On Memorial Day weekend I had the pleasure of chasing around Pike Place Market with Kate and Matthew for an engagement session. We'd had it on the calendar for a month since we're all busy, but as the day approached I started to wonder if we might have to reschedule. I'm so glad we didn't! Despite the fact that we chose a rainy, crowded holiday weekend at the most famous tourist site in Seattle, we soldiered on! We definitely had our work cut out for us, but it actually made for an amazing backdrop and we got some fantastic shots in just over two hours.
As much as I try to plan where I'm going to shoot on location and what the best angles will be, so much of what happens is by chance. Making our way down to Post Alley from 1st Avenue, I noticed this dark hidden bar with outdoor seating so we popped in for a shot. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but you only regret the chances you don't take! Turned out to be one of my favorite shots from the day. I love their reflection in the window, the crowd of people pushing their way through the market in the upper corner, and the guy just standing casually in the middle of the composition smoking a cigarette. I'm calling this "urban romance."
No matter how many times I go to Pike Place Market, I'll never see everything. I didn't even realize there were seating areas overlooking the waterfront. This spot had some amazing light coming in from the west through dirty glass windows that made a nice softbox.
The best part was shooting in this funky, dark bar called the White Horse Tavern. The couple knows the owner and had arranged for us to get access before the bar opened so we could take some photos at their favorite spot in their favorite seats, with no one photobombing in the background. It had such character I instantly knew I wanted to see a couple of the shots in black and white.