Call me biased, but I think Portland, Oregon is one of the best places for engagement photos! There are so many incredible locations to choose from and whether you’re looking for outdoor engagement photos or engagement photos with an urban feel, Portland has it all!
Why Cathedral Park is One of the Best Places for Engagement Photos in Portland Oregon
Ranked as one of the top five states in the country for its parks, there is no shortage of outdoor recreational areas to explore in Oregon! One of the state’s best parks (and a personal favorite) is located right here in our own backyard, Cathedral Park.
Located in North Portland along the banks of the Willamette River, Cathedral Park is a 23-acre park perfect for strolling, picnicking, and even playing off-leash with your four-legged friends. The park sits just below St. Johns bridge, whose cathedral-like footings make it easy to see where the park got its name.
But the magic doesn’t stop there. Just a few minutes drive away sits the Eastbank Esplanade, a walkway/river trail along the Willamette River. This walkway provides some incredible views of the many bridges in Portland, making it one of the top places for engagement photos in the state!
Why Emily + Dan Chose to Take Their Fall Engagement Photos at Cathedral Park
Not all couples choose to take engagement photos before their wedding or elopement, but when they do I get extra excited! Photographing an engagement session is a great chance for me to not just connect with the couple in person, but it can also help couples feel more comfortable in front of the camera, making for better photos all the way around!
Emily and Dan booked me for their wedding at Pemberton Farm later this year. Even though the couple is from Seattle, they decided to do engagement photos in Portland, Oregon. Being from the PNW, they both loved the idea of outdoor photos mixed with a little bit of city landscape. Portland ended up being the perfect location and it was even more meaningful because it was the place where Dan had grown up.
We started their engagement session at the iconic Cathedral Park. After running around in the grass, the couple did an outfit change before heading over to the Eastbank Esplanade to finish their session.
The whole time we were photographing, I couldn’t help but replay in my mind a fun story that the couple had shared with me. Last summer Emily and Dan had done a lot of traveling together. Emily would stop frequently to take photos, to which Dan kindly obliged. At one point Emily couldn’t get the picture she wanted and said “I’m not capturing how cute this street is!” Dan replied, “Come on Em, CTC – Capture the Cuteness!” That made-up acronym has stuck with the couple who now says it any time they take photos together. Needless to say, I was “CTC – Capturing the Cuteness” the entire time we were together!
There is no shortage of amazing places for engagement photos in Portland, Oregon! Whether you want a city engagement session, or you want to get out in nature with your partner, Portland has lots to offer!
For more amazing Portland engagement photo locations, check out this adventurous winter engagement at Latourell Falls!
Ready to book your own engagement photos in Portland Oregon? Click on the link below to inquire!
