Planning Your Photo Session

Photography Guide | The Sagamore Resort | Lake George, NY

Note: The Sagamore is an active hotel and resort that hosts both guests and private events. Location access, crowd levels, and availability may vary depending on the hotel’s schedule and ongoing functions such as weddings or parties. Fees, policies, and rules are subject to change, please contact The Sagamore directly for the most up to date information.

The Sagamore Resort is a regal location that can’t be missed. As a kid, I always looked on in amazement whenever I was out on a boat on Lake George and saw it in the distance. Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to take engagement photos at this luxurious resort and finally check it off my photographer’s bucket list!

However, I did run into a few challenges that most photographers don’t seem to talk about when it comes to logistics and planning a photo session there. While The Sagamore Resort is truly striking from a distance, it’s not the easiest location to photograph at.

Before you keep reading, I just want to say that I’ve taken some of my favorite photos at this location. Any criticism I share is meant purely to help photographers and couples feel more prepared, my goal is to share what I wish I’d known before shooting here.

The Lighting

The lighting at The Sagamore Resort can be beautiful and ideal if you know how to use it. First off, the light is facing into the resort, which means that if you’re looking out at the water, you’ll be facing the backlit sun. If you’re facing the hotel, it will be illuminated by bright daylight. For landscape photographers just capturing the resort itself, this is more ideal. However, when photographing people, it can get a little tricky, as harsh light isn’t always flattering and can create strong shadows.

When I photographed at The Sagamore, I chose to shoot 2–3 hours before sunset. Since there is little to no shade in the outdoor areas, taking photos here during midday (around 11 a.m.–2 p.m., depending on the time of year) can be challenging. In my opinion, this spot doesn’t work well in harsh midday light, as it creates strong overhead lighting. Think harsh highlights on the forehead and nose, with dark shadows under the eyes.

Even during “golden hour,” you can get harsh light shining directly on the hotel. Thankfully, when I shot here, it was a cloudy day. This gave me soft, glowy light that evenly illuminated the hotel, the lake backdrop, and the couple. If a photographer or couple asked me when to take photos here on a clear day, I would personally recommend shooting later into golden hour, when the sun is just below the horizon but there’s still plenty of evening light. This timing gives you more options for locations, and the light will be flattering. If that isn’t possible, a sunrise photoshoot is another great option. The light will be just as soft, and the sun will be on the opposite side of the hotel, helping you avoid harsh light. The ideal timing for sunrise photos would be about three hours after sunrise.

One great piece of news is that because the exterior of The Sagamore is mostly white, it provides excellent light bounce that acts like a natural reflector. If you position your subjects slightly facing the hotel exterior, they’ll have a beautiful glow, as if they were in a studio.

Things to Think About Before Your Shoot

The Sagamore is actually a bit far from the main Lake George Village if you’re using that as a reference point, maybe 20 minutes or more depending on traffic. It’s located closer to Bolton Landing Village. Traveling from Lake George Village to the Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing is a 10.5-mile drive along the scenic lake shore, taking roughly 19 minutes by car. The resort also has a parking fee for visitors, which can change based on the time of year. During the on-season, from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, the fee is $20, and in the off-season it’s $10. Keep this in mind if you’re a photographer or a couple visiting the resort.

Please plan accordingly for the weather, as this spot is not friendly when it comes to rain or bad conditions. I’ve photographed in plenty of beautiful locations that have roof overhangs or sheltered areas, allowing you to take photos in the rain while still keeping a beautiful backdrop. This location does not have that. The main outdoor space leads to the water and is designed to feel spacious with minimal covering, like an estate, featuring a pool, a huge lawn, and a dock area. The only covered spots are the porch by the columned section of the hotel, but this porch has lounging chairs that guests will likely use during a downpour or bad weather, and it is also a narrow space. Various roof coverings over bars and restaurants are also present, but even if you tried to take photos under these areas, there’s no clear view of the hotel, and the lake would likely be overexposed if you exposed for your subjects.

Photos vs. Real Life

If you go on Google right now and type in “Sagamore engagement photos” or “Sagamore wedding photos,” you’ll probably see the same handful of locations being photographed. While that’s completely okay and those spots are beautiful, I wanted to share some specifics about photographing them and what to look out for, whether you’re a photographer or the couple themselves.

One of the first spots you’ll see in photos online is the dock or boardwalk attached to the hotel and near the water. Every photographer (myself included) does their best to make it look like a long, secluded boardwalk, but in person, it’s a different story. First, you have to go down a flight of stairs to a sandy area and cut through a designated space meant for guests to lounge near the lake. Thankfully, when we visited, the area wasn’t crowded, but it is quite narrow, so you and the couple will need to navigate this tight space.

On top of that, the actual bridge or transition zone to get to the dock is very small, so small that only one person can walk at a time, and you’ll need to be careful while crossing. Once you reach the dock itself, you’ll notice the space is much smaller than it appears in photos. Be sure to discuss with your couple beforehand if they’re comfortable going down to the water, as you’ll be quite close to the edge when walking side by side. The water is also very close to the dock, so it can splash onto the surface, especially on windy days. It really isn’t a place you’ll want to spend much time at, so plan your poses ahead of time and communicate with your couple to make the most of the space safely and quickly.

Another area that’s commonly photographed is the platform along the main front of the hotel, the section that faces the lake and is most often seen in photos, framed by columns. This space leads down to the outdoor area. It’s truly beautiful, and centering your couple here can create a very architecturally driven, symmetrical shot. That being said, it can be a little tricky to photograph here, both in terms of lighting and spacing.

