Whenever or if ever she decides to get married (we’re team #nopressure here.),

I want to be Dakota Johnson’s wedding photographer. 

There, I said it. 

It’s out there in the ether, the great big, ever expanding internet…

Universal intelligence, do your thing.

My name is Natasha and I’m a documentary wedding photographer based in New York.

Earlier this year I came across this Tiktok about vision boards. While in the past I’ve rolled my eyes at the idea, I figured; what do I really have to lose by trying it out? I started writing down some personal and business goals that I hoped to conquer in the next few years and (spoiler alert:) so far, 6 months in, this train is still on the rails.

It gave me this permission slip to think about dreams that were seemingly unattainable.

I’d hardly allowed myself to dream of photographing weddings as a living, let alone for one of my favorite celebrities.

At first, a part of me definitely thought I was being ridiculous. While I have never before allowed myself to dream so big, I decided that when it feels like the world is burning (which is often these days), the only solulu is to allow myself to be a little delulu.

In doing this big dreaming, my mind went straight to the woman that has brought me endless laughs and simultaneously speaks with grace on topics close to my heart.

Enter Dakota Johnson.

I’ve been a fan since the Ben & Kate days (#justiceforBenandKate) and my appreciation has steadily grown along with her movie portfolio, hilarious interviews and natural affinity for comedy even in the most serious of subject matters.

I reckon the Madame Web press tour will one day be studied as coursework for its brilliance.

There are so many reasons why I adore Dakota and her work. I could talk about it for hours on end (and probably already have).

The more I have thought about it and how I could possibly begin to achieve this goal, the more I have realized, I would be the perfect person to photograph Dakota Johnson’s wedding. And, in fact, there quite a lot of reasons why.

Reasons why I should be Dakota Johnson’s wedding photographer:

Reason #1 why I should be Dakota Johnson’s wedding photographer: I get her

I’ve spent a lot of time on the other side of a screen displaying her films, watching interviews, reading articles, and just generally following the lore that is Dakota Johnson’s work and life. I can genuinely relate to so much of what she values and has to say.

I understand what is special to her

In a way that I kind of admire, Dakota Johnson is not exactly the easiest celebrity to follow. Her cyber presence is very minimal. Understanding her isn’t something that anyone can begin to do after a quick tap of a follow button.

She is an old school kind of celebrity.

Even for celebrities with a strong online presence, as someone outside of their circle, you never truly know them. We only observe and fill in the gaps in our minds of who they may be.

Through interviews, films, and videos of Dakota—I may not know everything or even begin to understand her fully, but I know this: she is a woman that stands firm in her values and does her best to honor them at every chance she has.

While I can’t discern everything through this somewhat surface level understanding, I ALREADY understand a lot of what she holds close in a way that any other photographer off the street might not.

Family

Dakota Johnson has this big, blended family. Her relationship with her parents and stepfather (Antonio Banderas may no longer be married to her mother, but they seem to have remained close) may not always be center stage, but that doesn’t make them any further from the heart.

She has spoken of her grandmother especially in such high regard.

I have always been close with my own grandmother and it warms my heart to see and hear Dakota talk about her grandmother in a similar way.

Family is so special in whatever form we are gifted it—assigned or chosen.

It is clear that Dakota’s family and friends are so near and dear to her. I would think she would want to share this day with those folks and while the focus would be on her and her partner, it would also be about celebrating it with everyone in her circle.

Hands

Something I have noticed in my wholehearted and totally sane levels of adoration for Dakota Johnson is how she speaks with her hands.

In her movies, she even acts with her hands. She has this instinct to physically reassure others with this effortless ease.

I have always gravitated toward taking photos of hands. There are these deep, emotional stories in photos of hands. People holding hands, hand gestures, people talking with their hands, a gentle squeeze, an excited arm grab.

It is a small detail. It is one that I will always pay attention to. Capturing photos of moments that are seemingly inconsequential is what gives my galleries something special. Because it tends to be those seemingly inconsequential moments that we love getting to remember and think wistfully on. They end up being the most special.

Those details allow us to look back, even at those micro details, and remember how special it really is to be alive and make the choices we choose and love others as fiercely as we do.

Humor

Dakota Johnson’s sense of humor encompasses so much more than a quick wit or the occasional one liner.

