Marc & Rachel | Skaneatles Proposal
A lakeside proposal in the small town of Skaneatles in Central New York. A beautiful gallery by Proposal Photographer Madaline Jenkins from Saratoga, NY.
Let me start this one with a little story.
September 2023, Marc and I met while working a wedding together. He rolled up with his crew and their Food Truck - The Kitchen Counter and worked wonders. A family style meal, a grazing table to die for and breakfast the next morning. A whirlwind of a day with hardly any vendor conversation.
Fast forward 4 months - an instagram message asking about proposal photography. (!!!) If you’ve been around for any amount of time you know proposals are my favorite! The forethought, the excitement, the overall thrill of the moment. Marc had put so much thought into this moment - he had planned, not only with me, but with many of their family and friends.
A sunny drive to Skaneatles, a stop at the coffee shop next to their hotel for a quick discreet hello and then to be stationed on the pier. I waited in the quiet, soaking in the March sun, Rachel and Marc made their way down the pier. As they passed, I could hear her start to ask if they should turn around. The pier was snow covered and a little crowded. Marc and I silently improvised and so his proposal began!
It was beautiful - Rachel’s surprise, joy and excitement. The anxiety melting away from Marc as he asked her to spend the rest of their life together. A ring that once belonged to his Mom’s mom placed on her finger and an ecstatic “yes!” begins their engaged life!
Immediately following their proposal Marc surprised Rachel with a wonderful dinner surrounded by so many of their family and friends!
Ken & Shannon | Smithville Flats
Intimate wedding at The Black Barn at Harvest Moon in Smithville Flats, New York.
In September of 2023 I had the honor of photographing the wedding of my husband’s uncle at The Black Barn at Harvest Moon in Smithville Flats in Central New York. A beautiful venue with much to offer their guests and multiple stunning backdrops for photos (my favorite!). When you pair this with the amazing ladies at Shabby Sisters Rentals you’re in for a real treat! The details were all so well thought out and stunning. You’ll see!
The food - DELICIOUS. I don’t think I’ve stopped thinking about that Mac & Cheese, or the grazing table.
But most of all, the love that these two have for one another was shining. Their bridal party included their children and grand children, nieces and nephews and a best friend. They said their vows surrounded by only their closest family and friends in an intimate ceremony then danced the night away in the barn. Welcome to the family, Shannon! (Officially!)
xo,
Madaline
VENDOR TEAM
Photography Madaline Jenkins Photography Styling / Florals Shabby Sisters
Catering The Kitchen Counter Food Truck Dress Jocelynn’s Bridal
Music Frankie Lessard
Chase & Heather | Round Lake, NY Engagement Session
A summertime engagement session in Round Lake, NY.
Just look at these two! It’s been nearly 4 years since this session and I can still remember the joy that surrounded every moment of spending my summer evening with them. A wardrobe malfunction landed Heather in this blue dress at the last minute and it couldn’t have been more perfect! The shades of blue under a hazy summer sky perfectly complimented their blue eyes.
The love and chemistry between Chase & Heather is practically tangible. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves…
Justin & Colleen | Saratoga Springs Engagement
Colleen & Justin’s late July Engagement session at Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, New York.
This session is what engagement session dreams are made of!
I met up with Colleen and Justin on a warm July evening in 2021 for their engagement session at Congress Park in Saratoga Springs, NY. They were easy to photograph with their immense love for each other and natural chemistry. We spent a lot of time laughing and getting to know each other and to this day, some of these are my favorite engagement photos!
Matt & Rachel | Saratoga Springs Engagement
Matt & Rachel’s Upstate NY engagement session in Historic Congress Park, Saratoga Springs. Sun-kissed and hydrangea filled moments of love.
In October 2022, at a Saratoga Springs coffee shop, I met Matt & Rachel to talk about the possibility of being their photographer. It ended up being one of the most joy-filled meetings I have ever had. We talked for hours about life, work & of course weddings!
