“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one”
- C.S. Lewis

Behind the Scenes
In Chapter 1 of “Remarkable Love Stories” we explored the how quality of engagement impacts relationships and wedding photography. For Chapter 2, I would like to share the engagement story of Janet & Chip. Experiencing their story (in their own words) helps me reminisce about the first time I heard it. We were on the uptown Avenue of the Americas line at 34th Street and heading towards the Museum of Natural History for their engagement photography session. I asked the couple how they met and they both giggled a bit. The story they shared (see above) is both personal and humorous. A sense of humor is so specific to personality types and its great to see two people who enjoy each others jokes. This quality of wittiness and play really speaks to their friendship…

Observations
Janet and Chip enjoy share many, “What! You too? I thought I was the only one” moments. In challenging times, remembering these unique discoveries of kinship, laughter and connection help sustain us during challenging times. Chip has an unrelenting sense of humor “matter of fact” humor and yet he’s also very articulate about his emotions. Janet is very detail focused and yet she balances this sharpness with a smooth quality of patience. Working with Janet and Chip, I began to appreciate how friendship creates a space for playfulness. Experiencing this “permission to play” transforms relationships and has changed the way I approach engagement photography. Play is active and thoughtful; it helps turn even the most casual conversations into “moments”.

Ideas to Consider
Photography tends to make us feel “camera shy” or “cheesy”. When considering ideas about your engagement photography session, think about places you both enjoy. What places allow you both to feel relaxed? Where do you visit to “unwind” or explore? What time of day do you prefer? Be adventurous. If you can’t think of a place, go on more dates and start exploring. New York City has so much to offer couples; from art exhibitions to sight-seeing, restaurants and nature walks. Collectively planning a getaway in the city will add to your experience together. If you’re really stumped, email me and I’m happy to share some ideas (parris at pswhittingham.com).

P.S. You can check out Janet’s feedback to the film by scrolling down….