Queer Joy Photo Session: Mar Celebrates Access to Gender Affirming Care
What is queer joy?
I think it is difficult to sum up what “queer” joy is - we know joy is this big feeling of happiness, some may know queer is a label in the LGBTQ+ community, but what do the words together mean?
*Queer is an umbrella term to describe individuals who don’t identify as straight, but it is important to note that not everyone in the LGBTQ+ community identifies with the word queer as it had a very offensive meaning in the past, but many are now reclaiming the word.
Personally as a business and an individual, I identify as queer and use the term in an affirming way.
For me it is more than just being happy: it is like when someone sees you for who you are, when there is progress in gender equality or diversity, it is discovering our authentic selves, being seen for the first time, hearing our chosen name for the first time, being celebrated as ourselves.
Why did Mar book a queer joy session?
During Haddon Township Pride you took a photo of me holding my “Support my top surgery sign” and I loved how happy I was because I was surrounded by people who were supportive and donated money to my GoFundMe. I found your account and saw that you were an LGBT friendly photographer. One of my plans after getting top surgery was to book a shoot with someone and since you had taken a previous photo of me, I wanted it to be a type of before and after thing.
What did you get from the experience?
The session was important to me because I had never gotten any professional photos taken of me besides the ones from school when I was still closeted and when I cosplayed. I felt comfortable with this shoot because we are both trans men and you’ve also gone through the whole transitioning journey. I wanted this shoot so I could share this moment with others who are still closeted/transitioning and knowing that it gets better.
Mar, his girlfriend and I braved a misty, February afternoon for a quick session on Amico Island Park, in Riverside, NJ. We wanted to go some place that wasn’t super public, since we would be spending time with him taking his shirt off and admiring his scars. This section of Amico Island Park actually has a nice beach access area that overlooks the Rancocas Creek and Delaware River.
The rain was mostly holding off, but as we walked into the beach area, it started misting. We braved through the rest of our session, and Mar looked like a badass. Throughout the session we talked about trans experiences, recovery, the state of politics for the LGBTQ community, and life itself. Connecting through these conversations makes being vulnerable for the photos a bit easier. Many people find “posing” or being in front of the camera as themselves awkward or intimidating, and showing your top surgery scars in public can be both scary and exciting so I encouraged Mar instead of trying to pose for the camera, to look down to feel and embrace his new body as he is recovering.
It’s evident that Mar happy to be seen as himself - and wanted to show his intersectionalities by including the trans flag and the Mexican flag: two massively important parts of his identity.
Many LGBTQ adults have spent much of their lives living how they have been told they should live, sometimes without language to describe what they felt, or being told they could not be who they are. I personally know growing up I did not have the representation or the language, so really not even the awareness of who I was, or the comfort of knowing it was okay. LGBTQ children are often told they cannot possibly know, or it is a phase, worried about if they will be able to be a successful adult and seen for who they are.
It gets better, but it doesn’t mean there are not difficult times. Queer visibility is growing rapidly, but so is fear. There are so many moments of joy and knowledge that many don’t get to witness, or we document it ourselves in our every day lives - but to have someone else there to capture an essence for you - is truly something special.
One of the photos I took of Mar during the Haddon Township Pride Parade Afterparty
Why a queer joy project?
One of the things that brings me so much joy is being able to SEE the results when I can celebrate and affirm someone in who they are; documenting this time where they feel seen and feel good about themselves.
As a queer, trans person myself, I know that being able to just exist and having someone else celebrate or affirm who I am with no questions asked is such an amazing feeling - and it is not something that really happens on a daily basis. I am honored that I get to be a part of someones journey in this way.
It gets better, but it doesn’t mean there are not difficult times. Queer visibility is growing rapidly, but so is fear. There are so many moments of joy and knowledge that many don’t get to witness, or we document it ourselves in our every day lives - but to have someone else there to capture an essence for you - is truly something special. As we affirm ourselves more in who we are, we also experience a dichotomy: others who try to push us down or erase us, and others who uplift us and support us more than we could ourselves.
YOU DESERVE TO BE CELEBRATED AS YOUR MOST AUTHENTIC SELF! Being around other people who just understand your journey with minimal conversation, but still being able to connect, is SO valuable and joyful.
If you are looking for a photographer to capture who you are, and celebrate and affirm you in your photography journey, I would love to work with you!
How do individual sessions work?
Mar happened to reach out at a time when I was doing mini sessions in the area, so he opted for a 30 minute session. Most photo sessions are 1 hour long at one location - sessions can of course be longer if you would like more of a variety of locations and/or outfits!
After paying a deposit and signing the contract, I work with you to help with any session details we need to go over! I have location and vibe ideas, and we work together to make your ideas come to life.