Marissa and Ricardo made this engagement session memorable. As a photographer you sometimes get caught up in worrying about the background or trying to make it an interesting shot. With these two they made the shot.

Marissa and Ricardo had some really great ideas about where to shoot in Brooklyn and I was so excited they wanted their session only in Brooklyn. But it became increasingly clear that I wanted to take pictures of them just being together because they obviously had a strong connection and it was showing through in the pictures. They are about to embark on their next chapter in their lives together, moving back to California and getting married, and they wanted some pictures of their lively urban neighborhood.  So we walked over the Williamsburg Bridge which they’ve crossed over many times into Manhattan and headed down to the East River Park. There is an amazing view of Manhattan there which comes along with some interesting characters hanging out playing guitar and others sneaking into my shot with pants hanging low and smoking. Typical Brooklyn. I’m sure they have plenty of memories to remember what Brooklyn looks like, but I hope they look back on these images after they’ve been married for 50 years and remember the obvious love between them. I think that’s the real power and joy of having great pictures from your wedding, civil ceremony, engagement session, birthday party, etc. because ultimately it’s the connections and feelings that we have for our loved ones that we want sealed forever in a  flash of an instant.

So in honor of my return back to New York and my favorite borough Brooklyn, I offered a complimentary engagement session to one couple through Brooklyn Bride Online.  I had couples write to me about their engagement story and why they love Brooklyn. I had a lot of inquiries and mostly all of them made me cry. Some were about their love and conquering diversity, some were about never expecting to fall in love with each other, and some were about finally getting to be with the loves of their lives who they’ve been apart from for so long. But they all were so heart-felt that it was really hard choosing just one couple.

Yoki and Diego were my Brooklyn Bride Online couple of choice and honestly they were the first email I received. In the short email I understood what getting married meant to them after finally conquering the combining of their families of different cultures. It hit home a little because my parents had a hard time getting their families to accept their marriage having been from two vastly different cultures as well. But 40 years later they are still together and their cultural differences have taken a back seat to the strong union they have cultivated.

Having a professional photographer was unfortunately out of their budget so I was more than happy to do this session for them and I hope it adds to their love of Brooklyn even more. Thanks Yoki and Diego for a fun afternoon in Coney Island!