Granite and Gold: Jack & Jacque’s Fall Engagement Session at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls | White Mountains, New Hampshire

Written by Matthew Valcancick
Jack and Jacque sitting together high on the granite ledge above Upper Ammonoosuc Falls with yellow birches and a cloudy October sky behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack & Jacque
Engagement Session  ·  Upper Ammonoosuc Falls  ·  White Mountains, New Hampshire  ·  October 2026

Upper Ammonoosuc Falls sits in a granite gorge on the west side of Mount Washington, where the river drops through a chute into a deep green pool and the birches on the rim turn gold the first week of October. Jack and Jacque met us there on an early fall afternoon, and we spent the rest of the day working our way down the valley, from the ledges at the falls to an old railroad trestle and a quiet bend in the river as the light went.

The Falls

We started on the cobble beach at the bottom of the gorge, with the falls pouring through the notch in the rock behind them and the pool glowing green and gold. Jack in blue plaid, Jacque in a white cable knit, and the two of them wrapped up in each other before we had even said a word.

Wide view of Jack and Jacque standing small on the cobble beach at the base of the granite gorge with Upper Ammonoosuc Falls behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque standing together on the rocky shore of the pool below the falls, smiling at each other at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Jack and Jacque forehead to forehead at the edge of the green pool with the falls behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jacque with her arms around Jack's neck in front of the granite walls and the waterfall at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jacque laughing with her arms around Jack's neck beside the pool at the base of the falls at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque walking hand in hand across the river cobbles below the falls with the pines on the rim above at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Black and white of Jack and Jacque walking hand in hand along the stones at the base of the gorge at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack holding Jacque close with her head on his chest in front of the granite boulders and the still pool at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Along the Ledges

The granite at the falls is worn smooth and runs in big shelves along the water, so we moved them from ledge to ledge, closer to the chute each time. This is where the quiet frames came from, the two of them nose to nose with the water roaring just behind them, and the ring catching what light there was.

Jacque laughing with her head on Jack's shoulder on the granite ledge beside the pool at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack kissing the top of Jacque's head as she laughs on the granite shelf by the river at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Jack and Jacque laughing together close on the ledge with the gorge walls behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Close detail of Jacque's engagement ring with her hand resting on the sleeve of Jack's blue plaid shirt at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque standing face to face on the granite ledge with the dark pool and the big boulders behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Black and white of Jack and Jacque forehead to forehead on the rocks above the falls at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Jack kissing Jacque's cheek with the white water of the falls soft behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Close portrait of Jack and Jacque smiling at each other with Upper Ammonoosuc Falls blurred behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Wide view of Jack and Jacque sitting on top of the huge granite block above the falls with yellow birches and clouds overhead at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque laughing together on the smooth granite at the top of the falls at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
The Footbridge

Just upstream a wooden footbridge crosses the river, and the maples on the far bank had gone fully orange. We walked them back and forth across it, let Jack pull her in for a long hug in the middle, and then let them go.

Jack and Jacque laughing at each other on the wooden footbridge with bright orange maples on the riverbank behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jacque with her face buried in Jack's chest as he hugs her tight on the footbridge with the fall color behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Black and white of Jack and Jacque walking hand in hand across the wooden footbridge at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Jack and Jacque walking hand in hand across the footbridge with the dark pines behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque kissing on the footbridge with the river and the orange and gold hillside behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque holding each other on the footbridge with the yellow and orange trees over the river at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
The Birches

On the far side of the bridge the trail runs through a stand of white birches on the mossy ledge. We tucked them in among the trunks for a kiss, shot their hands through the red leaves, and then started them walking.

Jack and Jacque kissing between the white birch trunks on the mossy ledge above the river at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque standing together on the ledge seen through the fall branches with the birches above them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque holding hands with her engagement ring showing against the red fall leaves at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Close detail of Jack and Jacque's hands together, her ring catching the light against his plaid sleeve at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque walking together along the ledge path through the pines with red leaves at the edge of the trail at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
The Leaf Road

A gravel road runs along the river from the falls and by October it is carpeted in orange and yellow. We walked them away from us, let Jack dip her off the trail, and spent some time on the little things: a red maple leaf, a hug from behind, the ring set down in the leaves.

Jack dipping Jacque back for a kiss at the edge of the woods as she laughs with the river behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque kissing beside the river with the rocks and the fall color behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Black and white of Jack and Jacque walking away hand in hand down the leaf covered road at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Jack and Jacque walking away from the camera hand in hand down the gravel road carpeted in orange and yellow leaves at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque walking hand in hand down the leaf covered road with the low sun coming through the trees at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack hugging Jacque from behind as they laugh on the leaf covered road under the tall pines at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack hugging Jacque from behind and laughing as she looks up at him on the road at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Jacque holding a bright red maple leaf up to Jack's face as they laugh together at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque kissing behind a single red and orange maple leaf held up between them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jacque's engagement ring resting on a bright red maple leaf among the fallen leaves at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
The Trestle

Down the valley an old iron railroad trestle crosses the river with the mountains behind it. The two of them walked the rails out into the middle of the span, and then we dropped below to the riverbank for the whole bridge against the hillside.

Jack and Jacque walking the railroad tracks out onto the iron trestle with the mountains behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jacque balancing on the rail with her arm out as Jack holds her hand on the trestle at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Jack and Jacque walking the tracks at the end of the trestle with the fall hillside behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque kissing beneath the iron trestle with the fall color on the mountainside behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Black and white of Jack and Jacque holding each other below the railroad trestle at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Jack and Jacque standing hand in hand in the tall grass below the iron trestle with the mountains turning behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque small beneath the full span of the railroad trestle with the fall color on the hills beyond at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
The River

We finished on a quiet bend of the Ammonoosuc as the sun dropped behind the mountains. The maples on the bank had gone deep red, the water went to glass, and the two of them stopped posing altogether.

Jack and Jacque nose to nose on the riverbank with the still water and the mountains in the last light at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Black and white of Jack kissing Jacque on the bank of the Ammonoosuc River at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Jack kissing Jacque at the edge of the river with the red and gold hillside behind them at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque laughing together on the riverbank with the river bending away toward the mountains at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jacque with her head on Jack's shoulder in front of the deep red maples at the river at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Jack and Jacque forehead to forehead in front of the red maple leaves at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions Jacque smiling over Jack's shoulder with her hand on his face among the red maples at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions
Black and white detail of Jacque's hand and ring resting on Jack's plaid shirt as they hold each other at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire fall engagement photography VMG Productions

A gorge, a footbridge, a trestle, and a river at the end of the day. Jack and Jacque, we cannot wait for the wedding.

The Full Gallery

See every photo from Jack and Jacque's session.

View the Full Gallery
Details
Location
Upper Ammonoosuc Falls, White Mountains, New Hampshire
Photography
VMG Productions

Planning a fall engagement session in the White Mountains?

The Ammonoosuc valley gives you a granite gorge, a waterfall, a footbridge, a railroad trestle, and a river with the mountains behind it, all within a few minutes of each other, and the first week of October the color is as good as it gets in New England. If you are planning a wedding in Maine or New Hampshire, we would love to hear about it.

Get in touch View the full gallery
Matthew Valcancick
Previous

Burnt Orange and Candlelight: Ellie & Sam’s Fall Wedding at the Boothbay Playhouse | Boothbay, Maine
Next

Stone Bridges and Peak Color: Alison & Dave’s Fall Engagement Session at Vaughan Woods | Hallowell, Maine