Engagement Proposal Photography in Niagara County

Bradley’s surprise wedding engagement proposal to Taylor during a couple’s photography session in Niagara County!

When Bradley reached out and told me his girlfriend, Taylor, really wanted to book a couple’s photography session, and that he was hoping to propose during the shoot, I knew I had a really fun and easy shoot in store. Typically for engagement proposals, I go incognito so as to not tip off the person about to be proposed to. But since Taylor had asked to get couples pictures taken, we had the perfect set up!

Bradley knew he wanted a nature setting, maybe a creek, woods, that sort of thing. He pulled some samples from my website of locations he liked, all of which were unfortunately on private property. When I said, “private property” though, a light went off. Bradley grew up hanging out on this incredible property on Lake Ontario in Applton, NY, part of Niagara County. There are orchards, woods, a creek, a beach, literally everything he wanted for the session. And we would have the place all to ourselves!

Bradley works in New Jersey and travels back and forth to Niagara County on weekends. Needless to say, he had plenty of time to think this proposal through on his drives. We chatted on the phone a couple times while he was driving. I can’t recall ever speaking to a client so excited for their engagement proposal! His emotion sounded clearly through the phone and naturally, he had this photographer excited for what was to come as well.

We began the “couples session” in this gorgeous hilly orchard complete with white spring blooms. Niagara County is well known for its apples, peaches, pears and more. This photo spot couldn’t be more quintessential Niagara!

couple sit on blanket between trees during wedding engagement proposal photography in orchard in Niagara County
couple kisses by walking through flowering trees during wedding engagement proposal photography in orchard in Niagara County
couple laughs while walking through flowering fruit trees during wedding engagement proposal photography in orchard in Niagara County

From the orchard, we walked to a gorgeous grassy/wooded area along the cliffs of Lake Ontario.

couple snuggles during wedding engagement proposal photography in woods by Lake Ontario Beach in Niagara County
couple snuggles during wedding engagement proposal photography in woods by Lake Ontario Beach in Niagara County
couple smiles at each other during wedding engagement proposal photography in woods by Lake Ontario Beach in Niagara County
couple kisses during wedding engagement proposal photography in woods by Lake Ontario Beach in Niagara County
couple looks at each other during wedding engagement proposal photography in woods by Lake Ontario Beach in Niagara County
couple kisses at each other during wedding engagement proposal photography in woods by Lake Ontario Beach in Niagara County
couple looks at each other during wedding engagement proposal photography in woods by Lake Ontario Beach in Niagara County

This next location. Wow. Bradley had mentioned that there were a couple creeks that emptied out in to Lake Ontario that he thought would be good locations for photography. We got to the first area and in a very nonchalant sort of way mentioned there was a bit more of the same further down the beach. I’m SOOOO glad I said, “well lets check out both and then see which is better.” We get to the end of the beach and BAM. A freaking arch out in the water. “Roll up your pants Bradley, you’re going in!”

couple looks at each other under archway in cliff on Lake Ontario beach during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple looks at each other under archway in cliff on Lake Ontario beach during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple looks at each other under archway in cliff on Lake Ontario beach during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple sniggles under archway in cliff on Lake Ontario beach during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County

While the arch would have been a pretty epic place to propose, there wasn’t much room and I very much envisioned Bradley kneeling in to the water, slipping on the rock and falling in. Which… in retrospect, maybe would have made this shoot even better! But there was some beautiful light back on the other end of the beach, so we we wandered there for the final collection of photos.

Bradley and I had made a plan that when I prompted a pose by saying, “ok, face each other and join both hands” that would be his sign to know I had lined up the engagement proposal location. Worked like a charm!

man proposes to woman on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
man proposes to woman on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
man proposes to woman on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
man kisses woman
couple laughs during proposal on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple laughs during proposal on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple snuggles during proposal on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple looks at each other during proposal on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple snuggles during proposal on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple snuggles during proposal on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple drinks wine after proposal on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple drinks wine after proposal on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County
couple drinks wine after proposal on Lake Ontario beach at sunset during wedding engagement proposal photography in Niagara County

For more engagement proposal photography inspiration in Niagara, check out this shoot at Whirlpool State Park!

Graduation Senior Portrait Photography in Buffalo, NY

Graduation senior photography for D’Youville College PA program graduate, Alisha Sial at the Buffalo History Museum and Japanese Gardens!

It’s that time of year! Emails from Buffalo college graduates and high school seniors looking for graduation or senior photography sessions are populating my inbox, and I couldn’t be more excited. These sessions are filled with such pride and enthusiasm. As a photographer, it’s so much fun to honor this special time in senior or graduates lives with portrait photography.

