The Story Behind Hey Love Studio and How We Built a Space for Us

In our first ever episode, we’re taking you back to how Hey Love Studio actually started. From a dusty DSLR in South Korea, one life changing 35mm film camera, a global pandemic, and a dream of capturing love that looked like ours.

Hi! We are Adeline and Valerie Merrick, queer photography and videography couple who love to capture authentic moments. We are going to talk about going from Photos by Adeline to Hey Love Studio, why our first camera upgrade made Addie want to scream, and the moment we realized our work wasn’t just photography. It was affirmation, community, and choosing to build a space where queer couples feel seen without having to explain themselves.

If you’re a creative trying to build something that feels honest, intentional, and rooted in who you are, then you are in the right place! New episodes drop every Tuesday morning, so stay tuned!

This Episode Is For You If…

• You are a photographer or creative who wants to build an affirming, people centered business
• You are a queer or trans creative wondering if there is space for you in the wedding industry
• You are thinking about rebranding your business name so it actually feels like you
• You are obsessed with origin stories, immigration love stories, and chosen family
• You want to move from “I take pictures” to “I hold space for people and their stories”

Things You’ll Learn

• How Addie went from struggling with a kit lens to being published in a Korean magazine and eventually photographing full time in the U.S.
• The moment we realized affirming photography mattered more than perfect poses or Pinterest boards.
• Why Photos by Adeline never felt right and how Hey Love Studio became the name that changed everything.
• How immigration, chosen family, and queer identity shaped the way we serve couples today.
• The exact gear and systems we used in the beginning so you can avoid our mistakes.
• Why finding community is not about networking events but meeting people where they already love to be.
• The truth about pricing, shutter counts, and why photographers need to stop racing to the bottom.
• The role a good mentor plays in keeping your confidence (and your creativity) alive.
• How to grow without comparing yourself to every photographer on Instagram.

Connect with Hey Love Studio

heylovestudio.com | @heylovestudio on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest | Zola, Bark, Yelp, Dancing With Her, Everywhere Is Queer