A vibrant, autumn NYC engagement session incorporating the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and a surprise guest…
Lisa knew that she wanted me to photograph her wedding before she even met John! She had my photos of her cousin, Thomas, and his wife several years ago and knew that I would provide just the sort of creative, emotional, natural images that she was looking for. 🙂
I opened this blog post with a unique photograph that silhouetted the Brooklyn Bridge and caught the sun’s flare. I was thrilled by the bold, primary colors and lines framing Lisa and John, the blue of the sky, the yellow of the sun and the red of the fall leaves. John’s sweater and the gold passing through the edges of Lisa’s hair was just perfect!
This photo is more traditional. I really liked this lighting and angle on Lisa & John and think it works well as a more modern spin of a classic portrait…
Fall is their favorite time of year, so I made sure to capture some of that vibrant, fall foliage along with the absolutely stunning Brooklyn Bridge.
Sometimes you don’t need to see a couples face to get a sense for the connection that they share together. I like Lisa & John’s sweet body language in the next photograph.
The cobblestone streets really fit the classic feel of their session and are really unique to find, especially in NYC. It also goes so well with their attire. 😉
Lisa shared, “We wanted our engagement pictures to feel fun and light while showing us in the city where our relationship started.”
I really like the light, fun feel of this next photo. John gave Lisa a twirl and her hair was caught by the breeze.
I like the visual contrast of this image. The sunlight draws your eye right to Lisa and John’s silhouette, while the top portion of the frame has interesting textures/patterns from the leaves.
Lisa has lived in Brooklyn for about a year and a half, and John just moved in with her a few months ago.
She shared, “We’ve been exploring Brooklyn a lot recently, especially the waterfront, and we love the wide mix of scenery and the huge range of things to do. We liked DUMBO because it’s a perfect example of so many different backdrops and locations within a couple blocks.”
We have seen the Brooklyn Bridge, cobblestone, fall foliage and now I’ll show you a surface that is a little more modern. I like playing with reflections and think this one is super sweet…
Speaking of playing, I noticed Lisa and John’s shadows on a brick wall as they walked past. I drew their attention to the shadows and they immediately began creating shadow puppets.
John shared, ” I love Lisa’s positive spirit and constant aura of happiness. She lifts people’s moods wherever she goes and it’s just fun being around her.”
This photograph kind of reminds me of the three headed dog in Harry Potter, haha…
Lisa had some pretty fantastic engagement photo tips that I am excited to share with you. “Bring snacks and wear comfortable clothes.”
She went on, “If you’re constantly readjusting your clothes and worrying about them, it’s harder to let go and enjoy the moment with each other.”
“We quickly forgot about the camera and tried to live in the moment. We were hoping for natural pictures of us spending time together and think that the setting/clothing played a huge part in that!”
John shared, “We had the ring made at a jeweler out on Long Island near Lisa’s dad’s work. Once it was ready, he picked it up and dropped it off at the house since I get home from work before Lisa does. I thought I might wait a few days to plan a grand gesture, but once I had the ring I was too nervous and knew I had to do it that night.”
He continued, “We cooked dinner together at home, and then I said we should go for a walk along the water near our house. We went for the walk and when there were only a few people around (it’s impossible to be totally alone in New York), I got down on one knee and asked! She said yes and we headed home quickly to call our family and let them know the great news.”
Lisa shared, “I never understood what people meant when they said they were marrying their best friend until I met John. We are always laughing and having fun together, even during the everyday activities.”
She continued, “I feel like I can take on anything when John is by my side. We share similar dreams for the future and I can’t wait to live them out together as husband and wife.”
The soft, golden light in this photo gives it a very emotional and intimate feeling. I like the way her hair is rim-lit and moving in the background. It feels natural and romantic…
You are probably wondering who the special guest is– it is Lady Liberty herself!!!
The golden sunlight shone and glimmered on the waves in New York Harbor as the Statue of Liberty stood proudly in the distance.
A beautiful american icon, and such a treat to photograph.
Lisa and John, I really enjoyed getting to know you two better while exploring Brooklyn! If you’d like to see more of Lisa and John, check out the first half of their engagement session here.