Keuka Lake Engagement Photos | Lyndsi and Max
Let me tell ya’ll about these Keuka Lake Engagement Photos with my sweet friend, Lyndsi, and her honey boo, Max.
We started our photoshoot in Downtown Penn Yan, where we tapped into all the quintessential charm that only a historic downtown can deliver on. Later, we scooted up to the bluffs overlooking Keuka Lake and embraced a wild, untamed type of beauty, charged with the energy of an oncoming storm. And at the end, we wrapped up our session at Max’s family’s lakehouse, right on the edge of Keuka Lake, so close to the water you could hear the gentle lap of the waves. The result was imagery that whispered of creation’s quiet, unfiltered beauty, and I was simply obsessed.
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!
Lyndsi and Max are two of the most old-soul, gentle-spirited folks, and they truly have the most endearing, wholesome connection.
Lyndsi is actually a fellow wedding photographer, and she first told me about Max when she was second shooting for me at Britt and Will’s rustic, family-oriented wedding at The Pines last fall. Lyndsi explained how Max was the kind and generous type — the sort who gave freely of his time, attention, and heart — and while, even though they hadn’t been together that long, she could definitely see a future with him.
This made me so happy because I knew Lyndsi had been waiting on God to lead and guide her as she navigated a season of singlehood — one that had been trying and sanctifying in so many ways — yet, she still clung to Christ in spite of questions, waiting, and wondering. She chose patience and presence — living faithfully in every moment God gave her — and she rested in the fact that her all-knowing, all-powerful God was aware of her desires and deeply cared for her. God finally answered her prayer with a “yes” in Max and seeing that come full circle in our Keuka Lake engagement photos was nothing short of awe-inspiring to me.
Having both grown up in Penn Yan — Lyndsi yearround, and Max in the summertimes at his family’s lakehouse — it just made sense to do their session in this gorgeous, picturesque area.
Plus, not only that, but Lyndsi owns a local business in downtown Penn Yan, Amity Coffee Co, which has blossomed into a neighborhood staple and a cornerstone of the community. She wanted to kick-off their session there, and I wasn’t complaining one bit about that.
Situated in the village’s downtown district, Amity is this adorable, cozy coffee shop which has exposed brick walls, warm globe sconces, and high tin ceilings.
It has an old-world charm, not to mention so much historical character, both of which lend themselves to an atmosphere of vintage texture and contemporary warmth. Between its modern furnishings and lush, leafy plants, it’s the perfect gathering place for friends and coffee lovers alike — not to mention, laidback engagement photos like Lyndsi and Max’s.
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 Lyndsi and Max’s engagement gallery! ↓
We started our session there, Lyndsi’s happy place and home-away-from-home, and took photos both inside and outside of the cafe.
Lyndsi made each of us a specialty latte (praise hands!), and with steaming hot drinks and unfurling, frothy foam art, they shared quiet laughs, stolen glances, and gentle touches — the type of interactions that truly made my heart melt. I also prioritized a few detail photos here, including gorg photos of Lyndsi’s engagement ring! (Can we all take a collective moment to stop and admire her gorgeous emerald-cut diamond?! Seriously so simple, yet so elegant!)
With fingers intertwined and faces pressed close, Lyndsi and Max truly made such a heartwarming duo.
Their love felt as cozy as the drinks in their hands, steeped as richly as the coffee they sipped, and I could feel their warmth and togetherness. From the cobalt-blue cups, the rich caramel tones of espresso swirl, and the steam gently swirling between them, the entire portion of these engagement photos were so sweet, and something as simple as sharing a latte felt so rich.
We eventually moved to the outside of Amity, where we enjoyed the scenery of Penn Yan’s downtown district, including its tree-lined streets, charming historic storefronts, and well-manicured landscaping — not to mention, the idyllic storefront of Amity itself.
Stitched into the very fabric of the village, Amity’s sage-green exterior and warm, glowing-from-within ambiance offer a heartfelt invitation for passersby to pause and savor a cup.
It has such a small-town romance to it — coffee enjoyed streetside under white umbrella-patio tables, conversation carried with the hum of Main Street, and a front step that reads “better with coffee” — and they set such a warm, inviting tone for Lyndsi and Max’s session.
