The Best Engagement Photo Shoot Locations on Long Island NY
Sunset at Westneck Beach, Long Island engagement photo shoot. © Dan Wagner 2023
Brides and grooms frequently ask, “Where are the best engagement photo locations on Long Island?” What they should be asking is, “Who are the best engagement photographers on Long Island?” What they should be asking is, “Who are the best engagement photographers on Long Island? Think about it. What good is the best engagement shoot location on Long Island, if you don’t have the best photographer shooting your engagement photos? It makes as much sense as giving an average driver a race car. Why? Because it’s the driver, and not the car.
And when it comes to great engagement photography, it’s the photographer and not the location. Even so, a great Long Island engagement photo location, like Westneck Beach at sunset in the photo above, coupled with a great Long Island wedding and engagement photographer, will definitely help. I rest my case! Let’s move on to my curated list of the best engagement photo shoot locations on Long Island.
Huntington, NY Photo books by © Dan Wagner 2023 — Click on books to view contents!
I authored the two Huntington photo books above during COVID. Traveling primarily by kayak, I shot these photos with a Fuji XP-80 point-and-shoot waterproof camera. You can read about my adventures here. During my explorations, I kept notes on the best Huntington waterfront locations for taking engagement and wedding photos. As a photographer, it’s easy for me to imagine all the great engagement photos I could take at this, and any other location.
My engagement spots list features some of my favorite Long Island engagement photo locations within a short drive from my Huntington office. I figure, why drive all over Long Island when I’ve got so many primo engagement photo spots in my own backyard!
By the way, all the engagement photo locations mentioned in this article are equally great for family photos. So, if you like the photos I shot for your engagement shoot and wedding, don’t forget to call me for family photos of your future children! No pressure!
The Best Free Engagement Photo Shoot Locations Near Huntington, Long Island
Why spend money for site permit fees when there are so many free engagement photo locations? Some beaches on Long Island have yearly permit fees for residents, and daily fees for non-residents. So this statement might be a bit of a contradiction—apologies. As a Long Island wedding photographer based In Huntington, I pay $40 per year for a car window sticker that gives me access to all eight of the town’s spectacular beaches. In most cases, you can access the beaches for free in the off season. Whenever I bring couples who aren’t Huntington residents to local beaches, we simply take my permitted car. Easy-peasy!
Things to keep in mind when shooting engagement photos at Westneck Beach, and at other beaches, too. Check the weather conditions for temperature, and especially for wind speed and direction. As a photographer, I know that higher wind speeds can ruin an engagement photo session. The wind can blow sand in your eyes, and wreak havoc with your hair. This results in photos with squinty eyes and wild hair. With eight local Huntington beaches, I can usually find a leeward-facing beach sheltered from the wind.
One of the nice things about Westneck Beach and other Huntington town beaches is that they have restrooms available during the warmer months.
Who needs more than one engagement photo shoot location near Huntington, Long Island when you’ve got Cold Spring Harbor State Park? Seriously, if a wedding photographer can’t get great engagement photos here they should give up! This spot features a beautiful park with waterfront views, a short sandy beach, views in multiple directions, nearby places to grab a snack, a charming Main Street, and picturesque shady areas to avoid the midday sun.
However—yes there’s alway an however—you need to make sure there isn’t a local event taking place on the day you’re planning on shooting! I’ve included one link for local events—but you will need to check multiple online sources. Generally, Cold Spring Harbor events will take place on weekends. Luckily, there’s no need to worry if you arrive to find an event going on, a lack of parking, or other inconvenience. If this occurs, simply go to one of the many spots mentioned in this article.
Geez! Why am I giving away one of my favorite photo engagement spots to the competition? Guess I’m a nice guy! And like I said, it’s not the location, it’s the photographer—so, game on! All kidding aside, Centerport Beach is a primo engagement photo location. One of the reasons I love this spot is because it has beachfronts that face multiple directions. This means you will have options if the wind kicks up. The beach features a charming red storage barn, rows of colorful kayaks, swans, landforms jutting into the harbor, and more.
Personally, I prefer shooting at Centerport Beach during high tide. The reason for this is that the North Shore of Long Island has tide height fluctuations ranging 8-feet and higher. Although you can shoot at all times, I find the beaches more photogenic when the tide is up. Unlike the soft sandy beaches of the South Shore of Long Island, the North Shore beaches are rockier by the water’s edge—so don’t forget to bring flip flops to protect your feet. Also, the rocks might be slippery—so watch your step! Because the South Shore beaches face the Atlantic Ocean instead of the Long Island Sound, the tidal height fluctuations normally only range 2-feet or so.
