Engagement photos are a terrific way to get professional images of you and your fiancé in your normal every day clothes without all of the pressures of the wedding day.
These photos are often used for Save the Date Cards, wedding day guest books as well as wall art in the home.
My most frequently asked question about engagement photos in the Northwest Indiana area is what locations to go to. This will depend on the vibe you want to convey, but here are the top locations for engagement photos.
Gabis Arboretum
I have a membership at this wonderful nature preserve in Valparaiso, Indiana so it’s no problem for us to photograph there.
This is a great spot for all times of year as the colors are always changing and the grounds are professionally tended to with many exotic flowers. If nature with color, a lake or tall tress are your thing, then definitely consider this location.
Buckley Homestead
For a more country / heartland vibe, engagement photos at Buckley Homestead in Lowell, Indiana provide a large grain barn, wooden fencing and if weather is right - great sunset photos can be had with some insane colors in the sky.
Indiana Dunes
I have lived in Northwest Indiana all my life and I don’t think I’ve taken enough advantage of my close proximity to Indiana Dunes beaches.
If you feel the same and would like your engagement photos to include Lake Michigan, my picks along Indiana Dunes are Portage River Walk for it’s bridges, rock formations and the lake itself and the Marquette Park Pavilion area which provides a beach, a lagoon and also a park with trees.
Both of these locations are usually less crowded than others especially close to sunset.
Ogden Garden
Ogden Garden is a small park tucked away in a neighborhood in central Valparaiso. It’s a nice spot for Spring, Summer or Fall engagement photos with a small pond, gazebo and brick walkways and colorful flower gardens.
Whiting Lakefront Park
If you like the idea of beach engagement photos but would also like a nature walk with flowers and trees, consider Whiting Lakefront Park with its grand pier.
Lemon Lake County Park
Lemon Lake County Park is great for a more woodsy look and it can be utilized for engagement photos at anytime of the year, but I think this is a great spot for late October engagement photos with Fall color.
Downtown Squares of Crown Point or Valparaiso
If brick and vines and park benches and a place to dine immediately after your engagement session is in your wheelhouse, then look at these two downtown Squares as an option for your engagement photos during all seasons.
Friendship Botanical Garden
One of the most beautiful locations for engagement photos in Northwest Indiana is Friendship Botanical Garden in Michigan City. This is another nature preserve in which I have a membership at for all access photography even during closed hours.
I have photographed many weddings here, but I do want to encourage my clients to do more engagement sessions at this beautiful nature preserve. I especially recommend a sunrise or sunset session for beautiful golden hour engagement photos.
There are a ton of options for locations for engagement photos in Northwest Indiana and I’ve done them on private property as well as restaurants, movie theaters and even at the airport!
Contact me here about scheduling your engagement session and don’t forget that Chicago is also an option.