"She has made me a better person. She has shown me the world."
I love to learn about each couple we shoot. After we meet with each, I send out a questionnaire and coerce each of our couples to divulge all of the intimate details of their lives together. The "whys" — not just the "whens" and "wheres." It never gets old.
Ashtyn and Sejal went to college together at the University of Michigan. Though they didn't actually meet at the time, Sejal first noticed Ashtyn when he stepped out onto the basketball court at one of the games she attended and then again when they both moved to Chicago. After finally meeting, they realized so many more ties that brought them together—namely traveling. They've since seen 32 countries together and even got engaged in the Isuien Garden in Nara, Japan. Incredible.
When I asked Sejal what she loved about Ashtyn, she unloaded a series of simple details—ways that he considered her, embraced her passions, and put her needs first. I melted, but it was quickly easy to see why Ashtyn did when I read his response:
"Sejal is the toughest person I know...even though she has a soft heart and cries at random little things, like a dog commercial and she doesn't even like dogs.
She teaches me a lot.
When it comes to practical knowledge, call it street smarts if you want, I trust her over anyone. That is one of the main reasons I fell in love with her.
She knows sports and beer better than any man I know, myself included.
Have you looked at her? Have you seen those cheeks/dimples?
She likes to be in her drawls any and all of the time (just like me!).
Her loyalty. Her pride.
She navigates, I protect.
She has made me a better person.
She has shown me the world."
That last part stuck with me.
It was an honor shooting these two around the place where they first found each other. Below are a few of our favorites from Ashtyn + Sejal's University of Michigan A Day in the Life Session.
