yeah.
I was still having crushes on onwomen, but also just trying to
not think about it basically.
And that was largely because atthe same time I was still
getting a lot of messages fromchurch and like hearing my
(09:08):
roommate say, yeah, I wouldnever hire a gay babysitter.
I don't want them to influencemy child and a lot of them are
pedophiles anyway and stuff likethat.
So, yeah, there was just a lotof things that every time I
would start to think about it, Iwould immediately be like, nope.
and then it finally came to theend of my senior year of
(09:34):
college.
I was actually graduated at thatpoint and I just really started
to feel like I couldn't shove itdown anymore.
Um, and so I started going ondates of someone who was not a
man, but I was still hiding itfrom most people in my life,
(09:56):
except for like two or threefriends who were really, really
supportive.
That was awesome and it meant alot.
So it was during that time thatI was seeing someone and like
realizing I was still having totalk to my mom all the time, who
was always trying to set me upwith a different guy that I, I
(10:21):
decided to tell her.
And so I told her over the phoneand.
It was just before I was evendone talking about it.
I was just like, please, I knowthis is not what you believe in,
but like, can we learn together?
I have some really greatresources.
(10:42):
And she was just immediatelylike, Nope.
I know what I believe.
I, I figure all that stuff outin high school and I don't need
to think about it anymore.
Then basically I just begged hernot to tell my dad.
Cause I knew that I needed to dothat, but I was also like
terrified.
I pretty much, in that time Iactually started seeing someone
(11:05):
else.
You'll never guess it's you,Angie, and things.
Where things were going reallywell.
And so I also decided I neededto tell my dad, but that was
about, um, six months laterafter telling my mom and she was
like constantly threatening me.
So that was a great time.
(11:27):
So I finally called up thepastor, good old pastor, yeah, I
just heard like so muchdisappointment in his voice.
Like none other, which, youknow, we all know here is like
worse than, anger when someone'sdisappointed in you.
and then, yeah, somethingsimilar happened shortly after
(11:48):
with my other brother, exceptfor an set of disappointment.
It was just like pure, disgustedand anger.
Yeah, once I let that all settlein for a while, and knew that
they probably all had time totell all their prayer groups and
everything, that's when Ifinally publicly came out in
(12:11):
2021 by posting a picture withAngie and then I turned my phone
off for the entire day cuz I wasjust too scared to look at what
people were gonna be saying.
And I received so much supportfrom people and it still makes
(12:32):
me feel really warm and fuzzy onthe inside, thinking about all
the people that have supersupported me.
So if you're listening, thankyou.
And at the same time, it wasstill a really hard and
confusing time of life becauseit was amidst that support that
(12:52):
I.
Was also like losing a lot offriends.
People that I thought weresupportive were coming out with,
at me with ulterior motives of,they wanted to get coffee at a
chat about how that wasn't God'sbest for me.
And they wanted to give me booksabout people that had once been
(13:15):
gay and no longer were, and theywanted to.
Say they wouldn't be at mywedding anymore if I married a
woman, or they wanted to justquote unquote understand because
gay people just didn't make anysense to them.
So that was fun.
Um, but yeah, every day I'mreminded of the love and support
(13:39):
I have in my life and still alsohyper aware that.
Being gay isn't always just abig happy rainbow.
And I think that my ownexperience with that is really
kinda what led me to choosingthis path and to really focus on
(14:02):
the community and my business.
Thank you for sharing.
Cause I know, I know that's aquestion that I personally am
curious.
Every community member how theirexperience was, just because
everyone's is so different.
So thank you for sharing that.
Um, but yeah, that, that badcoming out stories suck.
(14:23):
So I'm sorry that, that that wasthe case.
So can you tell us a little bitlike what you do and why it
means so much to you?
Yeah.
So I am a LGBTQ plus a weddingand elopement photographer, and
(14:45):
it's so important to me.
this is actually great.
This is like why we kind of didthis in two episodes is because.
It's so important to me becauseof all my experiences and what
I've seen and I've seen andexperience firsthand just how
(15:08):
poorly queer folks can betreated.
I've experienced that like frommy own parents saying that, I'm
terrible and I'm sin, and thatGod has better for me and.
Thinking about just all of thesadness that comes with that,
and also watching other friends.
(15:28):
And obviously you and my life gothrough terrible things just for
being who you are and loving whoyou love.
it's like beyond important to meto create not only safe spaces
for people in the community, butspaces that make them feel.
Celebrated and like they have asmuch of a seat at the table as
(15:49):
anyone else.
Okay, so let me ask you this,and it's gonna sound harsh, so
bear with me.
Does it actually matter?
And I'm saying that from theperspective of you and I have
both have encountered, you know,people who are like, you don't
need to get married.
Or like, or why doesn't matter.
(16:11):
Like why can't you just haveyour own separate day?
Why can't you have your own liketotally separate?
Entity and like why do you haveto get married?
Like why does it matter?
I think it matters so muchbecause, even just thinking
about the term in the closetimplies that you are hiding
(16:35):
yourself.
You're separate from the world.
You have to like stay in thistiny box.
And who wants to live in acloset?
Like it's sad and depressing andprobably a tight space.
No one wants to do that.
And that same thing applies tobeing in love and being true to
who you are.
(16:55):
You don't wanna live your wholelife living in a tiny little box
of society, wondering who'sgonna accept you and who's not.
It's important because we needto.
People feel like they are lovedand welcomed and accepted no
matter what.
And I mean, like the ultimategoal is to live in a world where
(17:17):
everyone can love and acceptpeople.
And it's not a question, and Idon't want to say that queer
weddings are, you know, Become ajob and it's a job of those
couples to educate people and tomake the world a better place.
But that's definitely an avenuefor it to happen.
(17:39):
You know, the more queer peoplethat get married and have those
celebrations and love out loud,the more normal we can make it
and show people that we'rehumans just like everyone else.
No, that's great.
I definitely, I respect that andyeah, I think that's a really
(18:00):
powerful thing that you helppeople have those experiences
and.
and I, and I will say this,watching you do your thing you
make and going along with you ona couple weddings and helping
out you, you really do give thatexperience to people like you
(18:20):
really give them an experiencethat I'm sure a lot of people
growing up thought they wouldn'thave, or that it would look a
lot different.
