10 Tips for a Successful Long Island Beach Engagement Session

Whether you’re already engaged or about to be, it’s important to find ways to mark this exciting time in your lives—and an engagement session with a good wedding photographer can make all the difference. Since we spend half of the year in Florida and the other half of the year in the New York tri-state area, we have experience with both Florida and New York beachside engagement sessions! Here are a few tips and tricks that we’ve picked up that make for the best Long Island beach engagement sessions.

Engagement Session Tip 1: Find the Right Photographer

Find a photographer you love and ask to see a full engagement session—not just their top images. A full session. After all, anyone can get one WOW image at a session, especially when you have lovely and in-love couples—but you want to make sure the whole album will be filled with WOW images.

Engagement Session Tip 2: Find the Perfect Long Island Location

Make sure you have the right beach for your session and that you have the right permissions. While Long Island Sound is lined with beautiful beaches, you need to make sure you’re not trespassing. There’s nothing worse than getting all done up and being kicked out of the beach for not having the right permission.

Engagement Session Tip 3: Obtain Permits in Advance

You’ll need a park use permit for your engagement session, which we’d suggest applying for at www.nys.parks.com. You can also apply in person at Long Island State Park headquarters in West Babylon. You’ll want to plan ahead, because applications must be received at least 10 business days ahead of the session.

Engagement Session Tip 4: Plan Ahead

Make sure you pick the appropriate time for your session based on what kind of pictures you want and what your willingness to work with crowds might be. For example, a sunrise session might mean you get up early, but you won’t be fighting crowds. A sunset session has beautiful light and lets you sleep in, but there will be far more people as well.

Engagement Session Tip 5: Scout your Beaches

When you’re deciding on locations, you really should go beforehand and see them for yourself. You are the only one who knows your style best, and there’s no substitute for personal experience. There’s no better way to make sure you’ve chosen the right Long Island beach for your engagement session than to spend some time there.

Engagement Session Tip 6: Watch the Tides

Check when the tide goes in and out at the beach. While sand bars can be a stunning asset to your photo session, that also means you need to time your session to make the best use of them. High and low tide schedules are available on the internet for the different areas of Long Island Sound.

Engagement Session Tip 7: Watch the Weather

Do your research on Long Island weather. You’ll want to pick a date where the weather will be warm enough for you to put your feet in the water if that’s what you choose to do.

Engagement Session Tip 8: Plan your Color Scheme

Wear something that complements the beach colors. If you wear white shirts and khakis, for example, you’ll blend into the beach around you. This is your engagement session: you want to stand out. Consider vibrant, rich colors to stand out against the sand and sky.

Engagement Session Tip 9: Have Fun

Don’t be afraid to have some fun. Put your feet in the water, feel the wind in your hair—let nature work for you instead of trying to fight it.

Engagement Session Tip 10: Be Yourselves

Remember: the day is about you. Don’t get stressed out trying to get all the details to fall into place and just focus on each other. After all, your beach engagement session should be about capturing your love.

These engagement session photographs are from Dana and Nick’s beachside engagement session we recently photographed at West Meadow Beach in Stony Brook. We had a great time photographing them. 

You can find out if we’re available to photograph your wedding by filling out the contact form or calling us directly at (561)247-4439.

If you’re in the South Florida area, make sure to read our post about our favorite Florida engagement session locations! For more engagement session inspirations, please visit our Engagement Photography page. 

Vendors:

Dress: David’s Bridal