The Best New Jersey Engagement Photo Locations (From the Jersey Shore to North Jersey)
My couples often ask me for recommendations on the best New Jersey engagement photo locations, so I created this guide to help you choose the perfect spot for your engagement session. From iconic Jersey Shore beaches to charming wineries, historic villages, gardens, and city locations, New Jersey offers an incredible variety of backdrops for engagement photos.
Whether you’re dreaming of a romantic beach session, a rustic winery, an elegant garden, or an urban skyline view, this list includes some of my favorite engagement session locations in NJ from Hoboken to Cape May and everywhere in between.
Jersey Shore Engagement Photo Locations
With 141 miles of coastline, the Jersey Shore is one of the most popular choices for New Jersey engagement photos. I love photographing couples along the dunes, beach paths, boardwalks, and especially on the bay side for stunning sunset views.
Planning tip: Spring and fall are ideal for beach engagement sessions to avoid crowds, wind, and extreme heat. I recommend starting about an hour before sunset for the best light.
Atlantic City Steel Pier:
The Steel Pier in Atlantic City is a unique engagement photo location featuring the iconic boardwalk, ocean views, and amusement rides. Located across from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, it’s perfect for couples who love a fun, energetic vibe.
Asbury Park:
Asbury Park is one of my favorite NJ engagement photo locations thanks to its variety. From the beach and boardwalk to the Convention Hall and colorful murals, this seaside city offers endless options for engagement photos. Click here to see my most recent Asbury Park engagement sessions.
Avalon:
Known as “Cooler by a Mile,” Avalon offers beautiful beaches and upscale coastal scenery. I love photographing around the Windrift and ICONA Avalon for elegant Jersey Shore engagement photos.
Barnegat Light:
Barnegat Beach is a favorite spot for engagement sessions thanks to its quiet shoreline, natural dunes, and sweeping ocean views. The neutral tones and open beach make it perfect for couples who love a natural, romantic, and effortless look!
Barnegat Lighthouse:
Located at the tip of LBI, Barnegat Lighthouse offers both ocean and bay views. The lighthouse, jetties, sand dunes, and sunsets make this one of the best New Jersey engagement photo locations on the coast.
Belmar:
Belmar Beach features a long pier that’s stunning both on and underneath, plus a beautiful inlet lined with rocks. Sunset sessions here create gorgeous, glowing engagement photos.
Bradley Beach:
Located in Monmouth County, Bradley Beach is a quieter Jersey Shore location with beautiful sunsets and a charming boardwalk that adds variety to engagement photos.
Cape May Point – Cape May, New Jersey:
The southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May Point offers a picturesque beach and breathtaking sunsets. It’s well worth the drive for romantic engagement photos.
Corson’s Inlet State Park:
Corson’s Inlet offers a more natural, less crowded beach experience with trails, dunes, and bay views. It’s one of my favorite South Jersey engagement photo locations for variety and sunsets! Click here to view my most recent Corson’s Inlet engagement sessions.
Long Beach Island:
LBI feels quintessentially beachy, with charming paths leading to the sand and classic shore vibes. It’s always a favorite for relaxed Jersey Shore engagement sessions. Click here to view my most recent LBI engagement session.
Margate Beach:
Just outside Atlantic City, Margate Beach features beautiful dunes and a fishing pier on Essex Avenue. Nearby Longport is perfect for ending your session with a sunset. Follow this link to view my recent sessions at this Jersey Shore beach!
Ortley Beach:
Located just north of Seaside Heights, Ortley Beach offers ocean views with amusement rides visible in the distance. The bay side is ideal for peaceful sunset engagement photos. Click here to view Kelly and Make’s Ortley Beach engagement session. We even had swans visit us during their session!
Sea Isle City:
Sea Isle City in Cape May County is a gorgeous beach location with soft light, clean sand, and a relaxed atmosphere — perfect for engagement photos! Click here to view Samantha and Josh’s Sea Isle City engagement session!
Spring Lake Beach:
Spring Lake Beach is a beautiful option for Jersey Shore engagement photos, especially when paired with nearby Divine Park for added variety.
Stone Harbor:
Often described as “The Seashore at its Best,” Stone Harbor offers quiet beaches and stunning scenery. This location is ideal for couples looking for a peaceful, romantic engagement session.
New Jersey Winery Engagement Photo Locations
Wineries offer a rustic, romantic feel that works beautifully for engagement photos. Always ask for permission ahead of time, as some locations may require approval.
Cape May Winery:
Cape May Winery features rows of grapevines and charming rustic details. It’s one of my favorite wineries for engagement sessions in South Jersey. Click here to view Nicole & Zach’s Cape May Winery engagement session.
Jessie Creek Winery:
Jessie Creek Winery, a newer Cape May County winery, Jessie Creek Winery is incredibly accommodating and offers beautiful vineyard backdrops for engagement photos. Click here to view Jessie & Ryan’s Jessie Creek Winery engagement session.
Laurita Winery:
Laurita Winery is a favorite New Jersey engagement photo location with scenic vines and rustic details throughout the property. Click here to see Kelsey & Greg’s Laurita Winery engagement session.
