Back when I was planning this editorial in 2021, it felt like we were finally starting to look ahead to what our new normal would be, post-pandemic. I was aching to create something that provided a foretaste of all the good things to come, and this story is what came out of that. The season of spring always brings with it a sense of renewal and hope as buds emerge from the ground and colors return to the trees; flowers sing victory over the death of winter and life begins afresh. In many ways, this editorial was the perfect way to mark what felt like the end of a season of hopelessness, and the beginning of something new & better. 

Being outside under the glow of the sun and among nature has always been a big source of inspiration in my work, as has the feeling of joy itself. Highlighting Asian joy in particular was important to me as a Taiwanese & Chinese American image maker in light of the pains our community felt so heavily during this time. Our radiant couple embodied the warmth & energy that I was hoping to encapsulate, and the strong connection between the two of them was really what brought this editorial to life.

As seen on Over The Moon & The Anti-Bride.