New York Public Library Engagement Session

In the New York heat wave of 2024 I had the creative honour of photographing newly-engaged models Chyna and Bryan at the infamous (and rightfully so) New York Public Library. An American institution, and certainly a New York one. Knowing it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city, I tried to mentally prepare myself for it to be absolutely swarming with people. And unsurprisingly, it was. Tourists, students, locals, and even other engagement shoots littered the well-known steps of the library.

However. Finding this little cove of cafe tables off to the side for the first portion of the shoot turned out to be a god send. It was quiet and completely free of people in this specific corner, and happened to have the most magical evening light dancing through it and along the walls. I didn’t know it at the time, but this day was the date of Manhattenhege. As per Google: “Twice per year, New Yorkers and visitors are treated to a phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge, when the setting sun aligns with the Manhattan street grid and sinks below the horizon framed in a canyon of skyscrapers.” While that wasn't really viewable for our session, it still created the perfect golden hour.

Eventually, I want to guess someone around 6 or 7pm, the steps cleared out completely. Hardly anyone was lounging around, taking selfies, or wandering through the back of our photos. (Maybe a few, but that’s what photoshop is for). It was clearly go-time. Those same ripples of golden hour light danced along the front of the steps and completed this once in a lifetime kind of engagement session.

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{Shot on a mixture of digital and Kodak 35mm film; scanned by C41 Labs}