As with every business, the beginning of the pandemic made me step back and reevaluate my photo offerings, and the dreams that I’d put on hold for one reason or another. In the summer of 2021, I finally made the switch to something I’ve been talking about for years. Destination, afternoon long engagement sessions: combining my own love of travel with a desire to capture my (often out of town) couple’s stories more personally. Getting to photograph a couple’s engagement session in their neighborhood - where they’re spending this season of their lives together - is such an intimate part of the wedding process because they’re showing me a glimpse into their real personal lives, and it makes the photos that much more meaningful, especially years down the road.

After months of uncertainly, an almost-rescheduling, and making the decision to postpone for one day as I sat in Grand Central watching a nasty thunderstorm roll though, I finally got to spend a beautiful summer afternoon at their subway stop, their favorite ice cream shop and the nearby riverside park. 

When planning a destination (for me) engagement session, transportation is key. Of course, this is much easier in NYC, where we had no need to drive, and so we decided to meet up first at their neighborhood subway stop. As a landmark, this was useful for practical reasons, but I was especially excited about it aesthetically because the above ground Harlem stop on 125th has a fantastic view of neighborhood. As avid dancers, Sabrina and James showed me their moves as we waited for the train, making my cityscape portrait backdrop dreams come true. 

As we moved through the city, stopping at every overlook, ivy nook and hanging bridge that could frame them, I got to see where they spend their lives, hear stories about each location, get a locals’ tour and ultimately get to know them a lot better as individuals. As a photographer whose job is the document one of the most whirlwind days of their lives, it’s incredibly important that I know my couples well so that I know what moments - momentous or hidden - to look for, and what will mean the most to them. Leaving our photoshoot feeling like old friends meant I felt very prepared for their big day.

I admire eye-catching sunset photos in elegant cloths as much as the next photog, but what I love most are lifestyle engagement sessions which truly capture this season of my couples’ lives. We know we’ll have the epic, more formal photographs in their wedding attire - the images most likely to go on the wall - so it’s important to me to document the more personal stories, like weekday ice cream dates with neighborhood friends. It’s these more every day moments that, to me, tell the couple’s story.

These two, ever true to their personalities, decided to wrap up their engagement session in style with fun images riding a rented scooter, once or their favorite city activities to do together. Reenacting Roman Holiday, but with the sweeter ending, these are some of my favorite images; much more akin to my street work with both Sabrina and James nearly forgetting the camera was there in their joy. 

This is the exact kind of couple’s session that leaves me invigorated and excited, even after 3 hours! Even two years later, this is still one of my favorite photographic experiences. I look forward to being able to photograph more destination engagement sessions, either where I travel to the couple’s home or where we travel together to a location important to them!