Why Personal Work Matters | As a black wedding Photographer in San Diego
Some of the most important work I make doesn’t happen on a wedding day. Personal projects have always been a huge part of how I grow as an artist. They give me space to experiment, to slow down, and to reconnect with the parts of photography that first made me fall in love with it. When I’m not photographing weddings, I’m often watching films, looking through art books, or sketching out little ideas that eventually turn into shoots like this one. This session with Maggie came from that place.
We met at the cliffs just before sunset. The waves were crashing behind us, the air was cool, and the energy of the evening felt quiet and calm. There wasn’t much direction needed – just small bits of conversation and long stretches of silence while we let the moment unfold. Sometimes the best images come from that kind of space, where there’s room to simply observe and create. By the time the sun disappeared, we both knew we had made something special together. The images feel so meaningful to both of us, and for me, work like this always ends up feeding directly back into my wedding photography. These personal sessions refresh me. They push my creativity and allow me to step into wedding season with renewed energy, perspective, and inspiration. They remind me why I do this work in the first place.
Personal work is also where I get to lean more intentionally into the stories and representation that matter to me. As a Black woman photographer in Southern California, it’s deeply important to me to photograph alongside and uplift Black women whenever I can. Creating with Maggie felt like such a natural extension of that. Throughout my work, I’ve had the privilege of photographing people from many different backgrounds – couples of all shades, queer couples, Black women, and so many beautifully diverse stories. That range of experience is something I value deeply. It continues to shape the way I approach photography and the care I bring into each space I’m invited into.
In my personal work especially, I love creating images that highlight that diversity and celebrate the people in front of my lens. For anyone searching for a Black woman photographer in Southern California, a Black wedding photographer in San Diego, or a Black woman photographer in Los Angeles, representation and intention are both things that matter deeply in the way I approach my work. Sessions like this one remind me that photography is both art and connection. And when those two things meet, something really meaningful can happen. This quiet evening at the cliffs with Maggie was one of those moments.
Maggie is an incredible model and artist and you can find her work here: https://www.instagram.com/maggieziiine/
