Top 10 Outdoor Engagement Session Locations in New Hampshire

Location, location, location. It’s not the most important part of your engagement photography session, but it can have a big impact on how your images turn out. Choosing the right location for you as a couple may require some thought and compromise, but it will be worth it to get images you love.

Work closely with your photographer to choose the location. Tell him or her where you guys like to go and things you like to do. Your photographer may have recommendations for great locations, or may offer ideas to achieve your vision.

*Pro Tip: Do your engagement pictures on a weeknight, ideally Monday or Tuesday. Why? Because there will be much fewer people that may end up in the background of your pictures! Public places can get very crowded on the weekends, especially in the summer peak-tourism months.

Here are a few great places for outdoor engagement pictures in New Hampshire:

Wagon Hill Farm (Durham)

Wagon Hill Farm is a local landmark with 139 acres of walking trails. It’s easy to get to and free to enter. There are sweeping views of rolling fields, perfect for getting those end-of-day shots with a beautiful sunset. You can walk to the water as well and walk the newly installed boardwalk, which is great for pictures.

Odiorne Point State Park (Rye)

Odiorne Point State Park has a lot to offer for engagement pictures. For starters, it’s easily accessible from your car, which makes going back to the car to change a breeze. There are cobblestone beaches, sand beaches, crashing waves, trees, field, trails, and old war bunkers…. seriously, it’s got everything! It can be windy on the coast, though, so keep this in mind when choosing how to style your hair and what you’ll wear.

Downtown Dover

What’s not to love about downtown Dover? It’s a great location for engagement pictures because it has it all — candid pictures walking down the streets and sidewalks, brick alleyways, coffee shops, and so much more. Be sure to finish atop the parking garage for sunset!

Dover Community Trail

Within 30 minutes you can do pictures on the walking bridge, pop under the bridge for grafiti, architecture, and water, as well as hit the very unique tunnel that goes under Silver Street. When you park at the Dover Walking Trail you can also get some pictures with the moving train if you time it right (always practice good judgement and keep your distance from the trains! Never walk on train tracks).

Portsmouth Downtown

If Portsmouth is your jam, then pack your walking shoes. There is so much you can do here. The Music Hall has a really cool archway, there’s the coffee shops and boutiques. Like with Dover, finishing your engagement session on top of the parking garage will get you a great view of the sunset. Peirce Island is also a great location to finish because you can get the silhouette of the Piscataqua Bridge, too. It’s great to include local landmarks in your engagement pictures if it’s part of your geography.

Prescott Park (Portsmouth)

If you want the most incredible flower gardens, Prescott Park is the place to go. The water fountains and windy low-branched trees make for a lot of visual interest as well. Once you do pictures in the gardens, you can then pop right over to the pier for pictures on the water, or walk into downtown Portsmouth. Neighboring Strawberry Banke’s historic buildings are worth a stroll, too.

Kingman Farm (Durham)

If you love taking walks in the woods, Kingman Farm is a great option for couples who enjoy the outdoors. There are both winding trails and open pastures to walk. And it’s pet friendly, so bring your dog! The parking on 155 is no longer available, so be sure to check the website for current access guidance.

Petey’s (Rye)

Yes, Petey’s is an excellent place for engagement pictures! The first time I went there I was a little skeptical, but it turned out to be a GREAT scene for engagement pictures, whether you frequent Petey’s or you just love coastal New Hampshire. There’s lot of nautical backdrops with boueys and lobsters. The beaches are just a short walk or drive away as well. Plus you can get a lobster roll while you’re there. Who doesn’t love that?!

Jennis Beach (Rye)

If you want beach-themed engagement pictures, Jennis Beach is a great option for you. It’s easy to get to, and it’s a traditional sandy beach. Be sure to work with your photographer and check the tide charts before you schedule your engagement session. Depending on your goals, you likely want to aim for low to-mid tide. In most cases, high tide in New Hampshire will make most of the waterfront unaccessible which may reduce options for your pictures.

Random Field (Nearest You)

Yes. Seriously. A professional photographer should be able to make great pictures fo you no matter the place or time of day. Of course, it helps to have a good sunset. That’s why any random field works great! It could even be your backyard, the most important thing is to have a clear view of the horizon to get the greatest impact from the sunset. This random field was in Dover, just a few miles from the studio.

Are you engaged? Hit the button below for engagement pictures!

How to Prepare For Your Engagement Pictures

You’re getting married! Whether you’re planning your big day all on your own or with the help of a wedding planner, one of the most FUN things on your to-do list is without a doubt your engagement session. This is your chance to get GREAT photos of you and your soon-to-be-spouse in all your lovey-dovey glory.

But as exciting as your engagement session is, it can also make some couples a little nervous. Not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera (okay, most people say they are “awkward”), and you may be nervous about how you will look, what you should wear, and how you should pose.

Have no fear, I got your back! I put together this handy guide to help you feel completely prepared for your engagement session.

Choose the right outfit

Probably the question asked the most often about engagement photos is What should I wear? Whether you’re shopping your closet or buying something new (it’s an excuse to go shopping, you’re welcome!), you want to stay away from bright colors and flashy patterns. Go with neutral or jewel tones, muted colors that won’t distract from you and your partner.

