I recently had the privilege of traveling to New York with one of my dearest friends, Natalie. To say it was magical would be an understatement. The trip held a rare kind of enchantment that only comes when timing, purpose, and presence align. What made it even more special was that it was a joint birthday celebration. Natalie and I were born just a day apart, and this year, we chose to honour our birthdays with something that felt deeply joyful, refreshing, and aligned with who we are today.
This year has been a journey, personally, creatively, and spiritually. Celebrating my 39th birthday in one of the world’s most iconic cities, camera in hand, alongside someone who has witnessed and nurtured so much of my life, felt perfect.
It was not just a trip, but a soul-nourishing pause to reflect, to celebrate, and to be fully present.
We curated our itinerary with the precision of two women who love beauty, architecture, and a good stroll down memory lane. Our first day was spent exploring the Upper East Side, from the bright lights of Times Square to the serenity of Central Park. One of the most delightful highlights of that day was stopping by Magnolia Bakery and picking up two slices of birthday cake, which we shared in front of Rockefeller Plaza.
The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and we were surrounded by the joyful chaos that only New York can deliver. In that moment, it felt like the most magical part of our trip, a sweet, simple celebration of friendship, life, and another year around the sun. Though we did not have time to venture into the MOMA, the MET, or the Guggenheim, we admired them from the outside, promising ourselves a slower return visit next time.
We made our way down Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, soaking in the energy, indulging in a little window shopping, and connecting with the teams at Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent, I promised them I’d return, next time for more than conversation.
Day two took us into the heart of Lower Manhattan. While we checked off the must-see landmarks, my focus shifted toward something more personal: creating. The last time I was in New York, it was a brief and rushed visit. I had walked the same streets, but I had not seen them through the lens of someone truly ready to receive what the city had to offer. This time, I brought intention. We wandered into the parks tucked beneath the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. It was here, as golden light poured in from behind the buildings and the skyline framed each frame, that I captured the kind of images I had long dreamed of.
One of my favorite parts of traveling is having my camera by my side. As a wedding photographer, I am trained to observe quietly, to anticipate, and to capture fleeting moments that often go unseen. While I rarely have time to practice street photography, this trip offered the perfect opportunity to experiment and explore. I approached it the same way I approach my work: with openness, curiosity, and readiness.
And then, something remarkable happened.
Natalie and I had just crossed the Brooklyn Bridge and found ourselves on Centre Street, not far from City Hall. We were walking through the lively pulse of morning commuters and tourists, weaving between rows of hotdog carts, when we were approached by a man in a well-tailored suit. He clutched a set of documents, which I assumed were legal papers, and he was accompanied by a stylish woman in a dark, oversized suit and chic mid-heel pumps. As he came closer, I instinctively began to prepare my standard response, the polite but firm "No thank you" that I have used countless times when traveling.
But before I could finish, he interrupted with wide-eyed excitement and said, "No, no! We just want you to take our photo at a hotdog stand!" He held out his phone, ready for me to capture the moment. I laughed, handed my bag to Natalie, and began what turned into a spontaneous mini shoot. If you ask a professional photographer to take a photo, you are rarely getting just one. What followed was a burst of 10 or so images from every angle, wide shots, tight crops, genuine emotion. I handed back his phone, content.
Just as we were about to continue on, Natalie turned and asked, "Did you two just get married?"
They both smiled. "Yes, we did."
That changed everything.
The documents he held so closely were their marriage certificates. What struck me most was how effortless and intimate it all felt. She was not in white. There was no bouquet, no traditional fanfare. Just two people, deeply in love, choosing to mark their union in one of the most iconic cities in the world.
Without hesitation, I apologized for my initial assumption and congratulated them with all my heart. I asked if I could take a few portraits with my own camera, as a gift. She laughed and said, "I was hoping he would have asked someone sooner!" And just like that, with reverence and respect for their privacy, I captured their joy.
They shared with us that they had traveled to New York from Germany. They had attended a friend’s wedding earlier that week and decided, while wrapped in the energy of love and celebration, to make it official themselves. This was not something they planned. It was something they felt.
Before parting ways, we exchanged information and I promised to send them an online gallery once I was back home. A little keepsake. A gift from two strangers whose lives briefly, but beautifully, intersected.
That moment so raw, spontaneous, and filled with love, quickly replaced that first-day cake as the true highlight of our trip. And later, when we connected online, they told us that it was the highlight of theirs as well. They called it destiny.
Last year, my word of the year was serendipity. But the way this moment unfolded makes me believe that maybe that word is not limited to a year. Perhaps serendipity is becoming a way of life for me a path where beauty meets intention, and connection happens without force.
These are the moments I live for. This is why I love being an artist. My camera is more than a tool. It is a bridge. It creates a doorway into intimacy, even with strangers. It captures magic in the mundane. And sometimes, it makes you feel like the entire universe conspired for your paths to cross.
I will never forget that moment. Out of millions of people in that city, they chose me.
And I chose to say yes.
If this story inspired something within you if you find beauty in life’s unscripted moments and believe that magic often unfolds in the most unexpected ways, I would be honoured to help you tell your story too. Whether it is your wedding day, an anniversary, or simply a day in your life that deserves to be remembered beautifully, I am here.
Let’s connect and create something timeless together.
I can’t wait to meet you.
With love,
As always,
Amanda