Session Highlights: Elegant Coe Hall architecture, vibrant North Shore gardens in late spring, soft golden light, and effortlessly refined moments that speak to quiet connection and lasting love. A romantic Long Island engagement session for couples seeking timeless, legacy-driven photography at Planting Fields Arboretum.
Morgan and Michael’s Planting Fields Arboretum engagement session in late spring captured everything we love about emotional storytelling and natural elegance. Set in the heart of Oyster Bay, NY, this historic garden estate on Long Island’s North Shore offered the perfect balance of grandeur and intimacy.
As the gardens filled with lush greens and the light softened into gold, the couple moved through each space with quiet confidence. They were fully present, beautifully in sync, and grounded in something lasting.
Few locations offer the level of architectural poetry found at Coe Hall. With its ivy-draped stonework, weathered archways, and staircases that feel lifted from another era, it’s no surprise that this setting is one of the best places to take engagement photos on Long Island.
Morgan and Michael embodied understated grace as they stepped through the arched corridors. Her gown moved with the breeze, his hand resting gently in hers. The light filtered across stone and skin like brushstrokes on canvas — each frame taking on a painterly elegance. Romantic engagement photos at Coe Hall effortlessly reflect that balance between refinement and authenticity. That is exactly what we aim to preserve in every image.
Beyond the estate, Planting Fields Arboretum opened into a more relaxed, natural environment. In late spring, the grounds come alive with deep greens, soft textures, and sculptural landscaping that frames rather than competes with the couple’s presence.
Here, Morgan and Michael’s connection turned lighter, more playful. We captured laughter on winding paths, quiet glances amid hedgerows, and those natural in-between moments that often say the most. Even without full floral bloom, the richness of the season offered something deeper — a timeless, lived-in kind of beauty.
This variety, architectural strength and organic softness, is what makes Planting Fields one of the most romantic engagement photo locations in New York. It invites both intimacy and expression.
As a photographer, what draws me to Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay isn’t just its history or its design. It’s the way it invites couples to slow down and be real with each other. There’s space to breathe.
What struck me most about Morgan and Michael’s session was how they brought stillness to such a grand environment. They weren’t performing. They were simply existing together — connected, unhurried, and effortlessly elegant.
This kind of session always translates beautifully into handcrafted heirloom albums and fine-art wall prints. These are the tangible pieces of a legacy you’ll return to again and again.
If you’re considering a Planting Fields Arboretum engagement session, late spring (May through early June) is an exceptional time. The crowds are lighter, the light is golden, and the gardens provide a serene, painterly setting.
We recommend wardrobe choices that reflect both the estate’s timeless feel and your personal style. Flowing fabrics, soft neutrals, and thoughtful textures pair beautifully with the surroundings. As always, we’ll guide you every step of the way: from scheduling the ideal time of day to gently directing you in a way that feels natural and unposed.
We also love engagement sessions at Sands Point Preserve, Old Westbury Gardens, and Gantry Plaza State Park. Each one offering its own distinctive narrative and visual mood.
If you believe your engagement photos should feel like a memory already cherished — elevated, emotional, and entirely your own — we’d be honored to tell your story. Whether at Planting Fields Arboretum or a place meaningful to you, let’s begin designing a session rooted in your connection and crafted with intention.
Inquire here to begin planning your own elegant, heartfelt experience.
Stephen Mayo is the founder and lead photographer of Heritage House, a boutique wedding photography studio based in New York. Known for timeless, emotional imagery and legacy-driven storytelling, Stephen’s work has been featured in Sophisticated Weddings and Fearless Photographers, and is trusted by couples and planners across Long Island, New York City, Westchester, and beyond.
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You deserve a photographer who truly sees you and that’s why we’re intentional about being the right fit, not just a fit.
Our wedding coverage begins at $5,000, and we take on a limited number of weddings each year to serve couples who share our values and vision. If that sounds like you, we’d love to learn more about your story. Fill out our contact form, and we’ll be in touch at lightning speed.
Stephen@heritagehousephoto.com
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