There’s something about New York City that just gets me every time. I know it’s cheesy to say, but the energy there really is different. It somehow feels brand new and completely familiar all at once. Maybe that’s because we all grow up seeing it in movies and shows, so walking the streets almost feels like stepping inside a memory.

This wasn’t my first time in the city, but somehow, it always feels like the first. And photographing Caroline and Connor on a warm July afternoon just made it that much better.

We met up just a few hours after we landed, cameras in hand, a little jet-lagged but totally buzzing from the city’s energy. Caroline and Connor are two of the kindest, most down-to-earth people you could ever hope to meet. Caroline is a bridal stylist (so obviously, she has impeccable taste), and Connor is a concert photographer, so there was an instant creative connection between us. You can check out some of Connor’s work here.

The Upper West Side

We started on the Upper West Side, where the sidewalks are shaded by trees and the brownstones seem to glow in the afternoon light. There’s a calmness there that feels rare for New York. People walking dogs, grabbing coffee, the city moving just a little slower. It set the perfect tone for the start of our session.

Caroline and Connor fit right in. The way they laughed together, how easy it was for them to fall into rhythm. You could see the comfort and care in every movement.

Central Park at Golden Hour

From there, we wandered into Central Park just as the light started to soften. That golden summer glow hit everything just right. There were people picnicking, kids running through the grass, street musicians playing saxophone, all those little pieces that make the park feel like its own world inside the city.

We found quiet pockets tucked between the trees where it felt like time slowed down. Those were my favorite moments, the ones between the “big” shots. The way Caroline tucked her hair behind her ear. The way Connor photographed her on his phone while we were photographing her, as if he couldn’t help himself.

A Subway Goodbye

We ended the session underground, the hum of the subway echoing through the station, the city still alive even beneath the streets. There’s something cinematic about the way light bounces off the tiled walls down there, how every sound feels closer.

Before we said goodbye, Caroline and Connor bent down to give our son a hug, one of those small, sweet moments that somehow says everything about who people are. Then, just as the train doors closed, we caught one last photo through the subway windows as it whisked them away. A perfect ending to the day, real and fleeting and full of feeling.

Why I’ll Never Get Tired of Photographing in New York

Every time I photograph in New York City, I fall a little more in love with it. The textures, the noise, the unexpected beauty around every corner all feed into the story. There’s no shortage of energy or inspiration here, and that’s what makes photographing love stories in this city so special.

Caroline and Connor, thank you for letting us tag along in your corner of the world and for trusting us to tell this part of your story.

Until next time, New York.

Photos of a New York Engagement

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