David and Rainbow are getting married in just a few weeks, but before their big day, they wanted something completely different. Instead of a typical shoot, they opted for a Boston Chinatown engagement session inspired by the moody, fun world of Wong Kar-wai and it was a blast.. No rolling fields or golden hour glow. Instead, we hit the streets of Boston’s Chinatown after dark for a documentary couples session.
On our first call with this couple, Rainbow and David, they mentioned wanting to do their engagement photos in Boston’s Chinatown. They had this vision of a cool, sexy, stylish, Hong Kong-nights shoot in the fashion of a Wong Kar-wai movie (Rainbow and David are fans of his work, as are Anna and I).
Why a Nighttime Boston Chinatown Engagement Session?
Boston Chinatown has cool energy. It’s colorful, a little gritty, a little nostalgic, just like a great love story. Add in the mystery of nighttime light and some Wong Kar-wai style inspiration, and it becomes pure visual poetry.
These photos differ from our usual because, as you can see, there’s quite a bit of editorial posing going on here. I usually like to keep that style of shooting to like 5% of a session, if any portion of it at all, and only if I’ve gotten the sense that the couple could pull it off. In the case of this Boston engagement shoot, though, I didn’t really have to do much when it came to posing; the posing ideas were mostly Rainbow and David’s.
This shoot is a great reminder that your engagement session doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. In fact, it shouldn’t.
Want something fun? alternative? Nostalgic? Artsy? Let’s do that. These photos are more than a “save the date”, they’re a chance to capture your relationship the way it really feels. And for David and Rainbow, that meant leaning into the drama, color, and cool of the night.
Thinking Outside the Pinterest Box
I did help refine their ideas, so it was very much a collaborative process. For future clients, I want to be clear that this isn’t the type of photography I typically create for couples. That said, I’m absolutely open to it if it’s something you’re excited about. Just know that the energy has to come from you, so if you can bring the sexy and the suave, I’ll capture it beautifully.
Ready to make something different, too?
If you’re dreaming of a couples shoot or engagement session that’s fun, and YOU driven, we’d love to hear from you. Message us here!
📍 Available in Boston, New England, and anywhere your story takes us.
