6 Best Engagement Photography Locations In Austin

One of my favorite things about Austin, Texas is all of the green space. Unlike a lot of cities under development (what isn’t nowadays?), Austin focuses on making sure all developments retain a certain amount of green space no matter what.

The benefit? Despite the traffic and towering skyscrapers, so much of Austin is still lush with trees and wildflowers. As a result, it’s relatively easy to find engagement photo locations!

My list for photo locations is pretty endless, but I’m going to list my top favorite Austin engagement photo locations to get our brainstorming started!

Benefits of An Engagement Session

Before we pick an engagement session location, it’s important to understand why engagement sessions are important to the whole experience of getting married.

1. Engagement sessions are a great way to test out your Austin wedding photographer, as well as getting comfortable in front of the camera.
2. It’s an excellent date night idea! Lots of my clients get gussied up, take amazing sunset photos, then go out for a nice dinner to round out the fun!
3. If you have a dog (or multiple canine babies!), it’s a great way to get family photos! Since most wedding venues aren’t dog-friendly, this is a great time to include them in the fun!

How To Pick A Photography Location In Austin

The first thing you’ll need to consider is whether or not you want to take photos at your wedding venue. I don’t usually recommend this because it’s good to get a good variety of photos together with your partner before your wedding day. If you choose to get photos at your wedding venue, then you can skip this article!

However, if you’re still not sure, here are the top things to consider:

1. Do you want to do an activity? Engagement sessions don’t have to just be about standing there and smiling—you can actually do something instead! Maybe a picnic at the lake or renting some retro boats. You can explore a local Austin park or a nearby state park. We can even walk along South Congress in downtown Austin for some quirky backdrops and a cold brew at Jo’s Coffee!
2. What’s the vibe you want? Do you want waterfalls like they have at Bull Creek? Do you want a wide open space like Zilker Park? Maybe you want a high-end feel like Laguna Gloria offers, with its touches of Europe. Austin has so much variety, the options are pretty endless.

Now that you’ve answered those two questions, let’s dive right into picking the spot for your engagement photos!

McKinney Falls State Park

This park is a great location for engagement photos, with its stunning waterfalls and hiking trails. During bluebonnet season, it’s also absolutely gorgeous and an ideal location for pictures with the infamous wildflowers. It’s not too far outside of the city of Austin, plus, you can bring pets!

Ladybird Lake

This is another popular spot, offering beautiful views of the lake and the Austin skyline. In some spots, you have access to the lake, is pet-friendly, and offers different areas of the park to have a wide variety of images.

Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail is another great spot, offering scenic views of the lake on winding trails and great views of the city skyline. It’s only a quick walk from the Ladybird Lake area, so we can do both!

Laguna Gloria

Laguna Gloria (also known as The Contemporary ATX) is a great engagement photo location in Austin, Texas. It offers artistic, European vibes, which make the images pop. Even though it’s right in downtown Austin, it offers a sense of privacy and whimsy in an otherwise busy city.

The whole property is filled with unique art. Some are permanent installations, with others rotating throughout the year. Laguna Gloria is definitely one of my favorite spots and a unique location I’d recommend for your engagement photos.

If you’re looking for sunset images, the golden sunlight here and waterfront views are unparalleled!

South Congress Avenue

This area is a vibrant and eclectic spot for engagement photos, with its iconic landmarks and street art. You’ll find Hotel San Jose, South Congress Hotel, the South Congress bridge, beautiful wall art, and other locations that will catch the eye!

Plus, down the road for Hotel San Jose is the “I Love You So Much” mural at Jo’s Coffee. This is a popular spot for engagement photos, with its romantic message and vibrant colors.

Zilker Bontanical Garden

As a whole, Zilker Botanical Garden offers a romantic and peaceful atmosphere. It’s in South Austin, right in the middle of downtown Austin, requires only a small fee to bring a photographer, and the property is stunning regardless of the season.

I want to note that they do close early (5:30pm), so sunset images are difficult to obtain here.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

A truly stunning location, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a beautiful location for engagement photos, with its stunning gardens and natural scenery. This is a top choice for engagement session locations in Austin because the entire property is dedicated to, well, wildflowers!

The pictures here are always gorgeous, whether it’s spring or winter. Of course, spring is more ideal since that’s prime time for spring wildflowers. However, even in winter, with the sun shining, it’s a stunning spot for your engagement session.

• Consider visiting the Zilker Park for a romantic and peaceful atmosphere.
• Look for garden settings with unique features, such as a rose garden or a botanical garden.
• Think about capturing the beauty of nature in your engagement photos, such as a sunset or a wildflower bloom.

Engagement Session Locations to Avoid

Of course, not all spots are good engagement session locations! Your engagement photos deserve to shine, so here are some things to consider when picking your engagement session location.

• Avoid locations that are too crowded or noisy, such as a busy street or a loud bar.
• Consider avoiding locations that are too familiar or cliché, such as a generic park or a boring backdrop (so if you’re at South Austin all the time, maybe try something new?).
• Think about avoiding locations that do not reflect your personal style or vision, such as a location that is too formal or too casual.
• Look for locations that offer a unique and romantic atmosphere, such as a scenic overlook or a garden setting. Butterfly Bridge is a great location for bridge photos.

Wrapping Up

Austin is such a colorful city, easily the most fun in Texas! As an engagement photographer in Austin, I love helping my clients pick their personal style and finding their dream engagement session location. My belief is that every moment matters, from the proposal to the big day. I’m there to make your vision come to life!

If you’re looking for a photographer who captures weddings in Austin, make sure to reach out so we can plan some fun in a park or downtown Austin!