Since I made a website for my photography work, I’ve stopped using this blog as a showcase for my portfolio. Her Little Journal has always been a personal blog, so as soon as I had another platform for my work, I’ve separated personal photos and commissioned ones.

This time, however, is a bit different.

For one, Zahra is my friend. I remember when we were on our way to Bandung to celebrate New Year together, we spent long hours chatting in the traffic. She told me about her plan to get married, and I offered to take her engagement pictures. Even before Dixie Thamrin Photography was born, she’d trusted me enough to say yes to my offer.

And so earlier in July, we ventured to the north of Jakarta to get the shoot done. Maybe it was because she was my friend, or because how they were as a couple, but it didn’t feel like work at all. It was just me trailing around them, and occasionally chatting and laughing with them.

Everything was so effortless and hassle-free, nothing extravagant or over the top. But I’m so, so pleased with the results. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more satisfied with my work before.

And that’s when I realized, I got what I wanted with my work.

Since the very beginning, I knew I wanted to do something different. Photography is a saturated market, and I want to stay true to what I like best: love stories. I want to capture love and emotions between people; something simple, natural, and intimate. I’ve never been fond of glamorous, styled photography that could sometimes be over the top. I reckon if 50 years from now I look at some old photos, I’d want to remember my feelings and thoughts and that time, not how fabulous the properties and accessories were. And so, it was what I wrote for my ‘About’ page on my website.

‘When taking photos of people, I really appreciate them for allowing me to have a peek at their life and special moments, and that’s what I want to capture. I focus on the moments shared between people, things that are personal and intimate for them to look back at. I prefer to capture things simply and naturally.’

Zahra and Jef gave me just that.

I’m lucky enough to be able to do something that I love for my job. But on top of that, I also get to hear so many love stories, meet the people, and capture their moments for the memories they could hold onto in the years to come. And for those all, I’m so grateful.

For more photos of this sweet couple, click here. Or, if you’re like me and you’re a fan of love stories, go to my photography blog, where I display photos alongside the stories.

Hope you enjoy! 🙂