There are a TON of reasons to love the city of Chicago, but as a wedding photographer one of my favorite things about the city is the insane amount of fantastic locations throughout it that are perfect for engagement photos! From the architecture of Museum Campus, to the charm of the Chicago neighborhoods, and of course classic locations like North Avenue beach, there are SO many to choose from, so many in fact that it can feel impossible to decide which is best for you! That’s why today we are going over some of my favorite locations throughout Chicago for engagement sessions so that you know what’s out there and what to look for when deciding on a location. Grab a drink and a comfy chair as we have a LOT to cover today, starting with how to choose the right location for your day!

How to Choose a Location in Chicago for Engagement Photos

When thinking about what the best location in Chicago for your engagement photos is, you’ll want to pause and think about what you both love most about the city.  Is it the food?  The parks?  The fests? The views? There are SO many reasons to love Chicago, and everyone has their own favorite things that makes Chicago special to them. Think about what it is that the two of you really love about Chicago, and then attempt to plan your session around that love. This is a great way to ensure that your engagement session is a ton of fun, stunningly beautiful, and includes the pieces of Chicago that mean the most to your relationship! 

Photography Permits for Your Engagement Photos

A quick note before we dive in and take a look at my favorite locations throughout the city. A handful of spots throughout Chicago require a photography permit for your session. This usually isn’t much of a hassle to take care of, and your photographer (me!), will gladly help you to take care of this detail to ensure that your session goes off without a hitch! It is crucial that this is taken care of though so that you can enjoy your session to the fullest!

Engagement Photo Locations with the Chicago Skyline

Now that we have an idea on how to choose the location of your engagement photos, let’s take a look at some of my favorites around the city! First, we’ll take a look at some spots that have the iconic Chicago skyline in the background, perfect for anyone in love with the look of the city and looking for a little more of an adventure for their session.

Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk

First on our list is the Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk! The Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk gives you the best of both worlds for your Chicago engagement session. The romantic gardens and boardwalks that Lincoln Park is home to are framed beautifully by the city’s incredible skyline. This makes photos at Lincoln Park feel so unique as there’s this phenomenal mixture of a more natural feel with the impressive Chicago cityscape in the background. While the boardwalks are typically one of the busier spots in the city, they thankfully are also quite expansive, so there’s plenty of space to enjoy and explore even on the busiest of days! For a closer look at the Nature Boardwalk check out Colleen and Mark’s Proposal!

North Ave Beach

One of THE most well-known views of the Chicago skyline, North Avenue Beach is a BEAUTY and perfect for engagement photos. Engagement sessions at North Avenue Beach are **Chefs Kiss** and perfect for anyone who wants to really document the magic of the Chicago skyline. It’s just a short walk away from Lincoln Park as well which means it’s easy to include both of these gorgeous locations into your session! Plus, you get to enjoy the scenic views of Lake Michigan, which add so much to the look and feel of your session. North Avenue Beach is another one of the most popular locations in Chicago, so as a pro tip I recommend a sunrise session if you’re looking to have the place to yourselves! Check out Lexi and Anthony’s engagement session as the second half took place at North Avenue Beach.

Museum Campus

Museum Campus is located just south of the city on the shore of Lake Michigan, and it has some of the BEST views of the city. Just outside the Adler Planetarium there is a gorgeous path along the water that leads all the way from the planetarium to the Shedd Aquarium. This entire path has views of the Chicago skyline, and that combined with the parks and architecture of Museum Campus make it absolutely PERFECT for an engagement session! There are SO many photo opportunities all throughout Museum Campus, easily making it one of the most diverse locations for an engagement session in Chicago! Take a look at Halle and Steven’s engagement session for a glimpse at some of the views.

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

The bird sanctuary at Montrose Point is a great choice for an engagement session in Chicago. This spot is about 5 miles north from the nature boardwalk at Lincoln Park giving it a completely different perspective of the city. That combined with the more natural trails and a nearby lighthouse on Lake Michigan means you have a ton of options for backdrops at Montrose Point! The location is also on the lower end in terms of popularity, so you’ll be able to enjoy a bit more privacy for your session.

Milton Lee Olive Park

Also along the shore of Lake Michigan, found about halfway in between North Avenue Beach and Museum Campus, is Milton Lee Olive Park! This gorgeous park offers some spectacular views of the Chicago skyline from an up close and personal perspective, which is a ton of fun to work with for your engagement photos. This location, like many on the list so far, is incredibly popular, so going at off hours like sunrise can be a great way to avoid a majority of the crowds. Take a look at Annie and Chaz’s wedding party portraits as they took place at this beautiful location.