Wanting to prioritize photos on Keuka Lake’s bluff as well (which is where Max proposed!), we didn’t stay too long at Amity.
Instead, we hopped in our cars after a short time and made the quick drive down the inner length of this wishbone, Y-shaped lake. Making our way past Keuka Lake State Park (not far from where I did Garrett Chapel engagement photos with Siobhain and Ian!) we rolled to a stop in front of the most gorgeous, windswept fields — that which had stunning views, whimsical wildflowers, and moody, thunder-tinged skies.
The engagement photos we were able to capture here are the literal definition of dreamy.
From playful and carefree, to tender and intimate, we were able to tap into all the feels, lean into poses and prompts that felt natural for Lyndsi and Max, and create honest, meaningful imagery that truly told their love story in an effective and evocative way. Between twirling and tickling, dancing and dipping, and embracing not just each other, but the scenery of God’s gorgeous creation all around them, these photos truly feel wind-swept and earth-kissed to me.
After shooting in the wildflower fields, we scooted over to a second location on Keuka Lake’s bluffs, which was the spot that Max actually proposed. Only a few minutes from his family’s lakehouse, this location not only had the sentimental value of their proposal, but it also boasted jaw-dropping views of the lake. Let me put it simply — it was gorgeous! Arriving there around sunset (or better yet, lack of sunset on this particular day 🥲) we only did a few photos to ensure we had enough time to still grab a few photos at Max’s lake property — but I prioritized them in a landscape-forward way that showcased the soul-stirring beauty of Upstate NY’s Finger Lakes region.
Between the fog drifting low and settling over the lake’s surface, the rolling hills blanketed in rich, velvety shades of green, and the muted blues of the water blending with the overcast sky, the scenery truly looked like something out of a painting — a hazy horizon where lake, fog, and hills all meet seamlessly.
At that moment, I was infinitely thankful for a job where I get to champion couples as they enter into the most lifegiving union of marriage, savor the beauty of the natural world around me, and in tandem, revel in God’s transcendent power and majesty. What a gift artful storytelling is!
As planned, we concluded their Keuka Lake engagement photos at Max’s family lakehouse just as the sky began to transition to “blue hour.”
The resulting images were timeless, moody, atmospheric, and quietly romantic, and in this serene setting, I found myself documenting the more in-depth storytelling components — the landscape, their intimate connection, a few more engagement ring photos (cause duh), and the rich, unadulterated, unfiltered beauty of Keuka Lake.
Throughout Lyndsi and Max’s session, I also leaned into GIFs to create a more detailed, contextualized visual narrative of their engagement photos, and I created them within the varying scenes of their engagement session — both in the charm of downtown Penn Yan and in the wild, untamed beauty of Keuka Lake’s bluffs.
I love how the GIFs let the scenery breathe around them and how they give their entire gallery a more sensory-like experience!
All in all, Lyndsi and Max’s Keuka Lake engagement photos will definitely live in infamy as some of my all-time favorite images.
Working with Lyndsi and Max was such a breath of fresh air, from their kind and laidback demeanor, to their one-of-a-kind, heartfelt connection, to the serene Finger Lakes region, their session brought new life to the word ‘wholesome.’ I will forever be reeling from the quiet majesty of Upstate NY’s sparkling waters, rolling fields, and tall grasses, and thanking God that in His providence, he blessed me with a friend and kindred spirit like Lyndsi.
In God’s good, sovereign wisdom, He allowed Lyndsi’s season of singlehood to shape her in a unique way, that she might know the sufficiency of Christ.
Yet now in marriage, she will see and experience the shape of the Gospel even more fully — how it points us to Christ and to the extraordinary experience of radical love, unconditional acceptance, and soul-deep security. Praise God!
For more inspiration, be sure to check out Anna and Matt’s Elegant Taughannock Falls Microwedding, which Lyndsi associate shot for me! And if Lyndsi and Max’s Keuka Lake engagement photos are especially swoonworthy to you, be sure to check out my other recent work in the Finger Lakes region! Until next time, friends! 🫶🏼