The reason for this is that the spot where you would have your couple stand is a small concrete platform in front of the columns. The platform is very limited in space and is often mostly filled with lounge chairs for guests. On top of that, it’s surrounded by stairs divided by metal handrails, which are positioned right where you would take the photos. There isn’t much room to back up to frame your shot, so keep this in mind.

Another thing to watch out for when shooting with natural light in this spot is that behind the photographer, along the stairs leading down to the lake, there is an area filled with tall, dark green trees and shrubs. These can block some of the light hitting your couple, which you’ll need to capture this money shot. In post-production, I had to brighten my couple a bit, which, against the bright white building, made proper exposure a little tricky.

Finally, there is an area that’s commonly photographed where the couple is seen walking across the large lawn with the hotel in the background. It really does produce grand results, and there is no difficulty shooting in this location. It’s just not the most obvious spot when you first walk outside. To get there, exit the main doors through the lobby and you’ll land on the front platform I mentioned earlier. From there, head down the stairs, then turn left and follow the long path. When you reach this area, you’ll see the lawn, which doesn’t appear as big in person as it does in photos, but you’ll be able to find it quickly since you can see the entire hotel from this spot. Best of all, this area is very quiet. Although it’s great for photos, there aren’t many amenities back here, so guests don’t usually roam in this space.

There are smaller things to keep in mind, like the large pool, which is lined with a metal gate and sits directly next to some of the paths, bars and restaurants in front of the lake view, and tall trees scattered throughout that can sometimes block light in different locations. But first and foremost, the Sagamore is a hotel, so much of this is designed for the guest experience rather than for photography. All of this can be worked around with a little creativity!

Staff & Hotel Guests

For some reason, this was the part I was most worried about going into the shoot. The Sagamore is a very high-end resort, and at first I was nervous about being stopped by a staff member or turned away since I wasn’t a guest, especially walking in with a camera and a bag full of lenses. However, the staff were completely focused on their own work and didn’t mind that I was taking photos. In fact, the valet worker even stopped to ask me about my equipment and was genuinely excited that I was photographing a newly engaged couple at the resort. This was a huge relief!

The same can be said about the guests. They mostly kept to themselves and had a peaceful energy. Despite the hotel being large and bold, the overall atmosphere is actually quite calm, more like a spa when I was there. This was really helpful because at no point did I feel like I was in the way of guests or that my couple was uncomfortable due to the number of people. Keep in mind that this may vary depending on the time of day and year.

Favorites & Tips

Finally, and this is the part I’ve been waiting to tell you about! While scouting the location before my couple arrived, I explored the hotel and, at the end of my exploration, I found (in my opinion) the most beautiful spot at the resort. It’s a semi-private balcony and patio located on the far side of the hotel.

Immediately when you walk out onto the patio, you are greeted by beautiful flowers along with low hedges and bushes. There isn’t concrete here, but neutral beige-colored stones and pebbles, which create great bounce light. The balcony overlooks the entire resort, including the side of the building and its architecture, the pool and surrounding greenery, and finally the lake and mountains. I’ll be honest, if I could have shot the entire engagement session here, I would have walked away happy!

As a light and airy natural light photographer, this spot had everything I needed. The views of the resort, the lake, and the mountains offered variety for different portraits. The patio is also spacious, so no one feels crammed or on top of each other. The flower beds are perfect for engagement ring details. While I was exploring, I was trying to figure out where to photograph the ring, and the flowers solved my problem perfectly. They also have a ledge surrounding them where the couple can sit, allowing us to capture very romantic photos with the flowers.

The sun did come out for a brief time in this spot, and I can confirm that it can work even in direct sunlight. I preferred to use the light as backlighting, which allowed me to capture glowy portraits of my couple while keeping the water and mountains perfectly exposed in the distance. However, I would still recommend shooting here in the early morning or just after sunset to get the most variety from this location. This area also has full access to the sky, so you can make the most of the natural light.

Another great part about this spot is that my couple and I were the only people back here. The couple I was working with were a bit shy, so I could tell they were relieved to have a private space. I couldn’t have loved this location more, and I recommend every photographer check it out!

To get to this spot, you’ll walk through the main entrance from where the cars drop off guests. You’ll enter the main lobby and walk to your right. When you walk to the right, keep walking straight, and on your left there should be a long corridor with hotel rooms on both sides. At the far end of the corridor, you’ll see a door with bright light coming through. If you see this, you’ll know you’re in the right hallway. Walk to the far end of this hallway, and you’ll be able to find the patio through this door!

Summary & Helpful Links for Planning Your Trip to The Sagamore Resort

• Location: 110 Sagamore Rd, Bolton Landing, NY 12814 (10.5 mi / 19 min ETA from Lake George Village)
• Best Time to Shoot: 2-3 hours before sunset or 3 hours after sunrise (cloudy days flexible)
• Cost/Parking: On-season $20, Off-season $10 (visitor parking fee)
• Top Photo Spots: Semi-private balcony/patio with garden, large lawn with full resort view, dock/boardwalk, columned platform in front of entrance facing lake
• Weather Notes: Most outdoor spaces are open with minimal coverage, resort location not ideal in rain or stormy conditions

Website | Official Sagamore Resort

Map | The Sagamore Resort

Video | View from Patio/Balcony

I’m dedicated to making your wedding or portrait session in Albany, Upstate NY, and beyond a smooth, personalized, and memorable experience. Ready to begin? Explore my Wedding or Portrait photography services, or get in touch here!

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Thank you for reading!

-Raf