No matter how open minded I think I am; I am still a human being who has preferences. Even though I vowed for no preference as an artist and especially as a photographer on a wedding day with a mission to capture the best photos possible in any given situation, but during a moment of weakness I sometimes prefer certain locations over others.

Please forgive me for what I am about to say.   Flower lovers; especially the ones that prefer the manicured and well groomed variety ones like cherry blossoms and tulips neatly planted in a garden, etc.. I can’t stand these cherished, pampered, and privileged garden flowers, for they reeked of arrogance and wealth. Sorry, I was not born rich and never had the privilege of growing up with fresh cut flowers at home. I was so deprived of this that I used to sneak flowers home after a wedding and kept these symbols of wealth long after they have dried up. Excuse me, I have digressed.

Well, going back to the best locations for engagement photos. Now, let me say this if you have not figured out; I prefer wild flowers over manicured ones. Give me a wild daisy or dandelion anytime over a well groomed rose full of pesticides. On the same vibe, I prefer Central Park proper over the Conservatory; Prospect Park over the Brooklyn Botanical Garden; and the Kissena Park over the Queens Botanical Garden or any park that does not require payment or a permit is better than the ones that do.

There’s a reason for this madness, I meant passion.  It is freedom! You are always watched in the permit required places and they are also filled with rules and regulations of what you can or cannot do. For example, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden where Anna and Steve, who did not know of my peculiar attitude towards BBG (at the mention of this garden; my liver heat rises, therefore I need my dandelion drink to calm me down), have chosen to have their engagement photos taken. Yuck, I did not sleep the night before thinking about it. I have digressed again…

We were stopped by men in uniforms riding in their little green cars, now how is that going green? They should be walking instead of wasting energy. We were told to stop because we had professional equipment. Which meant we should have pay lots of $$$ for a permit.  When they were nice to let us off; they stop us from using our small reflector. Their reason: “It distracts people”. Bottom line, it’s the $250 fee that we did not pay.

Sorry, this sounds like ranting and raving, this is unlike me; but thanks to Anna and Steve for giving me the opportunity to learn once again to not judge.  A familiar phrase of Shakespeare rang in my head once again, “There’s nothing bad or good, but thinking makes it so”.

So what are the best places to take engagement photos again? You should know the answer, it’s inside you.

I want to thank Anna and Steve once again for enlightening my vision and also went along with me to satisfy my love for the wild at the end of the session. I had the chance to shoot in the wild of Prospect Park!