It’s almost impossible to say no to a photoshoot at the New York Public Library, even when winter’s cold seeps through the marble and the city is wrapped in gray. There’s something about the grand columns, the echo of footsteps on stone, the way the light shifts across the Main Branch at Fifth Avenue. When Tatum and Brandon—a couple whose love for each other is matched only by their passion for fashion—suggested the library for their anniversary session, I knew the stars had aligned. Editorial photography is a favorite of mine, and I couldn’t wait to get started.

They arrived in New York for Fashion Week. She is a model, and they’re both so in love with each other and the pulse of the city. When they reached out, I knew this anniversary session would be more than portraits. It was a chance to play, to lean into their high-fashion mindset, and to capture something that felt like a magazine spread—but still entirely their own.

Tatum and Brandon wore soft, sheer fabrics and sharp, black lines —a dream combination against the library’s grand marble. The architecture towered, silent and steadfast, while taxis and city life swirled just outside.

What Is Editorial Couples Photography?

If you’ve ever flipped through a fashion magazine and lingered over a photo, you know the feeling: a distinct energy, sense of purpose, and story lying just beneath the surface. That’s the heart of editorial photography. It’s not just about pretty pictures; it’s about intention. The structure is there, but the emotion leads.

Traditional sessions often focus on smiling at the camera and holding each other in familiar ways. Editorial photography sessions invite you to step into a story—sometimes glamorous, sometimes quiet, always true to your dynamic. We’ll play with composition, light, and movement, and chase that fleeting sense of wonder that happens when you forget I’m even there.

Editorial work is stylized, certainly—it thrives on composition, direction, and mood—but it’s not emotionless. You don’t have to remain stoic for the sake of fashion. Instead, we’ll lean into your story, chemistry, and style, letting those things guide the session.

Some moments are carefully composed, like Tatum’s stunning model pose under the dome. Other images are full of motion and laughter—running across a crosswalk, glancing over shoulders, sharing a look that says “this is ours.” The magic happens in the interplay: editorial doesn’t mean disconnected; it means elevated.

Can Editorial Photography Feel Like Us, Even If It’s Stylized?

This is the question I hear most often from couples who want something special, but worry about feeling out of place in front of the camera. It’s an honest fear—will we look like ourselves, or like strangers dressing up as someone else’s idea of love?

Here’s what I’ve found: the best editorial sessions don’t erase who you are; they highlight it. You are the heart of the story, not the set or the styling. Direction is gentle, never rigid. I’ll suggest a way to stand, a motion to try, or a moment to hold—then step back and let your connection fill in the rest. I love the in-between moments: the shared glance before a kiss, the quiet laughter when a pose feels a little silly, the way your fingers find each other’s hands when you think no one is watching.

During Tatum and Brandon’s shoot, I watched as they alternated between striking dramatic poses worthy of any runway and dissolving into easy, genuine laughter. One moment, they’re all elegance—collar turned up, gaze steady, the city pulsing behind them. The next, they’re running hand-in-hand across the street, not caring about the cold or the traffic, grinning like kids on the world’s grandest adventure. That’s the balance: artful and authentic, never one without the other.

How Fine Art Storytelling Comes to Life

The New York Public Library gave us a palette of stone and winter light. Inside, the hush of the reading rooms made every word and glance feel significant. Outside, the city was a blur—yellow taxis, clouded breath, the distant hum of voices and engines. We made space for both stillness and movement.

I’m always looking for the in-betweens—the way Brandon innately wrapped his arms around her when the wind blew, the click of her heels on the sidewalk, the pause before laughter. Sometimes I offered direction: “Let’s stand here, lean into each other, look out at the city.” Other times, I simply watched for organic opportunities.

I shot their session on film, tempted by the lush grain and colors that only film seems to carry. Film makes you slow down. It asks you to notice the light, the way hands touch, the emotion just beneath the surface. Somehow, that patience brings more honesty to the work.

What It Feels Like To Be Seen—Not Just Photographed

Editorial couples photography isn’t about pretending to be someone you’re not, but about exploring who you are together, through the lens of art and style. Let your relationship set the tone, and the rest will follow.

Ready to embrace your inner model? (I promise to guide you every step.) Editorial photography is creative, romantic, and oh, so much fun!

Let’s Get Started

 

Session with @tatum_reed | Dress by @mignonettebridalchicago