Hannah and Justin's photos have a mix of everything you would hope for when planning Cooperstown engagement photos in the fall. Fallen leaves, views of Otsego Lake, stunning Hyde Hall as a backdrop, and sunset on the beach. I mean really, what else could you ask for? Here's how we planned their session, and if you're a Cooperstown Wedding Photographer, I have some more engagement session location ideas for you at the end 😄.
Glimmerglass State Park
Glimmerglass State Park is a beautiful park located in Cooperstown, New York, and it's one of my favorites in Upstate NY. The park offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities such as swimming at the beach, boating, hiking, and fishing. It is also a popular spot for picnics, camping, and special events. Lucky for us, since we were there in November, there weren't large crowds, so we started Hannah and Justin's session with a walk in the woods and it was the perfect start for a fall engagement session. We even got some gorgeous shots with Otsego Lake in the background.
Hyde Hall Engagement Photos
One of the things about Glimmerglass State Park that really won Hannah over was the option of having Hyde Hall engagement photos. After we took some photos in the woods, we headed over to Hyde Hall, and it was a fantastic background for their photos. I love that we were able to capture both nature and stunning architecture in the same location. While we were there, there were a few people setting up for a special event. Hyde Hall hosts small weddings and even some ghost events, but they were very kind and headed inside so we could get our photos.
Engagement Photo Beach
When we started planning Hannah and Justin's engagement session, what they really wanted were sunrise beach engagement photos, so I set out to find them the perfect engagement photo beach. We wanted to keep it close to where I am in Upstate NY, so I started doing a lot of searching on Google Maps. I came up with a few locations, but I also knew that Glimmerglass State Park in Cooperstown had a public beach area, as well as a lot of other really beautiful spots that would give us plenty of variety in their photos. When I suggested this to Hannah she was all for it.
When we got there, the public beach area was absolutely covered in geese (something I was not anticipating 😅), but thankfully there's a beautiful (and more private) rocky, little beach closer to Hyde Hall, and it was absolutely perfect for their session. We wanted to make sure we got the sunset over the water, so we saved this part for the end of their engagement session, and let's just say, mission accomplished. This was my first beach engagement session at Glimmerglass State park, but it definitely won't be my last.
Cooperstown Engagement Photos
Cooperstown is a gorgeous location for your engagement photos, and when looking for the most picturesque spots, you might want to consider checking out some of the local wedding venues. Many wedding venues also allow couples to have their engagement photos taken on the property. Some will charge a fee for this, so definitely check with the venue first, but if you haven't chosen a wedding venue yet, this is also a great way to see what photos on the property could look like for your wedding day!
Cooperstown Wedding Venues
Cooperstown has some fantastic wedding venues that photograph beautifully. If you're looking for an extra special location for your engagement photos, here's 4 wedding venues in Cooperstown NY you'll want to check out:
1. The Otesaga Resort Hotel
The hotel's classic turn-of-the-century architecture provides a timeless and elegant setting for engagement photos. The property offers a variety of picturesque photo locations, including the grand building itself, the lush gardens, and the sparkling lakefront. If you're hungry after your session, the Otesaga even has several restaurants. One thing to note is that, currently, they charge $250 to use their property for engagement photos.
The Otesaga Resort Hotel
60 Lake St, Cooperstown, NY 13326
2. The Farmers Museum
The museum features a variety of historical buildings, including a 19th-century farmhouse, a blacksmith shop, and a general store, which could all make for unique engagement photo backdrops. The museum also has beautiful gardens and lush greenery for stunning photos during the warmer months (they close for the winter). I'm not sure if there's a fee here, so you'll definitely want to contact The Farmers Museum to check with them.
The Farmers Museum
5775 NY-80, Cooperstown, NY 13326
3. Fenimore Art Museum
From the beautiful terraces, english gardens and gazebos, to the lakeside lawn, the Fenimore Art museum would be a stunning spot for lakeside engagement (or wedding) photos.
Fenimore Art Museum
5798 NY-80, Cooperstown, NY 13326
4. Brookwood Point
Keywords from Brookwood Point. The nice thing about Brookwood Point is that since it's a public park, there won't be any fees for doing your engagement session here.
Brookwood Point
Otsego, NY 13326
Looking for a photographer for your Cooperstown engagement photos? Let's chat!