Journal

. . . There’s nothin’ you can’t do
Now you’re in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you . . .

~ Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z Featuring Alicia Keys

Not really sure if the lively streets of New York make me feel brand new, but one thing is guaranteed: every time I come to The City, I feel inspired by fashion, the vive allure of life, and artistic expression all around.

And so, the air was brimful of excitement during my engagement shoot with Sara & Drew. We agreed to kick off our day downtown at a picturesque café called French Toast. I arrived early, ordered a rich hot chocolate, and mapped out our preliminary agenda. I had previously only met Drew, who was introduced to me by a talented event planner, Lauren Daversa of Lauren Daversa Events.

When I do engagement sessions, I routinely break the ice by asking my couples to tell me more about themselves — how they met, what makes them tick, and any special details surrounding their upcoming nuptials.

What I heard from Sara & Drew was certainly inspiring, for they plan to tie the knot on the unrefined beach of Solé East in Montauk, New York. What’s more, Sara appears to be quite the DIY bride considering that she even intends to forge her own wedding bands! Drew hinted that he may bring his original 1960′s Vespa scooter, which would undoubtedly make for a dazzling JUST MARRIED get-away ride.

Our first photo-op, a pay-phone booth, may have appeared a little pedestrian to the unaccustomed eye. However, I immediately knew it would be the perfect opportunity to set the tone for the remaining day.

Let us briefly interrupt this post to appreciate why the above-image works; it’s not about exposure or composition. Instead, first you should notice that Sara and Drew are dressed with “purpose.” What we mean by purpose is that the couple selected their attire with a photo session in mind. Formal wear is by no means necessary, but style is!

If you find it challenging to come up with a look that complements your shoot, it may be a good idea to collaborate with a style-specialist, such as Jacqueline Weppner from Merci New York, who has been a wonderful inspiration to some of our clients.

Second and importantly, Sara and Drew came to have fun! They understood that engagement sessions are more scripted than weddings. It takes a positive attitude, comfort with each other before the lens, and careless disregard of what others might think of you. I’d like to add that engagement photos with me also demand a healthy dose of kissing stamina … so don’t forget to bring your lip balm! In the end, the formula for memorable pictures is quite simple: Fun + Imagination + Unbridled Emotional Expression = Mesmeric Imagery

Next, we moved on to Caliente Cab, a Mexican restaurant which prides itself for its generous portions of Tex Mex and killer sizzling Fajitas. However, the popular eatery caught my attention for a different reason, namely a bright yellow 1950′s Studebaker Taco-taxi parked in front of its doors. Yellow taxis are to New York City what the baguette is to French cuisine. And considering that Sara and Drew call Manhattan “home,” it was important for me to capture the City’s unique vibe.

I asked my new friends to imagine they were teenagers again and were just caught vandalizing their neighbor’s mailbox on Halloween. They were being chased by the imaginary angry home owner who now appeared to be after more than their candy. The scenario called for the couple to blithely make their way to the Caliente cab like teenagers in love … but there would need to be the thrill of a risqué moment! Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this sequence:

Imagination + Fun + Unbridled Emotional Expression = Memorable Pictures!

Our next stop was the famous Greenmarket Farmers’ Market at Union Square, where Sara and Drew routinely procure the freshest, most nutritious locally grown produce the region has to offer. My intention was to step back a little to capture precious candid moments of the couple carrying on with prankful sweet-nothings on a Saturday afternoon. They shamelessly over-delivered as they battled it out with seemingly unidentifiable, playfully-shaped, legumes.

Armed with a basket full of alimentative goodies, we jumped into a taxi, which took us to our final destination, TriBeCa. For those among you who are not so familiar with this fanciful part of town, it is best known for its spacious lofts, the TriBeCa Film Festival, and celebrity residents, including Robert de Niro.

I love TriBeCa for its characteristic cobblestone and occasional graffiti walls, which are ideally suited for fashion-forward bridal portraiture. My favorite spot may be a little side-street named Staple Street, where I already did numerous shoots in the past. In view that this would be our final chapter of the day, I wanted it to end with some lovey-doveys. Enjoy!