Everything You Need to Know About Taking Garfield Park Conservatory Engagement Photos

Chicago has so many beautiful locations you could choose from to take your engagement photos, but if you want a location surrounded by verdant greenery and mesmerizing architecture, you’ll find it all at Garfield Park Conservatory. Lush, serene, and enchanting, the conservatory is a true Chicago gem.

As a wedding photographer, I love it whenever I have the chance to capture an engagement session or couples session that feels like a romantic cinematic scene from a movie. The Garfield Park Conservatory is truly a nature lover’s paradise and a one-of-a-kind spot to plan an unforgettable photo session!

Read on for all the info you need about taking Garfield Park Conservatory engagement photos!

a couple walking through a conservatory filled with flowers together holding hands the woman is looking at her partner and smiling

a couple sitting on a bench next to a pond with different plants and flowers the man is kissing the side of his partner's head and has his arm around her

Planning Your Engagement Photos (Or a Couples Session) at Garfield Park Conservatory

Garfield Park Conservatory is an absolutely magical place! Built in 1912, it consists of five gardens: a tropical house, a cactus garden, a fern house, a rose garden, and a seasonal display garden. It is a stunning conservatory filled to the brim with natural beauty and incredibly romantic.

I had the chance to photograph my friends Alex and DaUhn here, and during our session, realized this would be the perfect spot for an engagement session.

That said, it could be used for so much more, too—it’s also an enchanting spot for a lifestyle/couple session with your partner! You simply couldn’t ask for a better (or more beautiful) conservatory to take your photos at!

a couple inside of a conservatory filled with plants embracing and smiling together

a couple holding hands and looking at each other in front of a fountain structure

Where to take photos at the Garfield Park Conservatory

If you do want to plan a photo session at the Garfield Park Conservatory, my two favorite places are the Fern Room and the Show House. The Fern Room feels almost prehistoric with its lush greens. It also has an incredible pond water feature. The Show House has an incredible collection of vibrant flowers to admire, and the colors are spellbinding!

You also don’t just have to take photos at the conservatory! If you want a mix of photos during your session, you can also head to North Avenue Beach, which is nearby! Here, you can grab some golden hour photos featuring the iconic Chicago skyline to wrap up your photo shoot!

By the way, if you do have a session here and fall in love with this location, you can also plan your wedding here. It’s the wedding venue of your dreams if you love nature and want to feel like you’ve stepped into a lush, green tropical paradise on the day of your celebration.

You can choose to plan your ceremony in Horticultural Hall, which has a gorgeous collection of plants, or outdoors on the Bluestone Patio.

a couple inside of a conservatory filled with many differnt plants the man is hugging his partner from behind they are both smiling at each other

a couple standing next to ferns and lush plants in a conservatory holding hands and smiling at each other

Do you need a permit for your photo session?

Yes, you will need a permit if you want to plan a photo shoot here! You’ll need to get a permit from the Chicago Parks District. Also, you’ll need to make a reservation to enter the conservatory. Entry is free if you’re a Chicago resident, and it’s $10 for non-residents.

a couple sitting on a bench together in garfield park conservatory in chicago behind them are many different types of flwoers they are both holding hands and laughing

a couple kissing in front of a conservatory the woman has her hand on her partner's chest

What else to know before your photo session at Garfield Park Conservatory

Here are some additional must-know tips if you want to plan a photo session here:

Some of the paths are narrow

Some of the paths throughout the conservatory can be quite narrow and tight, which could be difficult for a person with limited mobility. When in doubt, you can always visit the conservatory before your session to figure out exactly where you want to go!

It’s a very busy place

Alex and DaUhn planned their session on a Wednesday afternoon. Even in the middle of the week, there were a lot of people, so we had to be patient and wait for some of the best spots to be clear.

However, you can definitely find pockets of space without anyone around. I recommend planning your session earlier in the day to beat the evening crowds. The park is open Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

It gets very warm

Some of the rooms at the conservatory can get quite warm (it is a greenhouse, after all), so just keep that in mind when planning outfits. I wouldn’t recommend wearing an outfit with lots of layers—it’s plenty warm here!

a couple walking in front of a greenhouse they are laughing and embracing each other

a couple inside of a greenhouse smiling the man has his arm wrapped around his partner

Alex and DaUhn Garfield Park Conservatory Couples Photo Session

Alex happens to be one of my oldest friends. We met in college, though he’s known my husband, Steve, since middle school. He was actually Steve’s best man at our wedding. Being able to reconnect with old friends has been one of the best things about moving back to Illinois.

During their couples session, we wandered around the conservatory and found so many unique backgrounds to work with, both inside and outside!

Alex and DaUhn are so sweet and affectionate with each other. I love their style and how much they laugh together. It was so fun to just wander the conservatory with them, and it really reminded me why I love my job so much! Check out another session I did with them here!

a couple inside of a greenhouse filled with many plants smiling the man is helping his partner down a path

a couple inside of a greenhouse filled with flowers holding hands and smiling at each other

Why You Should Plan a Photo Session in a Conservatory

Conservatories are amazing places to plan a photo session. One of the reasons I love them so much is that you can shoot any time of year (rain or shine, you don’t have to worry about the weather), and you are always going to have incredible and diverse backgrounds to work with.

Another great reason to take photos at a conservatory? The temperatures are pretty controlled, and you know what to expect. Also, the windows diffuse light, meaning you aren’t restricted by harsh sunlight and can get magical, glowy light without necessarily waiting for the golden hour.

This is great if you want a session that is a bit more laid back and relaxed. Instead of trying to plan your timing perfectly to catch golden hour, you’re able to take things a bit slower and still get that enchanting glow to your photos!

a couple sitting on a bench together at garfield park conservatory in chicago behind them are many different flowers and plants the woman is kissing her partner on the cheek

a couple holding hands standing side by side and looking at each other in front of a fountain strucutre inside of a conservatory filled with different plants

Ready to Plan Your Garfield Park Conservatory Engagement Photos?

I hope you found all this info about planning your Garfield Park Conservatory engagement photos (or any other session you want) helpful. The Garfield Park Conservatory is pure magic and an incredible spot for your session!

And, if you’re in Chicago and looking for the perfect photographer for your engagement or couples 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!

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