Yeah, just the, the pure joythat I've seen on people's face
because you allow them toexpress their love openly and
(18:40):
authentically, and you celebrateit, and you encourage it is
actually something that I'mvery, very grateful.
I've watched you do, and I don'tthink I really realized the
importance of what you do.
To that magnitude.
Like I know you do a great job,pictures and everything, but
like witnessing you, givingpeople the opportunity to have
(19:08):
something that a lot of usgrowing up never thought we
would ever have.
And the joy in their face whenthey have it is, it's really,
it's, I can see why you enjoydoing what you do.
Um, it's intoxicating, so.
Yeah.
Thank you for that.
Thanks babe.
Thanks for being my hype woman.
(19:28):
Yeah, anytime.
Um, this won't be your wingwoman, but, okay.
Yeah.
Fair enough.
All right.
So when you go into a shoot,whether it's an engagement
shoot, whether it's, you know, awedding, an elopement, anything,
do you have a number onepriority or does that differ
throughout each shoot?
Like do you have, like, I'mgoing in and this is my goal and
(19:51):
objective?
Or does that kind of changedepending on who you're working
with?
Yeah, I think big picture, thegoal is to make people feel.
Super comfortable and like notquestioning anything, like not
questioning who they are, howthey present, who they love, who
(20:12):
they're there with.
Like it's just to make them feelcomfortable and also like kind
of a fine line between like, Iwant them to feel normal, but
also not like they are just likeeveryone else because they have
different experiences.
So, I feel normal in the sensethat like what they're doing is
(20:36):
totally like accepted, but alsoit's like, heck yeah, like
celebrated.
I do think like session tosession, it changes just in that
every couple is different andmight wanna feel different
things as far as some mightwanna feel like super cozy and
intimate and others might wannafeel really fun and playful.
(20:56):
so always trying to do that too.
So how do you connect then withpeople that have different
backgrounds, different lifeexperiences than you is that
ever something you get anxiousabout or worry about?
Like, you know, just in general,like how do you bridge that gap
and connect?
(21:18):
Yeah, that's really interestingto think about.
I think it's something.
Actually touched on a fewepisodes back, I think that
actually since coming outmyself, it's like it's just
changed the way that I see theworld so much and like made me
so much more of a curious personbecause not everybody is the
(21:43):
same and I just love askingquestions.
You do.
And I, I feel like, um, backwhen I was in the closet and was
working primarily with straightcouples, it was very much like,
it felt like a lot of the samething because I knew that a lot
of those relationships werestructured the exact same, you
(22:05):
know, man's in control andthat's just how, that's how the
pictures are.
That's what the energy.
And now it's like there's justsuch a wide array of people.
And like, also, not to say thatthat's not true in, in straight
couples.
I know there's really awesomestraight couples out there.
But specifically like in thequeer community, there's so many
(22:25):
different kinds of folks comingfrom so many different walks of
life that it's just made me socurious.
Yeah, I just, I love askingquestions and I feel like it
makes the session so much betterbecause when you ask people
questions, they get to talkabout themselves and they feel
comfortable and you get to learnabout them and yeah, it's pretty
(22:47):
fun.
Yeah.
Again, not to hype you up toomuch, but I think one of your
best qualities is you have theability to like, make people
feel so seen.
I mean, not to talk about me,but.
Let's talk about me.
Even on our, our second date.
I remember you had asked me aquestion of like, what are my
dreams and what do I wannapursue in life?
(23:09):
And I was driving and you werein the passenger seat.
And I just remember that was thefirst time in my life that
someone had, because you hadcompletely turned your whole
body to face me.
And like were just like lookingat me in such awe.
And I just remember being.
(23:30):
I don't think I've ever feltseen like that before.
And Yeah.
You do a great job of seeingpeople and, and letting people
be them and seeing them who theyare.
So yeah.
Hip up some more.
Here we go.
Oh, you can't be making me blushover here.
But she leaves her hair in thedrain.
So we, we, we have that going ontoo.
(23:52):
Oh my God.
Pros and cons.
People, pros and cons all right,so let's like ease the moment so
I can stop complimenting you.
what is something that'shappened at a quote unquote
traditional wedding that's likeboiled your blood like you saw
red, like that just made youjust want to jump out of your
(24:12):
body?
Oof.
Uh, I will say that, uh, a bigmotivator and making this shift
in my career from shooting a lotof straight traditional weddings
to working with queer weddingsis.
And I remember even like thiswas happening when I was in a
(24:34):
relationship with you where I'dbe texting you, like if I have
to hear someone say or like askthe woman to confirm that she
will be submitting to herhusband.
One more time.
I'm gonna rip my hair out.
So Anna's in the backgroundgoing like, girl, don't do it.
Yeah, no, don't do it, girl.
(24:57):
I just like stopped takingpictures, even if it's supposed
to be photographed.
I'm like, no, I'm not.
I'm not photographing that.
Yeah, I feel like justunfortunately just a lot of
religious things that don't feelsuper welcoming or inclusive.
Also had a 30 year old man likehit on me for the entire evening
(25:19):
only to find out that he thoughtI was 17 the whole time.
So, uh, always stuff like thattoo.
Oh, you do look young.
Thanks.
Okay, well kind of going offthat like little religious
trauma, here's a question foryou.
Do you think the way you grew uphelped you in any way be better
(25:42):
at your job and in the industrythat you are in currently?
Not saying we're gonna give anyshout outs to parents or
anything, but do you think theexperiences that you've had
helped you be better today atwhat you do in any.
Yeah, I, yeah, I truly don'tthink that I would be where I am
(26:07):
without having those unfortunatecircumstances, which is like
kind of weird to say out loud.
But I do think that it gives mesuch a sense of passion in what
I do, because.
When I'm driving to a queerwedding, I'm just thinking like,
(26:32):
this is something I thought Iwould never have.
This is something that even likefour years ago I was still like,
I will go to hell for this.
So I just think.
Yeah.
Even though those, a lot of thethings I've experienced over the
years, do still make me feelsad, it also gives me a drive to
(26:53):
do what I do because I justnever, ever, ever, ever want
anyone to feel the things that Ihave.
Is there any part of your pastthat still.
Haunts you when you're doingthis job because you, you're
very much like lgbtq, like you,youve, you advocate for them so
(27:16):
much.
You're part of the community,obviously.
