Creative, dark engagement photos in New York movie theater

Junebug’s Best of the Best Engagement Photo Contest Winner 2026

So excited to announce that this image was awarded and featured in Junebug’s engagement collection. It’s an honor to be among so many other talented photographers in this contest.

Are engagement sessions worth it? Should I take engagement photos?

Maybe I’m bias as the photographer, but engagement sessions are kind of the best. Making a new memory together and having fun, really enjoying the time you’re engaged and treating it for what it is - special, and not just an in-between space before getting married. Being engaged is a memorable time and totally a reason to romanticize your life together. It’s the perfect time to play, get weird and creative, be silly little freaks together, put on a fun outfit and celebrate this era of your life.

I love when you all come to me excited af with an idea for your engagement location. I love getting to document these as a date night, over an activity, exploring a new place, or revisiting your favorite spots. But it’s so great when you choose something just to have some fun with, because to me, that’s the whole point.

What are the perks of choosing a location like this for engagement photos?

For these two, a dreamy, movie palace, known as Lafayette theater was the perfect spot. We turned the theater into our own private and personal playground for the rented 2 hour time slot that we had. What made this extra fun, was how open to collaboration we all were. We spent time planning and having fun with the vision for these photos for the weeks leading up to it. And once we got there, no spots in the theater were considered off limits. We were allowed to roam and wander and play with the lights as we wanted. The theater even put out on the marquee “coming soon” with their last name and wedding date underneath — so sweet!

How does an engagement session like this come together?

Honestly, this is the magic of collaboration! We spent time communicating and discussing ideas beforehand. I got to know them and their vision for their photos prior to the day. This is what I mean when I say my work is rooted in connection. When the day came we couldn’t stop coming up with ideas. It felt like we were getting pulled in all directions with the excitement of running around and trying photo ideas in different spots. Since we had just spent weeks collaborating on a vision, we were on the same page with a lot of the shots we wanted and ultimately created something really cool that combined our ideas together. We ended up experimenting with a shared vision on the day of and I think it helped to make us both feel at ease and like we were free to just create together. I’m personally obsessed with this entire day and I know they are too!

Do you have any tips for planning engagement photos? Or choosing a photographer?

There’s a lot of advice out there and it’s all different so it’s hard to know what to look for and how to begin planning. But really what it comes down to is who the two of you are and what kind of style you’d like from your photographer. If you’re looking for more candid style photos vs posed, try to look for an artist who can help bring your vision to life. Not just aesthetically, but someone you vibe with also, who seems to get what you’re going for and will make you feel like yourselves. If you’re wondering what to wear or how to prep, don’t be afraid to ask your photographer those questions - that’s what we’re here for! I always recommend wearing something that you’re comfortable in, that helps you feel confident, and to dress for the weather and the kind of aesthetic you want to portray in your photos.

The details

This session was taken as part of their complimentary engagement photos prior to their wedding date. Each collection I offer comes with engagement photos for us to get comfy and have some fun together.

Venue: Lafayette Theater in Suffern, New York

Photographer: Jess Glass, taken on digital and polaroid