Finding the right photographer is never just about beautiful images…it’s about trust. For LGBTQ+ and queer couples, that trust becomes even more essential. Inclusive wedding photography is about more than style; it’s about being seen, protected, and celebrated on your terms. You need to know your photographer not only sees you, but also honors you, protects your joy, and understands what it means to step in front of the camera when the world hasn’t always made space for your love.
As a queer wedding photographer based just outside Boston, this truth is personal. My work is rooted in empathy, advocacy, and a deep understanding of what many LGBTQ+ couples face when planning a wedding, especially when it comes to navigating a world of vendors who weren’t trained to serve you.
But before I could build a business grounded in inclusion, I had to navigate some painful realities of my own.
Why This Work Is Personal to Me
When my wife and I got married, our families did not show up.
I’ve spent years processing the grief and rejection of that day. There was so much joy, but a lot of sorrow, too. So many friends showed up for us in the most beautiful, soul-filling way. And still, the ache of being abandoned by the people who were supposed to love us unconditionally left its mark.
As difficult as that was, the experience shaped who I have become. And it’s one of the reasons I believe so fiercely in this work and why I show up for couples in the way that I do.
Every time I photograph a wedding, I show up with the kind of presence I once longed for myself. I am hyper-aware of the people you’ve chosen to stand beside you. I celebrate your courage to love openly. I hold your story like it’s sacred, because it is.
I know how vulnerable it feels to invite someone into one of the most important days of your life, especially when parts of your identity have been met with silence, shame, or erasure. That’s why I don’t take this responsibility lightly.
As a Boston-area inclusive wedding photographer, I’m here to do more than take beautiful images. I’m here to make sure you feel safe, celebrated, and deeply seen.
What to Look For in an Inclusive Wedding Photographer
There’s no single formula for what makes a wedding photographer truly inclusive, but there are signs, signals, and small moments that add up to a sense of safety and trust. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are five things to pay attention to when looking for an LGBTQ+ or queer-inclusive wedding photographer in the Boston area:
1. Language on their website and social media.
Do they speak only to “brides and grooms,” or do they make space for all kinds of identities and relationships? Look for non-gendered language, visible values, and ongoing inclusion…not just a rainbow logo during Pride Month.
2. Representation in their imagery, and their approach.
While not every inclusive wedding photographer will have a portfolio filled with LGBTQ+ or queer couples (especially those who came up in heteronormative markets), many will name that honestly. Look for those who acknowledge the gaps and are actively working to hold space for all love stories.
3. How they center chosen family and nontraditional dynamics.
A good sign is when a photographer asks about who matters to you, not just who raised you or shares your last name. Do they light up at the idea of centering your chosen family? Do they express flexibility in how a wedding “should” look?
4. How you feel in conversation with them.
Do you feel seen? Respected? Safe enough to share the emotional layers of planning your wedding? A truly inclusive photographer, especially one serving queer couples in places like Boston, where old traditions still linger, will never make you feel like you’re too much, or not enough.
5. Whether their process centers your comfort.
From the first email to the final gallery, an inclusive photographer will create opportunities for you to express your needs, fears, and hopes. If they don’t explicitly invite that, it may not be part of their workflow.
How to Ask the Right Questions (Without Feeling Like You’re Asking Too Much)
If you’ve ever hesitated to speak up about what matters to you—especially in a wedding space that wasn’t built with you in mind, you’re not alone. Many LGBTQ+ couples and those from marginalized communities feel like they have to shrink themselves to fit into a mold that doesn’t reflect their truth.
But here’s the thing: your story deserves care. Your wedding deserves respect. And you deserve a photographer who knows how to hold that with intention.
Whether you’re getting married in the heart of Boston or planning an intimate celebration just outside the city, these five questions can help you get a feel for whether a photographer is truly inclusive, not just performatively.
1. How do you make sure all couples feel safe and seen?
A photographer who’s done the work will have an answer that goes beyond “I treat everyone the same.” Listen for responses that reflect lived experience, continual learning, and a genuine desire to serve diverse clients well.
2. How do you ask about pronouns and honor identities throughout the process?
This question gives you insight into whether they’ve built inclusive practices into their workflow, or if it’s something they’re figuring out on the fly.
3. What’s your experience photographing LGBTQ+ or nontraditional weddings?
This isn’t about gatekeeping or expecting perfection. It’s about seeing whether the photographer understands the nuance, pressure, and vulnerability that can come with queer weddings, especially when families, traditions, or visibility come into play.
4. How do you handle family dynamics, chosen family, or estrangement in photo planning?
This can be a make-or-break moment for queer and trans couples whose families may not be supportive. A thoughtful photographer will talk you through how they’ll protect your emotional safety and advocate for your boundaries on the wedding day.
5. What does inclusivity mean to you personally?
This question opens the door to hearing their heart. You’ll get a sense of whether they’re just using the right language, or if they’re deeply committed to showing up with empathy and presence.
Remember: you’re not being demanding. You’re protecting your peace. You’re making sure the person you hire will honor your story, not just with their camera, but with their whole being.
When Inclusion Isn’t (Yet) in the Portfolio
My career began in a studio that catered almost exclusively to heterosexual couples having traditional weddings. For over a decade, I photographed what the wedding industry told me “belonged” in a portfolio: white dresses, church ceremonies, bride and groom poses. And for a long time, that’s all I had to show.
It’s not because I didn’t want to serve LGBTQ+ couples, it’s because, like so many photographers who didn’t start with a diverse client base, I wasn’t given access to that work. And queer couples weren’t given access to me.
Now, years later, I’m painfully aware of how those early limitations shaped what people saw when they found me. I’m a queer woman married to my wife of 15 years. I’ve lived through the heartbreak of feeling unseen, the fear of being misunderstood, and the constant need to scan a room for safety.
So while my portfolio may not be overflowing with same-sex weddings and queer joy, my lived experience is. It shows up in how I hold space, how I ask questions, how I notice the smallest dynamics and protect the most vulnerable moments. It’s in every frame I take, and it always will be.
You Deserve to Be Fully Seen
No matter what your love looks like, who raised you, how you identify, or who shows up for you, your wedding matters. Your relationship matters. You matter.
If you’re a queer, trans, nonbinary, same-sex, or LGBTQ+ couple planning a wedding in Boston or beyond, I want you to know: I see you. I value you. And I’m ready to help you feel fully seen in every frame.
This isn’t about fitting into a template. It’s about creating something real, something that reflects your truth with honesty, depth, and joy.
Because inclusive wedding photography should never be about checking boxes. It should be about honoring people. All people. Just as they are.
If you’re ready to work with someone who will show up for your story the way you’ve always deserved, I’m here. Let’s create something extraordinary together.
