Sophisticated, classic, sultry, chic… I could go on and on about this couple and their New York engagement photos. Shooting Laura and Dan’s Adelphi Hotel engagement session felt completely effortless from start to finish. They were in sync and compatible with such a contagious, down-for-anything attitude. It made the experience feel so natural and fun.
Upstate New York Engagement Photos at the Adelphi Hotel
The Couple
Downtown Saratoga—that’s where it all started. Laura and Dan met on their first date, and the rest was history. After only a month of dating, Laura joined Dan on a trip to Mykonos. She says they “pressed fast-forward from here in the best way possible” because when you know… you know.
They both love to travel and get dressed up for a night out. She says they are also “total foodies, love the ski and snowboard mountain life, and enjoy exercising and going on walks together.” I could tell right away that these two enjoy life and make the most of it with each other.
Styling the Engagement Session
For the vision behind the couple’s New York engagement session, Laura told me they are both old-fashioned and love Frank Sinatra. They wanted their photos to remind them of the roaring-20s speakeasy era while staying true to their modern, sophisticated styles.
The Adelphi Hotel in downtown Saratoga was a no-brainer for the couple’s vision. In the late 1800s, Saratoga Springs was the nation’s top upscale resort for horse racing, gambling, luxury hotels… and all things glam. Movers and shakers of the day famed the Adelphi Hotel, making it a playground for the rich and famous.
As the last grand Victorian hotel on Broadway, the Adelphi underwent total reconstruction in 2017 to recreate what it looked like in the 1920s. Now, the newly-renovated hotel plays up its connection to Victorian-style luxury with marble fireplaces, original furnishings, and brass lighting—all with modern twists.
Upstate New York Engagement Session at the Adelphi Hotel
I knew the Adelphi would be the perfect location for Laura and Dan’s New York engagement photos. We explored the entire hotel—through the lobby, on the stairs, down the hallways… each space offering a new opportunity to tell their story. Afterward, we stopped at Morrissey’s lounge for cocktails and mixed up their images with some street shots to balance their interior photos.
Laura and Dan matched the hotel’s ornate interiors and vintage-vogue vibe. Laura wore a feather dress from Nasty Gal and gloves from Cult Gaia. Paired with pearl ankle-strap stilettos and gold accessories, she was a vision. Dan also sported a light grey herringbone suit, a nod to classic ’20s fashion, with a modern tailored fit.
The lighting + the feathers + the way these two looked at each other = ALL THE HEART EYES.
The Adelphi Hotel created a cosmopolitan feel for this stylish couple. But it didn’t stop there! The couple wanted their photos to feel sentimental, so they planned for an at-home session, too. And there was no way I could pass up grabbing a photo of where it all started. We ended the night downtown at Hamlet & Ghost, a craft-cocktail speakeasy where Laura and Dan met for their first date!
At-Home New York Engagement Photos
Laura and Dan moved into their first home together and couldn’t wait to start their own traditions as a married couple. They wanted to celebrate this milestone by capturing some of their engagement photos in their new home.
They drank wine, snuck in some kisses, and even snapped a few photos with the Christmas tree. Everything was bright, clean, and laid-back—a contrast to their hotel session. But with Laura’s impeccable styling, everything about their session was cohesive from one location to the next.
Laura says one of their favorite places to spend time together is in the kitchen, cooking and drinking wine. It’s simple yet meaningful details like this that make at-home sessions so sincere. In 10 years, when they look back on their engagement photos, I hope they’re transported back to these moments, early on in their relationship, making memories over meals and enjoying each other’s presence.
But no matter where I was capturing them, Laura and Dan were so much fun to shoot. These two complement and balance each other, making capturing their candidness and love feel easy.
To Laura & Dan—Thank you for trusting me to capture these memories for you. I can’t wait for your wedding day! In the meantime, soak up all the fun of being engaged and enjoy this season!
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