A Far-Out, Artsy, Laid-back Love Story Along the Hudson

Some love stories start with a grand, cinematic moment.
John and Brooke’s started… at a rest stop.

No, really.

Somewhere between Albany and Brooklyn, in the most 2020s way possible, they matched on Tinder — mid-road trip, mid-life, mid-everything — and just like that, something clicked.

And apparently, clicked hard, because by date number two… they were already planning their wedding.

Casual.

The Beginning That Didn’t Try Too Hard

John was on his way to visit his best friend in Brooklyn. Brooke was back home in Coxsackie. A match, a message, and suddenly the kind of connection that doesn’t feel forced or overthought.

It just… happens.

The kind where you skip past the small talk and land somewhere deeper, faster than expected.

The kind where planning a future together doesn’t feel insane — it just feels obvious.

The Proposal (aka: A Holiday Plot Twist)

John had the ring designed — intentional, thoughtful, something that took time. By late November 2022, it was finally ready.

And instead of some over-the-top production, he did something better.

He made it personal.

A custom ornament.
A family Christmas gathering.
A Secret Santa exchange at Brooke’s parents’ house.

And right there, in the middle of something warm and familiar and real — he asked.

No performance. No pressure. Just a moment that fit them.

Engagement Session in Coxsackie, NY — Starting at Home

We started where it mattered most — their home.

No rushing. No stiff “let’s start here and pose like this.”
Just easing into it.

The energy was exactly what they said they wanted:

Far-out. Funny. Artsy. Laid-back.

And honestly? That’s exactly what it felt like.

Starting a session in a familiar space creates comfort. It strips away the awkwardness instantly. You’re not trying to be anything.

You already are.

Their Favorite Bar (That’s Also an Antique Shop… Obviously)

From there, we wandered into town. We landed at one of their favorite spots. It just so happens to also be an antique shop.

The whole place felt like a time capsule. Dim light, layers of history, objects that have lived entire lives before ending up there.

It matched them perfectly.

Nothing about their relationship feels overly polished or staged — it’s textured, a little unexpected, and full of personality.

A Smoke Break, A Walk, and Nowhere to Be

At one point, they stepped outside for a smoke break.

And honestly? That’s where some of my favorite moments live.

No direction. No posing. Just them — existing, talking, laughing, pausing.

That in-between space is where everything softens.

Where the photos stop being about “taking pictures” and start being about noticing what’s already happening.

Ending at the Riverfront

We ended down by the river. The Hudson was stretching out. The light started to drop. Everything slowed down in that quiet, end-of-day way.

It didn’t feel like a big finale.

It felt like a natural exhale.

Feeling like the ending that doesn’t really feel like an ending at all. It seems just another moment in the middle of their story.

The Session That Doesn’t Try Too Hard

This wasn’t about perfect poses or chasing some ideal version of what an engagement session should look like.

It was about movement.
Familiar places.
Small moments that would’ve happened whether I was there or not.

And that’s always the goal.

To document something that already exists — not create something that doesn’t.

Planning Your Own Engagement Session in Upstate New York

If you’re dreaming up your own session, take this as your permission slip. Especially somewhere like Coxsackie or anywhere across Upstate, feel free to do it differently.

Start at home.
Go somewhere that actually means something to you.
Take a break. Wander. Change plans halfway through.

Let it feel like you.

Because the best sessions?
They’re never the most perfect ones.

They’re the ones that feel real when you look back on them.

Upstate New York Photographer | Courtney Stannard Photography

I document life, love, and the quiet in-between moments with intention, honesty, and heart. I am based in Upstate New York. My work blends moody, vibrant storytelling with a deeply personal approach. It creates space for you to be fully yourself in front of the camera. My goal is simple. I aim to make images that feel true to who you are. They show the genuine you, not who you think you’re supposed to be. Let’s make something meaningful together.
Inquire about your date here.