Same-sex couple photography: Feelings Have No Gender

Same-sex love is a force as timeless as the stars—pure, unwavering, and breathtakingly beautiful. It is the quiet comfort of a hand held in the dark, the radiant joy of a stolen glance across a crowded room, the unspoken understanding between two souls who have found home in each other.
It is love that has endured, love that has fought to be seen, love that exists boldly despite the odds. It is the kind of love that rewrites history, that breaks barriers, that stands as a testament to the human heart’s unyielding desire to love freely. And these are our most favourite love stories, the ones that we wish to immortalise through our lens!
I had met Indra, the shy boy with an occasionally cheeky sense of humor, on my very first Wedding Photography Assignment of life. He was Shravani’s (the Bride) cousin. 10 years hence, I got a call from Minnesota. He got in touch with me for doing his own Pre-Wedding Photography. My heart had leapt with joy and a reverie of unspeakable emotions. Babun (Indra) is all grown up! And he fondly remembers and adores my work.

The Adventure begins..Woof!

Here is a story set in the times of a global pandemic when the world felt deeply connected and heartbreakingly divided. A time when people came together to cherish their loved ones as if living out the ‘end of days,’ while closed international borders kept others apart, kind of like a Garcia Marquez novel with a dash of ‘The Last of Us’.

But don’t worry—this isn’t a sad story, despite how it starts. Amid the chaos, Indra Mitra and Clay Reiland found each other on Tinder, while the former was doing PhD (now a researcher in Mayo Clinic) and Clay (an Architect) was about a 100miles away spending the day at his father’s lake house. That’s how they showed up on each others feed and right swiped. Clay swiped right because he believed the ’90s were the best era, and Indra swiped right because Clay had a photo holding a baby goat (honestly, how could Indra not?). And just like that, a connection was made.

Around the same time, their dog Ginny was born—a chocolate brown little ball of fur who brought new life, endless joy, and a reminder that even in uncertain times, hope and love find a way. On their second date during Covid, they drove 14 hours together to get their first pet dog. “Longest recorded 2nd date probably”, chuckled Indra. Indra and Clay discovered that sometimes the best stories start in the most unexpected places.

Together, they packed up their lives and set off on an adventure. Indra’s job took them from the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest, and then to the Eastern Shore, and Clay was more than happy to join him for the ride. With Ginny by their side, they explored places they had never seen before and built a family on the road.

Same-sex couple photography

The Love Birds

“Clay is funny but quiet. Smart and easy going. Pretty chill. Not the typical ‘white guy’. Loves dad jokes ( that should give you a better idea of his personality). He’s more goofy than anything else” , he added.
As a photographer, and someone who had had the chance to meet Indra in his formative years, I liked Clay already, and couldn’t wait to meet the duo.
Their couple chemistry was outgoing, fun , with them breaking into laughters every now and then. Not too intense and overly romantic. They laughed together, teased each other. “That’s our love language. Banter”, said Indra.”We are mostly snuggling and watching tv with our pup or grabbing dinner and drinks at a lounge. We cook together on weekends. Our hangout spots are part of the city that have boutique shops, local businesses, the Arts District “, added he.

The Planning and Preparation

At its core, same-sex love is simply love. It is the same joy, the same vulnerability, the same depth of connection that exists in all great loves. It is the way two people can find home in each other, the way their hearts can beat in sync, the way their souls can recognize each other across time and space. It is the laughter, the tears, the quiet moments, and the grand gestures. It is the way love, when it is true, knows no boundaries.
“The shoot of my dreams would be to juxtapose my relationship with my fiance against my relationship with my city. These are the two great loves of my life,” said he. “We both like the lens with which you look at your subjects and the aesthetic that you present them with in your photos. You did a wonderful shoot with my sister and ever since then I had this in my mind that if I ever get married, I’ll ask you to capture it in frames. “

Not a lot of photographers do gay engagement or gay marriage in India or gay marriage photos in Kolkata, and also not a lot of same sex wedding happen around here, in India. Engagement Photography for Same-Sex Couples in India is hard to find, when you look up on the internet. Back home, Indra was involved in a lot of activism in Kolkata. He was also a part of Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk Festival. We had a lot of common friends in the LGBTQIA+ community or the Rainbow community. I am perhaps one of the very few LGBTQ engagement photographer or LGBTQ Wedding photographer of the country.
The fact that i was an LGBTQIA+ friendly photographer and actively support and work for the cause with the LGBTQIA+ community, and same sex couples is a plus, he impressed. Indra was never closeted back home but was also not out. He came out to his family in 2020 during Covid.
Not just their story was interesting , but also that theirs was an interracial interfaith union, their love stood out as Love Beyond Borders.

