The Top 5 Chicago Engagement Session Locations for Epic Results
You guys. We made it!
Winter is finally fading away here in the city of broad shoulders. Days are lengthening, fragrant blossoms are emerging and we locals are more than ready to bust out our shorts and flip-flops the minute that thermostat creeps above 50 degrees. And all of this means one thing to us Chicago wedding photographers – it’s almost engagement session season, y’all!
Other than figuring out what in the world you and your betrothed are going to wear (that’s a topic for our next blog!), choosing the right location for your shoot is a pretty big deal when it comes to the overall vibe of your photos.
Lucky for us, Chicago has no shortage of incredible locations for an epic city engagement session, and there’s no one better to muse on the matter than a seasoned Chicago wedding photographer (if I do say so myself!).
After capturing almost 300 weddings and countless Chicago engagement shoots over the past ten years, I’ve become somewhat of a local expert when it comes to where to take photographs you’ll be obsessed with forever. So if you are currently planning a wedding and in the market for an incredible backdrop for your engagement session, then read on for the scoop!
North Avenue Beach
Let’s start with the obvious, shall we? North Avenue Beach. Ugh.
North Avenue is the geographic equivalent of that girl we all knew in high school. Gorgeous. Super smart. Popular. Always got the lead in the school play and is basically just so perfect that you’d love to hate on her but you can’t because she’s just SO. NICE.
Or in this case, is such an unbeatable location to create jaw dropping images!
Sweeping views of Chicago’s iconic skyline. The dazzling blue waters of Lake Michigan. And if that’s not enough to convince you, there are also pristine sandy beaches for days. It’s truly the most dramatic spot to watch the sun as it sets over the city, making it my golden-hour Chicago go-to.
There’s not much else to say here other than come on, North Ave Pier. Leave some “holy smokes” for the rest of us!
PRO TIP – While there is a big parking lot right on location (which is approximately $27 for three hours), during the peak season it can get full before you know it, so leaving yourself plenty of time and having a parking plan B is always a great idea. If not driving, there’s a handy ride share drop off location right near the beach.
River Walk/Wrigley
Okay. The Chicago River Walk might actually be the “hold my beer, North Avenue” spot when it comes to of the rest of Chicago’s top engagement session locations. While the former has gorgeous views of the skyline, there is something really special about having your engagement session set in the thick of the action. Strolling the River Walk while surrounded by towering world-class architecture as the serene Chicago River flows by truly makes for an amazing photoshoot location.
Plus, there are so many striking bridges to play with (the romantic peak-a-boo shots of couples poised between the steel beams of the La Salle Street bridge are some of my favorite shots to create). Choosing this spot as the backdrop to this special season in your lives is always a good move!
PRO-TIP: I love starting at La Salle and Wacker and walking east with my couples before wrapping up our shoot at the classic Wrigley Building.
Lincoln Park South Pond
Any list of the best Chicago engagement session locations would be remiss not to give an honorable mention to Lincoln Park South Pond and Board Walk. While it still has pretty killer views of the skyline via the “kissing bridge”, it’s also a great option if you want a blend of city vibes with more greenery thrown in the mix. My favorite time of year to shoot here is the end of summer when everything is blooming and the tall prairie grass catches the light perfectly during golden hour.
Plus there’s the famous Honeycomb structure to get creative with!
PRO-TIP: If Café Brauer’s little lunch spot is closed, the next closest bathroom can be quite a hike. Be warned and prepare accordingly!
Chicago Art Institute
I mean, need I say more? This world-famous museum makes for the best backdrops to create photographs that are elevated, chic and oh-so-romantic. And as a photographer, there’s something really special about creating art for my couples while being amidst literal masterpieces. Inspiring, to say the least!
Art aside, the architecture is gorgeous, both inside and out, and if you happen to have your session fall between Memorial Day and Labor Day, you need to run-not-walk to the Chicago Art Institute South Garden to grab photos in the breathtaking, straight-out-of-Italy walled garden. The enormous fountain alone would be enough to lure engagement sessions here, but set against the grid of flat-topped hawthorn trees truly makes this one of the most dynamic places for a romantic Chicago engagement session.
PRO-TIP: If you or your photographer are members, not only do you not have to pay the general admission, you can also access the museum an hour earlier than the public. This is the perfect chance to get some gorgeous photos in the can before the museum becomes inevitably mobbed by tourists and art-lovers.
Montrose Bird Sanctuary
If downtown’s hustle-and-bustle feels a little too overwhelming, or if you’d like a more intimate location to capture these very special photographs, then look no further than the one-of-a-kind treasure that is Montrose Beach and Bird Sanctuary. If I had to choose a favorite Chicago photo shoot location, then a Montrose Bird Sanctuary Engagement Session may have to finish first in my little photographer heart.
Summertime brings beautiful prairie flowers that sweep towards the lake where Chicago’s skyline resides in the distance across the blue waters.
There are quaint forest paths to explore, a huge sandy beach perfect for a romantic picnic and a dramatic pier that juts out into the lake, making it a great spot for epic sunset photos.
PRO-TIP: I always encourage my couples to have a little date night after their engagement session to celebrate knocking it out of the park, and during the summer months there’s an open-air bar and grill called The Dock located right on the beach. It usually has live music in the evening and is a beautiful place to make a toast to yourselves as the sun sets over this incredible city of ours.
BONUS LOCATION: Your Chicago
While the urban beauty and sheer scale of Chicago’s downtown areas are typically what the rest of world envisions when it thinks of our fair city, we insiders know that in truth, Chicago a city comprised of dozens of neighborhoods, each famous for a microculture unique unto itself. Here’s just a smattering of ideas that would make for gorgeous (and super fun) Chicago engagement session locations:
Explore Pilsen’s famous murals and celebrate over margaritas and (mouthwatering) tacos afterwards.
Celebrate Chicago’s iconic cuisine and culture, your way. Date night over deep dish, perhaps? Or maybe you’re more of a hot dog couple (Chicago style, of course) and want to hit up your favorite mom-and-pop hot dog stand. Why not catch a baseball game, explore the funky boutiques of Wicker Park, go to your favorite brewery, or bookstore, or maybe stop by the café where you had your first date. I always love it when couples opt for an engagement session experience that is unique and meaningful to their own love story.
And at the end of the day, rest easy in the knowledge that your Chicago engagement session is going to be as stunning and unique as the city is itself, regardless of the specific spot you land on.
So go and explore! And how about I meet you guys there, camera-in-hand, ready to capture the magic that you and your love bring to this incredible city of ours?
