Coney Island Engagement Photo Tips

I love Coney Island.  The place is such a source of pure joy for kids of all ages.  I recently had the pleasure of visiting Coney Island with Courtney and Warren.  Our adventure took us all over the boardwalk, and in today’s blog post I will have for you all the images plus a list of my top Coney Island engagement photo tips. 

My Top Coney Island Engagement Photo Tips

Use the entire span of Coney Island for your photoshoot – from Steeplechase Park to the New York Aquarium. Coney Island has a lot of unique spots to offer and you should take full advantage. Further in to Coney Island is Surf Avenue, where you will find Nathan’s hot dogs, some picturesque candy stores, plus the Coney Island subway station.

Time it right. There is no shade on the boardwalk, so you need to pay heed to the danger of direct overhead sun. No one needs shadows under your eyes, so make sure you time your photoshoot to be during ‘golden hour’ — one hour after sunrise or one hour just before sunset.

Speaking of timing, visit the beach at an less popular time. A summer Saturday in the afternoon is not the time to visit Coney Island. The boardwalk and beaches are crazy crowded during the high season, so visit during the week or early in the morning to have the beach all to yourself.

Prepare to get wet and sandy. You can’t stay perfectly clean at the beach. Plan to kick off your shoes and play down by the shore, so make sure you dress appropriately and have backup makeup and hair supplies to keep yourself looking reasonably nice for the camera.

Speaking of the shore, make sure you take a walk on the pier for a wide view back at Coney Island. Furthermore, stop and visit under the pier for a super cool perspective. Underneath the pier is where you will find your best source of shade in Coney Island, by the way.

Play games. Coney Island is not for spectators. Go on a ride, play some carnival games, win your partner a stuffed animal (or two). It’s all good for photos.

Go off the diet. Eat a hot dog. Have some cotton candy. When in Rome, eat as the Romans do.

Want to see what happened after their Coney Island engagement session?  Check out all the photos from Courtney and Warren’s beautiful Ravel Hotel Penthouse wedding in this link.

Interested in scheduling your own engagement session down by the Brooklyn shore?  Drop me a line and let’s talk about setting up a shoot.

If you would like to see more images from my portfolio, such as these Coney Island engagement photos, then please visit my website — KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com.