Renault Winery:
As the oldest active winery in New Jersey, Renault Winery is now one of the most popular wedding venues in the state. After major renovations, it offers countless romantic spots for engagement photos.
A perk: Renault couples have access to the grounds for engagement sessions.
Click here to view all my recent weddings and sessions at Renault Winery!
Keep scrolling to view more New Jersey Engagement photo locations! And if you’d like to see my engagement portfolio for more inspiration, click here.
Historic, Garden & Park Engagement Photo Locations in NJ
Allaire State Park – Wall Township, NJ
The Historic Village at Allaire offers rustic buildings, wooded trails, and timeless charm — perfect for couples who love a historic feel. Click here to see Gina and Desi’s Allaire State Park engagement session.
Barclay Farmstead – Cherry Hill, NJ
Built in 1816, Barclay Farmstead offers beautiful historic backdrops year-round, with stunning cherry blossoms in the spring. Click here to view my most recent sessions here!
Batsto Village – Hammonton, NJ
Located in Wharton State Forest, Batsto Village is a unique South Jersey engagement photo location with golden hour light and rustic charm. Click here to see my most recent Batsto Village engagement sessions. Please note that Batsto Village now requires a permit for photo sessions.
Cross Estate Gardens – Bernardsville, New Jersey
This hidden gem features formal gardens, native plants, towering trees, and historic architecture, making it a stunning North Jersey engagement photo location. Click here to view my most recent sessions at Cross Estate Gardens!
Divine Park – Spring Lake, NJ
Divine Park offers bridges, lake views, cherry blossoms in spring, and fall foliage — plus it’s just blocks from the beach for a two-location session. Click here to see my recent sessions at Divine Park!
Manasquan Reservoir – Manasquan, NJ
A peaceful mix of water views and nature trails, especially beautiful during fall foliage season.
Sayen Gardens – Hamilton, NJ
Sayen Gardens is one of the best engagement photo locations in New Jersey, especially in spring when cherry blossoms are in full bloom and in the Fall when there is peak foliage. Bridges, fountains, and open green space offer endless variety. Click here to see my most recent Sayen Gardens engagement sessions.
Smithville Mansion – Eastampton, NJ
The Smithville Mansion, a historic site located in Eastampton, NJ and it has tons of pretty rustic elements, old buildings, trees, paths, water views, an old barn and a field with tall grass! Another bonus is the seasonal Christmas decor during the holidays! Click here to see my most recent Smithville Mansion sessions.
Smithville Village – Smithville, New Jersey
Historic Smithville Village located in Smithville, New Jersey is an historic village built around The Smithville Inn which was built in 1787 by a local developer named. It was a great stop for stagecoach travelers from Leeds Point to Cooper’s Ferry. Smithville was nearly an abandoned stagecoach stop, until it was purchased and refurbished by a local couple, Fred and Ethel Noyes in 1952.With the popularity of the Smithville Inn, they began to build a town around the restaurant. They purchased historic buildings from South Jerseys past and brought them into the village, many of which you can still see today.
I love photographing on the grounds of historic Smithville Village because of the collection of historic buildings, the cobblestone walkways and foot bridges, the Carousel, Lake Meone that gives lakeside views, plus an added bonus is the gorgeous fall foliage! This South Jersey gem is just minutes from Atlantic City.
Urban & City Engagement Photo Locations
Camden Waterfront
The Camden Waterfront offers incredible views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and Philadelphia skyline, especially near the Adventure Aquarium. Click here to see Jenna and Ach’s Camden Waterfront engagement session.
Hoboken, NJ
With sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline, Hoboken is perfect for couples who love an urban vibe. Sunset sessions here are especially beautiful. Click here to see Amber and Ryan’s engagement session!
Liberty State Park – Jersey City, NJ
Liberty State Park offers skyline views, cobblestone paths, and the iconic clocktower — a great mix of city and park scenery. Click here to see Tiffany & Brian’s Liberty State Park engagement session.
Moorestown Community House – Moorestown, NJ
Located on Main Street, this historic building is a charming backdrop for engagement photos. Click here to see Amanda & Ryan’s Moorestown Community House engagement session.
Princeton University – Princeton, NJ
Princeton’s campus features elegant architecture and neutral tones that photograph beautifully in every season. Click here to view my recent Princeton University engagement sessions.
Congress Hall – Cape May, NJ
In 2016, Congress Hall celebrated its Bicentennial, marking two hundred years as America’s First Seaside Resort. Located in the heart of Victorian Cape May and directly across the street from the beach, Congress Hall is one of my favorite buildings in all of New Jersey! And an added bonus, their Christmas decor is a pretty addition for any December engagement session. Click here to view my most recent Cape May and Congress Hall engagement sessions!
Beer Gardens, Bars & Restaurants
I love photographing my couple’s in beer gardens, bars and restaurants especially if they are meaningful to your relationship. But be sure to request permission from the location first as many will allow it, but they might require a fee or a specific time frame that will work for them. I photographed Fallon and Matt at Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten in Asbury Park, NJ and it was the perfect location for a pint of beer and a few adorable engagement photos!