Your Favorite Spots in Chicago

Anyone who lives in Chicago knows that the city is so much more than its iconic views and historic locations that make it so special. It’s the diverse and charming neighborhoods, and the seemingly endless amounts of shops, restaurants, and bars that give the city its undeniable level of character. As such, including spaces like these into your engagement photos can be one of the best ways to make your engagement session in Chicago feel totally unique to you!

Chicago Restaurants, Bars, Coffee Shops, etc.

There are SO many amazing businesses in Chicago that are perfect for an engagement session. Restaurants, bars, breweries, thrift stores, vinyl shops, coffee shops, and more. The list goes on and on! Having your engagement session at locations like these give your photos a wonderful degree of personal feel to them. Every location is going to have a different policy when it comes to photos in their building, so be sure to call ahead when planning your session so that everything is in order! For some inspiration on what a session like this can look like check out Sarah and Jacob’s, Lexi and Anthony’s or Dovile and Johnny’s photos.

Your Neighborhood

Every neighborhood in Chicago has SO much charm and character to it. Whether you’re walking around the neighborhood you two met in, where you two live right now, or your favorite spot for date night, including the different neighborhoods of Chicago into your engagement photos is a fantastic way to personalize your session! Every neighborhood has its own special spots and spaces to explore, giving you practically endless photo opportunities all within a short walk! For a look at what a session like this can be like check out Ally and Connor’s photos after Connor proposed in West Loop.

Epic Indoor Locations For Engagement Photos in Chicago

With Chicago being as diverse and historic as it is, it makes sense why there are SO many options for amazing indoor spaces for your engagement photos. Here are a few of my absolute favorites for anyone wanting some more time indoors for their session!

Salvage One 

If you’re looking for a unique indoor location to have your engagement photos taken in Chicago then look NO further than Salvage One. Salvage One has a massive space that is filled with some of the coolest, most eclectic vintage furniture and decorations I’ve ever seen. They have multiple rooms available for use, and even have an outdoor patio space as well! All their spaces do require a reservation though, so be sure to inquire prior to your engagement session!

The Art Institute of Chicago

An engagement session at the Art Institute of Chicago leads to some of the most fun and exciting photos you can ask for! Engagement photography is allowed in the galleries, gardens, and all public spaces of the institute as long as it doesn’t intrude on or disrupt the other guests. Between the architecture, the artwork, and the gardens themselves, you can really create a unique engagement session experience. Plus, with the central location of The Art Institute you’re able to easily include other locations into your session if you’d like.

The Chicago Cultural Center

Filled with classic Chicago Architecture, and home to the world’s largest Tiffany stained-glass dome, the Cultural Center is a stunning indoor location that’s perfect for engagement photos. There’s seriously so much beauty inside the cultural center, you could spend the entire engagement session inside just its main room and never run out of photo opportunities! It’s seriously that gorgeous, which is why I love when couples choose to include this space into their day! Take a peek at Sarah and Jacob’s elopement portraits to see what I mean.

Lincoln Park Conservatory

The Lincoln Park Conservatory is huge, and absolutely filled to the BRIM with incredibly beautiful greenery. It’s such a cool spot in Chicago for engagement photos as you’re able to get all sorts of different plant life and environments in your photos without having to travel to see them! There is a permit required for photography inside the conservatory, but that is a small price to pay to be able to have your photos taken in such an amazing variety of spaces!

Union Station

This absolutely staggering space is perfect for anyone who wants to get some classic Chicago architecture in their engagement photos while staying indoors. Union Station has such a powerful and historic feel to it, thanks in part to the massive marble pillars and magnificent staircases. The building honestly feels larger than life, and trust me that feeling transfers to your photos! This space is a favorite of mine for engagement photos as well as wedding day portraits, like Kaila and Frank’s!

Classic Locations for Engagement Photos in Chicago

For those that love Chicago and its main attractions, this section is for you! Most of these spots are tourist heavy locations, which means they may be a little on the busier side if you go during rush times. There’s a reason these spots are so popular though! These are some of THE best spots in Chicago for engagement photos as they have some of the most mind blowing and iconic backdrops in the city!

The Riverwalk

Walk along the Chicago River and take in some of the best views Chicago has to offer! Surrounded by some of my favorite buildings and locations, like the Tribune Tower or the DuSable Bridge, the Chicago Riverwalk is SUCH a fun location for engagement photos in the city! The combination of the river and the towering skyscrapers on either side make for a setting that is truly breathtaking! Check out Arie and Brett’s engagement session to see what a session here can look like!

