+ Jennifer & Collin: A bar, two drinks, and two people in love


I met Jennifer and Collin last year on a November evening just before the holidays rolled around. They met while in school at John Jay College in Manhattan. They attend church together, and volunteer at various church events to help service their community. Jennifer and Collin both have a love for speakeasy and characteristic bars. And on one of their first real dates, Jennifer reminisced to me about how all they did was bar hop - revisiting old favorites, and discovering new ones together. She says it was one of the best times she's ever had, and they spent all night talking and having a great time. Their wedding isn't until April, but Jennifer and Collin wanted to take some engagement photos. Since their decision to get married was a bit spur-of-the-moment, they never had that "official engagement" or that "official proposal." We decided to photograph at McHale's, a classic Irish pub in Midtown, where the couple likes to frequent. The bar is filled with beautiful and rich warm wood, chandeliers, red leather, and stained glass windows. I decided to stage the shots a little more with some off camera lighting to create a more romantic and dramatic effect - especially with Jennifer in that red dress! - and capture the beautiful couple in the type of old, glamorous ambiance they both love. Definitely got to snag some wonderful candid moments between the two! Complete with a vintage engagement ring passed down from Collin's family, Jennifer and Collin really made for some gorgeous photos!