My alarm goes off — it’s 4:00 a.m. I immediately check the weather to see if clear skies are still in the forecast for 6:30 – 8:30 a.m. Zoë & Sylvan have a 1.5-hour drive to Hoboken for their sunrise engagement session. So, we agreed to make a game-time call by 4:15 a.m. that morning to shoot or not depending on weather. Thankfully, this window of time is clear with thunderstorms predicted to roll into Hoboken right afterward. I text Alan, Zoë & Sylvan. The shoot is on — we’re chasing the sunrise!
The combination of espresso and adrenaline keeps me from sleeping between the weather check and the start of the shoot. I pack my camera bag and watch the sky turn from the dark blues of early morning to the warm colors of dawn.
I make my way downtown. Pier A is empty and the sunlight is soft as it glows through the Manhattan skyline. It’s a photographer’s dream for an engagement session. Zoë & Sylvan are so sweet with each other as Alan and I photograph and film them. We use a combination of go-to prompts and quiet, intimate moments to create some magic with them.
When we asked them what they are most excited about on their wedding day, Zoë & Sylvan shared they’re most looking forward to their ceremony. They said, “Our faith is something that is very important to us and we really want to show that in our ceremony and want to show our family and friends what God has done in both of our lives.”
“Our faith is something that is very important to us and we really want to show that in our ceremony and want to show our family and friends what God has done in both of our lives.”
Knowing this, Alan asks Zoë & Sylvan to take a moment to pray together during their engagement session. This creates a beautiful moment between the two of them that gives me shivers when I think about it. Alan wove this piece of their story into their highlight film with the song that plays over the frames.
It’s a true honor for Alan and me to get to know our couples. This helps us tell their love stories well. Zoë & Sylvan have a love that will last for the ages. We can’t wait to continue documenting their love during their wedding day next year at Burkestone Estate!
In the end, the 4:00 a.m. wake up call is totally worth it for chasing the sunrise. 🙂
Zoë & Sylvan are a Mile Square Moments x Murphy Studio couple.
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