The Otesaga Resort Hotel | Cooperstown NY | Kathleen and Matt Engagement | Jay Zhang Photography
When they first reached out, their lives were BUSY they were making a lot of life changes so they were both a little nervous about things going on in their lives and wedding planning - on top of planning for a wedding that is going to be on New Years Eve! These two during their session were not sure what to do, very common with people who have never gotten pictures taken before let alone Engagement Photos so Do not fret! The whole purpose of the engagement session is to get you ready and boy, once they were ready, we had some more fun. Nervously and shyly they held hands and gave peck kisses and laughed because they felt awkward. Then they started getting brave and started teasing each other and making jokes, and of course they were comfortable enough to share intimate quiet moments together while I was snapping away with the camera.
Brooklyn Bridge | Dumbo Brooklyn | Brooklyn NY | Aneedra and Mark Engagement | Jay Zhang Photography
Aneedra and Mark are the type of souls that when they meet, they can not be apart, They energize each other and push each other to be their best. Aneedra the strong, boisterous and highly intelligent women, and Mark the kind, inquisitive and supportive man are two sides of the same coin. Sometimes we forget that people are multifaceted and that when we posses one human trait, we also often possess the other. But enough about cerebral discussions of the human personality psyche and how love binds them (maybe That should be a book title!) lets talk about the amount of FUN we had on the Brooklyn Bridge, at The Brooklyn Bridge Park, and DUMBO.
Lowville NY | Olivia and Adam's Engagement | Jay Zhang Photography
Omg, I love my couples, but THESE TWO? They’re special. I met them at a wedding I was associate photographing for another photographer and Olivia and I, we became best friends from minute 1, and you know how sometimes when you meet a new friends, you just feel this energy that is on the same frequency and you get each other? That was Olivia and I, Energy Twins, Soulmates, Vibing, whatever you wanna call it, we were on the same wavelength. When I got to meet Adam at that wedding, I just saw HOW MUCH Adam makes her laugh, breaks down her barriers, makes her rethink certain things because maybe she’s overthinking things. I could SEE that breaking a mental cycle that traps you was something that Adam does for her and I couldn’t help but feel like, wow these two, I LOVE THESE TWO.
Carey Institute for Global Good | Rensselaerville NY | Felicia and Carl Engagement
What can I SAY about these two, Quiet, Dry, Witty Humor mixed with Boisterous, Confident and Intelligent, these two love spending their time together making comments, jokes, being silly and laughing. Felicia is so FULL of LIFE, she laughs and is happy and her smile overpowers the sun. Even when making shadows from the sun, you can tell there is laughing going on. Karl is a perceptive and quiet man who loves to surprise people, I was NOT expecting to start off the session so silly, but his ironic and witty self just went ahead and took the leap, and all you could hear was the echoes of laughter from Felica, and we all knew it was going to be a great and FUN day.
Thatcher Park Engagement | Voorheesville | Liz and Kyle | Jay Zhang Photography
Liz and Kyle had a lovely engagement session, I MISS meeting new people (as I’m writing this in 2021 and have not shot many engagements or weddings due to the pandemic). These two are so sweet on each other, they talk softly and gently to each other and whisper silly things. They hold each other close and they support each other in their life goals and endeavors. They make decisions together and aim to be the best team TOGETHER, and with the coming of the pandemic they had the biggest challenging of having to move their wedding date much like many couples in 2020. I can’t wait to see them again because I love me a sweet couple who just love hanging out with each other and being chill while sweetly loving on each other!
Thatcher Park Engagement | Voorheesville | Kristal and Steve | Jay Zhang Photography
Kristal and Steve have been together FOREVER, and they just can NOT wait to be officially married, but sometimes life takes you in different directions and we learn that there are no set of rules that are made for everyone AND THATS OK. Repeat after me, Someone else’s steps are not the same as your steps in life. Don’t come for these two because LOOK AT HOW FREAKIN’ adorable they are. People talk about the Passion they feel with someone new, but not a lot of people talk about the subtlties of love with someone you’ve loved forever, the freakin’ stupid phrases they say that make you shake your head and laugh, the faces they make when no one else is watching, and the revisiting fun times together that remind you why you two are together. Can we talk about that more? can we talk about how great a team couple’s are when they are together? Because those things are important in love, and in marriage! Kristal and Steve, we are SO CLOSE, I can’t wait to see you two again soon!
Washington Park Albany NY | John and Sarah Engagement | Jay Zhang Photography
John is silly, quirky, and hilarious; Sarah is witty and observant and kind. These two were flirting and making faces with each other all day, its also a good thing we were able to make some non-goofy faced john photos because he LOVES to be goofy and make Sarah laugh. Sarah’s laugh sure brightens up the atmosphere, which is why John loves to make goofy faces when Sarah is around. In-between these goofy moments though, you have these soft quiet moments that almost seem surreal when time slows down, and the wind softly caresses their cheeks as I tell them to just take one big deep breath.
West Coxsackie Private Land Engagement | Alyssa and Alex | Jay Zhang Photography
Alyssa and Alex are the type of people I could be friends forever with, why? Because they are quirky and funny and ridiculous like I am, it also helps that we’re all nerdddsss! The thing I love most about these two is that they are unapologetically themselves and they can BE themselves with each other. A lot of things we can easily take for granted is the feeling of being safe in the same physical and mental space of another person, a person that you love and that loves you back equally as deeply. They make each other laugh, with silly faces and funny vernaculars. When the laughter subsides, there is a deep sigh where their bodies and foreheads touching just melt into each other in quiet bliss.
