Tara + Dave’s Sunrise Hudson Valley Engagement Shoot in Cold Spring, NY
EVERYONE, let’s all bow down to the bad assery that is Tara + Dave, and their strong will to lose sleep for the vision. We met prior to 6:00AM at the Cold Spring, NY riverfront before a soul was around.
The two reasons I will always love sunrise shoots…
The lighting.
The lack of other people.
Not everyone is willing to set their alarm for 3 a.m. (I think actually earlier since they drove HOURS to get to the Hudson Valley), but these two were—and it was so worth it. When they told me they wanted to capture their love at sunrise, I knew we were in for something special. But what really blew me away? They traveled from miles away just to make it happen.
Spring had the Hudson River draped in soft pastels, as the sun crept over the Hudson Highlands. It became so obvious to us all, that our early morning start was going to be so worth it.
I was absolutely obsessed with both of their outfits, their matching Ray-Bans, and MOST IMPORTANTLY…their golden retriever (truly the fluffiest and prettiest golden retriever I have EVER seen), FOZZIE BEAR. You can look at his adventure and cuteness of his instagram “Furever Fozzie”.
(Side note : whenever a couple wants to include their dog in a shoot, I always recommend they bring someone who the dog is comfortable with so that we can tag them in and out for photos, and quite frankly, sometimes the furbabies just need a break from being photographed. (Not Fozzie…he was down for the cause the whole time.) HOWEVER, this is a special shout out meant for Tara’s friend Kendall who was willing to wake up in the middle of the night and spend hours in the car to be Fozzie’s buddy. A freaking friend indeed. You’re the MVP Kendall.)
After we had the Village of Cold Spring to ourselves in the wee hours of the morning, we went to Little Stony Point where we ended the shoot on the Hudson River beach and in the woods, while the sun was getting into her full glory into the sky.
There’s something magical about photographing a couple willing to embrace the adventure. No rush, no crowds—just the serenity of the river, the warmth of the sunrise, and their undeniable connection. It was the most beautifully magical morning, and I am forever grateful to Tara + Dave for making it happen.
In their words :
For the engagement shoot, Cold Spring was the perfect choice. We had always wanted to do a sunrise shoot, and this charming little town gave us the most magical and peaceful backdrop. The quiet streets, the golden morning light, and the crisp air made it feel almost cinematic. Having Fozzie Bear with us made it even more special, especially since he couldn’t be at the wedding. He was absolutely loving life, trotting around like he owned the place, and we were just so happy to have him be a big part of the day. The whole experience felt playful and relaxed, and the moments by the water made it all the more breathtaking. Plus, your energy made everything feel so lighthearted and effortless. We couldn’t have imagined a better way to capture this time in our lives!
To my sunrise dream team: Thanks for chasing the light with me. Your love story is already golden. 🌞💛. Their wedding was this past December and when I tell you, I cannot wait to share it with you in a future blog post, I literally CANNOT wait.
Scroll down to see the beautiful morning light of the Hudson Valley, their gorgeous love inside and out, and most importantly…Fozzie Bear. The cutest cutie pie in all the land.
Before the sun had even come up over the horizon yet, we headed into the Village of Cold Spring. Where we got to explore the small town charm, brightly colored doors, and ivy covered brick buildings.
As the sun began to rise over the Hudson Highlands, we headed a few minutes north to Little Stony Point, a small park run by Scenic Hudson featuring a Hudson River beach, endless driftwood, and a small beautiful forest.
Their outfits were so timeless, these black and white images feel like they could be from any era.
I will be forever grateful to these two…for traveling so far, for being up for an adventure, for sacrificing their sleep, and for allowing me to hang out with Fozzie Bear for a few hours. It was one of my favorite engagement shoots of all time.
