Oliver Twine: Our Love Story Through the Lens

How it all started

Photography has always been a big part of our lives as a couple. In fact, it all started back in 2015 when my soon-to-be wife Kayla gifted me my first DSLR for Christmas. I was instantly hooked and we took that camera everywhere with us, from family vacations to moving across the country to California for a new job.

Finding Our Creative Spark:

It was in California where we really found our creative spark and fell in love with photography (and each other, of course). With us being alone in a new city, we spent our free time exploring new parts of the state and capturing beautiful moments with our camera. It was those adventures and our shared love for photography that really brought us close together as a couple. We even tried our hand at videography, starting a vlog to share our weekend adventures with our families back on the East Coast.

Humble Beginnings:

Over the years, we took photos of stunning landscapes in Lake Tahoe and portraits of Kayla (my only model at the time) at our local brewery. We also informally took photos for family and friends, whether it was documenting a friend's daughter's baptism or helping document Kayla's sister's maternity. Looking back on some of those early photos, I have to admit there are a few cringe-worthy edits with super saturated or unsaturated tones. But hey, everyone has to start somewhere!

Taking the Plunge:

Unfortunately, life got in the way and we ended up moving back to New York, buying our first home, and the creative outlet of photography took a back seat. It wasn't until I stumbled upon some old photos that I realized how much I missed photography and how much it meant to us as a couple. I knew I wanted to get back into it and even entertained the idea of starting a photography business. Kayla, being the amazing partner that she is, was always supportive and encouraged me to follow my passion. I was reminded that photography had brought us closer together on the West Coast and starting a business together would only strengthen our bond.

We wanted to brand the business as something that reflected both of us, and "Oliver Twine" seemed like the perfect fit. It's a name we both love and saw both of us in. This is truly a joint effort for us as a couple.

So, we took the plunge and started our own photography business under the name "Oliver Twine". It was definitely a learning curve at first, as we had to get back into the technicalities of shooting and posing families. I still remember the moment we received our first call for a photoshoot – I was sitting at the desk in our home office, feeling anxious and unprepared, but Kayla came running in to help as she frantically searched for any scrap of paper to jot down notes as the prospective client talked through what they were looking for. We were not expecting the call at all, and the anxiety of it all was palpable. But it was those humble beginnings that helped us grow and improve within the business. Now, just over a year in, we've met so many amazing families that have inspired us to continue learning and growing as photographers.

Creating Lasting Memories:

We want our clients to feel like they're hanging out with friends on a Saturday afternoon while we capture candid moments of their everyday stories and watch their families grow. We're grateful for the trust our clients have placed in us to document their special moments and create lasting memories for them. Kayla has been the center of inspiration and the driving force behind this business. Photography has brought us closer together and we can't wait to see where this journey takes us. We're excited to continue sharing our passion for photography with the world and creating beautiful memories for others.

J+K