SOUTH STREET SEAPORT, NY — Honor is a word we don’t often use when describing our relationships. Yet, the experience for people to connect in a heartfelt and vulnerable manner requires honor. Watching this short film, I am most fascinated by Sejal and Krishna’s choice of words for each other. Krishna uses words like: excitement, driven and ambitious to describe his wife Sejal. By contrast Sejal describes Krishna as modest, calm and relaxed. Taken as a whole, you can appreciate the balance of emotions they experience together. Although most of us find fault with people who are “not like us”, Sejal and Krishna seem empowered by their personality differences. They honor the qualities that they learn from and strengthen within each other.

Sejal and Krishna chose the Southstreet Seaport because they enjoy the quiet view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River. The walk from their home in the Financial District to the South Street pier was transformational. As we neared the water, you could see the pace of movement go from hustle and bustle to casual saunter and then….stillness. Arriving at the pier you are drawn to a complete almost hypnotic standstill. In many ways, Sejal and Krishna embody the complimentary nature of Wall Street and the South Street Seaport.

Most of the wedding and engagement photography stories I’ve documented share a consistent element of “opposites attracting and honoring”. Finding appreciation for these differences is how couples grow closer together. As Sejal describes it, “Love is knowing someones faults and imperfections and still thinking that they’re perfect”. For a couple that’s been married for over two years, its so inspiring to see them speak about each other like newlyweds. Sejal and Krishna helped remind me that I became a wedding photographer to explore and document this indescribable feeling of engagement.

Our Team
Director: Mathew Charof
Sound Designer: Michael Leary
Producer & Photographer: Parris Whittingham

If You’re Engaged: Please read this short article about How to Choose the Ideal Photographer for Your Wedding.

Behind the Scenes
In the past two years, over five close relatives and friends in my life have passed away. Overcoming this trauma has helped shape my work and commitment to celebrating love stories. Chapter 1 of “Remarkable Love Stories” reflects on my experience as an engagement, proposal and wedding photographer in New York. I explored the quality of engagement and how it fundamentally strengthens our relationships. In Chapter 2, we met on newlyweds Janet and Chip. Through their friendship we can see how the elements of play and friendship shape engagement story. For Chapter 3, I wanted to dig a bit deeper into my personal connection with New York City, photography and legacy.

About this Film
For this short film, you meet my Grandmother and my mother. Both women are tremendous influences on my appreciation of art and history. Listening to my grandmother describe her earliest experiences of New York helped me to touch that moment in time. I could not imagine Grand Central Station as she described it (windows blackened during World War II to avoid bombing) until we produced this film. Seeing her “revisit” the darkroom where my Great-Grandfather taught himself the craft of photography was also a surprise. These are stories from over 70 years ago. Moments in history that live in her memory and will fade with her passing if they are not documented. I’d never heard these stories about my Grandmother’s childhood until we interviewed her for this film. She simply doesn’t talk about it…

Producers Commentary
When my mother said, “what you capture in a picture has a story behind it, there’s movement, there’s something that goes on that you may or may not necessarily see but it’s just as important as what’s on that image!” I was blown away. The truth is, I rarely talk about the feelings I experience as a wedding photographer with my family. I often share the stories of the couples I’m working with and their adventures together. Sometimes I wonder if they understand me or why I am so passionate about this work. This mother’s clearly articulated words outline my focus as an engagement, proposal and wedding photographer in a single sentence. This experience especially touched me.

Losing a friend or a relative often strikes at our core and makes us question re-examine the world around. In these times of loss, we are presented with the unique opportunity to more clearly appreciate how fortunate we are. My personal regret for the relatives and friends who are no longer with me is that I did not appreciate the power of documenting their stories in life. Chapter 3, allowed me to connect with my family legacy of storytelling and photography. Sadly, my Grandmother suffered a stroke just weeks after this interview and is now recovering. Thankfully, this film will remain in my family as a testament to her story and legacy.

Director: Mathew Charof
Sound Designer: Michael Leary
Producer: Parris Whittingham

“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….