Couples Photography Spotlight: Derrick & Lauren
This past weekend I had the pleasure of connecting with a couple from Queens, Derrick & Lauren. This year I am doubling down on my couple and wedding photography work for several reasons. I identify with being a hopeless romantic. I don’t know exactly when this started for me, but I would say it was around middle school. The idea of romance and love just spoke to me from a very young age. Fast forward to the year 2023 and I have been lucky enough to photograph for a few small ceremonies in New York and have even gotten the chance to officiant the wedding of one of my best friends! I guess you could say I love - Love. As I continue to build my portfolio I want to also tell the stories of love that I get to hear from the couples I meet. This blog series will aim to share some photos and stories from different couples and their unique journeys through love.
We started off the photoshoot with some catching up as I love to do with anyone I shoot photos with. There is a sense of connection I like to develop quickly with all my subjects that only helps the photos come out more naturally in the process. I learned that our couple started off as friends when they were younger and have always had a strong connection as friends for many years. Through their lives, and the changes that come with it they always managed to stay in touch as friends.
I love it when I hear this from a couple because I often think about how important it is to be best friends with the person you ultimately end up with. Why does this seem to always be a common denominator when we hear about couples who have found success in their relationships and marriage? Well, let’s see: the person you end up with is the person you spend so much of your time with. Life is short and we have only so many meals, vacations, and holidays left in our time. Your partner ends up being the person whom you spend so many of these important moments with but also your normal everyday moments. Wouldn’t you want to be with someone you can have fun with even in those seemingly “boring” everyday moments? This is why I loved hearing that Lauren and Derrick started off as just friends. This means they took a long time to see many different sides of each other. They had time to grow as people and be there for one another to show support and appreciation for one another. Fall in love with your best friend.
As we continued taking photos we found a little playground on the way to the Globe in Flushing Meadow Park. Another idea of love that I enjoy thinking about is how the best kind of love is the kind where you can just be two kids together. Let’s face it, adulting is HARD. I mean we are born into this world with a bunch of rules as kids and then we all have to just try and figure it out. Life can be so tough that it really breaks down the kid inside of us and we start to lose that shine we have for life. That innocent joy and fun of being a kid is something that starts to become a feeling that is too far and in between. But then, there are the moments when you find someone that feels like you can be a kid with again. A person who makes you feel a new sense of curiosity and joy for the world around you. If you are lucky enough to feel like a kid again then finding someone who shares the same sentiment can be such a wonderful feeling. So fall in love with with someone you can be kids with.
We ended our shoot at the big globe in the middle of the park which is an area that I love to photograph. At the end of the shoot and after getting to know Lauren and Derrick more I asked them a question: “What is one piece of advice you’d like to give to a couple that is just starting out?”
Derrick and Lauren agree that paying attention to the little things in a relationship is important for success. I have to agree with them. I’ve heard from many married couples over the years that the things you appreciate from your partner are always the little things. The little gestures of kindness in the everyday moments are the ones that matter the most in the long run. In contrast, it is always the little things that cause the biggest fights too. So I guess making sure you’re paying attention to the little details will help you on both sides of the coin.
