Arcade Date Night Engagement Shoot at Harris Hill || Katherine and Hunter
I had this crazy idea in my mind for a retro, arcade, date-night engagement shoot, and I knew Katherine and Hunter would be the perfect couple for it.
After a quick text to Kat and a resolute, “We’re in!” we began planning the most fun, out-of-the-box engagement shoot! We honed in on Harris Hill Amusement Park for our photoshoot, a local mom-and-pop Amusement Park and Glider Club that has been a staple to Upstate NY since 1947.
Based in scenic Chemung County, Harris Hill is known to locals as the Soaring Capital of America and is nestled in the most beautiful rolling green hills. It is considered the southern gateway to the Finger Lakes region and offers stunning panoramic views of Chemung County.
Harris Hill is an iconic tourist attraction, a cornerstone establishment of the local community, and a favorite date-night location for Jon and me! (May or may not have been the first place I beat him in putt-putt 😏). In addition to being one of the oldest and largest glider clubs in the country, it boasts an old-school arcade, an 18-hole miniature golf course, batting cages, a driving range, go-kart racetrack, concessions, and an ice cream stand… enough said!
Katherine, Hunter, and I chose the perfect summer night for their retro, arcade, date-night engagement shoot, and we strolled up to the counter with cash in our hands for tickets. We blew our money on at the arcade’s Wheel Of Fortune game, the concession’s popcorn, and then a cut throat game of putt-putt, but we loved every second! The two share a chemistry that matched the heat of this summer night. 🥹
It was such a blast for Hunter, Katherine, and me to create this magic together, and it reminded me why I’m such a huge advocate for engagement sessions! Not only do we get a chance to know one another before your wedding day, but it also gives YOU the opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera! It is so invaluable.
After snacking (and laughing) til our bellies hurt, we ended the night by chasing after the sunset on Harris Hill Road. Those road winds through the towering treetops and campsites, and it gave me all the camp vibes.
Once we got to Harris Hill’s Overlook, we were blown away by the most impressive, jaw-dropping views of the Finger Lakes region. A view of this magnitude always takes my breath away and reminds me that I am beyond blessed to live in Upstate NY.
We watched the sun drop behind the hills, and then walked back to our cars for one final debut: footloose-vibe images on Hunter’s old school 2007 Saturn Ion Red Line. This spur-of-the-moment, totally spontaneous idea was the cherry on top of the whole session. I pulled my car around to shine my headlights on them, and we spent the final 10 minutes of blue hour snapping these epic shots.
From start to finish, Katherine and Hunter’s retro, arcade, date-night engagement shoot was absolute fire. I love how this job gives me a creative outlet to have an out-of-the-box dream, build that dream from scratch, and see it come to fulfillment. Collaborating with my couples is something I’ll never tire of, and this engagement shoot gave Katherine, Hunter, and me such a solid foundation for working together on their wedding day.
For another unique engagement shoot idea, check out this retro theater couple’s photoshoot.