Navy Pier

There is SO much to love about Navy Pier! It’s right on the water of Lake Michigan, has some great attractions like its shops and iconic Ferris Wheel, and has some incredible views where you can get the city skyline in the background as well. It’s very much one of the main attractions in Chicago, so if you do plan to have your engagement photos done here I recommend going earlier in the day or preparing to have others around you while you’re there. The feel of Navy Pier and its iconic spaces make it so worth it though, even at its busiest hours. Take a peek at Jessie and Dalton’s engagement session to see what I mean!

Chicago Board of Trade Building

Found in the heart of downtown Chicago is one of my favorite buildings to include as a backdrop for engagement photos, the Chicago Board of Trade Building! This iconic and towering structure is one of my favorites in the city, and has been for a while. I mainly use this space for elopement portraits thanks to the close proximity to Chicago’s City Hall, but it also works fantastically for an engagement session. The street leading up to the building is one of the easiest to get photos on, and it’s honestly one of the most jaw dropping spots in the city. Take a peek at Sarah and Jacob’s elopement again as they had some of their portraits done here!

Chicago Theater

Another absolutely iconic location for engagement photos is the Chicago Theater. The sign outside of the theater is massive, instantly recognizable, and so much fun to work with when taking photos. Its centralized location in the city means that we can also take photos there and easily head to a variety of nearby locations for the rest of our session. This makes it the perfect stop for some any point of our session, be it the start, middle, or end! 

Michigan Avenue

If you’re looking for that true Chicago feel for your engagement photos, then Michigan Avenue, aka the Magnificent Mile, should definitely be on your radar. The street runs straight through some of the city’s most amazing and breathtaking architecture. There’s a LOT to see on the Mag Mile, so be sure to wear some comfy shoes! The walk is well worth it for the incredible views and true city feel you’ll get to experience! Check out Sam and Tucker’s photos from Tucker’s surprise proposal for a peek, bonus points for it being a winter session!

Buckingham Fountain

Buckingham Fountain is one of the coolest places in Chicago to have your engagement photos taken at! The fountain is a super popular spot for engagement photos, and it’s easy to see why. With either the wide open views of Lake Michigan, or the Chicago skyline as your backdrop, this is a lovely spot for engagement photos. The fountain is a part of Grant Park, meaning there are a lot of other spaces nearby to explore. If you’re looking for a more unique experience, end your session here after sunset for some out of this world night photos! The Chicago Park District does require a photography permit though, so that’s something to plan for!

Wrigleyville

Wrigleyville is one of Chicago’s most iconic neighborhoods, I just HAD to give it its own section! It’s the perfect location for some engagement photos, especially for the Cubs fans out there! There is usually a lot of hustle and bustle around Wrigley which makes for a very fun and energetic session. Similar to Michigan Avenue, you really get that true city feel of Chicago in Wrigley!

Chicago Gardens for Outdoor Engagement Photos

Finally, for the nature lovers out there we have three of my favorite gardens in the city! Chicago is home to some truly beautiful gardens that make for some of the best spots for your engagement photos. Let’s check them out!

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool

Located in Lincoln Park, the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is truly a special spot in Chicago and one of the most romantic places for engagement photos. The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is next level dreamy, and feels like something straight out of a fairytale. It’s the perfect spot to stop at for your session, especially since Lincoln Park already has a ton to offer like I mentioned earlier! 

Chicago Botanic Gardens

The Chicago Botanic Gardens are drop dead gorgeous! The gardens are home to some beautiful greenery, landscapes, and water features that make it the DREAM garden location for many couples when planning their engagement photos. While these gardens are a fair ways north of the city center, the drive is well worth it for the incredible setting they provide! As a note, there is a permit requirement for the Botanic Gardens, so be ready for that.

Lurie Gardens

Located in the center of Millennium Park, the Lurie Gardens have SO much to offer for your engagement photos in Chicago!  One of the most iconic gardens in the city, the Lurie Gardens have the perfect combination of architectural landscaping, boardwalk paths, and SO many beautiful flowers!  All while being surrounded by some of the most iconic buildings in Chicago, you really can’t beat the Lurie Gardens!

WOW!  That was A LOT! I hope by now you can tell just how much I LOVE Chicago, and why I absolutely adore taking engagement photos throughout this incredible city! If you and your honey are ready for the next steps in planning your Chicago engagement session let’s do this!  Head to my contact page and let’s start planning your engagement session!!!!