Top Engagement Shoot Locations in Upstate NY
You’re officially engaged, ready to plan the perfect engagement shoot, and ARE looking for the top engagement shoot locations in Upstate NY! WELL, You’re in luck… I have quite the list for you! 🥰
Having been born and raised within the Finger Lakes region, I have always loved this special area… but now after having traveled, tasted other landscapes, and come to a deeper appreciation of home, I have truly come to treasure Upstate NY’s rolling hills, lush greenery, endless lake views, and cute, small-town villages with their wineries, breweries, and charming mom-and-pop restaurants.
The Finger Lakes Region is the literally the dreamiest destination for a wedding and elopement photographer. There are so many naturally beautiful backdrops, and as an Upstate NY wedding photographer, I constantly find myself swooning at its many gorges, waterfalls, and lakes. There are so many state parks, hiking trails, and off-the-beaten-path gemstones, so whether you’re an Upstate NY native or a city dweller looking for something different for your engagement shoot, you’re in the right place for some engagement shoot inspiration! Let’s dive into the top engagement shoot locations in Upstate NY!
Watkins Glen State Park
I recently had the pleasure of photographing Maggie and Hade’s engagement session at Watkins Glen State Park! Maggie and Hade are adventure-loving, rugby-playing, gentle-spirited people with big smiles and warm spirits. They had a vision for their engagement shoot that encompassed everything that they are together… something laid back and low key, but spoke to their love of the outdoors. Watkins Glen State Park was the perfect engagement shoot location. Located next to the largest of the glacial Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake, the park has a rim trail that allows dogs, which we obviously took advantage of 😉 as well as a stunning gorge trail. The gorge path is about 1.5 miles long (3 miles round trip) with 500 foot elevation gain. Word to the wise, the 800 steps are better taken when you’re not 6mos pregnant. 🤣🥵
There is truly so much raw beauty to admire at Watkins Glen State Park such as the breathtaking stone walkways, natural waterfalls, and cave stairwells. During the entirety of our engagement shoot, I was struck by what a gemstone Watkins Glen State Park is to have in Upstate NY! Stay tuned for Maggie and Hade’s full engagement shoot, which will be hitting the blog soon!
2. Cayuga Lake
Sydney and Brady chose Cayuga Lake as the location for their engagement shoot, which is the longest of Upstate NY’s finger lakes. They wanted something in Upstate NY that was close to their wedding venue (Inn at Taughannock), so we decided on a lakeside engagement shoot. What a perfect location! Cayuga Lake spoke to their warm, vibrant, and super magnetic connection, and both being athletes, the laidback vibe also showcased them in their most natural element… relaxing together in sweats and messy buns. Say no more! 🙌🏼
We broke up their photoshoot into two different sections: 1) golden hour photos in their “cute” outfits and 2) the beach at blue hour in their comfy sweatshirts, jeans, and barefoot. These are literally some of my favorite photos to-date because they showcase exactly who the couple is, how they complement one another, and just how much fun we had together! See Sydney and Brady’s full laidback engagement session here!
3. Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake State Park is for sure a top contender on my list for Upstate NY engagement shoot locations, and my engagement session with Siobhain and Ian will show you why! (More on that below!) To start, Keuka Lake is nicknamed the Crooked Lake because its unusual shape in a “Y.” It is relatively shallow, making it all the warmer for swimming, and it is a lake I personally grew up visiting, so it has a special place in my heart!
It holds an equally special place in Ian’s heart, whose parents have a lakehouse on Keuka Lake, giving this location all the more sentimental value! He and Siobhain decided to showcase their love of Keuka and their sweet, down-to-earth chemistry in their happy place: beautiful Upstate NY. We kicked off their engagement shoot at Garrett Memorial Chapel, known to locals as the “Little Chapel on the Mount,” which is a gothic style church in the woods overlooking the Keuka Lake bluff. This chapel is tucked away on a hillside and gives all the romantic vibes and elevated their engagement shoot from playful and laid-back, to intimate and dreamy!
I love shooting on Keuka Lake partially due to my own happy memories, but also because of its lush greenery, charming landscapes, and nostalgic vibes that every lake gives off! Keuka Lake State Park literally gives definition to the catchphrase, “I’d rather be at the lake!” and it is the perfect setting for an Upstate NY engagement shoot.
