I remember the first time I met Melissa and Stephen. It was 2012, and I was hosting a Valentine’s-themed photo booth at a local event in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They walked in, bashful but confident, still carrying that beautiful uncertainty that comes with a first date. They stood before my camera for the very first time as a couple — and little did any of us know, that photo would be the first frame in a love story that would last a lifetime.

Over the years, we’ve stayed friends. I watched them fall in love, say “I do,” and build a life together with quiet strength and laughter. When you’ve known someone that long, it’s almost poetic to see how both love and art evolve — how the years add depth, confidence, and grace.

Now, more than a decade later, I had the privilege of photographing them again — this time, as husband and wife celebrating their 10th anniversary. We chose the historic Mayo Hotel as the backdrop: a place full of light, architecture, and timeless elegance. It felt symbolic — much like their relationship, strong and classic, yet full of warmth and spark.

As a photographer, there’s something surreal about capturing the same souls at different points in time. My work has grown, just as their marriage has. Each image carries a decade of laughter, growth, and shared memories — proof that love, when nurtured, only becomes more radiant with time.

Here’s to Melissa and Stephen — ten years of love, partnership, and the beautiful art of growing together.