White Mountains, NH Engagement | White Mountains, NH Engagement Photographer

 This post is all about:

1. The best engagement session locations in the White Mountains that I personally love and recommend as an elopement photographer
2. Tips for planning a White Mountains Engagement Session 
3. A Sample Gallery of A White Mountains Engagement Session
   

First: What are the White Mountains?

The White Mountains are home to explorers and adventurers of all kinds, and being a New Hampshire-living elopement photographer, I am passionate about sharing this beauty with all and educating people about what it’s like up here. So, to simplify things, the White Mountains can best be described as: a north-central region of New Hampshire (and some of Maine), spanning ~87 miles, and part of the Appalachian Mountains region. The White Mountains are home to the tallest points in the northeast, USA. And truly, there is something for everyone here.

The White Mountains can be split up into the following parts (see handy map from “Visit White Mountains”):

For general “White Mountains” information, visiting ideas, and more, visit this website “Visit White Mountains.” 

Best (Easy) Engagement Session Locations in the White Mountains, New Hampshire

• Popular engagement session locations in the Campton, New Hampshire area
  • Waterville Valley Region (easy trail walks, cross country skiing, legit hikes, running streams, and activities galore. One of my all time favorite locations overall 🙂 )
    • Here’s a link to Waterville Valley’s website
  • Bebe River Falls– right off the road, so no hiking necessary for your engagement session 🙂 not a ton of parking, so I recommend planning your engagement session either earlier / later in the day, or a weekday! Also: offseason is nothing to overlook, as often you can get optimal views with wayyy less people just by booking a few weeks before or after peak foliage session
    • BRING SHOES WITH TRACTION: although just a couple minutes from your car, this walk is STEEP, often slippery, and must be proceeded with caution!
  • Eddy Day Use Area– a great swimming hole with streams, gorgeous treeline views, and picnic tables to enjoy a little treat/drink together

• Popular engagement session locations in Kinsman Notch, New Hampshire area (northeast of Campton)
  • Beaver Pond – this helpful blog post from another photographer was my entry into this HIDDEN GEM of a spot, and I have LOVED photographing here since 🙂 some really intimate, easily accessible, mountainous views for couples if that’s the vibe you’re going for. ALl while on a large pond and a jetting boulder to stand on
    • Click here to view a sunrise session I did here in the wee hours of a chilly spring morning 🙂 
  • Lost River Reservation (closed from October 15th through the winter; currently closed through May 2024) – check out the website here to learn all about this historical, popular, stunning scenic activity in North Woodstock, NH
  • Beaver Brook Cascades – learn more here about one of the most easily accessible, lovely, falls in this area
• Popular engagement session locations in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire area (north of Campton)
  • Cannon Mountain– take the Aerial Tram ride (under 10 minutes to the top of this mountain) to explore “wow” mountain views, all without hiking. Click this link for schedule information to help you plan your engagement session here
  • Flume Gorge– part of Franconia Notch State Park :) LOTS to do here. I recommend making a day of visiting this state park! 
  • The Basin– one of the most popular attractions in Franconia Notch area, the Basin is perfect for those wanting a more ethereal vibe with a vast watering hole, boulders, all in thick White Mountain forestry. Given popularity, schedule your engagement session here during the offseason or a week day FOR SURE
  • Artist’s Bluff– similarly popular, I include this (brief) hike only because I know of a short cut that is less than a mile total! Highly recommend this hike for your engagement session 1) in the off  season and 2) if you want to be “in the mountains” without a tiring trek. Hiking shoes are definitely required, but no other major equipment needed except for layers if opting for a late fall / early winter session 🙂 
• Popular engagement session locations in North Conway Region (and a bit north, leading up to Mt. Washington area)
  • Where to begin? One of my most frequented session / elopement locations, I firmly believe North Conway area region has it all: ample waterfall (!!!) and non-mountain attractions, mountains, family friendly experiences, unique lodging and restaurant options, and of course Mt. Washington-related experiences. A highly historical area of the White Mountains region, Crawford Notch is definitely a place I recommend visiting more than once to adventure in multiple locations around here
  • Popular engagement session locations in the North Conway area:
    • Mount Washington Region
      • Take the Cog or drive up for a wild adventure (more information here) 
    • Echo Lake Beach
    • Sabbaday Falls
    • Cathedral Ledge
    • Arethusa Falls
    • Jackson Falls
    • Glen Ellis Falls
    • Diana’s Baths
    • Ripley Falls
    • Crawford Notch State Park
      • Do it! Visit info here

Tips for Planning your Engagement Session in the White Mountains, New Hampshire

1. Off-season– consider booking your engagement session during non-peak season if you want a super popular location! Peak season is the end of September through early October. However, if you are SOLD on foliage and fall glory, of course you can still have a beautiful engagement session during peak season. There are some ways to increase your chances of privacy and an overall enhanced experience, such as:
2. Mid-week– this is a fantastic way to soak in the natural beauty of the White Mountains with WAY less crowds. If you can’t book your engagement session midweek, consider:
3. Earlier / later times of day – such as sunrise or sunset 🙂 if you take a few moments to browse my website or instagram, you’ll see I’m a sucker for helping plan a jaw-dropping sunrise experience for couples. Words can’t describe the power of that solitude, scenery, and the adventure of having a whole day ahead of you to explore the White Mountains! Highly recommend a sunrise experience if you can 🙂 Otherwise, sunset is a FAB option.
4. Prepare and do research – whether you’re planning a hiking engagement session or not, it is important to familiarize yourself with the area, the local rules (yay preservation and respect of nature!), and conditions in the area. Packing accordingly is key. For couples who opt for an adventure engagement session, I always provide my trekking, packing, and general tips to ensure couples are well informed and at ease. However, making sure you yourself are well researched in what to expect ensures a safe, enjoyable experience for you and your partner. 
5. Consider making a full day of your experience – why not? If you’re not local to the White MOuntains, there is truly so much to do beyond your 1-hour engagement session. Consider exploring for the day, hit up a few locations, and enjoy a bite to eat. I’m always happy to provide any recommendations for this 🙂 
6. Realistic expectations about the public – as nature is a shared beauty, we can never guarantee “full privacy.” However, more often than not, I find that with the above tips, couples tend to get nearly full privacy OR full privacy for their sessions!
7. Activities – if you’re like me and don’t love being in front of the camera, I promise one of the easiest ways to forget you’re even in front of it is to choose one/a couple “things to do.” These will also be extra meaningful moments to look back on. While I go over activity ideas for couples based on their preferences, some ideas for activities to do during your engagement session include: outdoor attractions like waterfalls/drive up mountain views, berry picking, kayaking, swimming at one of the several watering holes, picnic, wine at a local winery, cozy outdoor time with a fire to end the night, etc. Activities can be simple, but worth it to intentionally plan ahead of your engagement session 🙂 

And lastly, here is:

A White Mountain Engagement Session Gallery