New York City engagements have to be some of my favorite. The city provides limitless backdrops for picture perfect, frame-worthy moments. And when that city and those backdrops are paired with the talented Mikkel Paige, magic happens. The kind of magic that will make you want to devour these images all day long, and you can do just that right here.
From Mikkel Paige… Sean is a self-described shy guy and Gina is his smiley and soft-spoken fiancee. But on this day there was no hiding their evident love as they walked around the Meatpacking District and lower Chelsea to capture this special chapter in their lives: their engagement.
The bride and groom live right across the river from NYC, in Weehawken, New Jersey, and see some of the best views the area has to offer. Though while New Jersey and the shores of nearby beaches is a big part of who they are, Manhattan also has a big role in their lives.
Because their wedding is in October in Red Bank, New Jersey on the Navesink River, they wanted their engagement photos to capture a different season and location. Thus, they chose New York City at the height of a fully blossoming, vibrant spring. Their outfits were carefully selected and added to the colorful scenery surrounding them. From the Standard hotel, with its bright yellow outdoor seating, to the pink and greens that drenched the beauty of The High Line, they, along with their photographer Mikkel Paige, covered architecture, urban graffiti, and lush greenery – all within a few blocks radius!
From the groom, Sean… We were going back and forth on where to do our engagement photos and we kept coming back to New York City. This is a place that is special to both of us and offered so many unique locations. Ultimately we decided on the Meatpacking District for its easy access to The High Line and many different textures Mikkel had to work with.
We wanted to wear casual clothes rather than making it too formal and wanted it to coincide with the spring theme. I went with a pair of Nantucket red pants from and a blue button down, both from JCrew. (They also provided a little touch of home for me – I grew up on Cape Cod.) Gina went with a salmon skirt and denim top, also from JCrew.
The actual engagement session came with a lot of nerves and anxiety for us. Neither Gina or I are terribly into having our picture taken. Our anxious anticipation was quickly quashed! Mikkel did an awesome job at making us feel comfortable and being in front of the camera suddenly felt natural.
The day was a sunny, breezy spring Saturday; we couldn’t have asked for better weather. Upon Mikkel’s recommendation we started down at the Standard Hotel in the late afternoon hour to capture the golden hour and made use of their trendy outdoor furniture. We then made our way around the Meatpacking District on a very cool journey Mikkel had previously scouted to capture the different offerings in the area. We finished on The High Line just in time for an awesome sunset to go with an even better hug. (We wanted to mimic an awesome message we learned during the afternoon: Hug Life.)
The session was great, we couldn’t be happier with how the pictures came out. Mikkel did an unbelievable job in making us feel comfortable and bringing out the best in us (easy when you have a beautiful subject like Gina, not as easy to do with a subject like me). We are so glad our friends passed Mikkel on as a recommendation to us!
From the bride, Gina… We spend a lot of time in NYC and couldn’t think of a better place to do our engagement photos. The Meatpacking District and Chelsea areas have some of the best spots Manhattan has to offer – old school NY emulated by the cobble stone streets, fun modern architecture and of course, The High Line.
Sean and I were a bit nervous leading up to the day of the session. We weren’t sure what to expect and we both can get a bit camera shy. However, as soon as we got there and saw Mikkel, we loosened up after the first few shots and just had fun with it! Mikkel made it so easy to be ourselves and beautifully captured us simply enjoying ourselves and being naturally happy.
Overall it was an amazing day that was fun, playful and loving. It really captured who we are and it made us much more comfortable with being the center of attention for our photos on our wedding day.
ABOUT THE RING
From Sean… Gina’s ring was designed by Ken & Dana Design located in New York City. They did an awesome job of transforming the idea I had in my head into a physical reality. We were both blown away by their craftsmanship and the ease of the whole process; we are now clients for life and have referred a few of our friends their way.
From Gina… I’m in love with my ring, it’s exactly what I wanted. Sean nailed it! It’s a round cut diamond surrounded by a diamond filled halo. It’s delicate and timeless – I receive many compliments on it! Ken & Dana, the husband and wife team that designed it in their NYC loft location, are two of the nicest people.
Photography: Mikkel Paige | Engagement Ring: Ken & Dana Design | Attire: J.Crew | Location: The High Line | Location: Meatpacking District