If you want more outfit options, consider dressing in layers. Having a cardigan or jacket you can remove can add variety to your images without the hassle of changing clothes. And if you have no idea what to wear, feel free to reach out for advice!

Generally speaking, OPTIONS is the way to go. And whatever you choose… choose it in advance. Do not wait until the night before or - gasp - the day of your engagement pictures.

Layers provide quick and easy variety for your pictures.

Get all dolled up

Your engagement photos are the perfect excuse to visit a salon and get your hair and makeup done. Heck, you might even consider taking advantage of your wedding makeup trial if you have one with your makeup artist. A mini-makeover can give you an extra burst of confidence and make you feel like a model! It’s also the perfect reason to turn your engagement photos into a fun date night. After all, your makeup and hair is done, and you’re all dressed up. Why not go out?

Make sure you’re comfortable

You definitely should dress up for your photos, but keep the location in mind. If you’re going to be walking a lot, be sure to wear comfortable shoes and don’t wear anything that’s difficult to move in. You don’t want to spend your whole session adjusting your outfit. Pick something that feels comfortable and allows for easy movement. And if there are gorgeous but uncomfortable shoes you just have to wear, bring a pair of sneakers along so you have something better to walk in.

Don’t fret about posing

I won’t stop you from having fun striking poses in front of your mirror, but there’s no need to practice! We will guide you through poses and expressions, making sure you feel comfortable and natural. The last thing you want are images that look forced and strained. Ugh. We’ll offer advice and adjustments every step of the way to get photos you’ll love!

Just take a deep breath and trust your photographer. Focus on your partner, and the smiles will come naturally. Those are the best kind of smiles anyway!

Consider adding a furry friend

If you have a beloved pet, it can be fun to include them in your engagement session! They are part of the family too, after all. Just be sure to get some of their energy out with a long play session or time at the park beforehand. We also recommend you bring along a friend to corral your pet during the photos of just the two of you.

Think about location & activity

If you have a special place, like your proposal location, where you want to take photos, let us know! If there’s something you love to do together, like riding motorcycles or horses, we can incorporate that to make your engagement pictures more meaningful. But if you aren’t sure where to go for photos, we have quite a few favorite places that photograph well.

Trust your photographer

If you’re starting to feel especially nervous about your engagement session, remember that you hired a professional. The very essence of a photographer’s duty is to help you feel comfortable and create images that you love. They know how to pose you, how to get the most genuine smiles out of both of you, and how to direct, frame, light, edit, retouch, and print your photos. So just relax and enjoy your day!

Aaron + Brittany | Winter Engagement Pictures in Dover, New Hampshire

Introducing Aaron + Brittany!

Aaron is in the Coast Guard, and Brittany is a teacher. They chose to host their wedding at The Barn at Gibbett Hill — a great Massachusetts wedding venue with an upscale feel in a quiet country setting.

We photographed their engagement pictures in December, just a few days before New Years, while they were in town for the holidays. I LOVE that they were up for shooting in the rain/snow/sleet mix we had going on that day — it ALWAYS offers something unique for pictures.

We photographed around town in Dover, including a quick stop over at FLIGHT. Cause who doesn’t love coffee? GOOD coffee. On a cold December afternoon.

The variety of outfits and locations made for a great Guest Signature Book for their wedding, something currently included in the Platinum Wedding Photography Collection.

Here’s a few of the final images from Aaron + Brittany’s engagement session!

Engagement Photography Session by New Hampshire Wedding Photographer Chris Keeley | Chris & Katie

Chris & Katie's engagement photography session went like this:

4PM:

"Hey guys, I know it's raining so I wanted to check in with you." - Chris

"Yah, we're down for whatever," - Katie

"Definitely, let's shoot! We'll do something cool with the rain...." - Chris

And then we made epic pictures in the rain. No matter what the weather, there are ALWAYS great pictures to be made. Shooting in the rain can actually be one of the best options when you trust your wedding photographer.

Their signature image turned out to be the backlit shot on their mountain bikes, looking at each other. That image is now featured as a 45" acrylic metal print over their mantle (see separate post for BTS on the install).

Can't wait for your wedding!

Engagement photography by wedding photographer Chris Keeley of Chris Keeley Photography in Dover, New Hampshire. 

Winter Engagement Pictures in Dover, New Hampshire

Why wait for summer for engagement pictures? There's all kinds of cool indoor spaces to shoot around Dover and the New Hampshire Seacoast. It was unusually warm for Jacqueline and Collin's winter engagement pictures. 

Doug & Shanel | Winter Engagement Photography Session in Dover, New Hampshire

Presenting: Doug & Shanel // It may be cold outside, but that didn't stop us from making killer engagement pictures in the studio and around the building. Enjoy...

Boston Engagement Pictures by Wedding Photographer Chris Keeley | Heather + Jared

Boston, Massachusetts was the perfect stage for Heather + Jared's Premiere. We did pictures at Quincy Market and Christopher Columbus Park, then transitioned to Piers Park for the final scene: the Boston city skyline at sunset. Here's a few images, enjoy this 2017 wedding preview!

Photography by Chris Keeley, Wedding Photographer, based in Dover, New Hampshire.

Kittery, Maine Engagement Photography Session

Featuring Courtney + Kyle's debut during their engagement photography session at Fort Foster in Kittery, Maine.