This rare couple ventured on an all-day chic engagement session in NYC visiting some of the best locations I can recommend.
All-Day Photo Sessions
Ah, my favorite topic of a photoshoot that has no limits. Time limits, that is, but it translates into opportunities, diversity, and ultimately — impact. Most of my all-day photo sessions were done for a creative individual, from a young lady entering adulthood to an aspiring Bollywood actor, from a spiritual visionary to a luxury designer who models herself, from experimental boudoir to underwater Caribbean caves, and from maternity in Greece to a 50th birthday treat to yourself.
There weren’t that many all-day engagement sessions although they were the pioneers of such photography adventures. Here are some samples from 2008-2009 shoots. As you can see, they required substantial resources and efforts.
Rarity of All-Day Engagement Sessions
The main reason engagement sessions are shorter (typically, two hours) is because they are included in wedding packages. Wedding photographers see packages as a way to bundle products and services at a discount. Thus, oftentimes they are on the “base” level, leaving room for upgrades (more hours, more pages in the album, more retouching, etc.) to keep the total amount affordable to general public. Of course, many wedding clients would love to achieve more from their engagement session but when offered to extend the included one, the decision hits the financial wall.
That wall, however, appears to be much taller than it is. Consider this: my all-day photo sessions are at least four times longer, yet not even twice as expensive as the starter 2-hour shoots. A lot of individual clients see the advantage of my pricing but not the engaged ones. They already deal with high wedding expenses.
Make no mistake, a skilled wedding photographer can pull off a lot even from a 2-3 hour engagement shoot. Check out this theatrical production, for example. It’s the scope. For many, such single well-developed concept is perfect. Others look for a greater variety; they seek more themes, locations, styling, and photography techniques.
Take this stylish engagement photoshoot in NYC. It took all day and we went around three boroughs, from catacombs and museums to sporty BMW i8 and Manhattan skyline. Who can do it in two hours!? Today’s blog couple is related to those guys. Seeing is believing, perhaps they inspired.
The Couple
So now, meet Diana and Daniil. They were all for an all-day chic engagement session in NYC. They wanted it fashionable, stylish, and most importantly, manifold experience. I learned that Diana seeks elegance and class in her shoot. After a couple of consultations, we discussed the outfits and matched them to the narrowed-down list of NYC locations.
I wanted to start at the Cloisters Museum but it was still closed due to coronavirus. Luckily, the nearby Fort Tryon Park offers an abundance of impressive stonework reminiscent of a castle. For the concluding shot, I invited them to showcase a few moves from their wedding first dance.
Click images for full size. Kindly refrain from re-uploading images to social media during the first week of feature. Share instead and give credit to @ZorzStudios!
Our next stop was Park Ave by the MetLife building. I had just shot an 18th birthday gift photo session earlier that week and knew what to expect of the city as never seen before (that blog has my take on it)… Saying “post-apocalyptic” would be a vast over-dramatization but the avenue was empty. We parked straight away, right where we wanted on the street, with zero circling around. Look at them strolling in the middle of Park Avenue! You know, I could add some special effects to the cars and buildings and there’s your I Am Legend poster…
They love sunglasses, if you didn’t notice yet.
Next, Dumbo area in Brooklyn. They needed a fun boost. Elegance is elegance but with more of it coming in the second half of this chic engagement session, I wanted to bring some laughs into the mix. More casual outfits, fedora hats, a vest, and shorts went well with piggybacking and ice scream.
Sunset
The sunset was ours to take advantage of but what I decided to do is to reflect it from the Manhattan skyscrapers, as opposed to having the sun set behind them if we stayed in Dumbo. The contrast is better and with luck, the shining buildings would starkly stand against the darker eastern sky. I advised to cross the Hudson River and shoot from the Jersey City side.
It took more time to find parking there and when we walked toward the waterfront, a powerful vision struck me. The tall buildings of the revitalizing city create a tunnel effect. If the light at the end of that proverbial tunnel is perfectly aligned to reflect the sunset and if you know how to balance that light with your own, you get your killer shot. Empty streets also help…
Few more blocks and we’re on the riverwalk along with other residents catching the final minutes of the picturesque sunset. Mission accomplished, on to the concluding part!
What is chic engagement session in NYC without a museum and red carpet attire? We left the Metropolitan Museum of Art for last, for the best. I didn’t want a crowd. It is also closed due to the pandemic but people still hang around on the steps. Not as many in the late hour. Plus, the darkness gives me my dramatic light manipulation. Finally, the Met featured red illumination giving us that very (virtual) red carpet illusion to fit their looks. What a rare gem to end the session with!
Many years of love, adventures, and passion to you, Diana and Daniil!
Behind the Scenes
Just a bit of this… A diagram I sent to Daniil while scouting the Fort Tryon park before their arrival and an IG story. I wanted to get a piece of that tunnel, too!
