A Canoeing Engagement Engagement Session in the Finger Lakes: A Curated Date Night for Outdoorsy Couples
An Engagement Session That Was Really a Date Night
Jess & Kacy’s story began at Boughton Park in Victor, NY, where they spent their first date sitting on the dock, feet in the water, talking about life. That quiet, unhurried evening sparked an instant connection—one that only deepened over time.
About a year later, they packed up their truck and pop-up tent and set off on a two-month road trip across the country, hiking through national parks, sleeping under the stars, and chasing moments that felt expansive and grounding all at once. Some summits were shared with fellow adventurers; others were theirs alone. There’s something incredibly powerful about reaching the top of a mountain with your person and having the space to simply be—no distractions, just presence and connection. On one of those summits, in the rush of making it to the top, Kacy got down on one knee and proposed.
When it came time for their engagement photos, Jess and Kacy knew a traditional session wasn’t for them. They wanted engagement photos that felt like a real experience, something intentional and true to how they connect. After learning that Kacy completes a 100-mile canoe race in Old Forge each year—and that canoeing together is one of their favorite shared activities—we designed an Adventure Date Night Experience that doubled as their engagement session. They handed us the reins, trusting us to curate a meaningful, outdoor engagement photography experience—one where they could simply show up, be present, and enjoy the moment together.
Why We Create Adventure Date Night Experiences
In a world that moves fast and often feels transactional, quiet, meaningful connection is one of the first things to get lost. Creating intentional time together – especially for busy couples – tends to fall to the bottom of the list, with everything else feeling louder and more urgent.
I noticed this especially with traditional engagement sessions. They were often rushed, squeezed into an hour between obligations, with little room to slow down or actually be present. While the photos might have been beautiful, the experience itself rarely honored the depth of connection between the couple. That never sat right with me.
When I stepped back and asked myself why I do this work, the answer was clear: human connection. It’s what grounds us, what reminds us we belong – to ourselves, to each other, and to something bigger. Adventure engagement photography experiences allow me to intentionally create space for that connection through shared moments in nature.
An Adventure Date Night Experience isn’t about posing or performing. It’s about doing something together: canoeing at sunset, sharing a picnic, creating a pottery bowl together, horseback riding, wandering without a timeline. These experiences naturally lower the pressure, help with that camera awkwardness, and allow couples to show up as themselves. When your engagement photos feel like a real experience, the images hold emotion, movement, and meaning.
This philosophy is also at the heart of our adventure elopements. Marrying your person should be about your connection and the life you’re building together—not timelines, seating charts, or expectations. Whether it’s an engagement session or an elopement day, the goal is the same: to create space for presence, intention, and imagery that truly feels like you.
The Inspiration: A Canoeing Engagement Session at Boughton Park
From the very first time we met, it was clear that Jess and Kacy were deeply connected through their love of the outdoors and intentional time together. They aren’t a flashy couple, and being the center of attention isn’t their thing. What matters most to them is presence, meaning, and enjoying experiences together that feel true to who they are – not following trends.
With that in mind, we set out to design an adventure engagement photography experience that felt personal, unrushed, and rooted in connection. One that allowed their relationship to unfold naturally on camera.
As foodies, beginning the experience with a picnic felt like the perfect way to slow things down (and let’s be honest, no one wants to start an adventure on an empty stomach!). We styled a picnic with their favorite snacks and drinks and gave them space to simply settle in, take in the scenery around them, and ease into the moment. That calm, grounded energy carried through the entire session.
While they enjoyed their picnic, I photographed from both land and water – kayaking out to capture the stillness of the scene and the intimacy of those quieter moments together. From there, they launched their canoe just as golden hour arrived, laughing as they chased the sunset and explored the pond together. Canoeing is something they genuinely love, and it showed. These were engagement photos that felt like a real experience and not fake.
As the light softened, we returned to the dock for a final, meaningful moment: the very same dock where they had their first date. Sitting side by side with their feet in the water, just as they had the year before, felt like a beautiful full-circle way to celebrate their engagement.
