Chances are you stumbled upon this post looking for NJ engagement photo locations so CONGRATULATIONS!! You must be SO excited to be in this season of your life! I remember when Jay and I were engaged, I would find myself just smiling for no apparent reason – oh, to be newly engaged! It’s such a happy time, so celebrate! An engagement session is the perfect way to document this amazing time in your lives. Of course, there’s a little planning involved, so today I’m sharing our favorite NJ Engagement Photo Locations to help you figure out where you might want to have your session. I hope this post is helpful to you and your fiancé!
NJ Engagement Photo Locations
My studio is located in Point Pleasant, NJ so it’s local to a lot of beach towns that are popular among locals, especially between May and October. I love shooting in my area so I’ll start this list off with my favorite local spots!
Bay Head, NJ
Less than two miles from my studio is Bay Head, NJ, a cute and classic shore town that is a local favorite. It’s perfect for a mix of town and beach photos and I highly recommend Charlie’s of Bay Head for dinner after your session! See a Bay Head Engagement Session here: Bay Head NJ Engagement Photos.
Spring Lake
If you are looking to include both a park and a beach as a backdrop for your engagement photos, look no further. Spring Lake is a wonderful little beach town that has it all. It has a great park and a lake with two lovely bridges only a block away from the beach. Start your session out at the park and end it with a few shots on the boardwalk and beach! See an engagement shoot in Spring Lake here: Spring Lake NJ Engagement Photos. Post-session dinner idea: Spring Lake Seafood!
Manasquan
If you’d like to have engagement photos on the beach and don’t want to get up at sunrise for backlit images, Fisherman’s Cove in Manasquan is ideal. It’s right by the Manasquan Inlet and the beach by this hidden gem is one of the only spots in Monmouth County where you can have the sun setting as a backdrop during an evening beach session. Click here for more: Manasquan NJ Engagement Photos After the session you’ll definitely want to have a reservation at La Mondina!
Allaire State Park
Allaire State Park is located in Wall, NJ, and is a beautiful park all year round. It has the perfect balance of natural landscapes, rustic barns, and quiet paths. This is definitely a favorite among couples! Click here to view our most recent engagement session at Allaire State Park. Favorite local restaurant for after your session: Harvest in Farmingdale.
Herbary at Bear Creek
If you’re a plant-lover or you’re looking for an indoor location to do your shoot, check out the Herbary at Bear Creek in Howell, NJ. It’s a fun place for a shoot and perfect for the cold months when the trees outdoors are looking pretty bare. There is a fee required to shoot there; you can contact the herbary here and see engagement photos here: Herbary at Bear Creek Engagement Photos. Favorite local restaurant: Harvest in Farmingdale is right up the road and it’s great for a post-session dinner date.
Other Shore Favorites
Here are a few locations that are a little farther away but still in Central NJ.
Asbury Park Boardwalk
I always enjoy a session at the Asbury Park Boardwalk; there are just so many wonderful backdrops for a session. To name a few: the old casino and its colorful murals, Convention Hall, a long jetty, and the beach! If you want a beach session where old meets new, this is most definitely the place. You can view our most recent Asbury Park engagement session here: Asbury Park Boardwalk Engagement Session.
Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook has several beautiful spots that are very scenic and make for varied beach backdrops. Check out this Sandy Hook anniversary session and this Sandy Hook engagement session to see just some of the possibilities at this shore location.
Other Central NJ favorites:
Princeton University
The grounds of Princeton University are perfect for a session at any time of the year. The textures of the buildings make for lovely backdrops and there are loads of open spaces to walk around in . Not to mention the beautiful architecture that gives the campus an old world feel. Check out these engagement sessions to see if this location fits your style: Spring Engagement in Princeton | Fall Engagement in Princeton. And if you’re seriously considering this location, check out my Guide to Engagement Photos at Princeton University.
Laurita Winery
Laurita Winery is one of my favorite spots for engagement sessions! It has a gorgeous vineyard with the most beautiful light in the late afternoon. Plus, um, wine? Yes, please! View a session at Laurita Winery here: Laurita Winery Engagement Photos
Sayen House & Gardens
Sayen House and Gardens is located in Hamilton, NJ and it’s one of my favorite Central NJ locations for engagement photos. It is perfect for a couple looking for florals, romantic trails, and a few architectural elements, too. Click here for our most recent session at this location: Sayen House and Gardens Engagement Photos.