Into the Woods Farm + Goat Yoga Engagement | Kat & Chris | Jay Zhang Photography
I love adventures when doing engagement sessions, and this one in particular was a super fun day, with GOATS! We got together at Into the woods Farm for a nice team activity of Couple’s Yoga, + Goats - A Couple’s Goat Yoga! Kat is a healer of the body and mind, Chris is an everyday public super hero and they both powerlift and train together. Their synergy together is amazing, a Man who doesn’t take himself too seriously and a woman who cares and nurtures deeply, both who are always looking for fun silly laughs together. THIS DAY was a day for a TON of laughing, and lots of intimate moments.
Flatirons Vista Boulder Colorado Engagement | Haley and Henry | Jay Zhang Photography
I’ve been wanting to blog this Engagement session forever! during these crazy times where travel to amazing places is restricted, its good to revisit some of my adventures, especially when accompanied by amazingly funny, compassionate and down to earth people. Haley and Henry have known each other for a very long time, and with the longevity of their together comes with great comfort in knowing and being their authentic selves with each other, and with the world.
Brooklyn Bridge + NYC Engagement | Nadjia and Laurence | Jay Zhang Photography
We had been planning this for months, convinced that a Sunrise Session on the Brooklyn Bridge was going to be glorious only to find out that it was going to rain on the morning of their engagement! However, even with the rain, we can make magic happen, a light, an umbrella and a foggy misty city skyline made for an amazing morning. Laurence and Nadjia are two amazingly chill people who love life, who have gone through many struggles together and who withstand the world together. The amount of laughing they did all morning was amazing, between being silly, talking about inside jokes and embracing their personalities with me around it was a day filled with magic.
Washington Park - Russell Sage - Downtown Troy Engagement | Renee and Raymond | Jay Zhang Photography
These two highly intelligent and fun loving couple just could not stop swooning and laughing and being silly with each other. You could say we had some fun times in Downtown Troy NY making some Engagement Photos, but what we were really doing was just being crazy kids hanging out in the rainy and cloudy day - perfectly overcast for some photos. It was a perfect day for an indie band cover photo against a shrub! Throughout the day they reminisced on places they used to go to, Schools they used to attend and all the memories in between.
Holmdel Park Engagement | Sarah and Tom | Jay Zhang Photography
I am excited for this long time coming blog of Sarah and Tom! Its been a MINUTE since this point in time. Sarah is this sweet girl who’s always looking out for other people, This is not surprising as she is Alexis’ Best Friend (Shout out to you girl!) who is also super kind hearted and always helping other people. This could only mean that Tom would have to be just as kind hearted, he would have to be fun loving, and he would have to make Sarah laugh uncontrollably – all these things are DEFINITELY true.
Portland Oregon Engagement | Tanya and Kyle | Jay Zhang Photography
Tanya and Kyle are SO silly, Tanya is boisterous and silly and loves to have fun, Kyle is quiet and cerebral and loves to laugh - who am I kidding, they BOTH love to laugh! There was just so much laughing in this session! They laughed the kind of laugh where you’re belly aches one second, and you take the long deep breath to catch your composure and you just melt in someone’s arms as the wave of appreciation fills the atmosphere. THIS WAS THE TYPE OF SESSION I WAS HAVING… IN MAGICAL PORTLAND. Honestly, the day couldn’t have been any better.
City Beer Hall + Albany Empire Plaza | Anthony and Andrew Engagement | Jay Zhang Photography
Anthony and Andrew first Met at City Beer Hall so it only made sense that we start their day HERE at City beer hall. Caring, the ability to care, to nurture, to uphold and to help flourish are evident in the smallest of acts - wiping away dirt, caressing the cheeks, holding hands, sharing inside jokes, holding each other up over fears of height. All these things they did this day and it made me so excited for their day. Even though as I’m sitting here making this small blog of their engagement, I know that through all of the hard times faced by the whole world over the crazy health pandemic - They will hold each other up. That’s what makes relationships last.
Thatcher Park Engagement | Kevin and Ben | Jay Zhang Photography
These two just love to laugh with each other… CONSTANTLY, and its the best! Whether its when Ben says something silly or mildly existential out of context, or when Kevin tells an engaging story, they just love to highlight all the funny and good moments. This was definitely one of those times when laughing together means crazy amounts of good times during our session. Nervous at first, we quickly moved into a comfortable place to create hugely cool photos while also LAUGHING their butts off. Indie Cover band couple anyone?
Jennings Landing Engagement | Jen and Kim | Jay Zhang Photography
We’re starting off this week’s Pride Celebration with a couple who’s created a beautiful life together already and they only want to continue this adventure together. Kim is a bit shy, very intellegent, and so compassionate you just want to give her hugs all day and Jen is an outspoken, heart on her sleeves and self sacrificing kind of person who would do anything for the people she loves.
Philadelphia Engagement | Corey and Kevin's Engagement | Jay Zhang Photography
These two are nerdy, silly, passionate, and downright FUN to be around. They were down for capturing their personalities in multiple different places in the city that they love so much. A bit of role playing maybe, but a couple of really unique compositions while they joked, sarcastically participated, and in some quiet moments, softly enjoyed each other’s company. Philly is one of my favorite cities to just be in, walk around, and explore the congruence of Historical and Modern Architectural elements. I would come back here in a heart beat, if not for the city vibes, then for these two amazingly fun and chill couple!