Laid-back Lake Photoshoot in Ithaca, NY | Sydney and Brady

Intimate embrace between couple at golden hour.

Sydney and Brady’s engagement shoot was the picture-perfect laid-back photoshoot on the lake in Ithaca, NY.

As soon as Sydney explained her vision to me, I knew it would be the most special session: “We just want it to be simplistic and truly ‘us,’” she said. “We are athletes so naturally we like to be in athletic clothes or sweats, so I was thinking casual jeans/shorts, t-shirts/sweatshirts, and relaxed vibes on the water.

Couple holds hands and looks away from one another with lake and sailboats in background.

Say no more. We began planning their session for the east side of Cayuga Lake in order to catch the dreamiest golden hour at sunset, and Sydney and Brady came to slay in their casual summer outfits. After a quick outfit change into jeans and sweatshirts, we wandered the edge of the lake, reveled at the beautiful Myers Point Lighthouse, and dipped our toes in the water. (Whew, FREEZING! 🤣)

Ithaca, NY truly was the perfect location for their engagement shoot, home to so many natural wonders, including hundreds of waterfalls, sprawling grounds, rolling hills, wooded gorges, and of course, this stunning finger lake. (Check out top things to do on Cayuga Lake here.)

Couple in casual outfits walks along edge of lake with rippling water effect

Ithaca is also home to Cornell University, making it such a vibrant, multi-cultural community full of college students, young professionals, and academics! It truly is the cutest little town and its natural beauty made for the perfect backdrop to our laid-back lake photoshoot.

As we walked along the coast of the lake, we took in the most gorgeous, mango-hued sunset. It hung low in the sky, reflecting off the water with a warmth of a hug, and the water lapped against our feet, sputtering and splashing as it tickled our toes.

Couple walks along edge of water at sunset holding hands.

The views of Cayuga Lake were beautiful in the simplest ways, putting God’s artistry on display and showcasing His ultimate creativity. We stood under the magnificent sky until the clouds thickened into the night and gloried in the beauty of His fingerprints.

I’m forever grateful for experiences like these where I can create art with my couples, celebrate their future marriages, and marvel at God’s beauty. This job is a gift beyond comparison, and I am so thankful my couples trust me to tell their love stories. Cannot wait to celebrate Sydney and Brady’s wedding at The Inn at Taughannock Falls this spring (one of my favorite Top 4 Upstate NY Wedding Venues), but for now, I’ll just be over here drooling at their laid-back lake images!