Riverside Gardens Park
An engagement session in Red Bank’s Riverside Gardens Park means beautiful views of the Navesink River! View more here: Riverside Gardens Park Engagement Photos
Northern New Jersey
Cross Estate Gardens
The Cross Estate Gardens are located in Bernardsville and I absolutely loved shooting there! The early 20th century landscape makes for the prettiest setting for an engagement session! My favorite area is always the pergola. View this session for more pictures from this location: Cross Estate Gardens Engagement. [Permit required.]
Willowwood Arboretum
Willowwood Arboretum in Chester Township, NJ, is a gorgeous location for an engagement session. It is full of beautiful florals, romantic gardens, and plenty of variety in backdrops. Check out this favorite spot for engagement sessions here: Willowwood Arboretum Engagement Photos. [Permit required.]
Skylands Manor
Located in NJ State Botanical Garden and part of Ringwood State Park, Skylands Manor is a pretty location during any season. Plus it includes a gorgeous estate with a Tudor Revival Mansion – it doesn’t get any better than that! There are also beautiful gardens that are perfect for a romantic stroll with your fiancé! See our most recent engagement sessions at Skylands Manor here: Summer Skylands Manor Engagement | Castle at Skylands Manor Engagement Photos [Permit required.]
Branch Brook Park
Branch Brook Park is especially beautiful in April, during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Check out the festival website to view the Webcam and keep an eye on the Cherry Blossoms. Once they start budding, they peak, and then they’re gone! View a couple of my most recent cherry blossom engagement sessions here: Branch Brook Park Engagement | Cherry Blossom Engagement Session.
Hoboken
If you’re looking for great views of New York City but you also want to get some urban textures in your backdrops Hoboken may be the perfect spot for your session. Pier A Park provides gorgeous views of Manhattan and it’s also right next to the Lackawanna Terminal and some cool abandoned buildings with lots of textures and urban decay. Check out our most recent Hoboken engagement sessions here: Spring Engagement Session in Hoboken | Summer Engagement Photos in Hoboken
Stevens Institute of Technology
Looking for more ideas for a Hoboken engagement session? The campus of Stevens Institute has a ton of options to offer. From a beautiful castle gate to gorgeous campus buildings and stunning views of NYC, this is a new favorite spot of mine! Check out these two sessions for images from this area of Hoboken here and here.
Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park in Jersey City is perfect for couples who want to combine a natural backdrop with an urban cityscape. It is a big green space with the Manhattan Skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island in the background. Check out this engagement session to get an idea of this location: Liberty State Park Engagement.
South Jersey
Here are a bunch of locations that are south of Exit 63 on the Garden State Parkway:
Barnegat Lighthouse
Barnegat Lighthouse is one of my favorite places for engagement sessions. It has the perfect summer feel and there are amazing views, too! Click here to view a session there: Barnegat Lighthouse Engagement Session
Cape May Point State Park
If you’re looking for a mix of trails, tall grasses, and long stretches of beach, Cape May Point State Park is well worth considering! The landscapes are so varied, there are countless backdrops to choose from. Check out this session here: Cape May Point State Park Engagement Photos.
Cape May
Cape May has so much to offer! Between the iconic Congress Hall, charming town, and long stretches of beaches, it offers the perfect mix of backdrops, especially for a summer session. Click here to see Stefanie and Michael’s photos for more ideas: Cape May NJ Engagement Photos.
Willow Creek Winery
If you’re looking for a location near Cape May, Willow Creek Winery is a perfect choice. The staff there are super friendly and welcoming, and the winery is well kept and very scenic. Please contact us or the winery for information on venue requirements to shoot at this location. For images from this location click here: Willow Creek Winery Engagement.
Cape May Winery
Another great location in Cape May is Cape May Winery. It’s beautiful and it’s also very close to Sunset Beach. It’s easy to drive between these two locations and incorporate two very different landscapes. Click here for more: Cape May Engagement Session.
Other!
For you holiday lovers!
Christmas Tree Farms
Interested in a session on a Christmas Tree Farm? The holidays are a magical time for an engagement session, especially if you were engaged during the holidays last year! Click here for an example of what your session might look like: Christmas Tree Farm Engagement.
Engagement Session Planning Guide
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Best NY Engagement Session Locations
If you think you may want to head to nearby NY or to locations with a NYC vibe to them, check out this post: Best New York Engagement Session Locations.