4. Taughannock Falls
One ot the most popular engagement shoot locations in Upstate NY is Taughannock Falls, which is truly a one-of-a-kind destination! Located just outside the bustling town of Ithaca, NY, Taughannock Falls State Park is known for its 215 foot waterfall. It is one of the tallest waterfalls in New York State and is accessible by a short walking trail along the gorge. Take it from me, the trail is chock full of photo ops - even before you reach the plunging waterfall, which I’ve taken full advantage at all my photoshoots!
I photographed Bobbi and Austin’s engagement shoot there when I was 41 weeks pregnant 👀 as well as Jordan and Casey’s engagement shoot in the middle of the winter (photographed above). I love that depending on the season you go, Taughannock Falls is so versatile and wild. It can feel super romantic and sweet, like it did during my engagement session with Bobbi and Austin, or it can feel powerful and dramatic, like it did at my photoshoot with Jordan and Casey. Peep the photos below to see the fierce beauty of this perfect engagement shoot location in Upstate NY!
5. Ithaca / Cornell University
If you’ve ever lived in (or even heard of) Upstate New York, I’m sure you are familiar with its claim to Cornell University! Thankfully, the claims do not fall short and Cornell’s campus houses a vibrant, multicultural community full of college students, young professionals, and academics as well as stunning views! Two specific locations on Cornell’s campus that I especially love doing photoshoots are the Lab of Ornithology and Newman’s Overlook.
The Lab of Ornithology is a 230-acre sanctuary with four miles of trails for exploring. This is where I did Emily and Andrew’s sweet anniversary session (photographed above). Newman’s Overlook is located on the eastern part of Cornell’s campus and is known for being one of the highest points of the Cornell Botanic Gardens. It is where I did the last half of Bobbi and Austin’s engagement session, and it makes for a kiiiiller backdrop at sunset! There are truly soooo many other gorgeous engagement shoot locations on and around Cornell’s campus, including greenhouses, stunning architecture, and meandering walkways, so don’t sleep on this prime engagement shoot location in Upstate NY!
6. Corning’s Market St. (GAFFER DISTRICT)
Market St. in Corning, NY is an underrated gem and is the perfect location for the historic downtown engagement session in Upstate NY. Morgan and Chad landed a warm, fall afternoon for their engagement shoot, which matched their equally warm chemistry! Their vision was for a classy and timeless photoshoot, but with a lil “fire” and a lil sexy. Cheeeeeeeck! ✅ They decided on the charm of Market St. in Corning, NY as well as a “full bar” look which we landed at Hand in Foot on Market St!
Market St., also known as the Gaffer District, is sandwiched between Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake in Upstate NY and is known for its downtown charm, family friendly events, and yearround activities including the Wineglass Marathon, Glass Fest, and Crystal City Christmas. The street is full of small-businesses, beautiful streetscapes, and delicious restaurants that make the street feel vibrant yet old-school, and it truly makes for a one-of-a-kind setting for an Upstate NY engagement shoot.
7. Canandaigua LAKE / Cummings Nature Center
Canandaigua Lake, the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes, is another amazing engagement shoot location in Upstate NY! The lake and its surrounding areas strike the perfect balance between relaxation and luxury, and it is truly a natural wonder! Loraleah (another amazing Upstate NY wedding photographer!) wanted to document an anniversary session with her hubby, so we shot on the lake and then transitioned to Cummings Nature Center! Cummings Nature Center is 900-acres of property with 15 miles of trails, and I love the quiet, peaceful beauty of this setting in Naples, NY! The nature center is also dog friendly, which was great news for Marley, Jake and Loraleah’s sweet golden retriever! 😉
So there you have it! My top engagement shoot locations in Upstate NY are Watkins Glen State Park, Cayuga Lake, Keuka Lake State Park, Taughannock Falls, Ithaca / Cornell University, Market St. in Corning, NY, and Canandaigua Lake! Truly, you can’t go wrong with any location in Upstate NY because the Finger Lakes region is just so naturally beautiful, but this list is a great starting point for gorgeous engagement shoot locations in Upstate NY!
For more UPSTATE NY WEDDING inspiration, check out these WEDDING GALLERIES FROM THE FINGER LAKES REGION!
Cayuga Lake, New York:
Anna & Matt at The Inn at Taughannock
Sydney & Brady at The Inn at Taughannock (coming soon!)
Skaneateles Lake, New York:
Bobbi & Austin at Mandana Barn
Seneca Lake, New York:
Taylor & Dan at Belhurst Castle and Winery
Lake Ontario, New York:
Cristi & Trevor at Colloca Estate Winery