Upper West Side NYC Couple Session
This session combines some of my favorite things: past clients, a beautiful couple, and New York City! Sean & Lauren are one of the couples I had the privilege of working with in 2019 for their stunning boho-inspired wedding at the Historic Post Office in Virginia. I still remember taking their portraits on a merry-go-round, which was such a fun and unique moment from their day. You can see their wedding photos here!
Since then, so much has changed—both for me and for them. I moved from Virginia to Charlotte, North Carolina, and Sean and Lauren also relocated. The best part? They moved to one of my favorite cities—New York City! A few months before I was heading to the city for a wedding this past summer, I found out that Sean and Lauren had just become residents of NYC. Naturally, we had to plan a session to capture this exciting new chapter in their lives, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to see them again and photograph them in their new home.
We decided to meet up for a morning session, and since it was still early, we kicked things off in the best way possible—with coffee. We chose Black Press, a cozy local coffee shop on the Upper West Side, as our meeting spot. It was the perfect place to catch up and share a few stories about life since we last saw each other. After our coffee, we set out to explore their neighborhood and find the perfect locations for the shoot. The beauty of early mornings in New York City is that the streets are quiet, and the energy of the city hasn't fully woken up yet. It’s such a peaceful moment before the hustle and bustle begins, and we had the streets almost entirely to ourselves.
Another advantage of shooting early in the morning in NYC is the gorgeous light that pours through the buildings as the sun rises. It creates a soft, golden glow that adds a cinematic touch to every shot. As we walked through the neighborhood, we found spots with perfect natural light and quiet corners that allowed Sean and Lauren to truly be themselves. Whether it was a tucked-away alley or a charming street corner, the city was a beautiful backdrop for their session.
After spending some time wandering, we made our way over to Central Park. Luckily, we arrived just before the crowds started rolling in, and it was a dream to have the park to ourselves for a little while. Central Park is always buzzing with people, but early mornings are something truly special. We had the chance to capture some quiet, intimate moments in this iconic space without the usual crowds in the background. Just as we were wrapping up, we noticed the first tour buses arriving and the park beginning to fill with people. It was a sign that our time in the park was coming to a close.
We decided to end our session with something equally as wonderful—breakfast sandwiches! It was the perfect way to wrap up the morning and spend a few more moments catching up before we all went our separate ways. The best part of this shoot wasn’t just the stunning photos we captured—it was being able to reconnect with Sean and Lauren in such a meaningful way, documenting the start of this new chapter in their lives in a city they now call home.
Sessions like this always remind me why I love what I do. It’s not just about taking pictures—it’s about capturing memories and moments that tell a story. And there’s something so special about revisiting past clients and seeing how their lives have evolved. To see Sean and Lauren in New York, in their new life, was such a joy, and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it.
What made this shoot even more special was how personal it felt. New York City is vast and full of energy, but in the quiet moments of the morning, the city became a personal backdrop for their love story. It’s a reminder that engagement and lifestyle sessions are about more than just “pretty pictures.” They’re about telling your story and finding beauty in the small moments—like sipping coffee in a local café or walking hand in hand through a park at sunrise.
For me, it’s all about capturing the raw, authentic connection between couples—whether it’s on their wedding day or in their everyday moments. Sean and Lauren’s session was the perfect example of that. It wasn’t about the location, or the outfit, or the pose—it was about them, together in a new city, experiencing the joy of this exciting new chapter. It was intimate, personal, and full of love—and that’s what made it so special.
I love that engagement or couple sessions can be so flexible, and I hope this shoot inspires other couples to embrace their own uniqueness. You don’t have to have a grand or extravagant shoot to make it meaningful—sometimes, the most beautiful moments happen in the simplest of settings. Whether it’s in a bustling city like New York or a quiet corner of your neighborhood, the key is to make the session about you—your love, your connection, and your story.
As we wrapped up the session with our breakfast sandwiches, I couldn’t help but smile. It was the perfect end to a perfect morning—capturing love in the heart of one of the most iconic cities in the world, with two people I adore. Here’s to more mornings like this—full of love, laughter, and memories that last a lifetime.
