Wedding at Sea Breeze Beach House, Barbados

Stephanie and Lee and their gorgeous kids came to Barbados for their wedding. I’ve always LOVED photographing weddings where the clients kids were there with them. I mean, how freaking cool will it be for those littles to see themselves at their parents wedding!

I have lots of words, but the letter Stephanie shared with me touched me to my core. And (with their permission) I’d like to share her words with you. They are my WHY:

Hi Aniya,

I am aware i always start my messages with an apology – but REALLY, i am so sorry for the time it has taken for me to write this email. I thought the chaos in my life would slow down once the wedding was over but something else seems to just take its place.

I just wanted to thank you for documenting our day so beautifully.

When i spoke about the wedding to people when we got home i told them that i will never forget the way that lee was looking at me when he first seen me walking down the aisle. Our eyes locked and seeing the emotion on his face was the most precious thing about the whole day. 

When we got the link to the pictures and i was looking through i was blown away that you captured the exact moment that replays in my mind every time i think about the wedding day and i will be forever grateful to you. My memory is shockingly bad, but now i don’t have to worry about ever forgetting the beautiful look in his eyes at that moment. I am getting emotional again thinking about it and writing this email.

I sat down with my daughter to show her the pictures and she was mesmerised by each one. I wish i had recorded her reactions but i honestly did not expect her to react in the way she did. It was such a special moment sharing them with her and seeing how happy she was remembering the day – Shes only 9 but she loved looking at every picture and giggling at how much me and lee were “aggressively laughing” with each other all day. 

The pictures of her at the bathroom door waiting for me to put my dress on are so special to me, and the ones of her looking over as i was getting my makeup done – you can’t see me in the shot but i know she was looking over and watching – oh gosh, now i’m ugly crying thinking about them 

Thank you for being such a joy to speak to and work with, as someone who was not that bothered about ever getting married and thinking it would all be a fuss for nothing, i can honestly say other than the birth of my children, it was the best day of my life and i wish i could relive it all over again – thanks to your photos I am able to look back and remember every moment. 

I’m sure you already know but I just needed to say again, Your talent is so special and you have a real gift. 

Thank you truly, from the bottom of my heart.

Steph Donovan.

I am the ULTIMATE empath and storyteller. 

Hey, I’m Aniya (Ah-Knee-Ya) – the ultimate empath and storyteller. 

That’s a weird combo, isn’t it?

Kind of, but not really. 

I have strong feelings about pretty much everything. And because of this, I know the value of a moment that needs to be photographed. 

My clients have coined me a “Connection specialist”, and I’ll happy take that. 

Whether I’m photographing your wedding, your family, or your awesome self in my studio, I’m feeling your feels, and making damn honest, beautiful photographs for you.