Dakota Johnson’s sense of humor is a state of being. It is physical and rhythmical and energetic. It’s well timed eye contact. It is saying the most diabolical things at the most inappropriate times. A hint of purposeful awkwardness. It is unique and wholly hilarious.

Sometimes it shakes me to my core how funny this woman is.

Her work is SO valuable

While her work is not the most important reason that I would be honored to shoot her wedding, I think it is worth noting.

A lot of Dakota’s work is near and dear to my heart.

I think what I appreciate most is her advocacy for mental health and the desire to tell stories that people will relate to.

The kinds that don’t distract us but invite us back to the table and into each other’s lives.

I think she’s steadily and successfully taking over the indie movie scene with her production company TeaTime Pictures. From the movies and shows she is a part of to the work she does off screen, I continue to find myself amazed by her.

In recent years, Johnson has played a few roles that I found to be really special. Peanut Butter Falcon is a film in which she plays the caretaker and friend at a nursing home of a young boy with down syndrome and in Cha Cha Real Smooth she plays the mother of a girl with autism. In seeing her play these roles and interact with people behind the scenes, I grew even fonder of her. The stories themselves are touching and the energy she brings to the film is something special.

My younger brother, who tragically passed away, was autistic—my family had actually moved to America decades ago because of the more advanced studies and care available for him. His death was devastating.

The stories she told, the interviews she participated in, and the way she interacts with others is so special. She regarded the actors from those films with such love and respect. I already had such an affinity for Dakota, but watching her interact with Zach and Vanessa deeply touched me.

It reminded me of my brother and our relationship. The way we would tease each other and laugh together. Seeing her in those roles and off-screen started to heal a part of me in a way I could never quite reach on my own.

The Daddio advance screening

A while back, I saw a Twitter post about an advance screening of Daddio at 92nd Street Y including a live interview with Dakota Johnson for Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad & Confused podcast. I bought tickets and took my best friend with me for support.

The movie itself was compelling and a cinematic treat.

Furthermore, proving that constraint can be a superb catalyst for creativity. At times it felt like tunnel vision and others like a bright kaleidoscope of images and colors from within this little contained bubble. 

Personally, I think New York is at its most beautiful at night and this movie highlights the beauty of all that. It forces you to pay attention because there aren’t any distractions in the form of extra characters and numerous locations–just two people in a cab, fully engaged with one another. It’s simultaneously jarring and liberating and overall incredibly vulnerable and intimate–because even in the silence and close ups, the characters still told us their life stories. 

Both Sean and Dakota held their own and this film highlighted the core of New York which is the humanity shared between strangers from completely different walks of life. Moments like these are such a staple of the New York experience.

The interview with Dakota that followed was hilarious and delightfully unhinged–just how we adore her.

She had the whole room in the palm of her hand and we laughed throughout. Maybe it was the champagne or the open season she declared on Josh, but it solidified my desire to be her wedding photographer. She is the kind of person I want to be surrounded by, to create for.

Also, she identifies as a Ravenclaw… or now a Slitherclaw. (The podcast will explain this phenomenon which I’ll include a link to once it’s released.)

This screening was just another example for me of how valuable her work is and how important her impact is.

Reason #2 why I should be Dakota Johnson’s wedding photographer: Our personalities match

Our sense of humor

Again, the humor on this woman.

I have found myself on multiple occasions with my eyes wandering in search of someone to make well timed eye contact with as she often does.

Her sense of humor and mine are SO similar and I’d like to think any interaction of ours would include a healthy amount of laughter.

We know what is important

So many of our apparent values overlap. There is something special about coming into contact with people that just get your balance of a deep reverence to your core values and commitment to silliness and humor—people that share it.

It is so important in this world to stay close to people like that.

Reason #3 why I should be Dakota Johnson’s wedding photographer: My documentary and cinematic photography style

Every photographer has their own style that is the right fit for a certain type of person. My style is very sentimental, cinematic, and captures authentic moments in a documentary style.

Dakota’s wedding

It may be embarassing to admit, but I have spent quite a bit of time wondering what Dakota’s wedding might be like.

To be honest, I get either an elopement girlie vibe from her or maybe a small destination wedding with a full weekend program of her favorite activities out in the big outdoors; walking around barefoot, some farm animals? Endless wine and maybe she might just end up crashing someone else’s party while hosting her own. Boss moves. 

