• Relaxed Upper East Side Engagement outdoor portrait street side walk Manhattan kiss Photography Carl Schurz Park kiss black and white

Simple Upper East Side Engagement Photos: Julia and Joe

We’ve been dying to share Julia & Joe’s stunningly simple NYC Upper East Side engagement photos. There’s just something about these photos; they’re romantic in a perfectly ordinary way. They remind us that when you’re with the person you love, everyday places and simple moments feel special.

Today we’re sharing some of our favorite photos from the shoot, along with our advice for a relaxed engagement shoot that feels like you (and helps you get over feeling camera-shy well before your wedding day!).

Relaxed Upper East Side Engagement outdoor portrait street side walk Manhattan kiss Photography

Remembering Life Before the Wedding with Relaxed, Manhattan Engagement Photos

We met Julia at a bridal show in Princeton. She was there with her Mom and Aunt, just getting ideas for her wedding. Her Aunt is an event planner for Princeton University, so she’s a pro in the event industry. When they stopped by our table, Julia’s Aunt lingered over our albums and kept complimenting us on our work. Then she said something like, “Julia, this photographer is not run of the mill. You should definitely follow up with them.” We were so flattered!

Julia & Joe told us they wanted engagement photos that would help them remember their early life together, before they were married, and that’s when we knew they were a dream client for us. Since our photography is “documentary-style,” taking photos capture real emotion and tell a story is what we love to do. We couldn’t wait to get started!

The Perfect Location Is In the Eye of the Beholder

Relaxed Upper East Side Engagement portrait street side walk Manhattan Photography kiss

Joe & Julia fell in love living next door to each other. They enjoy taking long walks and exploring new areas of the city that they love so much. And, when we asked what they love most about one another, they said,

“We love that we can relax around each other and just be ourselves. Whether we are doing something extremely exciting or boring, we always have fun and are laughing.”

We can’t think of anything more fitting for Joe & Julia than their Upper East Side Engagement Photos, taken in the neighborhood they love. Not only is it a beautiful area (we shot photos overlooking the East River and strolling through Carl Schurz Park), but walking around let them relax, have fun, and totally be themselves. 

They ended up with a mix of photos of both the lush parks and busy streets that make up their home neighborhood. We love that the pictures show the beauty in everyday places and moments. Julia & Joe love that their photos capture both who they are as a couple and where spend their days together during this phase of their lives.

Congratulations, Julia & Joe! We can’t wait to see you again at the wedding.

How To Take Relaxed Engagement Photos You’ll Love

1. Choose a location that’s meaningful for you as a couple

We learned from Julia & Joe that your engagement shoot doesn’t have to be in some special place, as long as it’s special to you. Consider your own neighborhood, or just taking a walk along the streets you share together.

2. Remember, your shoot is like a casual date

(But, there just happens to be a photographer tagging along!) This style of photo shoot is great for getting used to being followed by a photographer before your wedding day.

Here is a proposal / engagement portrait gallery and NYC weddings.

Want to book your engagement shoot with us?

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