Heckscher Park, located a stone’s throw from downtown Huntington is a beautiful spot for taking Long Island engagement photos. Wooded areas, winding paths, stone and wooden bridges, and a large pond with ducks and swans offer a variety of photogenic areas. As with Cold Spring Harbor State Park, check to see if there are any events going on. Winter engagement photo sessions after a snowfall is a fun time to shoot there. Speaking of winter shoots, some days are too cold and result in watery eyes and red noses—so plan accordingly.
10 Important Long Island Engagement Photo Session Tips
Check your local weather for temperature, precipitation, wind, and other information.
Bring a variety of clothing. Try to avoid busy patterns, shiny fabrics, and white or very dark clothing. Pick clothing with a flattering silhouette.
Don’t drink alcohol the night before the shoot, and get a good night’s sleep to avoid puffiness. When you feel good, you’ll look good. Take allergy meds before the shoot during pollen season as needed.
Remember to do some shots where you’re not looking directly at the camera. Variety is the spice of life—plus these shots may have a cinematic quality.
Have some hairspray handy in case in gets windy.
Feel free to shoot some photos with a little movement. I often ask couples to walk toward me as I’m shooting. It adds life and spontaneity to the engagement photos. My biggest pet peeve with engagement photos shot by “lesser” photographers is when every photo looks like a lifeless statue. That shows zero “engagement” with the couple. What’s the point of paying someone to shoot engagement photos a friend could have shot with their cellphone?
Have fun! As a photographer, I really love it when people who might consider themselves somewhat shy let their inner celebrity shine. Guys, I’m talking to you!
Engagement photos should be an interactive experience with your photographer. As your comfort level grows, feel free to make suggestions. Any suggestion, “good” or “bad” will organically get the ball rolling and lead to cool ideas that will positively surprise you—so as Nike says, “Just do it!”
Should I tip the photographer for engagement photos? Not if it’s me. However, if the photographer is from one of those large wedding photo studios, then it’s nice to tip them. Why? Because all the large wedding photo studios I’ve heard of on Long Island pay their freelance photographers bupkis, which means very little. Plus, the engagement photographer the large wedding studio provides might not be the same photographer who shoots your wedding!
Is it true that engagement photo sessions will make me and my future spouse more comfortable working with our photographer? Yes, it can help. Is it necessary? No. As long as you’ve hired a talented, personable photographer it shouldn’t matter. Then why do it? Good question. The answer is that you might want some shots for your save-the-date postcards, wedding website, social media, and even a poster or sign-in book at your wedding. Several couples have made beautiful photo books with the engagement photos I shot for them. Also, shooting engagement photos is fun!
Halesite, NY 11743
Huntington Harbor, Harbor Club, Gold Star Battalion Beach, and other nearby areas
Google Maps
Located at the end of Huntington Harbor, Mill Dam Park is an inspiring location for shooting your Long Island engagement photos. Water views with sailboats, seagulls, wooded areas, and beaches line the Huntington Harbor waterfront. Best of all, many of the areas have ample parking and are seldom, if ever, crowded. There’s also a waterfront park behind the Halesite firehouse. While at Mill Dam Park, you might want to schedule an appointment to view the Harbor Club at Prime wedding venue.
How Much Do Long Island Engagement Photo Sessions Cost?
I charge $500 for a two-hour local engagement photo session. You’re probably thinking—Dan are you cuckoo? Most Long Island wedding photographers offer a free engagement photo session with every booked wedding. What’s your deal?
I’m glad you asked! The main reason I charge for engagement photo sessions is so I can lower my wedding photo fees. Not every couple is interested, or has the time to shoot engagement photos—so why should the costs for something they won’t receive be built into my pricing?
Another logical reason for not shooting a free engagement photo session, is that the word free implies less value. Less value often leads to less importance and effort. So many engagement photo shoots I see from the competition look to me like the photographer wasn’t fully engaged—they were “phoning-it-in.”
Eatons Neck, NY 11768
Google Maps
Man oh man, how I love Hobart Beach! Yes, this is one of the eight great town beaches that require a beach pass during the summer season—details at the top of this article. What I like about Hobart Beach are the south and north facing beachfronts, the convenient in-season restrooms, ample parking, roving ice cream truck, and the fact that you will pass numerous scenic engagement photo locations along the way. And if you haven’t explored this part of Long Island, you’re in for a treat!
Do I Have to Pay for My “Free” Engagement Photo Session if I Cancel My Wedding?
