I was already incredibly excited when Brittany first contacted me via The Knot asking to do a photoshoot when she and her boyfriend Kris were in New York City for New Years Eve – a kind of “engagement shoot” for people who aren’t engaged (yet), my sweetheart session. The daughter of a photographer, Brittany had a ton of ideas for locations and shots, but wasn’t pushy about it either. Meeting for the first time at Jane’s Carousel I felt like I was reconnecting with old friends, laughing easily as we rode the horses up and down.

After we got off our little introductory ride, Kris very casually took me to the side and told me “so I have a ring…”

I nearly lost my shit. Having never shot a true “engagement shoot” before then, I was incredibly excited and a little nervous – but more than anything else honored. Over the next two hours I tried to get them to talk about their love for each other, if I could help set the mood, and even dropped some hints about how romantic Central Park’s Bethesda Terrace is, without trying to be obvious. When we arrived, I took some shots and then backed off saying I had to switch my lens to give Kris some space. After he gave her a little present, which she gleefully danced over, he got down to one knee.

He asked. She said yes. She cried happy tears. I cried happy tears. I couldn’t even express my joy for these people I barely knew.

We finished the evening with a couple more shots around Central Park, with Brittany and Kris showing me the most genuine love and joy I had seen in months. It was a pretty great way to ring in the New Year.