Every destination photographer has NYC on their dream list! Check out these two iconic locations in our behind the scenes engagement session in Brooklyn and put them on your checklist for YOUR next photography session in New York City. 

Here are five tips for making sure your destination engagement session starts off smooth!

Pack light

Remember that there’s a lot of walking and moving for destination photoshoots. Pack light. We bring one bag: 

• 2 R6s
• 50mm/1.2f
• 50-135mm
• 70-200mm

Why? Because when we’re commuting, we want to be able to pack everything quickly and maintain the momentum we’ve built with the couple.

Start with walking

This is a low lift way to start for your couple, and is absolutely magical in “warming” them up. Try photographing them as they walk towards you on a bridge, trail path, or down a street. And don’t forget to direct them on where they should be looking! We can often be heard telling our couples to,

“Look at each other and smile!”

“Ok, now look at me”

“You look at me, while she looks at you”

“Stop, go in for a kiss!”

Pro Tip: Have them take a break from smiling. We’ve noticed that TOO much smiling can start to get tired and forced. So hit reset every now and then.

Set your camera to AI Servo AF

This is the setting on your camera that’s designed to focus on moving objects, or in this case, moving couples. Destination photography sessions are all about capturing emotion and engaging with your couple’s unique personalities against the backdrop of a beautiful scene. And this gets a LOT easier when you’re not spending too much attention on whether your subject is in focus.

Tell your couple to pack light

Wardrobes are SO FUN. But you know what’s not fun? Lugging that wardrobe through a subway in New York. Have your couple pack one or two outfits in a small bag so that everyone involved is limber and unencumbered as they walk around the area. 

Film your instagram intro

One of the best ways to book more destination sessions is through PERCEPTION and PROOF. If people see you shooting destination weddings and engagement sessions,you’ll be at the top of their mind to shoot theirs.

An easy way to do that is by filming a quick instagram video on location and posting it with a few highlights later. We prefer to do this at the end of a session when the couple is warmed up, feeling confident, and the sun has that magical glow!

Want to see our behind the scenes engagement session in Brooklyn? Click the video below.