A sunny Saturday in NYC's Central Park and another round of photographers are taking photos.
In front of their lenses, engaged couples wanting a nice engagement photo of themselves.
And you hear the photographers call out to them from behind their cameras, saying, "Now look at me and smile! Now look at each other and smile!"
And on command the couples mug for the camera, plant their lips together and kiss.
When it comes to photos of couples in love, these "smile and kiss" shots make up the bulk of standard snapshots of their lives.
But let's slow time down for a moment. And smell the roses.
Because there's something great and wonderful here, but you haven't seen it, yet.
It's being missed by everyone.
Because it's not in those poses I mentioned above. Though it's found in-between them.
This is what I've discovered from photographing couples in love:
When two lovers are about to kiss, they first look downward upon each others lips. It's almost instinctive.
Then as they draw closer, their breathing changes. When they focus on each other rather than on performing for the camera, there's a shift in their mood. They go into a different, more private, zone. And the camera's no longer there.
It's as if we're allowed a little peek into their feelings.
Their lips part slightly, softly, the moment before they kiss.
And in that one moment, there's anticipation.
There's a certain freedom, a grace, a beauty, in willfully abandoning themselves to their love.
There's so much heart and soul in that one moment because it's so real and genuine, coming from their hearts - because it's not a photo resulting from a photographer's scripted cue.
It happens when you let the couple act freely. In fact, you can't pose unscripted expressions even if you tried.
It's not even about us seeing something tangible, like a picture of a kiss would be. It's a portrait showing the invisible, what's unseen, what's unspoken.
You sense their sensitivity. Their serenity. You feel their passion. Their desire.
All that, proceeds from their love.
You're seeing something speaking to how they feel deep inside, beating in their hearts.
It manifests differently with everyone. Each couple is unique.
For a slight second, it resonates across their expressions. Which is why it's the exact moment in time I want to grab with my camera to have forever.
In this digital world of ours where so many "smile and kiss" images are added virtually every day, a portrait that also captures what's happening inwardly, in that very instant, to that engaged couple at this time in their lives?
Maybe it's just sentimental me, but a portrait with that dimension embedded into it, transcends the ordinary and speaks to me like a lasting tribute, an enduring testament of love.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.