Dreamy Engagement Session at Garrett Memorial Chapel on Keuka Lake | Darshita and Kunj
Darshita and Kunj are two of the kindest souls, and within seconds of meeting them— greeted by huge, eye-crinkled smiles before they even stepped foot out of the car— I knew theirs would unfold into the most dreamy engagement session at Garrett Memorial Chapel on Keuka Lake.
Between the old world charm of the chapel, the blushing fall foliage, and the lighthearted way Darshita and Kunj interacted with each other, their session felt equal parts magical and effortless.
Darshita and Kunj moved heaven and earth to make this session happen— traveling all the way from Jersey City to the Adirondacks to Keuka Lake and back again, all within 48 hours.
With Darshita based in Jersey and Kunj in the Adirondacks, distance has been an undeniable part of their love story, and after five years, they’re only just now in the same time zone! (#Progress) Yet, they worked as a team to make their engagement shoot possible, covering over 600 miles in a single weekend to do so!
Hi, I’m Emilee!
If you’re looking for joyful, emotion-rich imagery, then I maaaay be your gal!
I’m an Upstate NY Wedding Photographer who specializes in a laid-back photography approach, and I’d love to help tell your love story!
No strangers to putting in the work, Darshita and Kunj are both accomplished and deeply driven— Darshita as a medical resident and Kunj as an engineer.
During our session, I learned that their days are full and demanding, shaped by long hours, early mornings, and the kind of focus that their particular fields require— but they’ve learned how to still show up for each other. For much of their relationship, that’s meant navigating distance, coordinating schedules, crossing state lines, and making the most of the time they do get together. It’s a kind of consistency that is steady and intentional, and one that I deeply admire!
From the moment we started, Darshita and Kunj needed very little direction behind the camera (which can be a direct result of planning a personal engagement session).
They were the kind of couple photographers dream of— completely at ease and so clearly best friends. They fell into step with each other so effortlessly— hands finding hands, arms wrapping easily, and closing the distance without a second thought. My role became less about posing and more about guiding them— where to stand, how to turn into the light, which direction to move toward— but so much of the magic came from simply letting them be. They moved between laughter and stillness so organically, and their playful, candid interactions were worth more than words, making their entire session feel fluid and unforced.
Psst… in case you haven’t noticed, awkward photos aren’t really my vibe.
My goal is to get you feeling comfortable and yourself, so you can enjoy personality-driven imagery for years to come!
If you’re looking at this gallery, thinking, “YASSSSS!”, then we need to talk… like yesterday!
Keep scrolling to see more of Darshita and Kunj’s engagement gallery! ↓
Darshita and Kunj were drawn to Garrett Memorial Chapel for their engagement session because of its storybook, castle-like character.
Tucked into the trees of Bluff Point and overlooking the stunning expanse of Keuka Lake, the chapel feels like a setting pulled straight out of Once Upon A Time. (Where my Emma Swan fans at?!) Built in the Norman Gothic style as an Episcopalian church, the chapel is wrapped in weathered stone, its textured walls softened by moss, winding greenery, and the hush of the surrounding woods. It’s half-hidden and easy to miss if you didn’t know it existed, and it definitely was the perfect setting for a dreamy engagement session like this one.
There’s a stillness to Garrett Memorial Chapel, like something that has quietly stood the test of time— and up close, its steep peaks and architectural details read distinctly as European-inspired. Arched doorways framed in rich stone, heavy wooden doors adorned with intricate black wrought iron, and a striking bell tower rising like a watchful sentinel above it all give the impression of something untouched by the years. Every corner— from the tucked-away staircases to the ivy-laced walls— is intimate, enchanting, and simply magical.
That, along with its position etched into the shoreline of Keuka Lake, makes it an unmistakably special location.
Keuka is one of the most distinctive lakes in New York’s Finger Lakes region, known for its rare Y-shape and surrounding landscape of rolling hills, open skies, and vineyard-lined slopes. Long considered a hub for winemaking, home to some of the oldest vineyards in the region, Keuka is just as much about summer living, too— boating, swimming, and dockside meals.
The Finger Lakes region at large offers such a range of textures and tones, where water gently laps along the shoreline, days unfold under a bright cerulean sky, and evenings give way to watercolor sunsets that stretch across the lake. (If you love the lakefront feel, this laid-back Cayuga Lake engagement session in Ithaca captures a similarly relaxed, water-centered atmosphere.)
