When Kate and Alex said they wanted to do their winter engagement photos at Letchworth State Park I was super excited! I had never been to Letchworth State Park, and honestly all I knew about it was that people call it "The Grand Canyon of the East". Now that I've been there, I can definitely see why. WOW. Letchworth was a frozen, icy, literal winter wonderland while we were there, and I can only imagine how lush and green it is during spring and summer. I would definitely love to come back for sessions in the warmer weather, or even the fall.
Glen Iris Inn at Letchworth State Park
We started our session at the Glen Iris Inn and I just had to get some photos in front of the unique building. As a huge fan of all things colorful I loved bright, unusual hues from the gold siding to the forest green trim. The house was acquired by William P. Letchworth in 1859, and the inn has 15 guest rooms that you can book during your visit to Letchworth. They close down for the winter, but they open back up for the season in May. Seriously, what better place to stay than right next to the gorge? The views are fantastic and the Inn even hosts weddings 😍. If the park is this gorgeous for engagement photos, I can only imagine what a perfect wedding venue it would be.
The Upper Falls at Letchworth State Park
After we got some photos at the Glen Iris Inn, we moved on to Letchworth State Park's Upper Falls. It was pretty cold out, so even though it's a fairly short walk, we decided to drive to the parking lot closer to the Upper Falls (the parking lot is super close to the falls, which we definitely appreciated). As we got closer to the falls we could feel the mist, and Kate showed me where Alex had proposed to her just a few months before (it was seriously the perfect spot.) The trees and gorge were covered in ice and it was stunning.
Letchworth State Park in Winter (for couples and Geneseo photographers)
During the winter, some of Letchworth State Park's trails are closed, so if you're planning a trip, or you're a photographer planning an engagement session, just be aware that you will have some limits on where you can go. That said, it is now one of my favorite locations for winter engagement photos. The views are incredible, especially when covered in snow. When we were there even the trees were covered in ice, so you'll need to watch your step, but it is SO worth it.
Letchworth State Park Inspiration Point
Our next photo stop in the park was Inspiration Point. There were some beautiful woods, evergreen trees, and a stone bridge that was the perfect backdrop for some cozy, woodsy photos. You can even see the falls in the distance, so I would definitely recommend it to photographers who are looking to do engagement sessions in Letchworth State Park.
Engagement Session Props
I'm not usually a huge fan of engagement session props, but I absolutely love them when they're done well, and let me tell you, Kate and Alex did them well. Kate brought a beautiful knit blanket to wrap up in and it was the perfect way to get them to snuggle even closer. We also used it to cover a snowy bench so they could sit and have a glass of champagne overlooking the gorge. The blanket and champagne were the sweetest, natural props and I'm SO glad they brought them along. I would say the key to adding props to your photos is making sure they're realistic and true to you as a couple. I can totally see Alex and Kate having a picnic by the gorge and adding these elements to their session gave them so much more interest and variety in their photos.
Locations:
Letchworth State Park
1 Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427
Glen Iris Inn
7 Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427
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