Capturing Twin Stories at Maritime Parc, Jersey City’s Iconic Waterfront Venue
Photographing events always brings surprises, and Eva and Yana’s birthday celebration at Maritime Parc in Liberty State Park was no exception. Marking a milestone anniversary, I prepared for a session celebrating their bond. Inspired by French Vogue editorials, I created a mood board filled with poses to showcase their connection. But from the very first shot, I saw this was more than a story of similarities—it was about the beauty in their differences.
Eva, with her timeless grace in a yellow gown, reminded me of Maria Callas—a whirlwind of energy, filling each frame with wild beauty and elegance. Her sister Yana, meanwhile, exuded a quiet sophistication, like Jackie Kennedy in her classic mini black dress, bringing a calm warmth that made you want to sit beside her and share stories. Photographing them wasn’t about capturing likenesses; it was about revealing their unique spirits, each illuminating the other.
Their parents shared a heartwarming story: born in Soviet Russia in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), the sisters were a complete surprise. Back then, without advanced imaging, no one knew two little lives were on the way. Their father, shocked and overjoyed by the news, even found a rare heater to keep his newborn daughters warm in that chilly autumn.
As the sun set over Maritime Parc, casting a soft glow across the New York City skyline, I felt grateful to capture Eva and Yana’s celebration in such an extraordinary setting. The golden light reflected off the skyscrapers, creating a magical ambiance that mirrored the beauty of their bond. This shoot reminded me once again that the essence of photography isn’t just in staged images, but in the real stories and lives that unfold before the lens.