Same-sex couple photography

~The Final Checklist~

While they plan their wedding they are trying to blend the best of both the cultures. It will be a western wedding in terms of rituals , with an officiator and vows , but the wedding party’s outfits will be Indian. They are going to do some of fun Bengali wedding games and stuff too.
Indra grew up in Kolkata, so no matter wherever he went later in life, he carried a piece of Kolkata in his heart. For the Pre-Wedding shoot he chose Bengal’s very own kantha-stitched fabric for himself, and embroidered organza for Clay. “When I got these didn’t even think about getting photos done but my thinking was, since I live here in USA, I need my country and specially West Bengal with me. It’s like our moms collecting sarees you know,” he said, basking in nostalgic sentiment. He didn’t want to opt for anything flashy or standoffish. He wanted to wear muted pastel colors from beiges, coral, sage or similar palette.

So together we had prepared a checklist. Late monsoon and pre-fall are rather gloomy times in Calcutta, with an overshadowed sky, and the duo wanted to go for an outdoor shoot. And therefore our options were kind of limited.
Indra’s grandparents’ house was just two lanes apart from mine, in Bagbazar. So he was familiar with the area. “I think places which will provide the essence of North Kolkata I want in the photos. If we are lucky we might even find a parked yellow taxi somewhere there early in the morning.

We can stick to the bylanes of Girish Avenue, the gullys of North Calcutta and old colonial buildings, and that one house that’s in the middle of the street in like a roundabout. I like the old Bengali eternal vibe. Some black and white in the mix would be great,” said he. Infact yellow taxis of Calcutta topped his wishlist, and we have been lucky enough to do the shoot at the nick of time.On november 25th, 2024, the stae transport department announced that almost 4,500 of the remaning yellow ambassador taxis will be phased out before the end of 2025, because of exceeding the 15-year service limit for commercial vehicles.

Same-sex couple photography

The excitement and anticipation

Indra didn’t experience Durga Puja in the last 8 years, since the time he left for United States. He was pretty excited to be doing a photoshoot, close to the Durga Puja.
As a last point of the checklist, i had to ask if they are uncomfortable in front of people. I told him, “There are a lot of activities around that area in the morning.The week leading up to Durga Puja, will be very hard, to avoid any crowd. But don’t let that scare you.”

We decided upon an early morning photo-session.

The Shoot

Indra and Clay reached Calcutta, on the 30th of September, two days before the Mahalaya. We didnt want them to appear jet-lagged and tired in the photos. So we had decided the shoot date to be on October 4th, the next Friday.

It rained the night before and was raining since morning on the day of the shoot.
Indra arrived at the shooting spot impeccably dressed in Indian ethnic fabrics with a sling bag, along with Clay, 6:30 in the morning. Bagbazar Ghat is a 7 to 10 minutes of speedwalk from my house. I was happy, excited, nervous all at the same time with the anticipation of meeting some of my favourite people and give them a big hug, after 10 long years!

I absolutely love doing same sex couple pre-wedding photoshoots or same-sex couple elopement photo-shoots. Just as I love shooting interracial weddings or cross cultural weddings. And, I loved meeting Clay . He was kind, warm, thoughtful and an absolute gentleman, the kind of a person someone would love to introduce to their family. He brings out the best in his boyfriend, and also actively trying to rid him of his smoking habit. After years of disappointment in the department of heart, with Clay, Indra had certainly hit a jackpot there !

