Autumnal Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Engagement Session

Choosing a location for your engagement session can feel like one of the most challenging parts of the planning process. That’s why I always love when couples come to me with a place that already holds meaning for them. For Maureen and William, that place was the Brooklyn Botanic Garden: a lush, peaceful escape in the middle of the city that felt just right for their style and energy.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a dream location for an engagement session. With its mix of curated garden spaces, soft walking paths, and seasonal color, it offers variety and beauty in every direction. For Maureen and William, we focused on three iconic spots including the Rose Garden, the Japanese Hill and Pond, and the Cherry Esplanade. I love each of these locations for different reasons, but they allowed us to create a comprehensive and varied final gallery for Maureen and William, celebrating their love story and this gorgeous location!

Maureen wore a floral dress in soft pinks and neutrals, blending beautifully with the garden’s pale blooms and warm sunset tones. The late fall light gave everything a golden glow. There’s nothing quite like that hour right before sunset in the gardens and this session is proof of why we photographers love this time of day so much! Maureen and William’s session felt effortless. They simply enjoyed the gardens while I tagged along, documenting their natural chemistry and joy.

Recently engaged? As a NYC engagement photographer, I’d love to help you plan a session that feels like you.

engaged couple walks through the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

man and woman hug inside the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

woman lays hand on man's chest showing off engagement ring

man leads woman up stairs inside the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

man and woman walk through the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens hugging

engaged couple hugs in front of trees inside the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

engaged couple kisses against pillar inside the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

man and woman hold hands walking on wooden bridge in the Japanese gardens

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couple hugs close walking on wooden bridge through Japanese gardens by weeping willow at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

engaged couple walks through the Cherry Escapade at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

man and woman hug photographed through stone window at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

man and woman hug under weeping willow looking at water at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

engaged couple hugs against railing at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

man and woman hold hands walking through Japanese gardens during the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens engagement session

man hugs woman around waist during the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens engagement session

engaged couple sits on bench looking at pond at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

man kisses woman on walkway of trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

couple hugs and kisses in blurry photo during engagement session at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

couple walks together under patio at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

man hugs woman from behind kissing her forehead at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

engaged couple hugs in corner of patio at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

woman hugs man around neck in front of red gate in Japanese Gardens

man and woman hold hands walking down path during engagement photos at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

man hugs woman from behind on wooden bridge during engagement session at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

man stands with hands in pockets of black slacks during engagement photos

woman holds man's arm smiling up at him during engagement photos at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

Start With the Parts of the Day That Can’t Move

Before filling in getting ready photos, portraits, or detail photos, start with the times that are already set. Your ceremony time is usually the biggest one. From there, add in anything else with a firm start time, like transportation, cocktail hour, dinner, sunset, or the end of your venue rental. Once those pieces are in place, it becomes much easier to build the rest of the photography timeline around them.

This is also why I recommend talking with your photographer before completely finalizing your schedule. We can help you work backward from your ceremony and make sure there’s enough time for the photos that are most important to you.

Getting Ready Spaces: What to Look for Beyond a Pretty Bridal Suite

As a NYC wedding photographer, I've photographed wedding mornings in everything from Manhattan hotel suites to private homes and sprawling estate venues. The spaces that work best aren't always the most elaborate. They're the ones that give everyone enough room, have beautiful light, and allow the morning to unfold comfortably!

What to Consider When Planning a Destination Wedding

Destination weddings are such a fun way to turn your wedding into more of an experience. Instead of everyone arriving for one day and heading home the next morning, you get a few days together in a place you love. But there are definitely a few extra things to think about when your wedding involves flights, hotels, transportation, and planning from a distance.