Fast forward nine months and we met in the Historic Congress Park in Saratoga Springs for their July evening Engagement session. You can nearly see the love shining in their eyes for each other. They are each other’s safe space, their calm in the storm and their happily ever after. It was such an honor to help them memorialize this season.
Studio Balayage | Rotterdam, NY
A beautiful, personality-filled session with all the hair stylists at Studio Balayage in Rotterdam, New York.
Have you ever grabbed a whole bunch of your closest girlfriends, opened a bottle of champagne and gassed each other up for an hour on a Monday? Wouldn’t that be such a lovely way to start every week?
When I first my Taylor (my hairstylist!) who works out of Studio Balayage, it was for her engagement photos in 2021. She and her husband became one of the sweetest additions to my 2022 calendar. We’ve kept in touch and she gives me my spring refresh every May. This time when I saw her I got to hang with her and all her co-workers. We spent a couple of hours taking photos of each of them in their element. It was so fun to see how each girl brought their own flair to the session! If you’re looking for a hairstylist or lash girl - for sure check them out!
James & Katherine Maternity | Round Lake, New York
A golden light-filled maternity session at Round Lake Nature Preserve in Upstate, New York.
This maternity session at Round Lake Nature Preserve was one for the books! In August 2023 James and Katherine came up to New York from Alabama to celebrate their sweet baby before he made his debut. James and I have been friends for around 13 years, but hadn’t seen each other since I lived in Tennessee seven years ago.
In the midst of driving all over New England, visiting family and friends, they made some time to hang out with me at Round Lake Nature Preserve. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful August evening to document this beautiful time for them. Since then they’ve welcomed the sweetest little boy, I can’t wait to meet him!
Thanks for stopping by,
Madaline
Josh & Sarah | Sacandaga Lake Engagement
A beautiful engagement session with a mountain-filled backdrop on the shores of Great Sacandaga Lake in Hadley, New York.
Y’all! I could go on and on for days about these two and this place. My mother-in-law owns a sweet little cottage on the shore of The Great Sacandaga where my family spends as many summer days as possible. It was so special to share this little slice of heaven with two of my favorite people I’ve had the honor of working with.
THIS COUPLE, though! I met them probably around five years ago when I was photographing Josh’s family. Fast Forward to Josh’s sister’s wedding, where Josh and Sarah were both in the wedding and we spent another fun-filled day together. After their own proposal Sarah had mentioned she wanted beach photos for their engagement session to coordinate with their Dominican Republic Wedding. While Upstate NY has a lot of beaches, they aren’t local to us or private. I knew Sacandaga would be the perfect place! (Secretly I had dreamed of an evening session on the lake for years.) Over the summer 2023, Josh & Sarah finally got their day for photos of their own and I couldn’t love them more.
We spent our time on the shoreline of Sacandaga and even getting our feet a little wet. They were up for anything and made the session so fun! I seriously can not wait to celebrate with them in the Dominican Republic in September 2024.
xo,
Madaline
Everson Family | Round Lake, New York
Fun Family Photography Session in Round Lake, New York.
Round Lake Nature Preserve is a popular photoshoot location in Saratoga County, New York. When the Everson family wanted something outdoors with more than one element but close to home, I knew this could be the perfect spot. We had so much fun together as the sun set over Round Lake and we captured these sweet family moments.
Be sure to peep the Heron on the dock - of all my times there, this was a first for me!
Thanks for spending some time with me, Eversons!
xo,
Madaline
Michael & Sara | Thacher Park Maternity Session
A beautiful Maternity session with the Backdrop of Thacher Park in Voorhesville NY.
I find that bringing a baby into this world is such a beautiful thing. A silent vow to love as long as you both shall live as soon as you see those two little lines. Documenting expecting parents - whether it’s the first or fifth time - has beauty that surrounds it like no other.
I am so grateful to have been able to capture this special time for Michael and Sara before they welcomed Baby William into the world. When we arrived to Thacher Park there was a storm rolling in across the valley and a light sprinkle started just moments before they pulled into the parking lot.
