Modern love, especially among young people has reshaped our understanding of marriage. Ours is a generation that speaks endlessly about marriage, weddings, and “forever,” yet our relationship to commitment has shifted dramatically. In an era defined by hookup culture and situationships, we often protect ourselves from vulnerability by avoiding the very depth we claim to desire. And still, despite our hesitation, marriage remains powerful in our collective imagination, a lingering symbol of stability, security, and the promise of a “happily ever after.”
An empty swimming pool, a setting rich with symbolism.
The pool represents our dreams of love and lifelong partnership vast, open, and full of possibility. Yet it stands dry. The absence of water speaks to the emotional depletion, lack of preparedness, and fragile connections that make it difficult to truly “fill our cups.” It mirrors the reality of today’s dating pool: uncertain, inconsistent, and often unfulfilling. Still, the space is not without hope.
We are living in a transitional age, shedding old traditions without fully understanding what will replace them. The blueprint we inherited no longer fits seamlessly, yet we have not designed a new one. In moments of uncertainty, we instinctively return to what we were taught: marriage as the ultimate marker of success, love as the solution to longing. But those narratives don’t always resonate with who we are becoming.
As we attempt to redefine our futures, we find ourselves blending fragments of the past with the realities of the present. This project sits in between that tension: between hope and hesitation, inheritance and reinvention, emptiness and possibility.
An empty swimming pool, a setting rich with symbolism.
The pool represents our dreams of love and lifelong partnership vast, open, and full of possibility. Yet it stands dry. The absence of water speaks to the emotional depletion, lack of preparedness, and fragile connections that make it difficult to truly “fill our cups.” It mirrors the reality of today’s dating pool: uncertain, inconsistent, and often unfulfilling. Still, the space is not without hope.
We are living in a transitional age, shedding old traditions without fully understanding what will replace them. The blueprint we inherited no longer fits seamlessly, yet we have not designed a new one. In moments of uncertainty, we instinctively return to what we were taught: marriage as the ultimate marker of success, love as the solution to longing. But those narratives don’t always resonate with who we are becoming.
As we attempt to redefine our futures, we find ourselves blending fragments of the past with the realities of the present. This project sits in between that tension: between hope and hesitation, inheritance and reinvention, emptiness and possibility.
Photography: OSKI studio | Grace Mettler & Nick Farmer
Concept, styling & words: @bby.kilith
Makeup: @luyandabennie @luyandasangels
Models: @sedi22000 @malaikajoness
Garments: @kilithkilithkilith
Concept, styling & words: @bby.kilith
Makeup: @luyandabennie @luyandasangels
Models: @sedi22000 @malaikajoness
Garments: @kilithkilithkilith