Ian Harding, widely recognized for his role as Ezra Fitz in Pretty Little Liars, took a significant step in 2019 by quietly tying the knot with his long-time girlfriend, Sophie Hart. The photographer, with whom he had been in a relationship for nearly a decade, has been a creative collaborator by his side.

Unveiling the Life of Ian Harding and His Wife

Sophie Hart: A Photographer with a Passion

Sophie Hart's career is deeply intertwined with photography. Inspired by "mid-century design and early film," as stated on her website, she skillfully combines film and digital photography. She has graced magazine covers, notably for New York Magazine's 2019 feature on British actress Lucy Boynton. In fact, she was the one who captured the photo for Harding's 2017 book "Odd Birds." Her pride in his achievement is evident as she shared on Instagram in 2016, "So proud of you! Congratulations on the announcement of your book @ianmharding. So honored I got to photograph your cover."Hart's early post about Harding on Instagram in 2014 was a heartfelt tribute to his birthday. Alongside a photo of her then-boyfriend, she wrote, "Happy Birthday to the most kind, thoughtful, and brilliantly talented person I know. @ianmharding." Since then, Harding has frequently appeared on her feed, with her sharing photos of him and occasionally showering him with praise in the captions. In 2017, she wrote, "I'm so proud of you," alongside a photo of Harding reading a magazine on a couch. And he, in turn, posts about her. On International Women's Day in 2021, Harding shared a photo of the couple in Joshua Tree, Calif., with the caption, "Happy International Women's Day to you, the funniest talent bomb there ever was."

Their Private Wedding in 2019

In October 2019, Harding and Hart chose to celebrate their union in a private ceremony. A representative for Harding confirmed the marriage news to PEOPLE nearly two years after they got married, as initially reported by E! News. In 2021, Harding started posting photos on Instagram that featured his wedding band, but the couple has kept details of their wedding and engagement private.

Welcoming a Child Together in 2022

A year after their marriage was made public, Harding announced the arrival of their first child. On Sept. 16, 2022, on his 36th birthday, the actor shared a photo of his newborn's hand on Instagram, writing, "Thank you for the Birthday wishes folks. I'm thankful for many things this past year, but most of all I'm grateful for the best early birthday present a fella could ask for." Although the couple has not revealed their son's name, Harding shared another photo of their child on Instagram to celebrate Father's Day in 2024. He wrote, "Happy Father's Day. And to this sweet boy: you are everything. (Photo credit to @sophiiieeehart who I would be lost without.)" Hart also shared her feelings about parenthood on Instagram. In a post about her work event trip, she said, "It's been a beautiful couple years starting a family and I am really looking forward to pouring all I've learned and discovered into new work." She added a shout-out to Harding at the end, writing, "Thank you @ianmharding for taking care of our little one so I could attend and for all you've done to help me. I love you."

Designing Their Los Angeles Home

Harding and Hart considered their Los Angeles home a sanctuary. The couple worked closely with interior designer Shannon Ggem to bring their vision to life. As Harding told Houzz in 2014, "We had all kinds of things to decorate with, but we didn't have any structure. The first time that Shannon took us shopping, we only came home with one thing... I realized later that she was sharing her ideas and really gauging what we would want — she let us be ourselves, added to that and came up with a design that was very us." However, in late 2021, the couple moved to Washington D.C., Harding's hometown. He shared with PEOPLE in 2024, "I always knew that I wanted to be back on the East Coast and closer to family. It's been amazing that my mom can just come over and my dad and my stepmom can come by."

Hart's Honor from the British Fashion Council

Hart's work in fashion photography was recognized by the British Fashion Council at the 2023 British Fashion Awards. She expressed her gratitude on Instagram, writing, "An absolute honor to attend the British Fashion Awards this evening. Thank you so much for naming me as one The New Wave Creatives @britishfashioncouncil I am feeling incredibly inspired and moved by the beautiful speeches and grateful to the wonderful creatives I’ve had the opportunity to work with so far."