As a wedding photographer, my clients oftentimes wonder where to take engagement photos in Massachusetts. I decided to make this guide to help give you ideas for engagement session locations in Massachusetts based on your location, time of year, and the vibe you are going for!
When investing in professional photography, it is important to consider the location of your photos. The backdrop can make all the difference in how your photos turn out. However, it is also important to think about how you plan to use them. These are keepsakes you will use in your home, at your wedding, and for years to come.
Below is a comprehensive list of the many locations across Massachusetts. It is organized by location and season to help you narrow down your options. While there is a never-ending list of possibilities I cannot stress enough choosing a location that is meaningful to you. Your home or and your favorite hang-out spots are all amazing places for your engagement photos. I love to customize each session to fit your personality.
Where to take Engagement Photos in Massachusetts
Boston Engagement Photo Locations:
Boston Public Garden: Iconic and well-known for its gardens and swan boats, perfect for couples who love classic Boston city vibes.
Fan Pier Park in the Seaport: One of my favorite locations! It is modern and trendy with beautiful views of Boston over the waterfront.
North End: Cobblestone streets and historic charm with lots of hidden alleys for cozy shots or stopping at a drink at one of the many restaurants.
Beacon Hill: Known for its gas-lit lamps and brick townhouses, perfect for couples seeking a quintessential Boston look. Acorn Street is the most photographed street.
Arnold Arboretum: Located just outside of Boston with expansive open space that is particularly stunning in the spring and fall.
Christopher Columbus Park: Perfect for harbor views with a beautiful trelise. It is beautiful in any season but I love the flowers in the summer or twinkling lights in the winter. It is easy to walk to the North End to get to two locations during your engagement session.
Harvard University: Iconic ivy-covered walls and historic buildings.
Castle Island: Located just outside of the city in the South End. This location offers a mix of beach and city with great water views.
Boston Public Library - Explore the beautiful and iconic library and courtyard. A permit is required for professional photography.
Kelleher Rose Garden - A small but incredible garden in Back Bay with thousands of roses!
For more details about some of these locations check out my blog
12 Locations Where to propose in Boston.
Boston’s North Shore Photography Locations
Singing Beach: This beach is known for its beautiful sand and rocks, perfect for capturing the classic coastal vibe. It's a popular spot in Manchester by the Sea, especially in summer, but the expansive shoreline offers plenty of room to explore. Check out Wendy & Young’s engagement session here as well as Sarah & Mike's.
Wingaersheek Beach: Known for its crystal-clear waters, sandy dunes, and sandbars, Wingaersheek is a perfect spot for a beach shoot in Gloucester. Depending on the time of year a reservation may need to be made
Good Harbor Beach: This Gloucester gem features sandy dunes and expansive ocean views, making it a perfect spot for romantic beach sessions, especially around sunset when the light is magical. Depending on the time of year a reservation may need to be made
Crane Beach: Pristine and expansive, with rolling dunes and endless water views, Crane Beach in Ipswich offers a more secluded feel. Permit required for professional photography. Depending on the time of year a reservation may need to be made.
Halibut Point State Park: Located in Rockport, this park offers rocky shorelines, ocean views, and dramatic cliffs. The rugged landscape makes it ideal for couples looking for something a little different than the typical sandy beach.
Rockport: This charming seaside town is perfect for an engagement session, with its colorful fishing shacks, quaint streets, and ocean views. Motif No. 1, one of the most often painted buildings in America, makes for a unique backdrop.
Crane Estate: Another Trustees Property which is a grand estate with manicured lawns and sweeping views over the Atlantic in Ipswich. The gardens and architecture are perfect for timeless, romantic shots. Permit required for professional photography.
Glen Magna Farms & Endicott Park: Located in Danvers within Endicott Park, Glen Magna Farms offers beautiful formal gardens, historic architecture, and lush grounds for a fairytale-like setting. A permit is required for professional photography for $150 for 2 hours.
Appleton Farms: One of the oldest continuously operating farms in the country, Appleton Farms in Ipswich offers beautiful pastures, rustic barns, and serene countryside views. Perfect for couples who love a relaxed, natural vibe. A permit is required for professional photography.
Salem, MA: Known for its historic charm and maritime past, downtown Salem offers a mix of waterfront views, cobblestone streets, and rich history. It is walkable so there are versatile options for photos.
Cider Hill Farm: A gorgeous farm in Amesbury with a beautiful farm store, hay rides, flower picking, and seasonal pick-your-own options. Photography is welcome with no permit.
Engagement Photo Locations on the South Shore
Nantasket Beach: A beautiful expansive beach with plenty of room to explore in Hull.
Scituate Lighthouse: This iconic lighthouse provides a quintessential New England backdrop with ocean views.
Duxbury Beach: A short drive from Boston, this beach is especially beautiful at sunset.
World's End, Hingham: Another Trustees Property, offering fields and views of Boston is perfect for couples who love a mix of open landscapes and ocean scenery. Permit required for professional photography. Check out Jenna & Luciano’s proposal here.
Weir River Farm: A scenic farm within Hingham with beautiful pastures, rustic barns, and views of Hingham Harbor. You must be a contributing Trustees Member & get a permit to have a session here.
