Capturing Authentic Moments: Why I'm Better At It!

Joyful Moments After 'I Do': A City Hall Wedding in NYCA newlywed couple shares a candid moment of joy and connection outside New York City Hall, embracing the start of their new chapter together.

As a photographer specializing in City Hall weddings in NYC, one of the biggest challenges photographers face is ensuring that every couple's images truly reflect their unique personalities. After doing countless shoots, it’s easy for photographers in general to fall into a routine where everything becomes predictable. While this might seem efficient from their perspective, it can lead to a problem for the couple—images that feel generic, like an average of every wedding the photographer has shot. They might start anticipating moments and, often subconsciously, directing couples toward those expected reactions. This results in photos that don’t always capture the couple’s genuine emotions, joy, or uniqueness.

So, how do I avoid falling into that trap of becoming just another photographer delivering cookie-cutter images? The key is less about technical photography skills and more about truly connecting with the clients. It's about creating a personalized experience that allows me to capture candid, authentic moments. Listening to the couple is crucial, not just to their words but also to their actions and reactions. Conversations, whether over the phone or through a detailed email thread, are invaluable in understanding what makes them tick—their likes, dislikes, fears, and things that might make them uncomfortable.

The ultimate goal is to make the couple feel comfortable and present with each other. New York is already a busy & vibrant city filled with attractions (in this case, distractions). In today's world, distractions like phones and social media can take people out of the moment, but if they can stay connected with each other, I can capture their true emotions—joy, nervousness, excitement—all the raw emotions that come with their big day.

Intimate Moments Captured: A Navy Groom and His Bride at NYC City HallA powerful black-and-white photo of a Navy groom and his bride sharing a quiet, intimate moment outside New York City Hall, symbolizing love and commitment.
To achieve this, I create a file for each client. I attach it to my calendar, and the day before, as well as the day of the wedding, I review that file to ensure I’m fully informed about the couple. This helps me tailor my approach to their specific personalities, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all method.

But it doesn't end with the photoshoot. Before the wedding day, I listen to their concerns and adjust anything necessary to make them feel more at ease. After the wedding, I pay close attention to their feedback. For instance, if the bride was self-conscious about something during the shoot that I wasn’t aware of, and she mentions it later, I do everything within reason to address that in the images.

Ultimately, every client deserves to be treated as a unique individual with their own feelings and emotions. By being attentive and respectful, my goal is to enhance their experience, leaving them with not just beautiful photos, but positive memories of the entire process.

And the end goal? It’s simple. If I can get the couple to be fully present in the moment, I can capture those raw, authentic emotions. When they look back at their photos, they should be able to remember exactly how they felt—how joyful, how emotional, how connected they were. Ten years from now, when they flip through those images, it should feel like they’re reliving their day as if it happened last week. That’s the true value of being present—it’s priceless. And that’s what I strive to give them: a story that allows them to experience their wedding day over and over, for years to come.

An Elegant Dance: Newlyweds at the Columns of NYC City HallA bride and groom share a joyful moment, dancing beneath the towering columns of NYC City Hall, their love highlighted by the grandeur of the city’s architecture.