Anji & Dera's facetime couple shoot

Today I have something completely diffreent for you. Anji and Dera got photographed remotely by Kinga Leftska and I think that even if it’s so far away from what you can usually see on GWB, it’s also so perfect right now, in this reality we live in.

HOW DID YOU MEET?

Anji: We met 9ish years ago at an NAACP meeting at our university, SHSU! There were no LGBTQ+ organizations on campus at the time and we became fast friends.

Dera: We reconnected again when Anji’s then-boyfriend came over to show her off to his best friend/my roommate at the time. WHEW — Scandal!

DO YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL AND WEDDING?

Dera: I planned a surprise engagement for Anji in Venice, Italy. It was just our first international trip together, her first time in Italy and the airline lost our luggage!! Not the best start to our trip.

We stepped off the train in Venice and started “exploring,” but in actuality, I was trying to find Kinga. Working with a Google Earth picture for the meet-up location and my Nigerian-Italian cousin as our guide/translator. The specific meet-up time was sunset and we were officially lost! Anji, on the other hand, was (clueless) getting hangry and wanted to stop to have a picnic with some sandwiches she bought.

Thankfully, we found the location in the knick of time, but I didn’t even know what
Kinga looked like! While I tried distracting Anji, my cousin went around asking for a photographer. I got the go-ahead from Kinga just as Anji bit into her sandwich.

The photos are my favorite – you see the tears, the backdrop, and the sandwich.

Anji: Originally, we wanted a Game of Thrones extravaganza with real dire-wolves and all! We quickly came off that idea when we started to plan. haha

We had a beautiful court house wedding with attendees hand picked. we rented out our favorite ramen restaurant for lunch and then after party in Brooklyn!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SHOOT IN ONE SENTENCE?

The facetime shoot was thrilling and exciting but yet calm and relaxing. Kinga, always makes sure we are/feel comfortable — it’s her gift.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS SHOOT?

Kinga’s creative genius! She had an idea to have a shoot over FT while she was in Venice, Italy and we were in Los Angeles. Kinga mood boarded, set up a test shoot, shot and edited all within 24-28 hours.

HOW AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER?

I found Kinga on IG and as soon as I saw her page, I was immediately drawn to her style of photography. there wasn’t a 2nd thought or back up photog. She is able to capture “that special something” with such ease!

Photography by Kinga Leftska.