I recently had the incredible opportunity to photograph the engagement session of James and Cameron at the stunning Eagle Cliff Falls in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. As an adventurous couple, they wanted their photos to reflect not only their deep love for each other, but also for nature - and this location delivered on both fronts! When James and Cameron first reached out, they were torn between two breathtaking options: the majestic Adirondack Mountains or the enchanting waterfalls of the Finger Lakes. After discussing their vision, we decided that Eagle Cliff Falls would be the perfect backdrop. With its cascading waters and lush greenery, it beautifully encapsulated the adventurous vibe they were seeking without requiring too much hiking or driving in a single day.
We started off in the wooded section of the park near the parking lot where we did a few different walking shots and some poses against a tree to make sure everyone was loosened up and comfortable in front of the camera. These two were complete naturals and didn't hesitate at all! As is often the case, these first shots ended up being some of my favorites from the entire shoot.
From here we began the short hike up to the waterfall, stopping to take photos at a few different spots along the way! The hike up is short, but has quite a few steps and some uneven footing, so definitely make sure you have proper footwear if you visit. Plenty of families with young kids make the trek, but there are some large drop offs, so please use caution.
Once we made it up to the waterfall, the light was perfectly filtering through the trees and making the entire area feel magical. I wish I could say that we had the entire place to ourselves, but despite there being a handful of other groups there we were still able to get all of the shots we wanted. We even found a rock ledge for James & Cameron to sit on that framed them perfectly against the waterfall and created my personal favorite shots from the day. Once we finished getting all of the normal shots, we got to James & Cameron's main request: photos of them wading under the waterfall and getting wet! It may look like it was a warm day, but temperatures were in the 60s at the base of the falls and the water was COLD, so I give them massive credit for going through with the plan! Overall, this was one of my favorite engagement sessions in a long time and I'm hoping to photograph many more like it! Check out the sliding gallery below to see some shots from our time at the base of the falls! In just a handful of weeks I'll be photographing their wedding, and I can already tell it's going to be a blast!