With this very sense of abundance— glacial waters, lush terrain, fertile soil, and a landscape that shifts beautifully with the seasons— Keuka, in particular, feels especially immersive, with vineyards, wooded stretches, and open water layered into one continuous view.
At its northern tip, Penn Yan adds a touch of small-town charm, with historic buildings, walkable streets, and local shops that lend the area a warm, inviting feel (it’s also where I photographed this cozy Keuka Lake engagement session at my friend’s artisan coffee shop, Amity Coffee Co).
At the core, the Finger Lakes is the kind of area where the scenery does most of the talking— wide, open, and consistently rich without needing any embellishment— and there’s something about it that channels small-town charm. (If you’re drawn to that feeling, you’ll also love this casual engagement session on historic Market Street in Corning, NY, which carries a similarly relaxed energy.) If you’re planning your own session and love locations like this, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite spots in this guide to the top engagement shoot locations in Upstate New York!
If you’re envisioning a wedding in the Finger Lakes, this region offers an incredible range of venues and settings— from lakeside gardens to industrial spaces to historic inns.
You can explore a few of my favorite celebrations here: a romantic Cayuga Lake wedding at the Inn at Taughannock Falls, a uniquely styled Seneca Lake wedding at The Cracker Factory, and a timeless Skaneateles Lake wedding at The Sherwood Inn. Each gallery offers a different perspective on what makes this region such a uniquely distinct place to get married.
With its storybook-like setting in mind, Darshita, Kunj, and I decided on the chapel for their engagement session, and they chose outfits that leaned clean and intentional, with just enough softness to match the setting. Darshita wore a fitted ivory midi dress with subtle side cutouts, neutral woven sandals, and a smattering of tasteful gold jewelry. Her engagement ring was an emerald-cut diamond set in an elegant, yellow gold band with pavé diamonds, which paired perfectly with her gold bangles.
Meanwhile, Kunj opted for a tailored sage-gray suit with a crisp white shirt, no tie, and brown leather shoes— polished, but relaxed.
His details followed suit with brown leather lace-ups, a dark belt, and a classic watch, but no extra accessories to vie for attention. Kunj embodied a strong and cohesive look— elevated without being formal, styled without actually feeling styled.
Together, Darshita and Kunj’s palette sat easily against the chapel’s stonework and the surrounding autumn landscape.
The soft neutrals of their ensemble— the luminosity of Darshita’s ivory dress, the cool undertones of Kunj’s suit, and the warmth of their skin tones— fell into step beneath a canopy of crimson leaves and burnished amber light filtering through the trees (one of many reasons I love golden hour imagery).
We timed their session to catch peak fall foliage and arrived at just the right turning point— where green still lingered, but gold had begun to catch in the trees.
Leaves shifted through sage and olive, the woods were layered with ochre, muted yellow, and pockets of burnt orange, and even the lake’s shoreline and distant hills were aflame with fall colors. Scenes like these are exactly why I’m so drawn to landscape-forward photography— where the setting isn’t just a backdrop, but an active part of the session.
Around the chapel grounds, the palette deepened into copper, caramel, and mahogany, gathering along winding stone paths and scattering across the forest floor in fallen leaves.
Dense shrubs and evergreen branches added shadowy contrast, while wild ivy traced the chapel’s exterior, softening its edges and lending a storybook quality. Overhead, the chapel’s arches curved in organic, free-flowing lines, their sculptural, irregular stonework offering a cool counterpoint to the warmth of the layered greenery. (If you want to see the chapel photographed in a different season, teeming with an oasis of summer greenery, you can explore this Garrett Memorial Chapel engagement session at Keuka Lake State Park!)
All in all, Darshita and Kunj’s dreamy engagement session at Garrett Memorial Chapel on Keuka Lake was one for the books— maybe even one for the fairytales— lush, serene, and unmistakably romantic.
I’m so grateful they entrusted me with these images, artful and personality-driven “chapters” of their love story, and I can’t wait to cheer them on as they step into this next season of marriage together.
Here’s to Darshita and Kunj— their long-distance-defying, schedule-juggling, state-line-crossing kind of love; their bone-deep drive and willingness to show up for each other, in every ambition and passion; their easy friendship and sweet, steady camaraderie; their shared love of Keuka Lake and peak fall color; and everything else that’s still ahead! Sending so much love to you both! 🥂