For Alisha’s session, white columns were a must for a backdrop, so we started on the steps of the History Museum in Buffalo, NY. This photography location is super popular. All of that white creates nice clean light and a polished, distinguished look that’s perfect for senior or graduation portraits.

graduate smiles for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the History Museum in Buffalo, NY
graduate smiles for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the History Museum in Buffalo, NY
graduate laughs for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the History Museum in Buffalo, NY
graduate smiles for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the History Museum in Buffalo, NY
graduate smiles for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the History Museum in Buffalo, NY
graduate smiles for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the History Museum in Buffalo, NY

Alisha was a PA student at D’Youville College here in Buffalo, and so she brought her white coat as one of the outfits for her portraits. She will be looking for work in dermatology very soon!

graduate smiles for photographer in D

Alisha also wanted some natural park-like settings for some of her photos, so we walked to the nearby Japanese Gardens for the rest of our portraits. The Japanese Maples are are a bright fiery red this time of year in Buffalo. Red also happens to be a D’Youville color, so it worked perfectly!

graduate smiles during senior graduation portrait photography at the Japanese Gardens in Buffalo, NY
graduate smiles for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the Japanese Gardens in Buffalo, NY
graduate smiles for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the Japanese Gardens in Buffalo, NY
graduate smiles for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the Japanese Gardens in Buffalo, NY
graduate smiles for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the Japanese Gardens in Buffalo, NY
graduate smiles for photographer during senior graduation portrait photography at the History Museum in Buffalo, NY
graduate pops confetti during senior graduation portrait photography at the History Museum in Buffalo, NY

That’s all for this one! If you or someone you know is looking for senior or graduation photography in Buffalo, please reach out here!

And if you’d like to see more graduation portraits with D’Youville college students, check out this adorable best friends/graduation session!

Maternity Photographer in Buffalo, NY

Mindy, take ten – maternity photography with Mindy, Justin, Grace and…??? in Buffalo, NY

This is my tenth (10TH!!!) opportunity to fulfill the roll of photographer for Mindy, this time for a spring time maternity session here in Buffalo, NY. From the time Mindy was a bridesmaid in a friends wedding back in 2014, all the way to these maternity photos with baby #2 in 2021, Mindy and her sweet family are no strangers to my lens.

We’ve revisited Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY a couple times over the years, but we certainly haven’t exhausted locations within it yet. One of the best parts about Delaware Park is the absolute wealth of gorgeous backdrops for pictures. For this maternity photography session, we visited the east end of Hoyt Lake. I had spotted some HUGE blossoming cherry and willow trees on a recent scouting bike ride through there (my favorite way to find new locations in Buffalo). I knew in an instant this was our spot.

Little Grace has been the star of the photo show in recent years, but this shoot was mostly for momma. Grace and Justin were still able to join for a few family pictures though, probably some of the last as a family of three!

family poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session with cherry blossoms in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY
pregnant woman poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session with cherry blossoms in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY
pregnant woman poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session with cherry blossoms in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY
pregnant woman poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session with cherry blossoms in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY

During Mindy’s last pregnancy, I photographed her maternity portraits among the cherry blossoms in the Japanese Gardens of the Buffalo History Museum. I love the symbolism of spring and new life that the blossoms represent. We wanted to mix things up a bit this time though. Despite our best efforts, it was just TOO HARD to pass up an opportunity to shoot among these beauties! So while we had a different location for pregnancy two, we still picked one with gorgeous cherry blossoms. What sort of maternity photographer would pass up this scene?!

pregnant woman poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session with cherry blossoms in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY
pregnant woman poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session with cherry blossoms in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY
pregnant woman poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session with cherry blossoms in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY
pregnant woman poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session with cherry blossoms in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY
family poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session with cherry blossoms in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY
family poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session with cherry blossoms in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY

This last photo location was a “just trust me on this one” spot. I always tell clients, “hey, I can make a parking lot look great if I have to. That’s what good photographers do.” This location doesn’t look like much in person. There are cars and houses behind it. It’s really just a beat up staircase leading to a path most folks don’t even realize is in the park. But wowza. Once I had Mindy in place, I shrieked with joy knowing the photo gold we were about to make.

pregnant woman poses for photographer during maternity portrait photography session in Delaware Park in Buffalo, NY

That’s it for this one. Looking forward to meeting this lil’ baby soon!

If you’re just aching for more from this sweet family, check out the pictures we took for Grace’s second birthday over the summer at Knox Farm!

And if you’re looking for a maternity photographer in Buffalo, NY, please reach out here!