at home with blake and jon
When Blake and I first spoke about me photographing him and his husband Jon, the idea was fairly standard. They had been married for a year, were less than satisfied with previous photos they’d had done, and wanted something new and different to tell their story. I’ve never been the biggest fan of simple point-and-shoot portraits so I suggested a different route: let me photograph the two of you during a lazy Sunday at home. I didn’t care if it meant them making breakfast in their kitchen, playing video games together, or simply cozying up in their own room. I wanted these photos to show who they really were as well as their love on their terms. Blake was immediately on board but had one request. He said, ‘we’d love to do this - but one question: can we start at Rosie’s? It’s where we met. It just means something to us.’
Rosie’s was built in 1896, and since then has morphed into an inclusive space for queer people living in Covington, Kentucky. For Blake and Jon, it was the backdrop of their first date, and more importantly, their first kiss. As soon as we arrived, it was obvious the low-light dive bar felt familiar to both of them. They both ordered a drink - a beer for Blake and vodka cran for Jon - and we headed to the back room.
It was an intimate space away from the Sunday football crowd. The wood panel room was lined with refurbished church pews and tabletops covered in retro comic strips with small-frame stained glass windows that let in shades of purple and pink. Once they sat down, they drifted into their own world, leaning equally into each other and their drinks. As they recounted their first date to me they sipped, kissed, laughed, and even played a little pool.
After, we packed up and headed to their place. As soon as we stepped in the door of their apartment, the two wasted no time. Dancing in the kitchen, video games on the couch, and holding each other nearly the entire time. It was nothing but love, focus, and care for one another, made stronger by the fact that we were in the place where their marriage had started and grown.
This session is special to me for so many reasons.
Yes, Blake is one of my oldest friends. Yes, it produced some of my favorite photos of the entire year. But even more importantly, I got to watch two queer people fall into each other endlessly, for no other reason than that they truly love one another. Moments like these are magic and being there to capture it on camera means so much to me.
