
Couple-Care is a monthly series highlighting inspiring couples in our community. Each couple discusses how โcouple-careโ sustains their relationship, the self-care lessons theyโve learned from each other and more.
If you googled โDumboโs finest couple,โ we wouldnโt be surprised if Daniel and Taylor K. Shaw Omachonuโs photos came up. And not just because they look amazing together, but also because theyโre both inspiring in their own right. Shawโfrom Chicagoโis a writer and founder of Black Women Animate Studios. โI love that the work that I do is grounded in me sharing from the heart. Iโve found that the more I open up my heart, the better results I get from creative and business standpoints,โ Taylor tells ESSENCE.
Meanwhile, Daniel, originally from Miami, works in tech sales, and also makes time to create his own thought-provoking rap musicโespecially on projects like Sonlight and Fun & Games. โWith sales, I like the journey of earning someoneโs trust,โ Daniel explains of his work. โAnd with music, I like the journey of creation and the challenge of it. I think itโs a reminder that you can imagine something and then make it real.โ

As for how they met? Itโs something out of a โ90s Black romance movie. โWe met at the club,โ Taylor says laughingly about their meet-cute seven years ago at the iconic, and now closed, Kinfolk in Brooklyn. Daniel adds, โI was there for my fraternity brotherโs birthday. I approached Taylor. We ended up hitting it off and we danced for like two hours,โ he says. โThen I took her to a Memorial Day barbecue. It was a big move because pretty much all the people I know were there. I kept introducing her to everybody. And now weโre married.โ In other words, when you know, you know.
Below, Taylor and Daniel go into detail about what couple-care means to their relationship, the practices that keep them grounded, and much more.
Their favorite couple-care memory
Taylor: My favorite has been getting Daniel to use the moisturizer from La Roche Posay I use. It took so long, but now look at his skin! Itโs glowing.
Daniel: Our mini honeymoon (we havenโt taken our official honeymoon yet). We went to this spa in the Catskills. We got massages, we swam. It was a good vibe. And then when we were getting ready to leave, the tire on the rental car popped so we couldnโt drive. So we ended up just chilling there the whole day. And it ended up being a very relaxing day. It was true couple-careโintentional and then accidental.
Also, we just took a trip to Europe in the middle of March. Work had been crazy for both of us. On that trip we also realized we hadnโt taken a trip just for us since we met in 2017. Every other trip weโve taken has been for other people, family, friends, weddings, etc. So that was really, really good for usโjust to explore cities together and have that time.

Their individual self-care routines
Taylor: I think for both of us, going to the gym is the big one: doing a couple of hiit workouts, hot yoga, etc. Iโm obsessed with my hot yoga instructor. Heโs so great. And Iโm learning to swim. And skincare-wiseโthat routine in the morning makes me feel like Iโm prioritizing myself at the start of the day.
Daniel: Meditating is one. When Iโm really on it, Iโm meditating pretty much daily. I think reading for fun is really important to me, too. And playing basketballโitโs my favorite thing to do pretty much.

Their couple-care routine
Taylor: We like to eat together. We like to go out. We also love walking and exploring the city. And as creatives, we love going to see movies together and talking about them after. All of these things feel like wellness breaks for us because weโre both so busy.
The self-care lessons theyโve learned from one another
Daniel: I feel like Taylor has taught me that itโs okay to just relax. A lot of times when I relax, I feel guilty. Iโm like, oh, Iโm chilling right now, but I should be doing work. Iโve seen Taylor be super busy, but really thoughtfully be like, you know what? Iโm going to chill right now. And when Taylor chills, I donโt know if anyone chills better than Taylor! She makes a bath for herself. Has little incense and what not in there. It smells great, her iPad is set up. And Iโm like, oh, I need to be on this. She inspires me in that way. Even in the midst of busyness, sheโll choose herself and relaxation.
Taylor: Heโs always moving his body and thatโs so good for youโso that inspires me. Community is really important for him, too. So, from Daniel, Iโve really learned the importance of exercising and engaging with others as a form of self-care.

The products theyโve introduced to one another
Taylor: I introduced him to tretinoin. And Paulaโs Choiceโs Vitamin C serum. Iโm historically bad at taking vitamins. He found a multivitamin for me that has everything. So thatโs really helpful!
Why couple-care is important to them
Daniel: I think itโs important that we donโt take our relationship and even a season of wellbeing for granted. Your relationship isnโt something you can just assume will maintain itselfโyou have to water it and pour into it. Couple-care helps us do that.

Credits:







Photographer/Stylist: Tyler Esosa Okuns
Clothing brands photographed: Priscavera and House of Aama.
Photo editor: Kenneth Pizzo