Engagement in Hell's Kitchen

New York City has always been one of my favorite shooting locations. The plethora of visual eye candy it provides a photographer is like no other place in the world.

Hye Jin and Ashish are planning a beautiful Korean/Indian wedding in Seattle later this year, and we have been talking about the wedding for months. Hye Jin actually found me through the PDN/Photo District News Top Knots Wedding contest, and photography is very important to her and Ashish. Photographer’s love couples like this, and I was looking forward to finally meeting them.

We decided to meet at their condo in Hell’s Kitchen. Of course, it always takes me a day or so to get reacquainted with the city so I got off the subway too early, walked for forty-five minutes, hopped into a cab (which I had drop me off too soon), and finally ended up walking the remaining twenty minutes. Fortunately it was a lovely day for walking, but it isn’t easy when you are lugging a bunch of heavy photo equipment. As I neared their address, there was obviously one building that was higher than the rest, and I was thinking, “Oh yes, please let that be their building”. To my delight, it was. So I went up to the 24th floor, met this charming couple, and we began our exciting adventure together.

Ashish had to travel the next day to Shanghai for business, so we were hoping for nice weather because this was our only opportunity. We were fortunate because it was better than nice. In fact, it was a perfect autumn day.

We took a few photos from the top of their building, went down into the streets, then decided to go back up to the top of the building for sunset. Afterwards they treated me (and wow was it a treat) to some awesome Indian cuisine in Mid-Town at Baluchi’s. Please do yourself a favor and check this place out if you like Indian food.

Next we went to Times Square and created some fantastic night imagery. I didn’t feel like we had a lot of time for the daylight photos so I offered to meet them again in the morning to shoot more if they were up for it. So the next morning we met again, and did a few more things in Central Park. We were all exhausted by the time we finished but it was worth the effort, and a great chance to get to know each other.

The following week Hye-Jin asked me for my address because she wanted to send me something. A few days later a beautiful Korean coin purse, and two magnets of a couple in traditional Korean wedding attire arrived from Macy’s. I was so impressed by the hospitality that Hye-Jin and Ashish had showed me the whole time we were together, but this just blew me away. My daughter Bella pleaded with me to take them to school for show and tell. I told her she would have to treasure them and be really careful. She was so proud when she gave them back to me unharmed.

Thank you so much for everything Hye Jin and Ashish. It was such a pleasure to meet and do this with you. I am really looking forward to doing the wedding together, and producing spectacular images for you and your families. Please click on an image to see it larger, and click here for the slideshow.

Comments

[Neil Cowley]

Got to love that Indian food, I love it when my clients take me out. The city is great for engagements too isn't it!! Great to hear in your voice that the doctors haven't taken your sense of humor, and zest for life! Keep putting it through in the photos.

makelovereal.net/nyc-metro/a-birthday-surprise/

[kk]

Miss you Frank! You are such a must have!!

[Garrett]

WOW! Those street shots are fantastic. I love the color and the slight blur of the passersby. Sweet DiMeo magic!

[Heather Ahrens]

Awesome photos as always! Are you going to be in Tampa for Imaging?

[Shyla]

You know you're a rockstar right?! gee whiz.

[jason groupp]

Frank - OMG, that shot on top of the roof with the Empire State building is to die for! EPIC!

You continue to raise the bar my friend! 24-25-26 stories and counting! :)

[Tony Yu]

Frank wow! love the roof top, and times square and ... all of them :) can't wait to shoot together!

[Marti Bledsoe Post]

Frank,
I'm going to have to stop watching these slide shows at the office, because I get choked up every time! What beautiful energy you catpured! I love the Times Square shots, especially in the crosswalks with the other people walking by and your couple standing still in time. Great job!

[Courtney Fries]

Frank these are amazing shots! Awesome work...you inspire me!

[Paul Eaton]

Great stuff Frank!
Really cool that you found a rooftop in NYC, it is always a hurdle to find one!

[Gisela Prishker]

Nice Images Great work

[TJ Cameron]

Frank great series man! those rooftop shots are awesome!

[Lucky Red Hen]

Hye Jin and Ashish are such a gorgeous couple! Your captures show them so much in love and happy. I bet their wedding will be AMAZING with all the culture, color and festivities. Do let me know if I can help while you're in Seattle!
Shannon :o)
Lucky Red Hen

[Hye Jin Chang]

Frank -
The pictures are fabulous! We have been waiting so anxiously and it was worth it! I have been playing the slideshow over and over again. These pictures make me love Ashish even more! Thank you so much for capturing the moments.

Hye Jin

[C.J. Scott]

So awesome how this couple found you :) Yeah, isn't it incredibly overwhelming shooting in the city? So much variety and cool places to shoot! Beautiful job with this couple, Frank!! I'm sure they're going to have an awesome wedding!

[Candy]

Wow Frank! Talk about energy! These are amazing! I love them all!
Candy

[erich camping]

Awesome job Frank! I love the third image! Great use of space!!!

[Carmen]

Frank, I just wanted to say BEAUTIFUL WORK!!!
I LOVED the slideshow.
Very lucky couple to have you photograph them!!!!
YOU ROCK!!!!

[Sarah Rhoads]

Frank, great job buddy. these look awesome. I love the unique angles you are using :)

[rowena]

Can't get any sweeter than that! If the engagement session is this good, sure can't wait for the wedding picts! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Mike Warren]

Awesome shots! I love how into it/each other they appear to be! And what a whirlwind day!