A wedding photographer captured her parents' love in this incredible viral photo shoot.
Amber Robinson, a photographer from Raleigh, North Carolina, is used to capturing photos of young couples in love.
Much of her business comes from weddings and engagement shoots with couples bursting at the seams with new love. Recently, however, she took on an assignment that was... a bit different from her usual fare.
The photos she took were no less romantic or full of love. Unlike her usual clients, the stars of this photo shoot were her own parents.
Robinson's mom and dad — Marvin and Wanda Brewington — have been married for 47 years, and Robinson felt it was time the world heard their powerful love story.
She shared the glamorous photos on Instagram where they quickly went viral, racking up thousands of likes and comments.
All photos by Amber Robinson used with permission.
The lifelong connection the couple has shared practically jumps off the screen, and has people across the internet swooning.
The photos weren't just adorable. They held a powerful message about making love last far beyond a wedding day or engagement shoot.
"In this wonderful creative industry that I worked in, I focus so much on providing couple hours with a day of beautiful photography," she wrote in the emotional post. "To be honest, rarely do I stop to think about the day, weeks, months or years that follow a wedding day."
In her parents' 47 years together, they've endured cancer, raised children, been through dozens of ups and downs, and have shown their children how to live with the generosity of an open heart.
"They are the epitome of where I strive to be in my own marriage and a constant reminder that a wedding is only a day, but a marriage is forever," she wrote.
"If you are one of the millions in love, or maybe one of the millions of broken-hearted that need a visual reminder that love always endures, I would love for you to share this as a way of letting my mom and dad know, they are an inspiration to anyone who wants, believes, or is in love."
A post shared by Images by Amber Robinson (@imagesbyamberr) on
There's a myth floating around out there that true love is dead, killed by divorce and casual hookups — but that couldn't be further from the truth.
People love to cite outdated divorce statistics, or "hook up culture," as a sign that younger generations don't take relationships seriously. But the data shows otherwise.
People are waiting longer and longer to get married, have more freedom to choose their partner, are feeling less pressure to settle down when they're not ready (or at all, if they don't want to!), and likely as a result of that, divorces are actually at a 40-year low.
"I guess people have been given a restored sense of hope through these images," Robinson writes in an email. "So much bad is happening in the world and to look at these pictures and image that a lasting love IS possible just brings hope, especially during this time of the year."
Lifelong monogamy isn't for everyone. But it's hard not to look at these photos and not get all warm and tingly.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.