Choosing a Location for Your Engagement Session | Long Island Wedding Photographer
Location. It’s not the most important part of your engagement photography session, but it can have a big impact on how your images turn out. Choosing the right location for you as a couple may require some thought and compromise, but it will be worth it to get images you love. Thankfully, Long Island has many nearby locations that are absolutely stunning.
Pick a place that suits you as a couple
When choosing a location for your engagement photos, think about your lifestyles and how you like to spend your time. Do you love exploring new places and going on adventures? Choose one of your favorite spots in town or even go hiking! Do you like to visit local restaurants or coffee shops? Order a latte and settle in. Maybe you’re a homebody and you feel most comfortable on your couch. Opt for a lifestyle session in your home then. Your engagement photos should encapsulate the love you feel for each other and what makes your relationship unique to the two of you.
Think about what you want to wear
If you’re not sure where to have your engagement session but you absolutely know what outfit you’re going to wear, then let your clothes guide you. For example, you wouldn’t wear a formal dress to the beach or a flowing gown in an urban environment. Consider where your clothes would fit in best, and if you’re unsure, talk to your photographer. They’re likely to have plenty of great locations in mind!
Draw inspiration from your love story
Think about the places that have been part of your relationship: where the two of you first met, the location of your first date, where you or your partner proposed. If you attended school together or met at a local event venue, consider incorporating this location into your engagement session. It’s a sentimental touch that reminds both of you of where it all started and how far you’ve come together.
Head to your hometown
Whether you both share a hometown or you’ve made your home in a new place together, the place your love story blossomed and grew can be the perfect spot for your engagement photos. Maybe you met in college and want to incorporate your alma mater into your session. Think about the places that matter most to you and how they can help you tell your love story.
Choose a favorite date spot
Do you have a favorite local restaurant or coffee shop? Maybe you have a museum you like to visit. If there’s a nearby spot that you love to enjoy together, it can be the perfect location for your engagement session. You’ll already feel comfortable in a familiar place, so you can focus on each other and worry less about the camera pointed at you.
Keep the time of day in mind
When it comes to photography, lighting makes all the difference in the world. If you have a sunset or golden hour shoot in mind, talk to your photographer about the best places to capture that specific type of lighting. And if you’re just not sure what time of day has the best light, I guarantee your photographer will know!
Plan for the season
If you want fall photos with changing leaves or spring photos with blossoming trees, do some research and find out where the best natural colors are in your area. And don’t forget to plan your outfits accordingly! Be sure to check the weather before your engagement session to know what clothes you need to wear, and don’t be afraid to bundle up if it promises to be cold out. Cozy photos can be very cute!
Visit your venue
If you’ve already chosen a wedding venue, it can be a romantic location for your engagement session. This is an especially good idea if your venue is picturesque or has a beautiful garden or outdoor area that you can walk through. You can even recreate some of your engagement photos on your wedding day!
If you would like to learn more about the services and packages I offer for your special day, please contact me at any time! I would love the opportunity to explain how I can work with you to understand your vision and exceed your expectations. You can also find out some more information about engagement sessions as well as wedding services.
Allie & Vinny | Hempstead Lake State Park | Long Island Wedding Photographer
I had such a great time working with Allie and Vinny on their engagement photos! I’ve known Allie for a really long time, and helping her capture her these images was a special experience for me.
We chose Hempstead Lake State Park. As a kid, I would drive past this location all the time, and I never really stopped to explore it. But there are so many intimate areas where you can create great moments for an engagement session. This is now a location I visit frequently - especially in the fall.
Allie and Vinny had fantastic weather, and the leaves were starting to turn. I love the way both of their outfits complement each other and the colors of the season.
Allie and Vinny are the nicest couple, and I enjoyed spending time with them! Having known her for the past 20 years, it was really meaningful for me to share in this important time in their lives!
Engagement Session at Islip Grange and Heckscher State Park (Copy)
Engagement sessions are more than photographs - they are an entire experience. They allow you to create imagery you can use for all of your wedding planning while also creating a unique memory for you and your fiancé. The short time you have between dating and marriage should be celebrated and remembered.
What I love about Devlin and Pete are that they are such a relaxed and fun couple. They wanted to take advantage of the fall foliage while also aiming to get some sunset images at the beach. So, we planned on going to the Islip Grange for a short while and then catching the sunset at Heckscher State Park, a short 20 minute drive away. In the end, we were able to get some great images with a substantial amount of different looks.
The fall leaves were just starting to turn at Islip Grange. It was really the perfect combination of color.
