Marcus and Vera met in the way all great stories begin — by accident and by fate. He was on assignment in Milan, shooting the final day of fashion week. She was behind the scenes, coordinating a show for a label she'd spent five years building.

He caught her eye through a lens. She walked past without looking back. He found her at the after-party and asked if she'd ever been photographed by someone who actually understood fashion. She said she'd believe it when she saw it. Two weeks later, the photographs ran in three publications. He sent her a copy. She sent back a two-word reply: "Not bad." That was the beginning.