RONAN & FELIPE

LGBTQ+ elopement in Copenhagen 

Copenhagen looks different right before sunset. The whole city warms up, the light drops low between the buildings, and suddenly everything feels cinematic.

That’s exactly when Ronan and Felipe met me in the city center. They are two men who manage to be both passionate and soft at the same time, carrying a kind of energy that fills the space around them.

At first, there was a hint of shyness. Not unusual: being photographed in public is weird, no matter who you are. But something shifted as we walked. Maybe it was the glow of the city, maybe it was the movement of people rushing out of offices to enjoy the sun, or maybe it was simply the way they grounded each other. Whatever it was, they slowly eased into themselves, until the camera became part of the environment instead of an interruption.

We walked around canals, bridges, cobblestones streets, all the chaotic little pockets of the city. Copenhagen was busy and loud and fully alive, and the whole city was happening around them.

People often assume vulnerability only shows up in the big gestures, but with Ronan and Felipe it was in the small things: the way they leaned in to listen, the way their shoulders softened, the way they navigated the photoshoot as a team. You notice those things quickly when you photograph couples for a living.

And yes - empathy is probably the biggest tool I have. It’s why sessions like this work, even when you only have an hour to build trust.