We then went to Heckscher State Park in Islip. What I like the most about Heckscher is the ability to access so many different locations within a short walk from the parking lot.
On our way to the beach, we stopped at this quiet dock. While we lucked out with a quick passing storm that just skirted where we were, it gave the sky a really dramatic look.
With the sun about to set, we went to the beach. With wide a wide open vista of the bay, we were able to get some incredible colors.
Congratulations to both Devlin and Pete on their engagement! I thoroughly enjoyed working with you on your engagement session.
Surprise Marriage Proposal | Nataly + Mike
Surprise Marriage Proposal | Brooklyn Bridge Park, Dumbo
I cannot express how surprised I am that Mike was able to pull off a surprise proposal in full view of family and with the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop.
Mike and I met a couple days ahead of time to discuss location and how we were going to recognize each other. He explained that his family was going to be there, and he gave me a way to get in touch with them. I was reluctant to text him too much because I didn’t want to give Nataly a reason to be skeptical.
About an hour before Nataly and Mike were supposed to arrive, I scouted out a location that I thought would be ideal. We agreed to meet at the Brooklyn Bridge Lookout - right by the Ample Hills Creamery. The family gathered on the opposite side of a slip for a floating restaurant. They were able to stay far enough away so that they couldn’t easily be seen, but the water gave them a completely unobstructed view.
There were several locations that would’ve worked perfectly, but there was really only one that provided the family with the opportunity to see the proposal - and there was a wedding party in the spot taking formals. But we still had time. We had just had a substantial snowfall, and the family had been sitting in the cold for over an hour. I wanted to make sure the family could see the big event.
Thankfully, with only about ten minutes before they were due to arrive, the bridal party packed up, and I quickly took over the spot. I made sure I could see the family and that I could get a good angle with the Brooklyn Bridge. Right after I took up my spot, Mike sent me a text that they had just parked and that they were headed to me.
A few minutes later, I saw them walking. I kept my back to them and pretended to take some landscape photos of the bridge. As soon as they passed me, Mike asked me if I could take a picture of the two of them and handed me his phone. Within seconds, he had dropped down onto one knee with the gorgeous ring he selected.
The family started cheering from a distance, a friend came running in, and, for a couple of minutes, everyone in Brooklyn Bridge Park knew what was happening.
Then, for the next forty-five minutes or so, there was a celebration. In the middle of Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, there were about 20 people who had their own private event with champagne flowing and an iconic background.
The whole event was very emotional - from the anticipation, to Nataly’s genuine surprise, to the celebration. It was really wonderful to see two families celebrate the relationship between Nataly and Mike and the genuine happiness for their future life together.
Emily + Mark | Central Park Engagement Session | Long Island Wedding Photographer
Emily and Mark had the most absolutely perfect day! The leaves in Central Park were in peak foliage - the most beautiful colors reflecting in the water and outlining the unique cityscape around them. The air was perfect, and the temperature was ideal. It was perfect to celebrate their relationship!
Central Park offers so many iconic architectural features, but it also offers the ability to find some more secluded natural, yet manicured, spots. These images pair so nicely together!
We first met above Bethesda Terrace and took a short walk over to the Mall. The benches and the beautiful leaves complemented their outfits so well. And both of them were so natural in front of the camera. I went over some basic posing suggestions and advice, but Emily and Mark barely needed any direction!
We then headed over to Bethesda Terrace for a different look. I love the texture on the wall, and how the architecture frames them so well.
Immediately next to Bethesda Terrace is The Lake. While the boats were put away for the season, the leaves were stunning. The concrete pillars combined with the foliage and the water created a unique backdrop for them.
Our next stop was Bow Bridge - it was so crowded! But we were patient, and we were able to get some images of Emily and Mark enjoying a special moment at such an amazing location.
We took a short walk into The Ramble. Central Park is laid out so well. Even though we were just in a large crowd of people, we suddenly found ourselves alone in the middle of these romantic walkways.
We stopped at a couple of the more natural locations on our walk back, and we captured some intimate moments between Emily and Mark.
As our session ended, our luck with the weather ended at the same time. But, we used some of the overcast sky with the rain to create some fantastic silhouettes. These dramatic images are certainly a great addition to gallery!
We also utilized the cover of Bethesda Terrace for some final images. I love the gold hue of the ceiling!
The way Emily and Mark are so comfortable and relaxed as a couple is something everyone should emulate. They are two amazing people - fun to be around, easy to talk to, and they look great in front of the camera!
If you would like more information regarding engagement sessions, you can find more information here, and if I can help you with any of your photography needs, you can contact me at any time!