NYC Engagement Photos

Outtakes are at the bottom of this post! (Enjoy) 

Hi everyone! 

We took our engagement photos in April 2018 in NYC; after a lot of compliments (thanks guys!!) and questions, I am spilling why we decided to do them in NYC and how we managed to make it all over the city to get the shots we will cherish forever. 

In late 2017, Ryan and I were discussing engagement photos, where we wanted to do them, and who would take them. We had joked around about doing something over the top, and as time went by, we kept talking about going to a big city to take them. We started to warm up to the idea and actually wanted to do them in an exciting place.

With Ryan having started off his career in NYC, along with our frequent trips there for work and play, we decided this iconic city had to be the place. Being a photographer myself, my perfect session would be one that I got to direct and edit myself, so.......after doing lots of research on NYC photographers ($$$$$), I decided to make a deal with my younger brother, Kevin. We would invite him to an all-expenses paid NYC trip with us if he followed us around for 3 days to take our engagement photos. Kevin takes direction very well and has assisted me countless times on photography jobs, so I knew he would do a great job. This was the best possible scenario as we were able to take photos across NYC, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park and various NYC neighborhoods, jam-packed with lots of fun and sightseeing along the way. Kevin had not traveled to NYC since a family trip more than a decade ago, so with him being 21, it was much more enjoyable! 

Getting to direct the session, set up the shots, and edit our own engagement photos myself was so exciting, getting to re-live the moments as I worked on them! 

We planned the trip to try and find the sweet-spot of the year, which meant: post-spring break, after the crazy NYC winter, but still before school was out and the summer crowd started flooding in. We decided the end of April was perfect, but I have to be honest, it was so. freaking. cold. On one hand, I did not want it to be cold for the enjoyment of taking photos. On the other hand, I also did want it to be cold because in the city that never sleeps, if the weather is bearable outside, everyone and their brother is going to be out and about (lol get it?). Even though it was 38 degrees outside for our Brooklyn Bridge photos (yes, I shamelessly put hand warmers in my top and dress pockets), people were running, walking, and biking the Bridge (along with the occasional spectators who stopped to watch), even at 6:00 in the morning! We did manage to find breaks where we had the Bridge all to ourselves. I can only imagine how crowded it would be on a summer morning at sunrise!  

I am so happy I get to decorate my walls with these photos and get to look at them everyday. Whether your dream spot for photos is in one of the craziest cities, the middle of a field, or even in your own home, take photos people! I smile every time I look at them and I hope our kids get to look back at these one day too and think we are cool parents! 

I have already sent the link to the red dress to individuals who DM'ed me about it, but HERE it is for you all! I used Rent the Runway and I was so happy with how well it stood out in the photos!   

The green dress can be found HERE, also from Rent the Runway. 

The shoes are Sam Edelman and can be found HERE. They are currently on sale! 

XOXO, 

Jess 

Its not an NYC trip without stopping at Ryans favorite food truck

HUGE thanks to my brother Kevin who came with us to take all of these beautiful photos!!