We decided we would roll with it no matter what the weather did and we stuck it out for a few minutes of sprinkles and ended with the most beautiful sunlight shining on the hillside and a rainbow to boot!
I am so glad to share in these moments with friends I cherish!
xo,
Madaline
Chris + Amber | Averill Park, NY
This is a special one!
I met these sweet friends of mine in the fall of 2013 at a cookout in Nashville Tennessee. They were newlyweds and we were only about two and a half years into our marriage. We only lived in TN together for a short time, but this friendship has stood the test of time and distance. Chris and Amber moved away first to Missouri and then Illinois. We followed suit about a year later when we moved back to Upstate, NY in the fall of 2016.
We have made the 1,000 mile roadtrip to each other’s homes many times over the last 7 years. When Amber texted me and said she needed a “soul friend” visit ASAP in the middle of the summer last year, I was all in. Three weeks later they rolled into our driveway for three magical days together!
We spent some of that time in my hometown taking these photos for their ten year anniversary! Amber told me she was interested in a waterfall session and I knew just the place; my old stomping ground where we used to swim in the summertime when I was a kid.
What joy to have these two as my friends and to fall right back into the rhythm of life as soon as we’re together.
Cheers friends,
Madaline
Will & Sarah | Saratoga Lake Surprise Proposal
A beautiful proposal on the shore of Saratoga Lake in Upstate New York.
“Peak foliage and a sandy beach lead to the
proposal dreams are made of.”
In October of 2023, just twenty-four days before Will was preparing to pop the life altering question “Will you marry me?” to his beloved girlfriend, Sara, I got an Instagram message asking if I photograph proposals. Truth be told, proposals are one of my most favorite things to photograph. We had a FaceTime call to talk about the plan and I hung up doing a happy dance.
Will had a stunning ring, a beautiful place and a perfect plan. The morning of the Proposal Sara was all set to get her hair done in Saratoga Springs. In one room her hairdresser contacted her and told her she was unable to complete the appointment, while in another Will and I were finalizing where I would meet him to get into the private property he was planning to propose. Within minutes our excited exchange turned frantic. The whole plan was on hold for the time being. Deep Breaths all around. I was in Ballston Spa googling hair salons near me - Will was in Saratoga looking for another salon with Friday morning availability. The stars aligned and it was all a “go!”
That afternoon on the shores of Waters Edge on Saratoga Lake, Will popped the question. Peak foliage and a sandy beach lead to the proposal dreams are made of. There was laughter, tears, excitement and in the hour following the proposal we made magic happen. It doesn’t get any better than this.
Can not wait to cry at Will & Sarah’s wedding in 2025.
xo,
Madaline
Nate & Annie | Adirondack Wedding
A beautiful wedding in the heart of the Adirondack park.
On September 30, 2023 Nate & Annie, surrounded by many of their closest friends and family tied the knot at Garnet Hill Lodge in North River, NY. Overlooking Thirteenth lake and the foothills of the Adirondacks Garnet Hill Lodge boasts breathtaking views as the backdrop to this perfect September day.
I could not imagine a more perfect location for Nate & Annie to say their vows. They are adventurous and love spending time in the mountains and rock climbing with friends. (For their engagement session we hiked in Lake George and got beautiful shots of them with their dog River.) The morning of the wedding friends and family got to spend time walking the trails that weave throughout the property, sitting on the sunshiny beach and in the field overlooking the views.
For their first look we cleared the beach and wandered out onto the dock for some of my favorite shots of the whole day! It was so fantastic to watch Annie’s nerves melt away the moment she and Nate were finally together. Their ceremony made everyone laugh when River played such a crucial role, but took the long way down the aisle circling the whole crowd, and cry when Nate and Annie said their vows. We danced the night away to the sounds of A House on Fire from Vermont.
Let’s dive into these perfect moments!
Vendor’s that contributed to this perfect day:
Venue Garnet Hill Lodge Florals Everwood Florals Cake Indulgence Bakery
Band A house on Fire Dress Kleinfeld's Suits Indochino
