Well you already know that I think engagement photos are a fun way to get to know your photographer and to get comfortable in front of the camera. But where to do them? Ideally, you and your sweetheart choose a location for your engagement photos that is special and familiar to you. After all, we want you to be comfortable and relaxed! But if you are having trouble coming up with some wonderful Boston locations for engagement and portrait photography, here are some of my favorite places – in no particular order.
There are so many lovely places on the Wellesley College campus (it reminds me of my own alma mater, Mount Holyoke…insert nostalgic sigh.) There is a lovely wooded path that runs next to the lake. Rhododendron Hill is especially beautiful in the spring. I have found that the steps of the amphitheater make a cool backdrop. And who can resist the magical place of tall grass and flowers that is somewhere near the parking garage? Okay, I admit somehow I stumbled upon it, but the light in this particular place on campus is to die for. And I am sure we can find it again. Right?
I didn’t know that East Boston had such a beautiful view of the Boston skyline until I went to Piers Park for some engagement photos (and later for a wedding.) The view is stunning and the park lends itself to lots of great photo ops. I love the landscaping around the pavilion and the late afternoon light reflecting off the water. If you have never been there before, take the Blue Line to Maverick Square and walk to the waterfront with your sweetie and a picnic. You’ll love it!
For us Bostonians, the Arboretum in Jamaica Plain is sort of a no-brainer when it comes to outdoor portrait photography. The place is so huge and so full of amazing flora that I am just gonna use a double negative and say that you really can’t NOT find a perfect backdrop for romantic photos of you and your spouse-to-be. It’s that amazing. And don’t worry about it being overdone. Though you may see a few other couples and families having their photos taken there, too, the place is plenty big and diverse enough for everyone.
Clients of mine introduced me to this little known gem down in Easton, MA when we went there for their engagement photos. That particular day was a damp, foggy, early morning and it made for some really dreamy and romantic light. Again, there are lots of place to go amidst this large landscape including wooded paths, a cool stone wall, and fields full of flowers.
This is another location that I was introduced to by clients when they asked to shoot their engagement photos here. We went on a Saturday morning in the early fall, so the farm was quiet and peaceful but still beautiful and lush. Lots of privacy here and plenty of cool spots like the big red barn and the wildflower garden. The farm is partially situated in the Blue Hills Reservation (another great place for portrait photography) and is open to the public at all times.
If you live close to the Fenway neighborhood in Boston then look no further for your engagement photos than Peterborough Street, which is home to a tiny little urban park that is just brimming with photo ops. I personally think the fountain is a little trite, but there are plenty of other backdrops to consider. It’s official name is the Dorothy & David Ramler Park, but all you need to know is that it’s on Peterborough Street and once you get there, you won’t want to leave.
The Robert Treat Paine Estate, also known as Stonehurst, is an amazing historic home that is now used for private events and functions. The interior is very cool – and a great place for a wedding, if you’re in that mode – but the grounds, designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, are even more spectacular. Go on a late afternoon in the summer and just be dazzled by the light. Walk through the woods, up into the fields, or just perch on the stone wall and you can’t go wrong.
