Picture Perfect

The ironic thing about beloved Boston wedding photographers Felix and Sara Rust? They don’t have any pictures of their own vows, exchanged 25 years ago at a duck pond in the Fens. “Looking back, I wish we had made a bigger deal of it. After years of being married and being a photographer, I realize that weddings aren’t just for you—they’re for your friends and family and people who want to celebrate with you,” Felix says. “Our relationship didn’t change, but the world starts to see you as seriously as you’ve seen yourself all along.”

Their own worldview was altered after having son Dash, 16, and daughter Magali, 13, which prompted Felix to pursue what was at the time an amateur passion for photography, shooting an image a day (called the “Daily Dash”) for out-of-town relatives. Over time, portraits and children’s photography morphed into a booming wedding photography business with Sara’s support. “I just assumed it would be lining up and telling everyone what to do. But I did my own thing and snuck around like a fly on the wall, and it was basically playing around all day long,” Felix says. “This won’t be like every other ‘kiss’ photo you’ve ever seen on Pinterest; every shoot is different.”

A self-described introvert who thrives when his “antidote” Sara assists in noisy crowds, Felix says they’ve developed a uniquely symbiotic style over the years. “Because we know each other so well we do this little maneuver where we are dancing out of the way and we’re almost never in each other’s shots. It’s so beautifully choreographed.”

Much like a first date, the Rusts interview all of their potential wedding couples to make sure they’re compatible. Their newest passion—shooting boudoir photography—would never work if Sara weren’t there to help subjects relax. “Like weddings, it’s about these super-emotional, transitional moments,” Felix says. “Women realize how truly beautiful they are when they see the photos for the first time.”