Engagement!: Lauren and Desaray

By the end of the day, I knew for sure that this would be the longest post of engagement photos I’ve done so far. I will, unfortunately, not have the pleasure of photographing the union of these two, but I was really excited to have the opportunity to photograph them, together, in amazing sunlight. Their passion for each other was so rich in the way they touched each other and looked at each other, and made fun of each other, that my job was very, very easy. Of the many reasons why I totally fell in love with this couple, they brought their dog, Butter, who I also fell in love with. 

We hadn’t been shooting long, when a request was made to finish off the session perhaps at some scandalous store front of a purveyor of explicit props, I suggested the East Village. So we packed in the car, (I got to sit in the back with Butter – we were best friends by that time), and suddenly there was talk of tattoos. And it was decided! Lauren and Desaray would have their names tattooed on each other, and would I mind so much sticking around a bit longer??

FREAKING OF COURSE!#!$!!

And so, it was off to the empty tattoo parlor on St. Marks. Among the galleries of glass “tobacco” pipes and rolling papers, a commitment was sealed. It was like watching a marriage and a birth at the same time. Hunched over the chair in pain, a grazing hand over backs and shoulders for a soothing effect, this was more than wedding rings. It was a stamp. I’m yours, your mine, and no amount of soap or time will wash that away. It was beautiful and moving and so intimate to watch. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing amazing love with me!