Great question! The answer is usually, yes. Why do I have to pay for something that’s described as free? The reason you will have to pay something is due to the language in most wedding photography contracts. It’s only fair that a photographer be paid for goods and services rendered. That’s why the contract will normally stipulate that in the case of a wedding cancellation, the free engagement photo session will incur a fee if it took place. I avoid the hassle by simply charging for the engagement photo shoot separately.
If you want a slam-dunk Long Island engagement photo location in the Huntington area, then look no further than Northport Park. Here you’ll find a scenic pier, waterfront park with a gazebo, lots of cute dogs, a historic village main street with yummy places to grab a bite, and a host of fantastic locations such as Scudder Park along the way. Seriously, why didn’t I put this Long Island engagement location at the top of the page? Answer, I was hoping you wouldn’t see it so I could save it for myself. No use! Everyone goes there. Even so, there’s plenty of room for everyone, and I always find new spots and ways to shoot each time I visit.
Normally there’s ample parking, but on occasion you might have to find side street parking involving a 5-minute walk. Also, be sure to check the local calendar for events. Fortunately, you can always opt for Hobart Beach, Centerport Beach, or other nearby locations.
A Few Fee-Required Engagement Photo Locations Near Huntington, Long Island
Perhaps one of these photo permit fee-required locations holds special significance for you—perhaps it was where you and your spouse went on your first date. Or maybe you simply love it. Hey, it’s a free country! So, as long as you’re willing to part with the average $75 permit fees, then why not?
The Planting Fields Arboretum is a spectacular Long Island North Shore spot for wedding and engagement photography. They charge $100 for a general photo fee, and a $250 for a greenhouse photo fee—the greenhouse is a good rainy day option—but crazy pricey! You can get your photo permit HERE.
One thing to keep in mind, especially for wedding photography is that you might end up doing a lot more walking than you planned. Trying to herd your bridal party from spot to spot can take much more time than you expected. But, for an engagement shoot, it’s not too bad. The key is to pick your spots in advance, know the shortcuts—the place is large, so it’s really easy to get lost—and create a sequential spot list so you’re not wandering in circles.
By the way, don’t say I said so, but you might be able to avoid the photo fees if you play it cool, and use a small camera. You could even do the shots with a good cellphone. For whatever reasons, staff at these kind of locations equate a large camera with a professional photographer. It’s infuriating that other visitors can shoot to their heart’s content, but pros can’t. Oh well, that’s life!
I shot this photo of filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s Noah’s Arc at the Planting Fields Arboretum for New York Magazine. I used a vintage Rolleiflex camera with Kodak Tri-X film.
© Dan Wagner 2023
How Much Time and Effort Goes Into a Long Island Photo Engagement Session?
Glad you asked! Between discussions, planning, shooting, processing Raw photo files, naming, editing, and electronically delivering the photos takes about 6 to 8 hours. Some photographers cut corners to save time—I don’t. As the owner and shooter at Dan Wagner Photography—my pride and reputation are always on the line. Do I mind the pressure? Not really. Pressure makes diamonds! That’s why my motto is, “Every Bride and Groom Deserve Beautiful Wedding Photos!” — engagement photos, too!
Hold onto your wallets, because a 1.5 hour photo permit fee costs $250. Better wear running shoes so you can get your money’s worth. Well, it’s a pretty place. But as Long Island engagement photo locations go—why spend it?
Hey Dan, I thought this article would be more comprehensive and include every engagement photo location on Long Island. Mea culpa—what do I look like? An engagement photo location encyclopedia or something? Just kidding! Seriously, I believe we’re surrounded by great engagement photos locations such as backyards, local parks, and even industrial areas. Plus, there’s always Google searches—that’s probably how you found this article!
Stay tuned for more Long Island wedding photography blog articles!
“Dan Wagner was the best money spent on our wedding. He was nice, professional and did a great job. He took great candid photos—which I love. Not only did we get every picture he took, but the photos were full size and without any writing on them, and they arrived just a few days after we came back home from our honeymoon. We got to choose many pictures for our album. Because everything was digital, he e-mailed me exactly what the layout of the album would be before it was printed, and I was able to make changes. Our album was the nicest I have seen, and everyone who has seen it wishes they had hired him.”
—Genevieve and William
Every Bride and Groom Deserve Beautiful Wedding Photos!
Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences about the best engagement photo shoot locations onLong Island in the comment box below. Have a wonderful wedding, and many thanks for visiting my Long Island wedding photographer blog!