Chicago Engagement Photos: The Most Stunning Locations + FAQ
The Chicago River Walk: Nomadic Soul Photography
Chicago Engagement Photos: The Most Stunning Locations + FAQ
YESS! You’re engaged, planning a wedding, and ready to capture one of your most special times with your love. In this article, I’ll share the best places for Chicago engagement photos so you can start planning and get inspired to create something special and unique to who you are as a couple!
As a Chicago engagement photographer, I’m here to tell you that the Windy City offers some of the most STUNNING locations for an engagement session. From sandy beaches and lush gardens to trendy restaurants and scenic rooftops, there’s the perfect place (or a few!) for every couple.
Keep reading for my rundown of where you can take your engagement pictures. I’ll also answer common questions about engagement photography in Chicago!
The Best Locations for Chicago Engagement Photos
From the popular North Avenue Beach to the more private Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, I can’t wait to share these breathtaking Chicago engagement photo locations!
Here’s a quick list, and I’ll share more details about each one below.
A Chicago Beach
Museum Campus
Willis Tower
The Wrigley Building
Riverwalk
A Dreamy Restaurant with rooftop views!
Art Institute of Chicago
Montrose Harbor
Navy Pier
Lake Michigan (on a sailboat!)
Chicago Theatre Sign
Millenium Park
Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk
A Unique Chicago Neighborhood
Garfield Park Conservatory of Lincoln Park Conservatory
The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool
North Pond Circular Loop
Milton Lee Olive Park
A Beautiful Hotel Rooftop
Check out Douglas & Megan’s Chicago engagement session!
A Chicago Beach
If you and your partner are beach lovers, you’re in luck. Chicago’s Lake Michigan beaches are incredible for an epic engagement photo session!
While North Avenue Beach is the most popular spot for engagement photos, you can also choose from Oak Street Beach and Montrose Beach.
Nomadic Soul Photography
Museum Campus
Museum Campus is a 57-acre park in Chicago that’s situated along Lake Michigan. Couples love having an engagement session here because of its history and picture-perfect Chicago skyline views. This area is ideal for Chicago lovers and history buffs because it features the Windy City’s most noteworthy attractions, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum of National History, and Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears.
Lake Michigan; Nomadic Soul Photography
Willis Tower
For one of the most unique locations for Chicago engagement photos, you might be interested in heading to the Willis Tower Skydeck. This jaw-dropping Skydeck sits on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower with views across the city and over 4 states surrounding Chicago. Yes, it’s just as amazing as it sounds!!
The Wrigley Building
Another magical skyscraper – The Wrigley Building! This gorgeous, elegant building is the perfect spot for couples who want a classic engagement photo session in Chicago. During your session, you can explore other downtown Chicago engagement photo spots, and have The Wrigley Building, river, and skyline as your backdrop. I just love the endless opportunities for photos here!
The Wrigley Building, Nomadic Soul Photography
Riverwalk
If you’re looking for an ideal spot where you just can’t go wrong, this is it. The Chicago Riverwalk has it all, including murals, river and city scenery, beautiful shops, restaurants, and bars. Not only does the Riverwalk offer tons of photo opportunities, but it’s also a fun place to spend the day with your love!
The Chicago Riverwalk; Nomadic Soul Photography
A Dreamy Restaurant
Are you and your partner foodies? Chicago is FILLED with dreamy restaurants, so why not change things up and take your engagement photos at one of them?
Nomadic Soul Photography
These are some of my favorite beautiful Chicago restaurants:
Ella Elli: a hip yet charming restaurant featuring a romantic lounge area
The Allis: a relaxed, stylish space in a historic building
3 Arts Club Cafe: a trendy coffeehouse, wine bar, and restaurant with the perfect ambiance for an engagement session
Art Institute of Chicago
If you love the arts, the Art Institute of Chicago could be the perfect place for your Chicago engagement photos. There are countless unique spaces throughout the museum and in the gardens for pictures. And if you go on a weekday morning, you can miss the crowds!
Montrose Harbor
Another spot in Chicago that offers the best of all worlds – is Montrose Harbor. You get backdrops of the Chicago skyline, the gorgeous water, and the sandy beach. This far-up-north beach allows for a little more privacy and tends to have fewer crowds than the other beaches!
Montrose Harbor; Nomadic Soul Photography
Navy Pier
For love birds looking for a fun engagement session experience, Navy Pier might just be the spot for you! Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot-long pier over Lake Michigan and an iconic tourist attraction. It offers the perfect place to take playful pictures, appreciates gorgeous Chicago scenery, and enjoy nostalgic amusement rides. Because how fun is a picture on a Ferris wheel!
Navy Pier; Nomadic Soul Photography
Lake Michigan (on a sailboat!)
How perfect does a romantic sailboat adventure sound for your engagement photo session?! You can do this out on Lake Michigan by booking a sailboat charter and having your photographer join you.
Chicago Theatre Sign
The massive, bright Chicago Theater sign is a classic and fun place to take a couple of photos. Then, you can explore the downtown Chicago area for more engagement photography spots. The Chicago Theatre Sign is located in The Loop, Chicago’s vibrant theatre district, and a close walk to our next location on this list.
