Planning Your Photo Session

Photography Guide | The Chateau On The Lake | Bolton Landing, NY

Note: The Chateau On The Lake is an active hotel, restaurant, and wedding venue. Property access and availability may vary depending on restaurant reservations and scheduled weddings or events. Policies, photography access, and venue guidelines are subject to change. For the most up to date information, please contact The Chateau On The Lake directly.

The Chateau On The Lake is a beautiful intimate venue in Bolton Landing, NY, that sits right on the water next to Lake George. It is a great all in one venue that has a dedicated restaurant on site and available overnight rooms on the second floor of the building, which could make it the perfect location for an engagement session, celebration event, or a wedding.

The Chateau is located about 10 miles from the main Lake George Village and sits near the iconic Sagamore Resort, while also being close to the trolley stops for easy access between Bolton Landing and Lake George.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOUR SHOOT

One of the first things to know about The Chateau On The Lake is how truly hidden it is from the main road. The streets of Bolton Landing are already narrow when you pass the Lake George Village, and this venue has an even narrower entrance, which makes this venue extremely easy to miss. The sign that says “The Chateau On The Lake” is incredibly small, especially sitting crammed between the two businesses next to it. The entrance to The Chateau is also probably no bigger than the width of a driveway, with only one car able to go down this narrow entrance at a time, entering and exiting.

Once you enter the narrow road, The Chateau is actually located quite deep into the road. You would think you’re going down someone’s private driveway or down a back alley behind a business. The parking lot at this venue is also quite modest. The site says there are 30 spaces, so if you have a large wedding here, guests will have to park in the street or at a nearby park, with the closest one being Rogers Memorial Park.

To get a better bearing of your surroundings, the next street over is actually the road that leads down to The Sagamore. So, if you see the Sagamore sign, just know that the entrance to this venue is nearby.

Keep in mind that because of the intimate atmosphere of this venue, it is important that you have a reservation at their restaurant or are staying in one of the overnight rooms on the second floor.

The staff we worked with to help set up this proposal were extremely nice and helpful on the day that we photographed it. Provided that there is not a wedding happening on the same day as your event, you should have no issues with the venue accommodating your requests.

THE LIGHTING

When we photographed here, it was around 12pm noon, midday, so it wasn’t the ideal lighting conditions. However, there are still some ways that you can make it work and get beautiful photographs. First of all, The Chateau is for the most part a wide-open space with little shade coverage, so I wouldn’t suggest photographing in the midday sun on the main lawn. Anything after midday will be fine because the direct sun will be in a more ideal position, and it will most likely be blocked by the surrounding trees. On cloudy days, the main lawn will be fine to photograph on anytime.

For any portraits with the couple, I would suggest photographing on the two docks this property provides, as these are in a more ideal location for getting flattering lighting from the sun. This is especially true during midday on clear days, when the main lawn has very little shade coverage. As mentioned earlier, on cloudy days or later in the afternoon, the main lawn would also be a great option.

The front of the property, the part with the parking lot, and the side of the property away from the lake, I would avoid completely for any photographs because of the limited space for cars to come through and the heavy tree coverage, which blocks out almost all natural light.

PHOTOS.VS REAL LIFE

The property represents in person what you see on the internet, aside from the entrance from the road. What I will say is that the front lawn by the water’s side is much bigger in person than it appears in the photos you find online. I can see now how they are able to host weddings on this property.

The trees that line the venue really are quite huge, which does a great job of immersing you in the feeling that you’re no longer in Upstate NY. This view is especially beautiful from the porch of the house, looking down the slope of the long lawn toward the water. It is very peaceful.

FAVORITE SPOTS & TIPS

I won’t lie, I was a little worried initially about finding a spot where the couple I was working with could propose that would be both beautiful aesthetically and also have great lighting. However, after looking around the property a bit, I found a spot that was my favorite of the day and is actually hardly seen in any photos online or even visible from a vantage point toward the top of the hill.

If you go to the bottom of the hill toward the water, you will see the dock that is displayed in all the photos online. However, if you go to the right, you will see a path surrounded by greenery. If you follow this little wooden path, you will get to the second dock on this property, which is completely covered by trees and also has beautiful greenery on the wooden wall next to the dock. This produces not only great lighting but also beautiful, romantic images.

And the best part? It actually sits directly next to the other dock. That means on a wedding day, this could be a fantastic area for a first look because a photographer can get a secondary angle, with a second shooter standing on this dock. If the couple doesn’t mind, family members can also stand on this dock to watch the first look!

The second spot that is great for photos is, of course, the dock that sits next to the one mentioned above. Initially, I was unsure if it would work because of the lighting conditions, but because of the way the dock is positioned with the midday sun, we avoided harsh, unflattering shadows on the couple’s faces when taking photos. The backdrop of the lake and the passing boats is truly a timeless setup.

Summary & Helpful Links for Planning Your Trip to The Chateau on The Lake

• Location: The Chateau On The Lake is located at 15 Allens Alley, Bolton Landing, NY 12814, approximately 10 miles north of Lake George Village and just minutes from The Sagamore Resort. The entrance is very easy to miss, with a narrow driveway and small roadside sign, so I recommend keeping an eye out as you approach.
• Reservations & Access: The Chateau is an active hotel, restaurant, and wedding venue. I recommend making a restaurant reservation or staying overnight if you plan to photograph here. Photography access may vary depending on weddings, private events, and venue policies.
• Parking: On-site parking is available but limited to approximately 30 spaces. During larger weddings or busy weekends, guests may need to park along the street or at nearby Rogers Memorial Park.
• Best Time to Shoot: Late afternoon through golden hour provides the most flattering light across the property. Midday sessions can still work well on the docks, while cloudy days offer soft, even lighting throughout the venue.
• Top Photo Spots: My favorite locations include the two waterfront docks, especially the smaller dock tucked behind the greenery, which offers beautiful natural framing and soft light. The main dock overlooking Lake George is another timeless location with stunning lake views.
• Things to Consider: Because the property is intimate, space is limited during weddings and restaurant hours. The entrance road is narrow enough for only one vehicle at a time, so allow a little extra time when arriving.
• Lighting Notes: The open lawn receives strong direct sunlight during midday with very little natural shade. The waterfront docks generally provide more flattering light throughout the day, while the lawn provides beautiful natural light as the afternoon progresses.

Official Site | The Chateau On The Lake | Bolton Landing

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Thanks for reading!

-Raf