Whatever route she chooses, one thing seems certain and that is, the celebration would be intimate.

Just her and her partner’s favorite people. And given her big, blended family, I can imagine it being a weekend of big laughs, wedding roasts (she does try to get her best friend arrested all the time so payback is due), scorching dance moves and of course some tender moments in between.

Maybe all the guests might get a special tattoo as a wedding favor from the bride? or a bag of limes?

That’s one of my favorite things about weddings; how all your favorite humans are in one place to celebrate and wish you the absolute best for the future. That’s buckets load of good energy that I love to experience and capture for others.

Your candids, elevated

Dakota has this very funny, unserious energy. The photos I have seen of her taken in the moment by family and friends tell this story of a lighthearted, hilarious woman. So often we overlook these kinds of candid photos.

The true, genuine moments. The silly and seemingly insignificant.

The quick snap on your phone.

Those moments end up being the most special, even if we tend to forget about them.

Those are the moments I love getting to capture—to create this elevated version of your candid moments, that documents how it genuinely is for you to hold on to forever. Your day is already cinematic. Your reality and all the little moments you might have missed or forgotten about is already a cinematic masterpiece. Allow me to commit it to film for you.

The energy of images you might capture for yourself, but with the eye and tact of an artist.

Those moments are precious. And they are yours. Once lost, they are lost forever.

Whatever Dakota Johnson’s wedding looks like, I know with my entire being that my photography style will take it and run.

It won’t be entirely posed and put together. There is definitely space for that, but my point is that the posed and put together isn’t everything. The behind-the-scenes, after the cameras are done filming, her and her favorite people just celebrating. The documentary style is meant for those moments.

Sometimes the most special photos are the ones you keep to yourself.

Reason #4 why I should be Dakota Johnson’s wedding photographer: I will guard those photos with my life

All my life, I have been a vault.

Call me Natasha the Vault.

I am a keeper of secrets and drama. I am a safe space. It has always been this way. And it is a quality I love possessing. People just tell me things. And with me they remain.

Privacy, security and photo backups are a big deal. I may not see the future, but I do know that I will protect ANYONE’S wedding photos with my life.

Reason #5 why I should be Dakota Johnson’s wedding photographer: Celebrating feminine creativity

Something I admire about Dakota Johnson is her affinity and commitment to feminine creativity.

I love working with other women. It scratches an itch in my brain. It feels like home. Some of her best work is a direct result of collaboration with other feminine creatives. Some of the best work ever is a direct result of collaboration between feminine creatives.

In addition, her love and support for feminine energy as an artistic collective that can conquer the world leaps off the screen when you hear her talk about the projects that she loves.

We share this appreciation and I think the best way we could possibly celebrate it would be for me to photograph her wedding.

Reason #6 why I should be Dakota Johnson’s wedding photographer: the respect I have for her and her partner

Dakota Johnson’s partner is rumored to be Chris Martin of Coldplay (she’s never officially confirmed it is him, only mentioned having a partner).

Coldplay’s music has always felt cinematic and touching to me—it is vibrant, at times technicolor. Their song Swallowed in the Sea from the X&Y album has been close to my heart for decades. The album was released right around the time my family moved to America. Over the years I have associated it with so many different personal challenges and time periods and it has meant so many different things to me.

It tells this beautiful story about being lost and belonging. That song will never go out of style for me.

Talk about a power couple. All of his work is so beautiful.

These two people have this kindhearted energy and even from such a distance I can tell they would be the kind of couple I would have a blast working with, the kind of couple I would feel so fulfilled by photographing and honored to serve. I have the utmost respect for the pair of them.

Dakota Johnson is my ideal wedding client.

I mean think about it, anyone who remains cool as a cucumber during an earthquake is a wedding vendor’s dream.

If you resonate with her or our overlapping values: I am speaking to you here. Weddings have a special place in my heart. Your wedding is beyond special. I am here to handle it tenderly and with care.

Let me document your day with the kind of regard that I would capture my closest loved ones’. Read more about booking your wedding photographer here or fill out this form to get it going.

And if you are or know Dakota Johnson or know someone who knows her and can get us in touch…  you’d be earning all the universal brownie points to set you up for life. More info is here and my email is hello@natashajahangir.com, thanks… you’re the best.

Thank you for coming to my little dear diary moment. I’m gonna go back to my vision board.

Based in New York, born to travel.