Jacklyn + TJ | New York City Engagment

Where do I begin with this one. I was so excited when I was chosen by Jacklyn + TJ to photograph their wedding next year, but to get to photograph their engagement session in New York City….well, my excitement blew threw the roof! I had been to NYC several times growing up but never to photograph anyone. I was busting at the seams to get there. My good friend, Melissa (TJ’s sister) came along with me. We like to refer to her as their ‘wedding coordinator’. Melissa and I always have a good time on our road trips and this time was no exception. Melissa and TJ’s parents live about an hour north of the city and we were able to stay with them. It was so nice not to have to stay in a hotel for several nights and be able to drink hot coffee in the morning in my pjs and no one cared. They truly made me feel at home and I can not thank them enough for their hospitality.

We started off in Central Park. The place is gi-normous and could have shot there all day long. The day before when we went, there weren’t too many tourists and pretty open for pictures. Well, come Saturday the city put on a Halloween event for the kids and there were people EVERYWHERE! Not only people, but tents. I went into photographer panic mode. The couple of specific places I knew I wanted to shoot were jammed packed with people, tents, or closed off all together. Ugh! Luckily the event was closing as soon as we got there. After my 10-minute panic attack I calmed down and went to work. At first I was worried about having people in the background but then embraced the fact that we were in NYC, which is littered with people. It gives the city part of its character and didn’t want to hide that. After Central Park, Jacklyn+TJ wanted to get some pictures on the Brooklyn Bridge. Of all the times in NYC, that was my first time on the iconic bridge (I mean….it’s the place where Miranda met Steve halfway and got back together, so it’s a big deal!). You Sex and the City junkies know what I am talking about. The day before Melissa and I walked the whole thing and then went back Saturday with the lovely couple at the end of the day. The light that day could not have been prettier. The sun was setting and gave us an absolutely gorgeous orange glow. Mother nature puts on a beautiful show sometimes and that sunset was no exception. We even snuck in some subway shots. Yep! I made them pose in the gritty subway as we waited for the next train. They were up for it and the image of them kissing with the metro train roaring by behind them is probably one of my favorite images from their session. I could have spent half a day in the subway photographing these two.

I can’t wait for their wedding up in New York next year!!!! And a HUGE thank you to Melissa for assisting with bags and carting around their change of clothes for us! You rock!