Hailey & Dan | Fall Engagement Shoot

Bear Mountain, NY

The fall is a beautiful time of year in NY. Changing leaves, crisp blue skies, apple cider doughnuts, ‘sweata weatha’…

No surprise, it’s also the busiest time of year for weddings and engagement shoots. Less humid than spring and cooler than summer, you can be outside for extended periods without worrying about sweating through your shirt (looking at you, grooms).

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of photographing Hailey & Dan’s engagement shoot. They wanted to start at the elementary school where they first met. Their mothers actually knew each other when they were pregnant, so one could even say they met in utero, although that would be a challenging location for a shoot. After parting ways in middle school they reconnected later in life through mutual friends. Sometimes it’s just meant to be!

Our next stop was Hessian Lake at Bear Mountain. It was a perfect fall day and the leaves had just started to change. The Hessian Lake loop offered an easy, wooded stroll and mountain views without having to hike. Don’t judge, camera equipment is heavy 🤷‍♀️

We made our way around the lake, stopping at different points to shoot. After warming up with some informal portraits I asked them to ratchet up the romance. Now that’s what I’m talking about!

I like to approach engagements as more of a ’lifestyle’ shoot and less of a formal portrait session. I may set up the situations but I want the interactions to be all natural. It’s not often you get to have a photographer follow you around to capture the sweet casual moments between you and your partner, make the most of it!

I always try to schedule my shoots around the end of day golden hour. It’s my favorite time of day, and the best lighting for portraits, but boy does it go fast! Luckily, we timed it perfectly and just finished the loop as it started to get dusky.

Many thanks to Hailey & Dan for being such willing participants, and giggling on cue. You guys are the best!