Today, we prioritise many things—our careers, our hobbies, our ambitions—but emotional authenticity isn’t always one of them. If there is one shift I have witnessed over my lifetime, it’s that today, we’re more likely to say we’re fine when we’re not. We’re becoming more hesitant to say what is on our minds, or what’s really going on in our lives. Many of us put up appearances on social media, trying to convey an image of endless buoyant energy, regardless of how we really feel.
That’s why it’s so refreshing, grounding, and moving when we get to set pretenses aside and become a part of something truly authentic, as I did when shooting this wedding photography at Minthis Hills Resort here in Cyprus. While I didn’t learn much about Joanne and Yinka’s history as a couple, I didn’t have to: Their warmth, sincerity, and pure raw emotion shone through in every glance.
Joanne and Yinka weren’t afraid to show their love—in all its power and vulnerability—even in front of the camera’s lens. Because of this, even without getting to know them through words, I was able to make a profound connection with them. As a photographer, I know that it’s this connection between the artist and his subjects which creates truly stunning images. It’s this bond, however transient, that transforms a picture: It’s no longer just an accurate representation of reality; instead, it becomes a capsule of emotions and thoughts. These images are a precious moment in time, captured in the palm of our hands.
While you look at Joanne and Yinka’s wedding photography at Minthis Hills, take a moment to reflect on the possibilities that unfold when we’re authentic, when we don’t hesitate to express and embody what we’re feeling. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable around someone else, we invite them to connect with us—whether we’re dealing with a partner, a coworker, a friend, or even a photographer. We let them into our world. We let ourselves be appreciated for who we are.
As the joy on Joanne and Yinka’s faces shows, within a romantic relationship, this openness and the acceptance it creates can be life-changing. As Victor Hugo once said, “The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” When you let your whole self be loved completely, you finally come to understand that you’re perfect just the way you are.
