What was supposed to be a quick 20-minute FaceTime call with Zoe to plan her post-New York City Hall wedding session in Astoria, Queens turned into an hour. We bonded over speaking Tagalog and life experiences, and I could just tell that we were going to work very well together.

Bert, her now husband, had moved to NYC from the Philippines just weeks before their civil wedding ceremony at the New York City Hall. They had their engagement party in the Philippines last year, and decided to get married on their 12th anniversary (12 years!!! Isn’t that so lovely?) months later, surrounded by Zoe’s parents and their closest friends. We had our session just 2 days after they got married.

For their post-wedding session, we wanted to highlight their relationship through artful and intentional storytelling. We began our session at Very Berry Fresh Market, where Zoe typically does her quick grocery trips. We wanted this part of the session to be playful and colorful, representing the time Zoe and Bert first met as kids. It was also meant to represent welcoming Bert into the life she started in NYC before he moved.

We walked around the neighborhood, catching hints of spring (so many pretty pink trees!) before getting on the Broadway Subway. This part of our session represented the transition from childhood sweethearts to adults who are beginning their life together in a new country.

Plus, if you didn’t take photos on the subway and at a subway station, did you really take photos in New York? It’s a must!

The evening after our session, they were hosting their “Not a Wedding, Wedding” premiere night, which was basically a get together with some of their family and closest friends to watch their engagement party video from the Philippines (that they were also seeing for the first time). I was so honored when Zoe invited me to it a month before we met in person (and before we even met on FaceTime), and I was looking forward to it. The get together was hosted at The Ditty, which is a neighborhood bar in Astoria that has a unique, old feel charm to it that feels cozy. We did the last part of our session there, which was perfect, to allude to the premiere night. The posing and direction I used for this part of the session shifted to feel more grounded and mature, reflecting a more adult dynamic between them.

Had to make sure to get some artsy individual shots of them, too!

This was a very fun and unique post-wedding session! A session becomes especially meaningful when there is intent behind every location and every prompt. Using color, light, shadow, and intentional posing and direction to reflect their story allowed the experience to feel deeply personal and honest. I instantly felt a sense of home with Zoe and Bert and the warmth of how they welcomed me into their story – not just as their photographer, but as a new friend. People like them are the reason I feel grateful for this career everyday. My work is shaped by my life experiences and the feeling of belongingness. When you fully embody who you are and the love you’re feeling, your photos become more real. As a cinematic, editorial, and documentary-style NYC wedding photographer, I focus on capturing the different layers of who you are beyond how you look and into how you feel.

This session is also a reminder that wedding photography doesn’t have to be traditional to be meaningful. Your story can live in the places you walk through everyday, the routines that shaped you, and all the little moments that feel like home.

If you’re planning your wedding or post-wedding session in New York City or anywhere that holds meaning for you, I’d love to help you create something intentional that reflects your story, not just the event. Let’s create memories that feel lived-in, honest, and yours.