Upstate NY Wedding and Elopement Photography Guide
Dreaming of getting married amidst the dramatic high peaks, glittering lakes and vibrant wilderness of the Adirondack Mountains? Upstate New York is the perfect destination for a wedding weekend experience. Surrounded by deep emerald forests, rolling hills blanketed in lush greenery, and glittering Finger Lakes, an Upstate NY wedding is the epitome of timeless beauty. A scenic wedding destination tucked amidst miles of lavish countryside, which whispers of God’s glory and feels like earth’s poetry.
Choosing Your Upstate NY Wedding Photographer
You deserve a photographer who sees the soul behind your wedding day. Whether you're planning a waterfront ceremony in the Finger Lakes or a dreamy tented reception in the Catskills, the approach should be laid-back, intentional, and all about capturing your day as it actually felt.
Juliana Renee is an Adirondack Mountains elopement photographer for couples seeking a unique & unforgettable elopement experience. She is here to help fellow adventure-loving couples create an epic and stress-free elopement experience in the beautiful Adirondack park. Emilee Carpenter is a wedding photographer based in the Finger Lakes region who is passionate about wedding photography and genuinely connecting with couples to create high-impact, artful imagery. Rebecca Loomis serves as an Upstate NY wedding photographer with a calming energy, working hard to capture honest and genuine moments all the while managing the uncertainties that come with a wedding day. Kelsey Travis is a wedding photographer based in Upstate, NY with a love for true-to-life colors, candid moments, and helping couples feel comfortable in front of the camera.
Top Locations for an Adirondack Elopement
Every inch of the Adirondack Park is so beautiful, that decision paralysis can set in quickly. To help narrow down your options, consider these iconic destinations:
- Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain
- Lake George and Mount Marcy
- Keene Valley and Inlet
- Saranac Lake and Old Forge
- Indian Head and Blue Mountain Lake
- Cascade, Mount Jo, and Noonmark
Sample "Full Day Adventure" Elopement Timeline
Here is a detailed breakdown of how an adventurous elopement day in the Adirondacks might look:
- 1:00 — Photography coverage begins!
- 1:30 — Get dressed in wedding clothes
- 1:45 — Read letters from each other
- 2:00 — Leave for ceremony location
- 2:45 — First look by the lake & private vows
- 3:30 — Ceremony with family begins
- 4:00 — Cake cutting & picnic lunch
- 5:00 — Begin hike up to scenic summit
- 6:30 — Arrive at top, first dance
- 7:00 — Golden hour exploring & champagne
- 8:30 — Headlamp photos as we descend
- 9:00 — Photography coverage ends
How to Search for the Perfect Photographer
Google is likely the first place that couples go when searching for a photographer, but how you go about that search will determine your success. Today we are breaking down the search into 4 steps:
- Search by City: Remember to search for the city where your wedding venue is and also any surrounding cities, such as "Ithaca Wedding Photographer" or "Syracuse Wedding Photographer."
- Search by Region: Sometimes photographers will advertise themselves in regions. Try searching for terms like Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, Catskills, Capitol Region, Central New York, or Adirondacks.
- Search by Wedding Venue: Search your venue name followed by “wedding” or “wedding photos” to find blog posts with images taken by photographers who have worked there.
- Check Image Search Results: It’s not uncommon for a great photographer’s website to rank more highly in image search results than in a regular search.
Utilizing Wedding Directories
Chances are, during your searches, you stumbled upon websites like The Knot, Wedding Wire, and Zola. These websites are great for compiling wedding photographers from across an entire region in one location. With a uniform format, it’s easy to compare and contrast different photographer’s work. However, it is important to know that any business can advertise on these websites, and the businesses that appear on the first page aren’t necessarily the best in the area; often, the businesses that pay the most are the ones with the top spots.