Like, is there any part of youthat struggles with, that
struggles with what you're doingin any, you know, whether it's
your, your past self, or thingsfrom your past, in general, you
know?
Mm-hmm.
In the.
Oh, coming in.
I know deep.
My dude.
(27:37):
Wow.
Yeah, I do think it is, I thinka lot of times I'm able to
separate myself from what'shappening in like a, in a
healthy way.
I'm not like dissociating whileshooting your wedding, but yeah,
I think that there are timeswhen I see.
(27:59):
Like a queer couple and both oftheir parents are there or
something that it's really hardfor me to not feel a little bit
of sadness, just knowing that Iknow my parents and a lot of my
family would never come to mywedding so yeah, I think, I
think there's that and just alot of.
Yeah, occasional like, oh mygosh, am I, am I totally wrong?
(28:23):
It's, it's hard to get rid oflike 22 years of religious
teachings in your mind out atonce.
But overall, I'm just reallyexcited to see people living
their best lives.
Yeah.
You ready for doozy?
I guess, do me a favor, travelback in time.
(28:47):
Your younger self is sitting onbed, you see her?
What's one piece of advice thatyou would tell her, or not
necessarily even advice, what'sjust one thing you would tell
her and it's, if you need tocry, you can cry.
You can cry together.
Oh my God.
What are we doing?
You crying or cry?
Oh, is that something I wouldtell my younger self?
(29:11):
Yeah, your time travel, you seeyour younger self laying in bed,
just, you know, Chilling and youhave an opportunity to tell your
younger self one thing that'sgonna help her get through it
all.
if I were to be able to tell herand really convince her that I'm
(29:34):
not a center and like I'm okayjust the way that I am and.
There's gonna be plenty ofpeople and things that tell you
otherwise, but you're notsending, and you don't have to
be afraid of going to hell.
I think, I think that would'vegiven me a lot more peace.
Hmm.
(29:55):
No, I like that.
okay, so let's try thisquestion.
If you were to travel back intime and going into my bedroom,
what would you tell me?
Oh my gosh.
I'm just kidding.
With that, let's say somehowlittle girl, boy, non-binary,
someone that identifies in L B TQ Community young stumbles upon
(30:18):
this podcast and listens to thisand they are struggling.
The same things and they, youknow, are maybe like us where we
grew up believing that, even ifwe didn't quite articulate why,
that we didn't feel like we weregonna have a wedding.
Because I know for me it wasmore, I couldn't articulate why
I was gonna have a wedding otherthan no way in hell I'm wearing
(30:40):
a wedding dress.
So, um, if someone were to catchthis podcast and they're younger
and they have the belief that.
I can't get married.
Hmm.
Or I'm struggling with thesesame things that, you know, you
had talked about.
What's one thing that you wouldlet them know if you could speak
(31:02):
right to them right now, what'sone thing?
Yeah, I think similar.
Just you are loved and acceptedjust as you are.
And, whether or not you believein like a God or higher power, I
think that they do as well.
(31:23):
And I think alongside that, Iwould say you're the only person
who, who knows your situationand can assess when is safe for
you to come out and fullyexpress.
And if that's not safe for you,like that sucks.
I'm really sorry.
I know what that's like.
But please find other ways toexpress yourself and like, don't
(31:46):
let that go pent up.
And if you do feel safe and likeyou will be accepted as you are,
than practice sharing that withyour safest people, um, so that
you can.
Start exploring all of yourselfmuch earlier.
Hmm.
I like that.
I only have a couple morequestions, um, and we'll kind of
(32:09):
end on a higher note rather thandeep depressing.
Whew.
but you're gonna hate thisquestion, so let's, let's roll
with it.
Um, what is your top, like whatdo you offer?
Like what, like what's yourcharacteristic that you.
(32:29):
You know, let me, one, I don'tknow how to word this.
These are all off the top of myhead.
So do you need to No, no, I'mdone with those questions.
I ran out of'em a long time ago.
Um, so you're gonna hate thisquestion, but what is, what is
something that you own and do sowell in the industry?
(32:53):
Or when you're shooting?
Like, what is one thing that youhave pride over like.
I do that and I kill that.
Oh, I dunno if I can do thatbecause I have like a million
compliments that I can give youwatching you do your thing.
(33:14):
But I wanna know like, Let's sayI'm a, I'm, you know, part of a
couple that's like asking you,Hey, to shoot our wedding, to
shoot our elo.
Why should we choose you?
Okay, yeah, yeah.
You're an LGBTQ photographer,but Blake, what do you bring to
the table?
I think what I always strive todo is to connect and be kind
(33:36):
with people.
And that's something that I tryto tell clients and like other
people I work with, that that ismy priority.
Like, yes, I try my absolutedarnedest to get you the best
possible photos, and that'ssuper, super important.
(33:57):
But if we walk away, From ourtime together, whether it's your
wedding or just a session andyou're like, wow, that was like
really awkward, and that day orthat hour felt like an eternity
and it was just weird.
I would hate that.
Above all else, I want people towalk away being like, that was
(34:19):
so fun and.
I forgot that I was stressedabout these and I felt really
good about myself and I feltgreat about our love story.
That's what I strive to do.
Hmm.
And again, for same experience,you do that very well and not
just with pictures like I, I seethat in your everyday life, how
(34:39):
you strive to connect and bringkindness and, yeah.
Let me tell you something,people.
I never see Anna's phone unlessshe's like showing me something
on her phone, like if we'rehanging out or like having
dinner.
I don't even know where herphone goes, but it's nowhere
near us like she is so locked inand like, it's great.
Yeah.
(35:00):
No, seriously, it's great.
Okay, last question.
Do you love me kidding?
Yes, babe.
I love you.
Um, last question.
Your perfect day.
Like you're anywhere you can doanything.
You don't have any gigs, anywork, unless you absolutely.
(35:21):
How are you spending that day?
What are you doing?
Tell us all of it.
Oh, I mean, obviously I'd becapturing a elopement.
Just kidding.
That's not your perfect day.
Hate it.
No, no.
Um, well, yes that or honestly,just anything outside, like
(35:44):
hiking.
Okay.
Wait, wait.
No, I think I would get.
And I would go to a really cutecoffee shop and I would read,
and then I would pick somewherenew to go hike and explore at
and be there pretty much allday.