Boughton Park was the perfect location for Jess and Kacy because of its personal significance and peaceful setting. But experiences like this aren’t tied to one place. An Adventure Date Night Experience can be inspired by wherever your story takes place. Whether that’s somewhere in the Finger Lakes, the Adirondacks, the Thousand Islands, the Catskills, or even destinations farther across the country like Colorado or the West Coast, what matters most isn’t the location; it’s the meaning behind it. Your story is what transforms a place into something unforgettable.
The Adventure Date Night Experience (Step by Step)
Here is a quick and dirty breakdown of their sunset canoe engagement photography experience:
• A Styled Picnic by the Water
- Fully set-up picnic: blanket, charcuterie, drinks, and beautiful scenery
- Time intentionally built in to slow down
- Photos captured from land and water for layered storytelling
• Canoeing Through Golden Hour
- The couple launched together in their canoe, while I launched in a kayak to give them their space, and also to photograph the whole picture and atmosphere of what they were seeing and feeling!
- We had a perfect mix between quietly enjoying being on the water, to chasing the sunset for the best photos
• Dockside sunset and Lantern Photography
- Once back on land, the couple snuggled on the dock with their feet in the water, reminiscing on their first date and their date night
- For some creative moody photos, we incorporated lanterns (our signature!) into the remaining sunset, along with some night time photos
Who This Experience Is Perfect For
The Adventure Date Night Experience is designed first and foremost for couples who value quality time and connection above everything else. You don’t need to be an adrenaline junkie or a seasoned hiker—and you don’t even have to consider yourself “outdoorsy.” What matters most is that you enjoy doing life together and believe experiences are more meaningful than things.
Each date night is thoughtfully tailored around what you love, with just enough gentle challenge to spark excitement and connection. Sometimes that looks like canoeing at sunset, other times it might be pottery-making, horseback riding, or exploring a local brewery. When couples share an experience—especially one that nudges them slightly outside their comfort zone—it creates core memories. And those moments translate into engagement photos that feel purposeful, not posed.
This experience is also perfect for couples who feel awkward in front of the camera. If the idea of being told where to stand or when to smile makes you anxious, an adventure couples photography experience removes that pressure entirely. Instead of performing for a camera, you’re simply spending intentional time with your person—while we document the connection that naturally unfolds.
No matter your comfort level or experience, the adventure moves at your pace. Every element is designed around who you are as a couple, so your engagement photos feel authentic, relaxed, and unmistakably you.
Beyond One Location: Finger Lakes, Adirondacks, Mexico & Anywhere Adventure Takes You
While we love designing Adventure Date Night Experiences for local couples, these sessions aren’t tied to one place. Upstate New York offers an incredible variety of landscapes— from the lakes and vineyards of the Finger Lakes to the rugged peaks of the Adirondacks, the stunning waterways of the Thousand Islands, and the rolling terrain of the Catskill Mountains. Each location offers endless opportunities to curate meaningful adventure engagement photography experiences rooted in connection and intention.
Beyond New York, adventure couples experiences can take place literally anywhere in the world, and can be multi-day events. Our 4 day Mexico Couples Adventure is a great example of that. You can read more about that adventure here! (Think climbing an active volcano, horseback riding, and a thousand waterfalls, all in one adventure with your person!)
No matter the location—or length—we take care of the entire experience. From concept and logistics to timing and flow, we design everything so you can stay present with your partner and fully immerse yourself in the moment.
And if canoeing isn’t your thing, that’s just the beginning. Your adventure photography experience might look like dirt biking through the mountains, camping beside an alpine lake, floating in a hot air balloon, exploring waterfalls, creating pottery together, or sharing a campfire dinner with a private chef. There’s no “right” adventure… only what feels meaningful to you.
If you’re craving an engagement experience that feels more like a date night than a photoshoot, we’d love to design it with you. All you need to do is submit the form below!
