How to Capture the Perfect Engagement Photos in West Village, NYC

We met around 15 commerce street, and walked past this bright red door that I just KNEW we had to take photos in front of. We started with some standard portraits, then I directed my couple with a few posing prompts. Usually the first 10-15 minutes during a photoshoot are more of a warm up for both myself as the photographer, as well as the couple.

We walked over near Morton Street took some more fun shots. For one prompt I had my couple walk across the street, laughing and holding hands. Then, we got a little more creative. I took an over-the-shoulder shot by the mailbox, adding a different perspective. I like to show my couples the results for shots like this because sometimes they don’t fully understand the vision in the moment. Seeing it helps them feel more confident and makes posing easier.

At some point during an engagement session, I always like to take a moment to capture a few close-up shots — the kind that really focus on the little details, like the way they look at each other, and of course, the ring. But I never want these shots to feel stiff or overly posed. Instead, I’ll tell a joke or hype them up to get those real, in-the-moment laughs. Since these are so up-close-and-personal, the emotion really comes through, making these some of my favorite moments to capture during an engagement session.

While I love to have a plan for my photoshoots, there’s nothing better than going off script and looking around to see what NYC has to offer. Shots like the one above are an example of exactly this. We passed by a restaurant with outdoor seating and created a “third date” moment which I thought was sooo adorable.

We ended this lovely fall engagement session near this beautiful building at 757 Greenwich St. We had so much fun and were able to get a wide variety of shots and poses.

Click here to learn more about NYC Engagement Sessions or visit my weddings and elopements page to learn more about capturing your special day.