Millenium Park
Millenium Park is Chicago’s world-famous lakefront area – a special kind of town square. Couples could spend an entire morning taking photos here if they wanted. With Crown Fountain, the stunning Lurie Garden, art pieces (like the Cloud Gate/The Bean sculpture, and more, there are tons of experiences to enjoy and photo ops.
Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk
Another awesome spot for your Chicago engagement photos is the Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. This prairie-style garden is filled with trails, native plants, and wildlife. And we can’t forget about the famous honeycomb!
Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk; Nomadic Soul Photography
A Unique Chicago Neighborhood
Chicago is known as being a city of neighborhoods. In fact, there are almost a hundred distinct communities, and they all represent various cultures, people, and experiences. Find your favorite record store, coffee shop, or brewery, and let’s create a fun neighborhood adventure!
Wicker Park Neighborhood; Nomadic Soul Photography
Here are some of the best Chicago neighborhoods to explore for your engagement session:
Lincoln Park: the most popular common route for photoshoots with stunning nature – gardens, a hidden lily pond, an indoor botanical garden, and lakefront sites
Wicker Park: a buzzing area with hipster vibes
Hyde Park: a quaint historic neighborhood and architectural hotspot
Logan Square: a thriving arts community
Wrigleyville: home of the historic Wrigley Field, fun sports bars, and cool pubs
Gold Coast: an upscale historic district
Chicago Loop: the heart of the city and a vibrant area
South Loop: a fun area filled with museums, restaurants, and bars
Garfield Park Conservatory of Lincoln Park Conservatory
Garfield Park Conservatory is almost 200 acres, and it’s one of the largest and most gorgeous botanical conservatories in the US. It’s massive, so you have endless places to take engagement photos, including various gardens and a water lily pond.
Lincoln Park Conservatory; Nomadic Soul Photography
The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool
Couples looking for intimate, romantic vibes love The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. While a photography permit is required for this location, the jaw-dropping landscape and architecture are well worth it!
The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool; Nomadic Soul Photography
North Pond Circular Loop
Another peaceful location for your Chicago engagement photos is the North Pond Circular Loop. While many people opt for South Pond, I appreciate the tranquil and gorgeous setting North Pond offers, with Chicago city views in the background.
North Pond Circular Loop; Nomadic Soul Photography
Milton Lee Olive Park
Ahh, another magical location in Chicago is Milton Lee Olive Park. This is another place that has it all – nature, skyline panorama, and a peaceful atmosphere. Couples can stroll a tree-lined path for a movie-like setting and take pictures by Lake Michigan and with a city scenery backdrop. This also pairs nicely with Oak Street Beach!
A Beautiful Hotel Rooftop
I can’t help but LOVE a beautiful hotel rooftop, and the Windy City has no shortage of them!
Here are a few of the best ones for amazing photos with your love:
The Gwen Luxury Hotel
Cindy's Rooftop
J. Parker
Hotel Lincoln
The Robey
London House
The Gwen, Nomadic Soul Photography
More Chicago Engagement Location Ideas:
Your favorite Music Venue- Hello Kingston Mines or The Green Mill for an amazing backdrop, ambiance, music, & fun!
Your favorite Chicago Deep dish restaurant!
360 Tilt
Go for a helicopter tour over the city for the most scenic views and a bit of a thrill!
Go for a river kayak adventure on the water
Photos on the top deck of the River Architecture boat cruise
Venture out to the Chicago suburbs for a more peaceful nature setting!
Venture further North to Evanston or Lake Forest for more secluded stunning beaches and cute little towns!
Chicago Cultural Center
Wrigley Field for our sports fans!
The 606 Trail
Promontory Point
DuSable Bridge
The Signature Room
WNDR Museum
The Merchandise Mart
Humboldt Park
Civic Opera House
Chinatown
One of Chicago’s many Breweries! My favorites for photos are Lagunitas, Metropolitan Brewing, or Moody Tongue
One of Chicago’s many vibrant street Murals!
Chicago Engagement Photos FAQ
Have questions about your Chicago elopement photography session? I’d love to answer them!
How much are your engagement packages?
My engagement packages in Chicago start at $650 for an hour and go up to $1,400 for my adventure packages.
Where can I take engagement photos in Chicago?
There are countless locations in Chicago to take your engagement photos, including parks, rooftops hotels and bars, historical sites, beaches, and restaurants. Feel free to describe the vibe you are going for or main backdrops you are wanting and I can create you a custom list of places that fit your aesthetic! Here are some of my favorite Chicago engagement locations for photos: North Avenue Beach, Garfield Park Conservatory, a sailboat on Lake Michigan, and around a unique Chicago neighborhood.
Where can I take indoor engagement photos in Chicago?
The Art Institute of Chicago, The Willis Tower, Garfield Park Conservatory, and Ella Eli restaurant are excellent places to do your Chicago engagement inside. Some of these spots require a permit in advance. Looking for other indoor options? Contact me, and I can help!
Let’s Plan Your Chicago Engagement Photos!
Are you ready to plan your Chicago engagement session? I’d love to help make your photo session dreams a reality! I work with adventurous couples to capture this special time and show your excitement through epic photography.
My package for Chicago engagement photos also includes unlimited help with planning locations, clothing, and timeline.
Let’s get started!