Same-sex couple photography

Throughout the shoot there was tenderness of two hands finding each other , not because they were told to, but because they simply could not resist the pull of connection. There were the soft glances filled with unspoken promises, the laughter that echoes like music, and the quiet moments of understanding that need no words. Their love was like poetry in motion; deep-rooted friendship and electrifying passion. It is not defined by gender but by the way two people fit together, the way they choose each other, again and again. It is love, in its purest form—boundless, unapologetic, and infinite.
Indra and Clay’s love was a tapestry woven with threads of resilience, vulnerability, and joy. It is a love that has fought to exist, to be seen, and to be celebrated. And in that fight, it has become something extraordinary—a love that is fearless, free, and fiercely beautiful.

Over a period of the next 1 hour we managed to get a couple of decent shots in the nearby areas. We had initially planned for one more day of shoot, but due to time-crunch it didn’t happen.

Same-sex love is a celebration of the human spirit. It is a reminder that love is not confined by gender, by tradition, or by societal expectations. It is a testament to the fact that love, in all its forms, is a force of nature—wild, untamed, and breathtakingly beautiful. It is a love that inspires, that heals, that transforms. It is a love that says, “We are here. We are love. And we are unstoppable.”

More Adventure Awaits

These ridiculously cute duo, is all set to tie the knot on Sunday, May 25th of 2025 in Glen Allen, Virginia. Intimate gay weddings are one of the most beautiful ones, and I can’t wait to see their wedding photos, and have already ask them to reserve a printed invite for me, as a memento. In Indra’s own words, their next stop is getting married in a ceremony filled with their closest friends and family and including them in their adventure. But, as every adventure needs a grounding place, Indra and Clay haven’t found theirs yet. They hope to live in Williamsburg over the next couple of years—a beautiful house to call home and maybe even a couple of human siblings for Ginny.

When i started out with wedding photography, gay-engagement photoshoot and same-sex marriage photoshoot was one of the top three of my wedding bucketlist. I am a sucker for beautiful LGBT weddings. So i jump at every opportunity to do a same-sex engagement session, no matter where the client wants me to do the shoot. Same-sex love is also a love of profound courage. It is a love that has had to navigate a world that hasn’t always been kind, a love that has had to carve out space for itself in the face of adversity. It is a love that has had to say, “We will not be silenced. We will not be erased.” And in doing so, it has become a beacon of hope—a reminder that love, in all its forms, is worth fighting for.

It is still appalling that when it comes to accepting same-sex love, Indian society has a long way to go. The recent failure to convince the Supreme Court for acceptance of gay marriages, came as a shock to many. And that’s why more and more couples like Indra and Clay decide to tie the knot outside India, in a relatively more accommodating culture.

Same-sex couple photography

Indra feels for the rights of minority communities in India. And he adds, “USA is not that great either, in this regard always”. Reportedly, transphobia is at its peak there. People are against drag queens. Not a lot of places are safe for gay couples. Same sex couples like Indra and Clay are required to think a lot, when they think of career transition as to where they end up, which city, which State. “It’s important, I don’t want my future kids to be bullied at school just because they have two dads,” -says Indra.

Same-sex love is a radiant testament to the boundless, transformative power of the heart. It is a love that defies convention, transcends boundaries, and flourishes in its authenticity. It is a love that has endured silence, stigma, and struggle, yet emerges stronger, more luminous, and unapologetically true. Same-sex love is not just a feeling; it is a revolution—a quiet, profound rebellion against a world that has too often tried to dictate who we should love and how we should express it.

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Same-sex couple photography

In a world that often tries to divide, same-sex love unites. It is a love that bridges gaps, that builds bridges, that brings people together. It is a love that reminds us all of what it means to be human—to love, to be loved, and to celebrate the beauty of connection. Same-sex love is not just a love story; it is a love revolution. And it is changing the world, one heart at a time.

Indra and Clay’s magical love, redefined what love can be. It is a love that challenges norms, breaks down barriers, and expands the very definition of connection. It is a love that says, “We are here. We are real. And we are magnificent.”

Title: Same-sex couple photography
Photography: Adusyanti Chatterjee
Location: Kolkata, India
Copyright: WOWDINGS

Click here to read about The First Transgender Wedding of Kolkata
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