(36:07):
And then I would come home andcook some really warm, yummy
food, crack open a Guinness andhang out with you.
Oh, so I'm not allowed on thehike?
No, I don't say that.
No.
He said, no, I need my alonetime.
No, which is fair.
I probably have more fun.
(36:28):
I just might bring earplugs ifyou come.
That's, that might be smart.
Honestly, I would just talk,talk, talk, talk, talk.
Mm-hmm.
All right.
Well, that sounds like a reallyearly, great day.
Would you cook for me too?
Mm-hmm.
Maybe.
Okay.
All right.
Okay.
For stealing my job this week.
(36:49):
Yeah, Angie.
You know, making my life soeasy, except for that you
didn't, you asked me so manyhard questions, but people had
to know.
People deserve to know.
So thank you so much for lettingme steal the mic and Yeah.
Interviewing you cuz I learnedsomething new about you all the
time.
Yeah.
And I, I would like to end bysaying that it is, It was super
(37:16):
strange to be asked all of thesequestions.
It feels a little bit weird, uh,being that I usually like to
interview people, but I thinkthe main thing that I would like
people to take away from this isthat I truly and deeply care
about what I do, and it's not,it's not just a business for me,
(37:40):
but it's something that feels.
Deeply personal and I truly justwant the best for the people
that are getting married.
Yeah, something that I neverthought I would get to have and
watching that happen for peopleand like facilitate that as my
job is truly so special and sucha joy for me.
(38:03):
And so.
I think above all else, I'mreally grateful that I got to
share a little bit more aboutwhy I do what I do, so thank
you.
Thanks for sharing that.
Like that was, yeah.
Super powerful.
And I don't mean to steal thelimelight away from that super
(38:23):
powerful ending, but like I alsoforgot, we have the lightning
round to do so real quick here,we're going with it.
Okay.
Question number one.
What's your favorite snack?
Ginger, disgusting.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Question number two.
What's your all-time favorite TVshow?
(38:45):
Uh, favorite TV show?
Oh my God.
Or is there a TV show that likerecently you've watched that you
really like?
Okay.
Yeah, it's recently, I'll say,the Sex Life of College Girls
was very fun to watch.
(39:05):
Okay, good one.
Good one.
Uh, what's your favoritealcoholic beverage?
I do love Guinness.
Mm-hmm.
What's your favorite date to goon with?
Well, obviously hiking, I knowyou have mixed feelings about
it, but depends on the time ofyear and how far we're going.
Mm-hmm.
Because homegirl can walkpeople, she once walked 12 hours
(39:27):
straight.
Not me, 33 miles, not me.
Never.
Not without complaining.
32 of those miles.
Mm-hmm.
Um, what's the last question?
What's the number one thing thatZula does that drives you up
The.
So for context, Zula is our dog,and she's just a very, she's
(39:52):
very needy and she makes a lotof noises.
So when I'm on calls withclients, she'll be in the
background making noises likenone other.
And it's very annoying.
Yeah.
She's just moaning away in thebackground as if she's dying
withering away.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, that's all I got for youtoday.
Thank you so much for answeringall these questions.
(40:14):
I am sure people are gonna lovethis.
And yeah, just get to know youmore and better and I'm really
happy.
I gotta be back on the podcast.
I would love a permanent seat,but I don't think she's gonna
gimme one.
Yeah, don't worry, everybody.
This is, this is the last time,the end of it.
Oh, she'll never be back.
Thanks.
(40:34):
No.
But thank you Yeah, forinterviewing me and clearly
Beloved, I will see you herenext week.
Hmm.
Hi everyone.
What a weird and whirlwind pastcouple weeks it's been, I didn't
feel like I could start thisweek's episode without
acknowledging the terriblethings that are happening in the
world right now.
And I'm sure many of you haveseen either via the news or
social media, all of the billsand debates and conversations
(00:22):
that are happening right now.
So I didn't feel like this couldjust be a normal episode or.
A fully published episodewithout acknowledged what's
happening.
There are currently 431 antiLGBTQ plus and anti-trans bills
in America right now.
(00:43):
Everything from banning drag toforceful detransition to banning
lgbtq plus books in schools, oreven outing students to their
parents and more.
If you're in the community,these aren't new ideas to you
and.
Attacks certainly aren't new asthe lgbtq plus community has
long been a community underattack, but that doesn't change
(01:06):
the fact that when these thingscome up, it's still both harmful
and immensely scary, and that'ssuper valid.
It feels like we haven't knownwhat the future holds for us for
the past year.
I first and foremost want allthe listeners here today that
are part of the LGBTQ and transcommunity to know that you are
(01:27):
loved and supported by everyonehere, even when you aren't by
the world.
Please be taken care ofyourselves during this time when
it feels like there's somethingconstantly or someone constantly
coming after your joy and youridentity.
And secondly, I want us to allbe finding ways that we can make
(01:49):
our voices heard during thistime, whether it's protesting,
lobbying, signing petitions, ordonating.
There's all sorts of ways we canfight for our community and
allies too.
I hope that you're listening andrecognize that you have a place
here too.
I will link some places you candonate in the show notes, so
(02:11):
please consider checking thoseout.
And beyond that, I hope youlistening today, especially our
trans friends out there to knowthat you are truly beloved.
And with that, we can hop intothis week's episode, but I did
also wanna point out that thisis a continuation of last week's
(02:33):
episode.
So go listen to that one firstif you haven't already.
Um, I just wanted to say that inthis episode I sort of continue
the conversation and share moreabout my experience in being
part of the community.
However, I do also wanna pointout that I am such a small
(02:54):
percentage of the community, andI do really appreciate those of
you who are listening to me and,and hearing me out.
It, it means a lot.
And I also want to encourage youto be actively seeking out other
perspectives and other people'sstories within the community to
listen to, because I just can'teven speak for their experience.
(03:19):
And I think we really need totake this time to be actively
seeking out folks in the transcommunity to be hearing their
story and uplifting their voicesright now as well.
So just wanted to put that.
Before where the episode starts,and now let's dive right in.
Clearly, beloved, welcome backto this week's episode.
(03:43):
Thank you so much for joiningagain this week.
I feel like I'm proud to saythis in the last week's episode,
but my name's Anna.
I'm your host.
If you didn't know and you'llnever guess who this week's
guest is.
