Margot + Jeff's winter engagement session was during a perfect lull between January storms: we got a bit of sparkly afternoon sunlight and it wasn't so cold that we couldn't manage to walk around for a while, though Jeff’s feet ended up getting a bit wet, necessitating a trip to a nearby Duane Reade for a replacement pair of socks. Central Park makes for a beautiful engagement session location, but what really caught our eye with this image is the way Margot + Jeff naturally lean toward each other when they laugh, squinting their eyes shut tight and seeming to hold on tight. This kind of genuine moment is what makes our hearts sing! Documentary portrait photography can be challenging when faced with worries about "how will I look for my engagement photos?" but when our clients can relax and breathe into the moment everything suddenly becomes so easy.
The golden sunlight sets off the russet and auburn tones in Margot + Jeff's hair, which contrasts with the bright purple scarf Margot chose. (Their wedding color was purple: this was the perfect way to set the tone for the rest of their engagement.) Choosing a shallow depth of field and a long lens allowed me to isolate the couple against the background, which is what it can feel like when you're excited and in love.
Location: Central Park, NYC, New York.
1/640; f/2.0; ISO 250; 85.0 mm.