Saratoga Spa State Park Engagement Photos | Lexi + Joe

Lexi and Joe weren’t completely new faces when we met for their engagement session. I actually first met Joe when I photographed his sister Rebecca’s wedding at St. Matthew’s Church in Syracuse!

One of my favorite parts of being a wedding photographer is getting invited back to photograph another milestone for the same family. It’s always such a compliment when someone who has seen me work—and watched me photograph the people they love—chooses me when it’s time for their own wedding.

So when Lexi and Joe reached out about photographing their wedding, I was thrilled!

Having that connection made their Saratoga Spa State Park engagement session even more special. I already knew Joe and his family, and now I had the chance to get to know Lexi and see the two of them together before their own wedding day.

And it didn’t take long to see just how perfect these two are for each other.

Saratoga Spa State Park Engagement Photos

Saratoga Spa State Park is one of my favorite locations for engagement photos in the Capital Region.

There is so much variety throughout the park. Between the beautiful architecture, wooded paths, open spaces, water, stone features, and greenery, we can create several completely different looks during one engagement session.

It’s one of those locations I can (and do!) photograph over and over again and still find something a little different each time.

For Lexi and Joe’s Saratoga Spa State Park engagement photos, Mother Nature decided to add another element to the session—wind.

A LOT of wind.

But these two handled it like pros.

Can We Talk About Lexi’s Hair for a Minute?

Seriously.

The wind was gusting throughout the session, and somehow Lexi’s hair still looked absolutely perfect in every single photograph.

I don’t know what kind of magic was happening there, but I was impressed!

Beyond her apparently windproof hair, Lexi is genuinely one of the sweetest people you could ever meet. She’s warm, kind, and so easy to talk to.

And then there’s Joe.

Joe is incredibly down-to-earth and the kind of person who can have a conversation with just about anyone. More importantly, he knows exactly how to make Lexi laugh.

I loved watching the two of them interact throughout their session.

There was nothing forced about it. Joe would say something, Lexi would immediately start laughing, and I would keep photographing.

Those are exactly the moments I love.

Why I Love Engagement Sessions

I know I’ve said this a hundred times, but I’ll probably say it a hundred more:

I LOVE engagement sessions!!!!

Of course, I love creating beautiful engagement photos, but that’s only part of why these sessions are so important to me.

An engagement session gives us a chance to actually get to know each other before your wedding.

We have time to talk, laugh, walk around, and get you comfortable in front of my camera without a wedding-day timeline moving us along.

Most couples aren’t used to being professionally photographed, and you don’t need to walk into your engagement session knowing how to pose or what to do.

That’s my job.

By the end of the session, you know how I work, I know how the two of you naturally interact, and being in front of my camera doesn’t feel nearly as intimidating anymore.

From Their Saratoga Engagement Session to Their Wedding Day

That’s exactly what happened with Lexi and Joe.

By the end of their Saratoga engagement session, they weren’t simply names on my wedding calendar anymore. I knew their personalities, how they interacted together, what made them laugh, and what helped them feel comfortable in front of my camera.

And when their wedding day finally arrived, I wasn’t a stranger walking through the door with a camera.

I was a familiar face.

Lexi and Joe went on to celebrate their beautiful wedding with a traditional Catholic ceremony in Syracuse followed by a lakefront reception at Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club.

Getting to photograph both their engagement session and wedding gave me the opportunity to document two completely different chapters of their story—and I loved every minute of it.

Lexi and Joe, congratulations again on finding your perfect match!

Planning Engagement Photos in Saratoga Springs NY?

If you’re looking for a Saratoga Springs engagement photographer, Saratoga Spa State Park is one of my favorite locations to recommend.

Whether you want beautiful architecture, natural greenery, wooded paths, fall foliage, or a little bit of everything, the park gives us plenty of options for creating a gallery with variety.

And apparently, even 40-mile-per-hour wind can’t stop us!

I’d love to help you plan an engagement session that feels relaxed, fun, and completely you.

View Lexi and Joe’s Wedding Day at the Lake Shore Yacht & Country Club Here.