What's up everybody?
(04:04):
My partner Angie, is back withus, I think.
Thought you got the last forlast week, but she is back here.
We got more things to say.
So Angie, will you please justquickly reintroduce yourself for
those of you who dunno her?
Yeah.
What's up everybody?
I'm Angie.
I am Anna's partner.
(04:25):
Um, that's the most importanttitle I own.
I was here last week chilling,talking all about myself, so.
Okay.
and we share the same pronounshere.
Yes.
Sheer.
Yep.
And I'd also like to note, ifyou have not listened to last
week's episode, you shoulddefinitely go back and listen to
(04:46):
that.
We share a lot about ourexperiences as being gay people
in this world.
Very interesting.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
Also like to point out that ourdog is with us here today, so if
you hear any noises from her, Ido apologize.
Jump in it.
(05:07):
Yeah.
Well I was on last week and hada blast and talked all about
myself, which is my favoritething to do.
Um, but I realized I think Ishould probably.
Reverse my seat, my role andactually interview Anna this
week because I feel like whatshe hasn't done the best job of,
you know, Letting you guys in tosee how weird and exciting and
(05:32):
great she is.
So, dunno I to say weird first,but you know, on the nose.
But, um, yeah, so I'm taking themic over this week and MCing
this bitch and not appropriate.
(06:01):
Is that not appropriate?
Why would you?
I dunno.
It just came out.
(06:34):
Are you gonna cut that out?
Where were we?
I'm Scene this bitch.
How are we doing today?
I got this, babe, I got this.
(06:56):
Do you?
Yeah.
Well, I nailed it the firsttime, but you had to laugh.
Sweet.
So you ready?
Ready As are.
Okay.
Question number one.
Are you homosexual?
Oh, oh, goodness gracious.
I didn't think we'd start outwith a, with a hard one.
(07:16):
Okay.
Um, yes, yes, I do.
I identify, depends on the day.
Sometimes lesbian, sometimesit's gay.
Just depends.
But all days loving me, which isthe most important.
It's pretty bold of you to say.
Yes, that's.
All right.
So now that we have theimportant question answered, how
(07:39):
about you tell us everyone'sfavorite question and a little
bit about your coming out story,and then give us all the tea,
all the deeds.
Oh gosh.
Um, I think my coming out storyis a bit of a weird one because
it didn't necessarily happen inone go.
(08:00):
Like you see in the movies wherea kid comes home from school and
they're like, mom, dad, I havesomething to tell you.
And that's, that it was kind ofall over the place.
So like technically I came outwhen I was 16 to my, just to my
(08:21):
brother because he's also.
Um, and I was seeing a girl atthe time, but after that I just
kinda shoved that like way, waydown.
And, I tried, I really tried todate guys and it was just, ugh.
Just gave me the ick every time.
(08:43):
So, yeah.
I was still having crushes on onwomen, but also just trying to
not think about it basically.
And that was largely because atthe same time I was still
getting a lot of messages fromchurch and like hearing my
(09:08):
roommate say, yeah, I wouldnever hire a gay babysitter.
I don't want them to influencemy child and a lot of them are
pedophiles anyway and stuff likethat.
So, yeah, there was just a lotof things that every time I
would start to think about it, Iwould immediately be like, nope.
and then it finally came to theend of my senior year of
(09:34):
college.
I was actually graduated at thatpoint and I just really started
to feel like I couldn't shove itdown anymore.
Um, and so I started going ondates of someone who was not a
man, but I was still hiding itfrom most people in my life,
(09:56):
except for like two or threefriends who were really, really
supportive.
That was awesome and it meant alot.
So it was during that time thatI was seeing someone and like
realizing I was still having totalk to my mom all the time, who
was always trying to set me upwith a different guy that I, I
(10:21):
decided to tell her.
And so I told her over the phoneand.
It was just before I was evendone talking about it.
I was just like, please, I knowthis is not what you believe in,
but like, can we learn together?
I have some really greatresources.
(10:42):
And she was just immediatelylike, Nope.
I know what I believe.
I, I figure all that stuff outin high school and I don't need
to think about it anymore.
Then basically I just begged hernot to tell my dad.
Cause I knew that I needed to dothat, but I was also like
terrified.
I pretty much, in that time Iactually started seeing someone
(11:05):
else.
You'll never guess it's you,Angie, and things.
Where things were going reallywell.
And so I also decided I neededto tell my dad, but that was
about, um, six months laterafter telling my mom and she was
like constantly threatening me.
So that was a great time.
(11:27):
So I finally called up thepastor, good old pastor, yeah, I
just heard like so muchdisappointment in his voice.
Like none other, which, youknow, we all know here is like
worse than, anger when someone'sdisappointed in you.
and then, yeah, somethingsimilar happened shortly after
(11:48):
with my other brother, exceptfor an set of disappointment.
It was just like pure, disgustedand anger.
Yeah, once I let that all settlein for a while, and knew that
they probably all had time totell all their prayer groups and
everything, that's when Ifinally publicly came out in
(12:11):
2021 by posting a picture withAngie and then I turned my phone
off for the entire day cuz I wasjust too scared to look at what
people were gonna be saying.
And I received so much supportfrom people and it still makes
(12:32):
me feel really warm and fuzzy onthe inside, thinking about all
the people that have supersupported me.
So if you're listening, thankyou.
And at the same time, it wasstill a really hard and
confusing time of life becauseit was amidst that support that
(12:52):
I.
Was also like losing a lot offriends.
People that I thought weresupportive were coming out with,
at me with ulterior motives of,they wanted to get coffee at a
chat about how that wasn't God'sbest for me.
And they wanted to give me booksabout people that had once been
(13:15):
gay and no longer were, and theywanted to.
Say they wouldn't be at mywedding anymore if I married a
woman, or they wanted to justquote unquote understand because
gay people just didn't make anysense to them.
So that was fun.
Um, but yeah, every day I'mreminded of the love and support
(13:39):
I have in my life and still alsohyper aware that.
Being gay isn't always just abig happy rainbow.
And I think that my ownexperience with that is really
kinda what led me to choosingthis path and to really focus on
(14:02):
the community and my business.
Thank you for sharing.
Cause I know, I know that's aquestion that I personally am
curious.
Every community member how theirexperience was, just because
everyone's is so different.
So thank you for sharing that.
