Classic NYC Central Park Couple's Portraits
Cora is a wedding photographer based near Mystic, Connecticut, photographing love stories throughout New England (and beyond). Cora is a wife, mom and photographer and finds joy in relationships - with her husband, her daughter, family, friends, and couples. Her photographic style emphasizes warmth and romance experienced by genuine people in classic New England places. When on the road or in the air you will likely find her exploring Boston, Massachusetts; New Haven, Connecticut; Block Island, Rhode Island; Hudson Valley, New York; or New York City, New York. Learn More
This classic sunrise Boston session was full of laughs and classic city moments as this Boston couple prepares for their Connecticut wedding day.
From the moment we first met up for their sunset Engagement Session, I could tell that Alana and Bobby are just the kind of people full of the best energy - easygoing, silly, fun, and so dang in love. I also got a sense for this on our first phone call, but it’s always fun to meet in person and get a real sense for their personalities and relationship. These two make conversation easy and hanging out with them was like reconnecting with old friends as we chatted about all of the plans for their wedding day.
When Ally and Colin were dating they used to walk in the Stony Creek area, and if you haven’t had a chance to visit the Branford Trolley Trail I suggest you add it to your list! Connecticut has so many unique coastal areas to experience and this is definitely a new favorite of mine. They had sent me a lot of information before our time together (they know how much I love details!) and this level of preparation always helps for us to make the most of our time together, especially when visiting a new place for photos. After stopping at a few of the landmarks on the trail and seeing the scenery, we finished our time together in the downtown area - which has much more of a small seaside village vibe than a downtown, it’s perfection - and the light at sunset was, dare I say it, completely dreamy. They even indulged my request for a few photos on the swings, and I’m loving all of the different vibes we achieved in the course of a little over an hour: elegant and poised, playful and fun, and a romantic sunset walk on the beach.
It still feels a little surreal that this downtown New York City Manhattan rooftop proposal happened (so I can’t even imagine how it feels to be Carmine and Courtney). Everything about this day was perfect. The view from the top of Carmine’s sister’s apartment building on 34th street has a view to the Hudson River and the day was *so* clear and gorgeous - we really could not have asked for better weather. So many people came together to make this day magical for them and to watch a tight knit community at work, as an outsider looking in, is incredibly powerful.
I had never chatted with Carmine or Courtney and was enlisted (with Carmine’s blessing, of course) to photograph this occasion for them through friends of friends of friends - you know how the story goes, and the world feels a little smaller with every connection and the stars align? I love those moments and connections. Well, Carmine’s sister worked hard to keep this all a secret and sectioned off the most beautiful corner of the rooftop, with a great view of the building where they both work, and even taped a dollar bill to the ground and setup champagne for a little post-proposal celebration. The meaning behind the dollar you may ask? Well, Courtney has apparently found a dollar before most significant occasions or occurrences in her life, SO Carmine’s adorable request was to have a dollar strategically placed that she would walk up to it and likely know that something was going on. And it worked. Courtney said after that as soon as she saw the dollar she knew she was about to be engaged.
I love that Carmine crafted the cutest most intimate proposal but also surprised Courtney with a huge celebration of friends and family after she said, “YES!” Courtney kept asking questions about the plans for the day in complete disbelief and shock at all of the surprises and celebrations he had planned.
Aside from Taylor and Andrew being two of the sweetest humans (I mean it, they were an absolute blast to hang out with) it turns out Stamford is a place I’ll be going back to often because it’s so cute. Views of the water and Long Island Sound, great restaurants and bakeries, swings, a play area with sand for the kids, gorgeous parks and modern architecture - and, bonus, from everything I saw it’s a superrrrr clean city. This downtown area was quiet and serene and it really turned out to be such a perfect evening. The sunset colors even showed off for us and we concluded the night dancing on the dock with a pink-sky-backdrop as Taylor twirled around in the most beautiful floral dress.
After being in Manhattan this weekend to photograph a surprise proposal (she said “YES!”) I was reminiscing back to this weekend in Brooklyn and couldn’t wait to put the finishing touches on this gallery to share with you all. It’s been a long time dream of mine to make it to the Brooklynn Bridge at sunrise for a photo session, and the stars aligned and it felt like a dream to be on the bridge photographing this gorgeous couple in the first light on a spring Saturday morning.
There are a few different spots in Brooklyn that are all easily accessible and close together in the DUMBO area, and with a little pre-planning we decided to begin at sunrise on the Brooklyn Bridge (total dream) and head to Washington Street for the iconic cobblestone New York City streets, make our way to Jane’s Carousel (which my daughter Jane *loved*), and then finished our time together right on the water with the gorgeous New York cityscape for a backdrop. The morning light was so soft and perfect and Jess and Peter were absolute naturals at being in front of the camera - every request was met with enthusiasm and I’m just so grateful for sweet couple’s that allow me the honor of photographing a piece of their story. Peter used to live and work across the river in New York City and Jess has fond memories of time throughout her life on the the Brooklyn Bridge, including a photo of her and her mom when she was younger on the bridge. It’s amazing to think how photographs freeze these moments in time and we carry them with us, and that I was able to add to their memories of this gorgeous bridge and the part it will play in their story.
I must say, every day since this session I’ve had a moment after waking up back in Connecticut that I think, “I wish I was waking up to sunrise in Central Park.”
Central Park is a classic piece of the New York City experience and there is just something about NYC with the springtime glow, a gorgeous couple in love (getting married this Fall and I cannot wait to be there to photograph their wedding day - eeeeeek!) and exploring this stunning park perfectly placed in Manhattan.
Sitting at my desk watching the snow fall in April - got to love New England - and it reminded me that I haven’t had a chance to blog Nicole and Dan’s cozy winter engagement photos at Heavitree of Griswold B&B. From a few warm indoor photos with tons of historical character, cozying up on a couch together with gorgeous exposed beams, fireplaces and a taproom, to some outdoor moments with gorgeous rock walls, a red barn and a Christmas tree farm backdrop of Geers Tree Farm, this session was filled with all of the reasons I love New England and the moments it inspires in love stories.
This Engagement Session actually happened last May. Whoa. I can’t believe I’m just now sharing this gorgeousness, but when I photographed these sweethearts I was actually about 8 months pregnant, and well, that was a pretty crazy season of life - I’m kind of loving revisiting these images just a few weeks before their celebration with friends and family.
I began working with Whitney and Dylan back in 2018, if you can believe it. I still remember sitting at Starbucks chatting about the dreams they had for their wedding day (plans that were ultimately altered a bit by COVID-19). Well, I’m happy to say, not only did these two have an intimate ceremony and still get married on the original day they had planned, although they had to postpone their larger celebration, the party will be happening THIS month and we’re all pretty excited.
Since I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know them they’ve bought a house, added fur babies to their pack, and actually gotten married - it feels like a lot of life has happened since we met and I couldn’t be more excited to stand with them in celebration as they are able to have their closest friends and family witness their commitment to all of life’s changes and challenges ahead.
Elegant September wedding at Wee Burn Beach Club in Darien, Connecticut, a beautiful waterfront venue on the Long Island Sound. Captured by Connecticut luxury wedding photographer Cora Jane Photography, specializing in timeless New England weddings.