Have you been searching for the perfect Chicago engagement photo location with skyline views?
If you’re like me, you love the Chicago skyline. It’s an unparalleled backdrop for your engagement photos that will make your images unforgettable. I recently had the chance to photograph Hannah and Saumark’s engagement session, and we took their photos at three different locations that all featured the iconic Chicago skyline.
Let’s dive into the best Chicago engagement photo locations with skyline views with a behind-the-lens look at Hannah and Saumark’s engagement session.
Best Chicago Engagement Photo Locations with Skyline Views
Here are my top recommendations for Chicago engagement photo locations that feature the mesmerizing Chicago skyline:
The Great Garden at Lincoln Park
If you want to take your engagement photos at the Great Garden, the first thing that you need to know is that you need a Chicago Park District Permit. You can learn more about the permit here. Your photographer can always help you with permits, too, so make sure to talk with them if you have any questions.
The Great Garden is a beautiful location for your engagement photos. Its mix of vibrant flowers and lots of open space, with the skyline as your backdrop, makes it ideal.
For another spot at Lincoln Park with skyline views, you can take pictures at the Lincoln Park Nature Boardwalk which has several bridges, overlooks, and the famous Honeycomb sculpture that would be fun to feature in your photos.
Also, if you decide you want to take photos here but there’s inclement weather on the day of your session (because we all know how unpredictable weather can be in the Windy City), the great news is that you can always make a reservation to take photos in the stunning Lincoln Park Conservatory.
Fullerton Beach
At Fullerton Beach, you get a mix of views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline and there are lots of great spots here to take your pictures. This location offers you a more distant skyline and a rocky coastline as a beautiful backdrop for your images. Fullerton Beach can get quite busy so you’ll want to keep this in mind if you want to plan your session here to avoid crowds.
North Avenue Beach
North Avenue Beach is a very popular spot and it can get pretty crowded, especially during sunset. Plan to work around, joggers, swimmers, and other photographers. It’s worth the effort, as you’ll find the sandy beach waterfront and the curved lakefront pathway, which are both beautiful spots to take photos.
The lighting in the evening here is magical, with the sun setting behind the buildings. The sunset really lights up the buildings, giving everything a beautiful, warm glow.
Ping Tom Park
Ping Tom Park is a hidden gem of Chicago. Here, you’ll find wide open green spaces, traditional Chinese architecture, ornamental plum trees, a lawn right beside the Chicago River, and so much more to offer you.
You can take so many creative and unique pictures here with a one-of-a-kind backdrop.
London House Chicago
London House Chicago has a gorgeous beaux-arts-style cupola on the rooftop. You’ll be up amongst the skyscrapers with breathtaking views of the city, including the Chicago River and massive Chicago buildings.
You’ll be surrounded by famous Chicago architecture. If you do want to take your photos here, you will need to get approval. You can learn more about what you need to do here.
Hannah and Saumark’s Engagement Session: Chicago Skyline
Hannah and Saumark both love the Chicago skyline, so they knew they wanted to feature different locations in their engagement session, all with the epic Chicago skyline as their backdrop.
We had their session on a Monday evening and, even though there were a lot of people out and about, it wasn’t overly crowded.
Since we used multiple locations, there was a good amount of walking involved. I had mapped out a timeline beforehand so that we could end up with the best views closest to sunset.
We took several photos by the water during our time together, so it was critical to take photos as close as possible to the sunset to have the best lighting. Water reflects natural light, which can cause glare and washed-out backgrounds.
For Hannah and Saumark’s engagement session, we took photos at The Great Garden at Lincoln Park, Fullerton Beach, and North Avenue Beach.
To be able to take pictures at all of these locations before the sunset, this was the timeline I mapped out for Hannah and Saumark’s session:
- 4:15 pm: Begin shooting at The Great Garden at Lincoln Park
- 4:30 pm: Leave The Great Garden, and head to Fullerton Beach which is a 10-minute walk
- 5:00 pm: Leave Fullerton Beach and head to North Avenue Beach which is a 25-minute walk
- 6:00 pm: Sunset
This timeline allowed us enough time to go to three different locations, providing Hannah and Saumark with a variety of photos with different backdrops in some of their favorite places and their favorite views. It wasn’t rushed, so we were able to pause at fun locations along the way. I loved having the chance to photograph Hannah and Saumark and feature the iconic Chicago skyline, which created a captivating and unique backdrop for their session.
Ready to Plan Your Chicago Engagement Session?
There are so many incredible Chicago engagement photo locations. You can plan to have your engagement session with a backdrop that includes skyline views, at another iconic spot in the city, such as the Navy Pier or the Chicago Theater, in the Chicago suburbs, or maybe a mix of some of these options if you have enough time. The truly great thing about Chicago is the endless possibilities and variety it offers you for your session.
And, if you’re in Chicago and looking for the perfect photographer for your engagement session, I’d love to chat. Click here to learn more about my photography services, or head over here to get in touch and start planning your own session!