Cape Cod Beach Engagement Location Ideas
Mayflower Beach: Known for its extensive sandbars during low tide, perfect for capturing stunning, open beach shots.
Chatham Lighthouse Beach: One of the most scenic in Chatham with a working lighthouse!
Race Point Beach: Provincetown’s stunning beach with dramatic cliffs and wide-open spaces, perfect for romantic sunset sessions or capturing that rugged coastal feel.
Nauset Beach: Known for its views and dunes in East Orleans. This beach offers that classic Cape Cod feel with plenty of space to explore and photograph.
View More Beach Locations across New England!
Central MA Engagement Session Locations
Doyle Conservation: Beautiful property in Leominster with trials with many scenic locations! It is great in all seasons.
Minute Man Park: One of my favorites in Concord, MA! There are lots of beautiful open spaces and bridges.
Moore State Park: Stunning waterfalls and flower gardens - perfect for spring and summer sessions.
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill: A beautiful spot with varied gardens and stunning views, perfect for any season. Permit required.
Green Hill Park: Worcester’s largest park with tons of land and beautiful hills.
Urban locations like Worcester City Hall, Union Station (+the garage), Tuckerman Hall, Worcester Art Museum, Polar Park, or Mercantile Plaza and Main Street.
Western MA Engagement Session Location Ideas
The Mount, Lenox: A historic estate with stunning gardens.
Mount Tom State Reservation: Perfect if you want to hike and get gorgeous views over the Pioneer Valley. Must pay for a parking pass.
Look Park in Florence, MA: Beautiful park with open fields, walking paths, and lots of activities!
Chesterfield Gorge: Dramatic cliffs and a rushing river. Ideal for couples who want to hike and get some great nature shots in the gorge!
View more western mass locations in more detail.
Engagement Session Locations by Season / Type of Scene:
Best Places in Massachusetts for Fall Foliage for Photos:
Rail Trails in Central MA
Old Stone Church / Wachusett Reservoir
Mount Tom State Reservation
Middlesex Fells
Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park
Endicott Park
Best Places for Spring Flowers around New England:
Boston Public Garden: Known for its tulips and spring blooms.
Arnold Arboretum: A museum of trees, plants, and flower species.Perfect for cherry blossoms and magnolias in the spring.
Back Bay/Beacon Hill: Streets lined with magnolia and cherry blossoms in late April and May.
Kelleher Rose Garden: A hidden gem within the Fenway area, beautiful from late spring to early summer.
Find Lupines growing rampant in Sugar Hill, NH in June.
Lynch Park Rose Garden - Gorgeous gardens are in bloom through the late summer, with the Atlantic Ocean as the backdrop.
Pick your flower farms: Wicked Tulips, Golden Hour Tulips, Fivefork Farms (dahlias), The Farm at Summitwynds (lavender), and Colby Farm (sunflowers). Photography fees apply to many flower fields.
Woodsy Locations for Engagement Photos:
Middlesex Fells Reservation in Stoneham
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport
Purgatory Chasm in Sutton
Rutland State Park in Rutland
Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain
Moore State Park in Paxton
New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston
Lynn Woods Reservation in Lynn
Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick
World’s End in Hingham
Mashpee River Reservation in Mashpee
Chapel Brook Falls & Trails in Ashfield
Mount Greylock State Reservation in Adams
Notchview Reservation in Windsor
Wachusett Mountain in Princeton
Open Fields in Massachusetts for Engagement Photos:
Dexter Drumlin in Lancaster
St. Joseph Abbey in Spencer
Red Wing Farm Reservation in Chelmsford
Borderland State Park in Easton
Moore State Park in Paxton
Wachusett Meadow in Princeton
Crystal Brook Farm in Sterling
Stillwater Interpretive Farm in Sterling
Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord
Horn Pond in Woburn
Crane Estate in Ipswich
Plum Island in Newburyport
Good Harbor Beach Grasslands in Gloucester
Wendemuth Meadow Preserve in North Brookfield
Mount Pollux in Amherst
Artsy or Architecture-inspired Engagement Session Locations:
Christian Science Center in Boston
JFK Presidential Library
Temple to Music in Providence, RI
The Mount in Lenox
Worcester Art Museum in Worcester
Boston Public Library in Boston
deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln
Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Boston
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) in North Adams
Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge
SoWa Arts District in Boston
The Verb Hotel in Boston
The Neon Boneyard (Lumiere) in Salem
Planning Your Engagement Photo Location
As you can see there are many incredible and beautiful places across Massachusetts for your engagement photos! As a photographer, I am always scouting for new locations and I encourage you to do the same! I suggest selecting a spot that may be meaningful to you and your partner.
Your engagement photos can have Main Street small-town vibes like Alexa & Dante’s engagement photos in downtown Worcester. Or they can be indoors at your favorite coffee shop like Amanda + Chase’s engagement photos in Northampton, at a bar, brewery, or bookstore! The point is that there is no right or wrong location! Select one that makes you feel most comfortable and confident in front of the camera.
Looking for an engagement photographer? Get started by inquiring with Tamara Merri Photography today!
