Some sessions stay with you — not because of the location or the light or even the images themselves, but because of the people. Danny and Ben are that kind of people.

I first photographed them eleven years ago, back when I was shooting digital and we were all figuring things out. A lot has changed since then — my work is all film now, and getting to come back to them with that was something special. The timing was perfect too: they were celebrating their anniversary. We had planned an early-fall outdoor session, but the weather had other ideas. We almost canceled. Danny held out for sunshine, and I am so glad he did.

A Rainy Sunday and One Big Window in Washington DC

We pivoted to inside their apartment without skipping a beat — one big window, soft ambient light, fifteen minutes, and good conversation. We caught up on life and our immense love for the Cowboy Carter Tour and how life-changing it was. The rain slowed and a sliver of sun came beaming through their window. It was go time.

The Home That Tells Their Story

Danny and Ben’s apartment is one of those spaces that tells you everything you need to know about the people who live in it before anyone says a word. A floor-to-ceiling gallery wall — bold, layered, joyful, colorful and completely theirs. Their pup hiding under the coffee table. A rainbow-adorned balcony basically calling the sun towards us.  And the biggest portrait of Dolly Parton, pink wig and all. This is not a generic space. Neither are they.

That’s what I mean when I say a home session is different. You’re not manufacturing atmosphere. You’re documenting the one that already exists.

Why Film — And Why It Matters for Indoor Portrait Sessions

I brought three cameras to this one: the Contax 645, the Contax G2, and the Nikon F5 — all loaded with Kodak Portra 400. Medium format for those full, luminous frames that hold every bit of window light the way only film can. The G2 for the quicker, more instinctive moments between poses. The Nikon F5 because honestly, I had a few frames to finish.

Kodak Portra 400 in low, warm, indoor light is one of my favorite combinations in photography. It renders skin in a way that feels lived-in and real — not perfect, not overly warm, just true. These images look like a Sunday afternoon. And this session feels like Danny and Ben.

What a Decade Together Actually Looks Like

There’s a difference between photographing someone who’s been with their partner for a few months and photographing someone who’s been building a life with them for a decade plus. It’s not something you can direct. It’s in the way they move around each other. The way they finish a thought — or don’t need to. The way they laugh at an inside reference I’m not in on, and I don’t need to be. Ten years ago I made pictures of who they were becoming. This session, I got to document who they are.

Plan Your Washington DC Portrait Session

Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, a milestone, or simply the fact that you’ve built something beautiful together and you want photographs of it — I’d love to be your Washington DC film portrait photographer. Portrait sessions are available in Washington DC, South Florida, and destinations worldwide. Reach out when you’re ready: reneehollingshead.com/contact

Contax 645 • Contax G2 • Nikon F5 • Kodak Portra 400