5 Dallas Locations for Outdoor Engagement Photos
If you’ve landed on this blog post, you may be in the process of planning your engagement session. And if that’s the case, CONGRATS! Seriously, what an exciting stage of life to be in right now. You’re getting married, and you want to document your season of being a fiancé!!!
And if you’re from the Dallas area but you have zero clue where to take your engagements, you’ve come to the right place my friend. Luckily, Dallas has hundreds of amazing outdoor spots for your engagement session – but it all comes down to the kind of vibe you want for your engagements as well as what kind of couple you are. Are you a calm, carefree, run-with-the-wind kind of couple? Or are you an upscale, city-loving, grab-martinis-at-the-bar kind of couple? Or are you absolutely clueless on what vibe to go with but you’re just happy to be getting married?! I was definitely the latter when I got engaged. I had no clue where to begin, but I definitely looked to my photographer’s expertise for some ideas.
Before I dive in, I want to clarify that these are all outdoor locations! I am a huge sucker for natural light, golden hour & dreamy blue hour photos. If you wanted to book something indoors, there are several studios around Dallas, or of course the option to do them at home! But for now, let’s chat about some outdoor spots.
I would love to be a help for you when it comes to finding a good outdoor spot for your photos. Because let’s be honest: location actually says a lot about the photos! The colors, the scenery, the overall vibe of the photos – it all plays a part in your session. Who you are as a couple also plays a huge part, but we can touch more on that later. If you’re just needing a few ideas to start with, here are some of my favorite locations in Dallas to take photos as well as a few tips for each spot!
White Rock Lake – Dallas, TX
White Rock Lake is a beautiful park area located on the east side of Dallas. It is absolutely huge, which means there are a ton of great spots to check out for your photoshoot. Some of my favorite go-to spots within White Rock Lake are Save Winfrey Point and Boy Scout Hill. At Save Winfrey Point, you will find an open-field landscape, which overlooks the water and a skyline view in the distance of downtown Dallas. If you wanted to incorporate nature and a little bit of the Dallas skyline, this spot would be perfect for your session! If you wanted to check out Boy Scout Hill, you would be able to get a little closer to the water. There is a dock there that has a beautiful backdrop of the lake, but be mindful of people fishing and hanging out! Luckily, there are other docks scattered around the lake that you could also check out. And when you aren’t using the dock for fun photos, there are open field areas all around that you could use. White Rock Lake has tons of great spots for nature-filled photos, just make sure to choose a spot ahead of time before your session, since it is such a large area. I also recommend going during the week rather than on the weekend, because the weekends tend to get pretty crowded with runners, bikers, and those who love to fish!
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden – Dallas, TX
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden is one of my favorite spots to visit in Dallas. I actually purchased a membership earlier this year because I simply love to just walk around there! Similar to White Rock Lake, it’s pretty large and tends to be more crowded on the weekends. However, there are tons of beautiful spots for photos; and unlike most other outdoor locations in Dallas, it will have picturesque greenery year-round. In fact, I love going to the Dallas Arboretum in the fall & winter months, because their hours align better with the lighting and sunset time. If you decide to use this location for your engagement session, you will not only see stunning floral backdrops, but you’ll find unique architecture and building structures that elevate your photos even more. If you’re wondering what to wear for these, I always recommend something a little nicer than your “casual blue jeans + cute top” look. A sundress or slightly more formal dress + suit tend to pair so well with the type of backdrop the Arboretum provides. Also, keep in mind that the florals and events happening throughout the garden do change frequently, so make sure to plan the day accordingly if there is a certain “look” you are going for with the backdrop!
Parking and entrance fees vary based on the time of year.
