THE IMPORTANCE OF HEIRLOOM WEDDING PORTRAITURE FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGES
On July 24, 2011, we celebrated a little.
To some, it was a life-changing experience. To others, it was a religious or political event — for better or for worse. To us, it was an event that would monumentally change our role as artists.
…This was the day gay marriage was legalized in our state of New York.
As two fine art photographers, who happen to photograph weddings in the NY-Metro area, our business was founded on the sole premise that we reveal epic, timeless stories about the life, love and truth of the subjects we photographed.
Now, the local legalization of gay marriage meant that we not only had a right – but also a responsibility– to document, share and reveal how love is expressed between two people. All People. Up until that point, they were always the outliers – our many friends and family members who could not conjoin their loving, respectable, very normal everyday lives. We saw truth and beauty in the relationships of these couples that meant so much to us, but many of their lives never found the formal occasion of marriage to let us capture such honest splendor of their relationship. Until July 24, 2011.
In the wedding photography industry, there are, generally speaking, three styles of photography: the photojournalistic, the traditional and the high-fashion wedding. At Je Revele, our own style of portraiture has always been an outlier–categorically speaking– in our minds. Grounded with a fascination in history, storytelling and preservation, our philosophy is about an epic revelation and a lasting legacy. We know our differentiated style is not for everyone, but those we serve value the same ideals we do: revealing an epic story with equitable dignity and celebration.
Somewhere in our lives, we all have ancestors’ or our own wedding pictures tucked away. Whether nestled in a photo album, hiding in a box somewhere or hanging on a wall, there is a piece of history that unveils a story or an emotion between two people. Our belief system of honoring two people falling in love, creating a history together, enduring triumphs and hardships and the formation of legacy to pass on to further generations had just widened. The legalization of gay marriage enabled us to expand these truths and to become a new kind of historian, expressing the truth of a once legally unrecognized lifestyle.
As if a master painting in the old printmaking tradition, we now had the ability to begin a historical retelling of gay couples that could unite in marriage. We have expanded the notion of old-world heirlooms into a modern, progressive mindset. Our style enables us to not only honor the union, but immortalize it.
Our beliefs as a business were ultimately gratified when we were called upon this past year by Danielle and Jaime, who married in Staten Island, New York. The revelation of unconditional love, loyalty, heartache and triumph was amplified in one single day – their wedding – and it was our assignment to capture this.
At our very first meeting, we sensed a bit of trepidation from the couple in approaching us. However, when we described the joy we felt in celebrating Natalie’s brothers’ same-sex nuptials in October 2011, it seemed to immediately ease their concerns. Their wedding day was one of the most magnificent, emotional and touching weddings we have photographed to-date. One by one, the images revealed the most profound elements of their lives, that for so long we were unable to visually express.
As visual storytellers, all we can do is invite same sex couples to come to us, embrace us for our philosophy, and to share their sacred story. Through our work, we have been given a privilege and honor to uphold a law that our home state of New York and the surrounding states were progressive enough to support. Through the epic portrait, we will have an ability to change agents, along with many others, to honor their oneness and to create the visual stories that their future generations can honor with pride and wonder.
Let the history making begin.
Natalie Licini and Cate Scaglione are the co-founders of Je Revele Fine Art Photography, two fine art photographers who believe that epic love reveals itself in truth and equality. To experience their work, visit www.jerevele.com
or contact them at info@jerevele.com
