15 Awesome New Jersey Engagement Photography Locations
A top 15 list of awesome locations for engagement pictures in and around New Jersey.
Our NJ wedding couples often ask for location suggestions for their engagement photography sessions – Here are our some of our favorites!
LET’S GUESS:
As excited as you are to have beautiful photographs from your wedding day, you’re probably not all that excited about being in front of the camera
Sounds about right?
• Maybe you’re worried about having a camera on you all day.
• Maybe you’re wondering what to do with your hands.
• Or “How are we supposed to look natural when posing feels unnatural?”
So, you’ve opted to do an engagement session. Smart choice!
An engagement session can help you feel more comfortable in front of the camera, while also giving you the opportunity to build a connection with the photographer documenting your wedding day (whether that’s Mike or someone from our team!).
But then comes the next question: where should you have your engagement session?
From scenic parks and quiet gardens to waterfront views and more architectural spaces, the right location can completely shape the feel of your photos. Some couples want something relaxed and natural, while others are drawn to a more editorial or city-inspired backdrop.
Timing matters too. The right light, the right atmosphere, and choosing a location that feels comfortable to you can make the entire experience feel effortless.
Keep reading for a list of our top 15 engagement session locations in and around New Jersey, along with why we love each one and what makes them photograph so beautifully for couples stepping in front of the camera for the first time.
01 ASBURY PARK BOARDWALK
Asbury Park Boardwalk offers a little bit of everything, which is one of the reasons our team returns here for so many engagement sessions each year. From architecturally rich buildings and colorful storefronts to beachfront views, boutique shops, and seaside restaurants, the variety throughout Asbury creates such a fun, relaxed experience in front of the camera. While it can get busy at times, there’s a reason it continues to be one of our favorite locations. The mix of indoor and outdoor options, combined with the energy of the boardwalk and beach, gives couples so much flexibility while still feeling natural, effortless, and true to them.
02 PRINCETON UNIVERSITY + DOWNTOWN
A staple town of Central New Jersey (We think Central Jersey is a thing) is most well known for its prestigious Ivy-League university. With ample grounds, and a wide range of jaw droppingly beautiful architecture, it is no wonder that Princeton University is a popular choice for couples looking for upscale New Jersey engagement photos. If you don’t want to spend the full engagement session on campus, there are also plenty of great downtown vibes close-by!
03 CROSS ESTATE GARDENS
This small, well-maintained park boasts beautiful Revolutionary War-era architecture, a small garden and a wisteria-covered pergola that is ideal for engagement photography. My favorite feature is the most amazing light that filters through the trees in both the Summer and Fall. Although most photographers and garden lovers like to visit in the Spring to see the flowers in full bloom. Cross Estate Gardens is honestly pretty amazing any time during the year.
*No permit or fee required.
04 HOBOKEN
Similar to the Jersey City Waterfront, Hoboken offers NYC views, and architecturally-interesting and historic backdrops that are as cool as they are eclectic. The charming cobblestone Church Street is a classic setting for New Jersey engagement sessions. There is also the historic railroad station, Stevens University, Washington St, and plenty of side streets filled with ivy and brownstones along the way incase there is too much foot traffic!
05 DOWNTOWN MONTCLAIR
If you’re looking for a downtown look and you don’t mind some walking, Montclair may be perfect for you. Montclair is one of Northern New Jersey’s most popular towns. It offers a variety of settings including many shops, restaurants with string lights, and crosswalks that give you a city feel, without a city drive. Parking can be a bit challenging, but is worth the extra effort if you love the look!
06 Hartshorne Woods Park
If you’re looking for a downtown look and you don’t mind some walking, Montclair may be perfect for you. Montclair is one of Northern New Jersey’s most popular towns. It offers a variety of settings including many shops, restaurants with string lights, and crosswalks that give you a city feel, without a city drive. Parking can be a bit challenging, but is worth the extra effort if you love the look!
07 GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE
For anyone interested in large scale outdoor art, and a creative environment for engagement photos, nothing beats Grounds for Sculpture. As an iconic location for the arts, this wonderfully varied series of backdrops makes for impressive visual impact, along with the perfect blend of greenery and nature. The large space also provides for variety, and privacy if you don’t want a crowd! As an added bonus, Grounds for Sculpture is right in Tiffany’s neighborhood, and she has a masterful level of skill working there. If you’ve decided to hire her for your wedding, you’re sure to get a special experience with her here. (Mike and the rest of the team are also willing to travel to Grounds for Sculpture as well!) Oh and we can’t promise it, but you might even get to see a Peacock!