Downtown Dallas, TX
Okay, this one is very broad! In fact, I could write an entirely different blog post (maybe I will?) on locations in downtown Dallas that would be fun to use for your engagement photos. However, I want to first mention that a majority of locations in Dallas are very strict when it comes to professional photography. If you’re looking for that trendy & fun drinks at the bar, make out in an elevator, dancing in a museum kind of vibe – there will most likely be a hefty fee to do your session there, or it won’t be allowed at all. With that, I highly recommend choosing a few spots you’d love to use if you’re interested in a particular building or indoor location, and inquire with them about taking your photos there! Or, if you need your photographer to help inquire, I’m sure they would be happy to help. Let me get back on track… if you are wanting outdoor photos in the city, specifically downtown, then I highly recommend the area around Main & Elm Street! You will get a mix of photos in the streets down low as well as some stunning shots from a rooftop with the city skyline behind you. Be mindful though, most rooftops do not allow photography at the top, so make sure you check with your photographer on that before planning on using one! When it comes to outfits for downtown Dallas, it depends a lot on the specific location or neighborhood you plan to use. If you know Dallas, you know there are different areas with different vibes, such as Deep Ellum, Bishop Arts, Lower Greenville, Uptown, and the list goes on… but that is something I personally love to help plan with my clients once they book their engagement session – since their are so many options!
Parking fees are typically required in downtown Dallas.
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve – Plano, TX
If you’re looking for the perfect open-field, nature walk, you can’t go wrong with Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. This large nature preserve is a true escape from the city life! It features a ton of open field areas, trails, a creek, a pond, and florals depending on the time of year. I personally love this location because there is so much room to roam around with your partner! And because it has a simple, open-field landscape, the main focus of the photos point to you and your partner, rather than the location (which is totally a good thing!). Fun fact: my personal engagement photos were taken here! So I promise it’s worth checking out if you love the outdoors like I do. Just be prepared to do some walking and/or hiking to get to the good spots! Lastly, the fall foliage at Arbor Hills is absolutely beautiful – if you’re booking fall engagements, this spot is one of the best.
Adriatica Village – McKinney, TX
A unique gem in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, Adriatica Village is located in McKinney! If you want European-inspired engagement photos, this spot may be perfect for you. Full of unique stone architecture, fountains, and a beautiful chapel sitting over a pond, it really gives a unique look to your engagement photos! I would also consider a dressier outfit when choosing what to wear for your engagements here, but remember to be comfortable too! You may also see others taking professional photos here, so again I’d recommend going on a weekday rather than a weekend. There are select spots people love to use here, so the less crowded it is, the better!
More Outdoor Locations to Consider in Dallas, Texas
Below is a list of a few other outdoor locations I love in Dallas.
- Flippen Park (Dallas, TX)
- Murrell Park (Flower Mound, TX)
- Turtle Creek Park (Dallas, TX)
- Erwin Park (McKinney, TX)
- Rockledge Park (Grapevine, TX)
How to Choose the Right Location for Your Dallas Engagement Photos
I personally love using outdoor locations for my couples’ engagement photos, because that usually gives a lot of space to roam around as well as variety in the backdrops we choose. Locations really play a huge part in how your photos turn out, so I recommend doing some deep-thinking about the kind of couple you are and how you want your engagement photos to feel. If you love hiking & exploring nature together, or you love being goofy & laid-back with each other, then an outdoor nature-filled location may be perfect for you. If you’re a more calm and romantic couple, or you love dressing up for dinner dates & drinks, then you may want to consider a more formal location such as downtown.
Here are some questions to ask yourself and your partner as you’re trying to plan the perfect spot to capture your engagement photos:
- What do you love to do together in your free time?
- Describe your relationship with each other from each perspective.
- If you could plan an ideal date day/night, what would it look like?
- How do you want to remember this season of life for years to come?
There are so many details I could chat about when it comes to planning your engagement session, but hopefully these location ideas + tips were helpful to you! If you’d like to plan an engagement session with me, you can inquire through this link so we can start chatting about your vision for the session! I also recommend booking at least one month out to make sure you get a date + location that works best for you. Upon booking, we’ll talk about your dream engagement session and plan something that truly suits your relationship and vision!