Um, but yeah, that, that badcoming out stories suck.
(14:23):
So I'm sorry that, that that wasthe case.
So can you tell us a little bitlike what you do and why it
means so much to you?
Yeah.
So I am a LGBTQ plus a weddingand elopement photographer, and
(14:45):
it's so important to me.
this is actually great.
This is like why we kind of didthis in two episodes is because.
It's so important to me becauseof all my experiences and what
I've seen and I've seen andexperience firsthand just how
(15:08):
poorly queer folks can betreated.
I've experienced that like frommy own parents saying that, I'm
terrible and I'm sin, and thatGod has better for me and.
Thinking about just all of thesadness that comes with that,
and also watching other friends.
(15:28):
And obviously you and my life gothrough terrible things just for
being who you are and loving whoyou love.
it's like beyond important to meto create not only safe spaces
for people in the community, butspaces that make them feel.
Celebrated and like they have asmuch of a seat at the table as
(15:49):
anyone else.
Okay, so let me ask you this,and it's gonna sound harsh, so
bear with me.
Does it actually matter?
And I'm saying that from theperspective of you and I have
both have encountered, you know,people who are like, you don't
need to get married.
Or like, or why doesn't matter.
(16:11):
Like why can't you just haveyour own separate day?
Why can't you have your own liketotally separate?
Entity and like why do you haveto get married?
Like why does it matter?
I think it matters so muchbecause, even just thinking
about the term in the closetimplies that you are hiding
(16:35):
yourself.
You're separate from the world.
You have to like stay in thistiny box.
And who wants to live in acloset?
Like it's sad and depressing andprobably a tight space.
No one wants to do that.
And that same thing applies tobeing in love and being true to
who you are.
(16:55):
You don't wanna live your wholelife living in a tiny little box
of society, wondering who'sgonna accept you and who's not.
It's important because we needto.
People feel like they are lovedand welcomed and accepted no
matter what.
And I mean, like the ultimategoal is to live in a world where
(17:17):
everyone can love and acceptpeople.
And it's not a question, and Idon't want to say that queer
weddings are, you know, Become ajob and it's a job of those
couples to educate people and tomake the world a better place.
But that's definitely an avenuefor it to happen.
(17:39):
You know, the more queer peoplethat get married and have those
celebrations and love out loud,the more normal we can make it
and show people that we'rehumans just like everyone else.
No, that's great.
I definitely, I respect that andyeah, I think that's a really
(18:00):
powerful thing that you helppeople have those experiences
and.
and I, and I will say this,watching you do your thing you
make and going along with you ona couple weddings and helping
out you, you really do give thatexperience to people like you
(18:20):
really give them an experiencethat I'm sure a lot of people
growing up thought they wouldn'thave, or that it would look a
lot different.
Yeah, just the, the pure joythat I've seen on people's face
because you allow them toexpress their love openly and
(18:40):
authentically, and you celebrateit, and you encourage it is
actually something that I'mvery, very grateful.
I've watched you do, and I don'tthink I really realized the
importance of what you do.
To that magnitude.
Like I know you do a great job,pictures and everything, but
like witnessing you, givingpeople the opportunity to have
(19:08):
something that a lot of usgrowing up never thought we
would ever have.
And the joy in their face whenthey have it is, it's really,
it's, I can see why you enjoydoing what you do.
Um, it's intoxicating, so.
Yeah.
Thank you for that.
Thanks babe.
Thanks for being my hype woman.
(19:28):
Yeah, anytime.
Um, this won't be your wingwoman, but, okay.
Yeah.
Fair enough.
All right.
So when you go into a shoot,whether it's an engagement
shoot, whether it's, you know, awedding, an elopement, anything,
do you have a number onepriority or does that differ
throughout each shoot?
Like do you have, like, I'mgoing in and this is my goal and
(19:51):
objective?
Or does that kind of changedepending on who you're working
with?
Yeah, I think big picture, thegoal is to make people feel.
Super comfortable and like notquestioning anything, like not
questioning who they are, howthey present, who they love, who
(20:12):
they're there with.
Like it's just to make them feelcomfortable and also like kind
of a fine line between like, Iwant them to feel normal, but
also not like they are just likeeveryone else because they have
different experiences.
So, I feel normal in the sensethat like what they're doing is
(20:36):
totally like accepted, but alsoit's like, heck yeah, like
celebrated.
I do think like session tosession, it changes just in that
every couple is different andmight wanna feel different
things as far as some mightwanna feel like super cozy and
intimate and others might wannafeel really fun and playful.
(20:56):
so always trying to do that too.
So how do you connect then withpeople that have different
backgrounds, different lifeexperiences than you is that
ever something you get anxiousabout or worry about?
Like, you know, just in general,like how do you bridge that gap
and connect?
(21:18):
Yeah, that's really interestingto think about.
I think it's something.
Actually touched on a fewepisodes back, I think that
actually since coming outmyself, it's like it's just
changed the way that I see theworld so much and like made me
so much more of a curious personbecause not everybody is the
(21:43):
same and I just love askingquestions.
You do.
And I, I feel like, um, backwhen I was in the closet and was
working primarily with straightcouples, it was very much like,
it felt like a lot of the samething because I knew that a lot
of those relationships werestructured the exact same, you
(22:05):
know, man's in control andthat's just how, that's how the
pictures are.
That's what the energy.
And now it's like there's justsuch a wide array of people.
And like, also, not to say thatthat's not true in, in straight
couples.
I know there's really awesomestraight couples out there.
But specifically like in thequeer community, there's so many
(22:25):
different kinds of folks comingfrom so many different walks of
life that it's just made me socurious.
Yeah, I just, I love askingquestions and I feel like it
makes the session so much betterbecause when you ask people
questions, they get to talkabout themselves and they feel
comfortable and you get to learnabout them and yeah, it's pretty
(22:47):
fun.
Yeah.
Again, not to hype you up toomuch, but I think one of your
best qualities is you have theability to like, make people
feel so seen.
I mean, not to talk about me,but.
Let's talk about me.
Even on our, our second date.
I remember you had asked me aquestion of like, what are my
dreams and what do I wannapursue in life?
(23:09):
And I was driving and you werein the passenger seat.
And I just remember that was thefirst time in my life that
someone had, because you hadcompletely turned your whole
body to face me.
