Golden Hour Love: A Waterfront Engagement Session
I-95 on a Sunday isn’t exactly known for being relaxing — but it was 100% worth it for Manny & Maria’s South Norwalk engagement session. Their session was the perfect mix of personal, urban, and waterfront, and it’s a great example of how engagement photos don’t need to be confined to one single location to tell a full story.
Starting at Home: A Personal Beginning
We kicked things off in Manny & Maria’s apartment, which is always one of my favorite ways to start an engagement session. Beginning in a space where a couple actually lives instantly helps everyone relax. There’s no pressure, no crowd — just the two of them being themselves in a familiar environment.
From there, we stepped outside and took a short walk around the block to one of South Norwalk’s most recognizable spots — the SONO underpass mural. (SONO, for anyone unfamiliar, stands for South Norwalk.)
Embracing the City Energy
One of my favorite images from this session happened right there under the overpass, with a car passing through the foreground. When you’re shooting in a city environment, it’s almost impossible to isolate your subjects completely — and honestly, that’s part of the charm.
Instead of fighting the surroundings, we leaned into them. Capturing motion blur from the passing car while keeping Manny & Maria sharp added energy and movement to the image. It took a little patience (and a steady hand), but it’s one of those shots that feels alive — very “them” and very South Norwalk.
Sunset by the Water
After wrapping up downtown, we took a short drive to a nearby beach club to finish the session by the water. We wandered along the shoreline, explored the area, and waited for sunset.
At first, the sky felt like it might fizzle out — one of those “maybe this is all we’re getting” evenings. We started heading back toward our cars when we glanced over and realized the sky had completely transformed. We turned around, moved fast, and ended up with one of the most beautiful sunset moments of the night.
A white building behind Manny & Maria reflected the remaining light perfectly, bouncing soft, natural light back onto them and creating an even, flattering glow without any added equipment. Sometimes the best light shows up right when you think you’re done.
A Session That Felt True to Them
This South Norwalk engagement session was the perfect blend of lifestyle, city, and waterfront — relaxed, personal, and full of movement. Manny & Maria trusted the process, embraced their surroundings, and ended up with a session that feels authentic to who they are together.
If you’re planning an engagement session and want something that reflects your real life — not just a pretty backdrop — this is exactly the kind of approach I love to take.
