10 Best Locations in Chicago for your Engagement Session

Are you thinking you want your engagement pictures done in downtown Chicago? Let me help you pick the best location for your photos!

Chicago is one of the best cities in the US, filled with amazing restaurants, history, architecture and an amazing skyline backdrop that has endless possibilities for engagement or wedding photography. From the classic Wrigley Building to the most beautiful parks, and even beaches, you’ll probably have a hard time deciding which location (or two) to pick for your down town Chicago engagement session location!

Milton Lee Olive Park

Olive Park is one of the top locations to get the great Chicago skyline background, plus Lake Michigan, and the perfect golden hour lighting if you hit it at the right time. There’s also a beach next to it, a small park with trees, and a view of Navy Pier on the other side of the walking paths.

North Avenue Beach

North Avenue Beach is another great spot if you want the Chicago Skyline in the background of your engagement photos. One side shows off some of the best views of Chi town and the Sears (*ahem Willis) tower. The beach on the other side of the running path is also a great spot to get some more beachy photos that still has skyline in the background and you can get a ton of great shots here. See more of this beautiful couple’s photos on the blog.

Union Station

Russell & I did anniversary photos with Grace Rios Photography, and we started off at Union Station. The beautiful pillars are a clean background so they really show off you as a couple.

Board of Trade

Our second stop for our anniversary photos with Grace Rios Photography was at the Board of Trade. This is a well known spot in the city and the building in front of the building also had some tall pillars to shoot next to.

Riverwalk

Spend some time getting candid shots walking the Riverwalk and down the city streets along the river. Plus if you’re brave enough to sit or stand on one of the bridges along the river, you’ll end up with some iconic engagement photos like these!!! Scroll through more photos here.

Lincoln Park

If you’ve ever seen the classic honeycomb (above) that sits in Lincoln Park, it’s almost as famous as The Bean. Lincoln park has more of a nature setting if that’s what you’re looking for with skyline views, water, and plenty of soft grasses that make it perfect for photos all year round!

Museum Campus

The Museum Campus is a beautiful building for engagement sessions or weddings! The grounds are huge and between the columns, steps, grassy areas and more, there are a ton of great spots here!

Wrigley Building

All 3 of these photos were taken a few minutes apart at the Wrigley Building. You can see how this spot is perfect for a downtown Chicago engagement session, not just because it’s a famous building that’s associated with Chicago, but also because you can get architecture, the riverwalk and skyscrapers, and so much more all in one location. Lots of variety and options in one location! Find more photos of this location and how amazing it looks, even in February on the blog.

Garfield Park Conservatory

Nature conservatories are great options if it’s rainy our, a colder month, and honestly they look amazing all year round. Garfield Park Conservatory had multiple rooms, from tropical to desert and a beautiful tiled wall so you can get a lot of different looks in one place. There is also a conservatory in Lincoln Park if you want an indoor/outdoor option. Just keep in mind you may need a permit to shoot there and there may be a fee so check in advance before setting a date for your engagement photos here.

Special thanks to Grace Rios Photography for providing this photo.

Rooftop Garage

Russell & I ended our anniversary photoshoot with Grace Rios Photography by heading to a rooftop garage in the city, and they were some of my favorite photos of the day. Parking garages are perfect in formal or casual clothing and add more of an urban feel to your photos and are a great way to end a photo shoot. There are lots of them all over the city so you’ll definitely be able to find one in downtown Chicago no matter where you’re photographing at.

Which location was your favorite? Were there any that I missed? Be sure to let me know about your favorite downtown Chicago engagement photo locations so I can add them to my list!