And like were just like lookingat me in such awe.
And I just remember being.
(23:30):
I don't think I've ever feltseen like that before.
And Yeah.
You do a great job of seeingpeople and, and letting people
be them and seeing them who theyare.
So yeah.
Hip up some more.
Here we go.
Oh, you can't be making me blushover here.
But she leaves her hair in thedrain.
So we, we, we have that going ontoo.
(23:52):
Oh my God.
Pros and cons.
People, pros and cons all right,so let's like ease the moment so
I can stop complimenting you.
what is something that'shappened at a quote unquote
traditional wedding that's likeboiled your blood like you saw
red, like that just made youjust want to jump out of your
(24:12):
body?
Oof.
Uh, I will say that, uh, a bigmotivator and making this shift
in my career from shooting a lotof straight traditional weddings
to working with queer weddingsis.
And I remember even like thiswas happening when I was in a
(24:34):
relationship with you where I'dbe texting you, like if I have
to hear someone say or like askthe woman to confirm that she
will be submitting to herhusband.
One more time.
I'm gonna rip my hair out.
So Anna's in the backgroundgoing like, girl, don't do it.
Yeah, no, don't do it, girl.
(24:57):
I just like stopped takingpictures, even if it's supposed
to be photographed.
I'm like, no, I'm not.
I'm not photographing that.
Yeah, I feel like justunfortunately just a lot of
religious things that don't feelsuper welcoming or inclusive.
Also had a 30 year old man likehit on me for the entire evening
(25:19):
only to find out that he thoughtI was 17 the whole time.
So, uh, always stuff like thattoo.
Oh, you do look young.
Thanks.
Okay, well kind of going offthat like little religious
trauma, here's a question foryou.
Do you think the way you grew uphelped you in any way be better
(25:42):
at your job and in the industrythat you are in currently?
Not saying we're gonna give anyshout outs to parents or
anything, but do you think theexperiences that you've had
helped you be better today atwhat you do in any.
Yeah, I, yeah, I truly don'tthink that I would be where I am
(26:07):
without having those unfortunatecircumstances, which is like
kind of weird to say out loud.
But I do think that it gives mesuch a sense of passion in what
I do, because.
When I'm driving to a queerwedding, I'm just thinking like,
(26:32):
this is something I thought Iwould never have.
This is something that even likefour years ago I was still like,
I will go to hell for this.
So I just think.
Yeah.
Even though those, a lot of thethings I've experienced over the
years, do still make me feelsad, it also gives me a drive to
(26:53):
do what I do because I justnever, ever, ever, ever want
anyone to feel the things that Ihave.
Is there any part of your pastthat still.
Haunts you when you're doingthis job because you, you're
very much like lgbtq, like you,youve, you advocate for them so
(27:16):
much.
You're part of the community,obviously.
Like, is there any part of youthat struggles with, that
struggles with what you're doingin any, you know, whether it's
your, your past self, or thingsfrom your past, in general, you
know?
Mm-hmm.
In the.
Oh, coming in.
I know deep.
My dude.
(27:37):
Wow.
Yeah, I do think it is, I thinka lot of times I'm able to
separate myself from what'shappening in like a, in a
healthy way.
I'm not like dissociating whileshooting your wedding, but yeah,
I think that there are timeswhen I see.
(27:59):
Like a queer couple and both oftheir parents are there or
something that it's really hardfor me to not feel a little bit
of sadness, just knowing that Iknow my parents and a lot of my
family would never come to mywedding so yeah, I think, I
think there's that and just alot of.
Yeah, occasional like, oh mygosh, am I, am I totally wrong?
(28:23):
It's, it's hard to get rid oflike 22 years of religious
teachings in your mind out atonce.
But overall, I'm just reallyexcited to see people living
their best lives.
Yeah.
You ready for doozy?
I guess, do me a favor, travelback in time.
(28:47):
Your younger self is sitting onbed, you see her?
What's one piece of advice thatyou would tell her, or not
necessarily even advice, what'sjust one thing you would tell
her and it's, if you need tocry, you can cry.
You can cry together.
Oh my God.
What are we doing?
You crying or cry?
Oh, is that something I wouldtell my younger self?
(29:11):
Yeah, your time travel, you seeyour younger self laying in bed,
just, you know, Chilling and youhave an opportunity to tell your
younger self one thing that'sgonna help her get through it
all.
if I were to be able to tell herand really convince her that I'm
(29:34):
not a center and like I'm okayjust the way that I am and.
There's gonna be plenty ofpeople and things that tell you
otherwise, but you're notsending, and you don't have to
be afraid of going to hell.
I think, I think that would'vegiven me a lot more peace.
Hmm.
(29:55):
No, I like that.
okay, so let's try thisquestion.
If you were to travel back intime and going into my bedroom,
what would you tell me?
Oh my gosh.
I'm just kidding.
With that, let's say somehowlittle girl, boy, non-binary,
someone that identifies in L B TQ Community young stumbles upon
(30:18):
this podcast and listens to thisand they are struggling.
The same things and they, youknow, are maybe like us where we
grew up believing that, even ifwe didn't quite articulate why,
that we didn't feel like we weregonna have a wedding.
Because I know for me it wasmore, I couldn't articulate why
I was gonna have a wedding otherthan no way in hell I'm wearing
(30:40):
a wedding dress.
So, um, if someone were to catchthis podcast and they're younger
and they have the belief that.
I can't get married.
Hmm.
Or I'm struggling with thesesame things that, you know, you
had talked about.
What's one thing that you wouldlet them know if you could speak
(31:02):
right to them right now, what'sone thing?
Yeah, I think similar.
Just you are loved and acceptedjust as you are.
And, whether or not you believein like a God or higher power, I
think that they do as well.
(31:23):
And I think alongside that, Iwould say you're the only person
who, who knows your situationand can assess when is safe for
you to come out and fullyexpress.
And if that's not safe for you,like that sucks.
I'm really sorry.
I know what that's like.
But please find other ways toexpress yourself and like, don't
(31:46):
let that go pent up.
And if you do feel safe and likeyou will be accepted as you are,
than practice sharing that withyour safest people, um, so that
you can.
Start exploring all of yourselfmuch earlier.
Hmm.
I like that.
I only have a couple morequestions, um, and we'll kind of
(32:09):
end on a higher note rather thandeep depressing.