*Entrance fee required
08 SKYLANDS MANOR
If you’re drawn to romantic architecture, winding garden paths, and a setting that feels straight out of a European estate, Skylands Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey is one of our favorite engagement session locations. With its stone architecture, manicured gardens, wooded paths, and scenic overlooks, the property offers an incredible amount of variety while still feeling quiet and tucked away. Whether you’re envisioning something elegant and editorial or relaxed and natural, Skylands photographs beautifully in every season, especially as the light softens through the gardens and trees closer to sunset. It’s also a location our team knows well, allowing us to guide couples to the best pockets of light and more secluded areas throughout the grounds for a relaxed, natural experience in front of the camera.
09 Jersey City Waterfront
(Liberty State Park)
Looking for something with a little more New York flair? The Waterfront, located between the Hudson River and Newark Avenue, offers both sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline as well as access to the historic old New Jersey Railroad museum. Easy access, iconic views, and a variety of settings make this a dream spot if you’re a couple that loves a NYC skyline view.
10 SANDY HOOK
For couples who love the beach but want something that feels a little more natural and relaxed, Sandy Hook is one of our favorite engagement session locations along the Jersey Shore. With its wide open beaches, dunes, coastal grasses, bay views, and quieter stretches of shoreline, it offers such a beautiful variety while still feeling peaceful and understated. The sunsets here are especially incredible, creating the softest light for candid, naturally unfolding moments in front of the camera. Whether you’re barefoot in the sand, walking along the shoreline, or catching the last bit of light near the dunes, Sandy Hook always brings a calm, effortless feel to engagement sessions that photographs beautifully.
11 Brookdale Park
For couples who love the beach but want something that feels a little more natural and relaxed, Sandy Hook is one of our favorite engagement session locations along the Jersey Shore. With its wide open beaches, dunes, coastal grasses, bay views, and quieter stretches of shoreline, it offers such a beautiful variety while still feeling peaceful and understated. The sunsets here are especially incredible, creating the softest light for candid, naturally unfolding moments in front of the camera. Whether you’re barefoot in the sand, walking along the shoreline, or catching the last bit of light near the dunes, Sandy Hook always brings a calm, effortless feel to engagement sessions that photographs beautifully.
12 Appalachian Trail
Tucked away in Glenwood, New Jersey, the Appalachian Trail offers some of the most scenic and peaceful engagement session locations for couples who love the outdoors. With sweeping mountain views, quiet wooded trails, open fields, and natural overlooks, the area creates a setting that feels adventurous while still incredibly intimate and relaxed. The scenery changes beautifully throughout the seasons, but sunset here is especially stunning, with soft light stretching across the landscape and filtering through the trees. For couples looking for a session that feels natural, personal, and connected to nature, this part of the Appalachian Trail always delivers such a beautiful experience in front of the camera.
13 New Hope PA + Lambertville NJ
The ultimate historic (over 200 years old!) destination for engagement photography. A well known bridge with a pedestrian path connects Pennsylvania and New Jersey across the Delaware River. There are many eclectic shops, landmark historical buildings, fine dining, and a large theatrical playhouse. New Hope and Lambertville provide a unique look you won’t find anywhere else nearby.
14 AT HOME
There’s something especially meaningful about an in home engagement session because it captures you exactly as you are, in a space that already holds so much of your everyday life together. Whether it’s cooking in the kitchen, relaxing on the couch with your pets, sharing coffee in the morning light, or simply slowing down together, these sessions feel incredibly personal, intimate, and natural. Without the distractions of a busy location, the focus stays completely on your connection and the quieter moments that often mean the most. In home sessions also create such a relaxed atmosphere, allowing couples to settle in comfortably and simply enjoy time together while we document it in an honest and timeless way.
15 A Location with Personal Meaning
Some of the most meaningful engagement sessions happen in locations that already hold significance to you as a couple. Whether it’s your favorite coffee shop, the town where you met, your neighborhood, a family property, or a place tied to a favorite memory together, choosing a personal location always brings an added layer of authenticity to your photos. These sessions naturally feel more relaxed and personal because you’re spending time somewhere familiar, allowing moments to unfold in a way that feels genuine and true to your relationship.
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