There are sessions… and then there are Lake Winnipesaukee engagement sessions that take your breath away and make you question whether you’ve accidentally wandered into a Nicholas Sparks movie set. And Melissa & Tom’s sunset session? 100% the latter.
We met at Melissa’s parents’ home on Governor’s Island—this dreamy, tucked-away corner of Lake Winnipesaukee with quiet roads, peaceful coves, and the kind of view that makes your jaw drop before you even pull into the driveway. From the minute I arrived, I knew this was going to be good. Like… really good.
But THEN? The sunset showed up and said, “Watch this.”
A Summer Evening on Governor’s Island
One of my favorite things about an engagement session on Lake Winnipesaukee is how peaceful the evenings feel. The lake settles into this golden calm, the air gets warm and glowy, and everything feels cinematic.
Melissa & Tom were the perfect match for this kind of session. Relaxed. Playful. So genuinely happy to be there. We hopped into our cars and drove around the island to photograph at some of their favorite spots—and one very special one in particular: the exact place where they’ll be getting married next month.
There’s something extra meaningful about photographing a couple at the site of their future vows. It creates this quiet, emotional energy. A sense of anticipation. And for these two? It was the perfect way to preview the celebration that’s coming.
The Most Unreal Sunset I’ve Ever Seen on Lake Winnipesaukee
I don’t say this lightly: this was the most unbelievable sunset I’ve ever photographed.
The sky turned from soft peach… to gold… to lavender… to cotton-candy pink… and finally to a deep fiery orange that looked like someone dialed the saturation up to 1,000%.
Every direction we turned had a new palette of color. Every movement Melissa & Tom made caught the glow perfectly. Every photo felt like magic.
A Lake Winnipesaukee sunset already hits differently, but on this night? It was straight-up next level.
Melissa & Tom Were Pure Magic
These two made my job ridiculously easy. They were completely themselves—laughing, snuggling, walking hand-in-hand along the shoreline, whispering goofy things to each other, and just soaking in the moment.
Their natural chemistry paired with this sunset? It was impossible to take a bad photo.
And the best part? They didn’t need any warming up. From the first click, they were in the zone—comfortable, connected, and totally ready to celebrate this chapter of their engagement.
A Sneak Peek at an October Wedding That’s Going to Be EPIC
With how effortlessly they moved through this Lake Winnipesaukee engagement session, I already know their October wedding is going to be out-of-this-world beautiful.
Their ceremony will take place right where we photographed part of their session—and seeing them there under the summer sun made me imagine just how incredible it’ll feel under peak fall foliage.
Melissa & Tom, you two were SO much fun to photograph, and I’m counting down the days until your wedding. If this session was the warm-up, then the main event is going to be nothing short of epic.
Congratulations, you two!! I can’t wait to celebrate again soon.
If you want engagement photos that feel natural, romantic, and soaked in golden New Hampshire magic, Lake Winnipesaukee is one of my favorite places to shoot. Whether you’re drawn to quiet island roads, rocky shorelines, or sunset views that feel straight out of a movie, this lake never disappoints. Let’s chat!
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