Whew.
but you're gonna hate thisquestion, so let's, let's roll
with it.
Um, what is your top, like whatdo you offer?
Like what, like what's yourcharacteristic that you.
(32:29):
You know, let me, one, I don'tknow how to word this.
These are all off the top of myhead.
So do you need to No, no, I'mdone with those questions.
I ran out of'em a long time ago.
Um, so you're gonna hate thisquestion, but what is, what is
something that you own and do sowell in the industry?
(32:53):
Or when you're shooting?
Like, what is one thing that youhave pride over like.
I do that and I kill that.
Oh, I dunno if I can do thatbecause I have like a million
compliments that I can give youwatching you do your thing.
(33:14):
But I wanna know like, Let's sayI'm a, I'm, you know, part of a
couple that's like asking you,Hey, to shoot our wedding, to
shoot our elo.
Why should we choose you?
Okay, yeah, yeah.
You're an LGBTQ photographer,but Blake, what do you bring to
the table?
I think what I always strive todo is to connect and be kind
(33:36):
with people.
And that's something that I tryto tell clients and like other
people I work with, that that ismy priority.
Like, yes, I try my absolutedarnedest to get you the best
possible photos, and that'ssuper, super important.
(33:57):
But if we walk away, From ourtime together, whether it's your
wedding or just a session andyou're like, wow, that was like
really awkward, and that day orthat hour felt like an eternity
and it was just weird.
I would hate that.
Above all else, I want people towalk away being like, that was
(34:19):
so fun and.
I forgot that I was stressedabout these and I felt really
good about myself and I feltgreat about our love story.
That's what I strive to do.
Hmm.
And again, for same experience,you do that very well and not
just with pictures like I, I seethat in your everyday life, how
(34:39):
you strive to connect and bringkindness and, yeah.
Let me tell you something,people.
I never see Anna's phone unlessshe's like showing me something
on her phone, like if we'rehanging out or like having
dinner.
I don't even know where herphone goes, but it's nowhere
near us like she is so locked inand like, it's great.
Yeah.
(35:00):
No, seriously, it's great.
Okay, last question.
Do you love me kidding?
Yes, babe.
I love you.
Um, last question.
Your perfect day.
Like you're anywhere you can doanything.
You don't have any gigs, anywork, unless you absolutely.
(35:21):
How are you spending that day?
What are you doing?
Tell us all of it.
Oh, I mean, obviously I'd becapturing a elopement.
Just kidding.
That's not your perfect day.
Hate it.
No, no.
Um, well, yes that or honestly,just anything outside, like
(35:44):
hiking.
Okay.
Wait, wait.
No, I think I would get.
And I would go to a really cutecoffee shop and I would read,
and then I would pick somewherenew to go hike and explore at
and be there pretty much allday.
(36:07):
And then I would come home andcook some really warm, yummy
food, crack open a Guinness andhang out with you.
Oh, so I'm not allowed on thehike?
No, I don't say that.
No.
He said, no, I need my alonetime.
No, which is fair.
I probably have more fun.
(36:28):
I just might bring earplugs ifyou come.
That's, that might be smart.
Honestly, I would just talk,talk, talk, talk, talk.
Mm-hmm.
All right.
Well, that sounds like a reallyearly, great day.
Would you cook for me too?
Mm-hmm.
Maybe.
Okay.
All right.
Okay.
For stealing my job this week.
(36:49):
Yeah, Angie.
You know, making my life soeasy, except for that you
didn't, you asked me so manyhard questions, but people had
to know.
People deserve to know.
So thank you so much for lettingme steal the mic and Yeah.
Interviewing you cuz I learnedsomething new about you all the
time.
Yeah.
And I, I would like to end bysaying that it is, It was super
(37:16):
strange to be asked all of thesequestions.
It feels a little bit weird, uh,being that I usually like to
interview people, but I thinkthe main thing that I would like
people to take away from this isthat I truly and deeply care
about what I do, and it's not,it's not just a business for me,
(37:40):
but it's something that feels.
Deeply personal and I truly justwant the best for the people
that are getting married.
Yeah, something that I neverthought I would get to have and
watching that happen for peopleand like facilitate that as my
job is truly so special and sucha joy for me.
(38:03):
And so.
I think above all else, I'mreally grateful that I got to
share a little bit more aboutwhy I do what I do, so thank
you.
Thanks for sharing that.
Like that was, yeah.
Super powerful.
And I don't mean to steal thelimelight away from that super
(38:23):
powerful ending, but like I alsoforgot, we have the lightning
round to do so real quick here,we're going with it.
Okay.
Question number one.
What's your favorite snack?
Ginger, disgusting.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Question number two.
What's your all-time favorite TVshow?
(38:45):
Uh, favorite TV show?
Oh my God.
Or is there a TV show that likerecently you've watched that you
really like?
Okay.
Yeah, it's recently, I'll say,the Sex Life of College Girls
was very fun to watch.
(39:05):
Okay, good one.
Good one.
Uh, what's your favoritealcoholic beverage?
I do love Guinness.
Mm-hmm.
What's your favorite date to goon with?
Well, obviously hiking, I knowyou have mixed feelings about
it, but depends on the time ofyear and how far we're going.
Mm-hmm.
Because homegirl can walkpeople, she once walked 12 hours
(39:27):
straight.
Not me, 33 miles, not me.
Never.
Not without complaining.
32 of those miles.
Mm-hmm.
Um, what's the last question?
What's the number one thing thatZula does that drives you up
The.
So for context, Zula is our dog,and she's just a very, she's
(39:52):
very needy and she makes a lotof noises.
So when I'm on calls withclients, she'll be in the
background making noises likenone other.
And it's very annoying.
Yeah.
She's just moaning away in thebackground as if she's dying
withering away.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, that's all I got for youtoday.
Thank you so much for answeringall these questions.
(40:14):
I am sure people are gonna lovethis.
And yeah, just get to know youmore and better and I'm really
happy.
I gotta be back on the podcast.
I would love a permanent seat,but I don't think she's gonna
gimme one.
Yeah, don't worry, everybody.
This is, this is the last time,the end of it.
Oh, she'll never be back.
Thanks.
(40:34):
No.
But thank you Yeah, forinterviewing me and clearly
Beloved, I will see you herenext week.
Hmm.
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