I was born and raised in Boston and I love this city. I might be a little biased in the following statement: Boston has it all. Everything from beautiful greenery and florals to oceanfront views to a modest city skyline. Here are a handful of the best engagement photography locations in Boston!
- Boston Public Gardens and Boston Common
- Beacon Hill & Acorn Street
- Charles River Esplanade & DCR Hatchshell
- Christopher Columbus Park in Boston
- Fan Pier Harborwalk
- Boston Public Library
- Arnold Arboretum
- Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, MA
- Le Meridian Rooftop Garden in Cambridge, MA
- South End
- DeCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA
- Boston waterfront skyline near MIT
- Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA
- Newbury Street in Back Bay, Boston
- Fenway Park
- Piers Park in East Boston, MA
- Castle Island
- Blue Hills and Houghton’s Pond in Milton, MA
- Wollaston Beach in Quincy, MA
- Marina Bay in North Quincy, MA
Boston Public Gardens and Boston Common
The Boston Common is an iconic park – 50 acres in size, the beginning of the Freedom Trail, and the oldest park in the country. The Common and the Gardens are directly across the street from on another.
If you’re looking for an iconic location for your photo shoot, it can’t really get better than the Boston Public Gardens. Maybe it’s where you had one of your first dates. Maybe you have wonderful memories of walking through the park, holding hands. Either way, this is the perfect place to capture a little bit of nature in the heart of the city. There is no best time of the year for this location because each season has something different to offer! Whether they’re covered in a blanket of snow, or the trees are full of leaves, the Public Gardens are beautiful year round.
In the same way that the Public Gardens are iconic, so is the Boston Common for many of the same reasons. This is the perfect place to come if you want to people watch, ice skate or just walk around. No matter the time of year, there is always something happening here and you can count on finding the perfect location for your pictures. This place is a winner!
Pro Tip: Photograph here during the weekday, to avoid all the tourist crowds!
View more Boston Common and Boston Public Gardens engagement and wedding photos!
For weddings, please make sure you get a license!
Beacon Hill & Acorn Street
Are you a fan of beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets and history? This location is perfect for you! Beacon Hill is, without a doubt, a timeless classic. There’s a reason why it’s one of the most photographed places in the city. The fall offers gorgeous foliage and the perfect opportunity for cozy images. Since this is also a quieter part of the city you won’t have to be nervous about having too many onlookers. In any case, Beacon Hill is amazing in every way. And the best part? After we’re done taking pictures, I’ll show you where to get an out of this world hot chocolate!
Click here to view more Boston Beacon Hill engagement photos
Charles River Esplanade & DCR Hatchshell
The Charles River Esplanade is an amazing spot for pictures! Not only is the river great, but also the backdrop of the city on both sides of the shore. This location is best chosen for late spring and summer shoots when the grass is green and the trees are luscious. There are plenty of benches to choose from right along the water. We can also make our way to one of the wooden decks that jut out over the river. It’s the perfect place for a long walk and some quality time with your partner. The Esplanade never disappoints and is one of my favorite engagement photography locations in Boston!
Pro tip: Bring insect repellent if you’re photographing at dusk in the summer!
Prop tip #2: Park at the Boston Common Garage and walk across the Arthur Fielder footbridge. Bring comfortable shoes to walk in, and then change!
North End
Boston’s Little Italy holds not only Boston’s best cannolis (Mike’s Pastries, Modern Pastries, and Bova’s), but also a charming maze of little streets, and historic buildings (Paul Revere House and Old North Church).
Christopher Columbus Park in Boston
This park is right on the waterfront, on the outskirts of the North End and Faneuil Hall. It’s perfect thanks to its central location which allows us to move to a lot of different spots close by. The park itself is an attraction because of the trellis that runs through it.
In the summer, it’s covered in luscious vines and flowers – in the winter, it’s coated in colorful lights. If you want your engagement shoot to have a special holiday feel, this is the place for you. Any time of the year works for this location because the trellis always has something to offer.
In the daytime, you get the awesome trellis with the beautiful water behind the arch. In the evening, the INCREDIBLE blue lights turn on, and I get extra excited. 🙂
Pro tip: Make sure your photographer is assertive-but-polite. This place is always mobbed with tourists.
Fan Pier Harborwalk
If you are having your engagement shoot in Boston because you’re in love with the city, this is one of the best places to be. Fan Pier is another one of the most photographed spots in Boston, just because it captures such an iconic view if the city.
Right on the water, you can have downtown Boston serve as your backdrop. This is a perfect spot for a day in the spring, summer or fall. Right around sunset, when the light softens, all the lights inside the skyscrapers turn on. On the edge of Chinatown, the financial district and the North End – Fan Pier is easy to reach from all sides!
Boston Public Library
It’s a beautiful garden area and definitely on my list for perfect engagement photography locations in Boston
It’s the trifecta of history, architecture, and beautiful greenery! I love this venue, and am always excited to return. It’s one of my favorite Boston garden photo locations.
Heads up! There is a fee if for engagement sessions and portraits at the Boston Public Library. Read more about the Boston Public Library photography fees here
Arnold Arboretum
This is a quintessential garden. You don’t have to walk super deep into the arboretum to get some beautiful greenery. Street parking is available. When I have a parking angel, it’s great. When I don’t, it sucks. Leave some extra time!
Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, MA
Larz Anderson Park is a beautiful spot of greenery, placed on 64 acres in Brookline, MA! It’s also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Le Meridian Rooftop Garden in Cambridge, MA
It’s little oasis on top of a beautiful hotel
Here are some Le Meridian rooftop garden wedding photos!
South End
DeCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA
This is a little farther out in Lincoln, MA, but I wanted to make sure this Boston garden photo location was mentioned! At the DeCordova Sculpture Park you have multiple venues you can access that can hold 150-300 people. That alone, combined with the stunning gardens and the decorations here really make the DeCordova Sculpture Park one of the best places to have a wedding. It’s so different, and I love it.
View Claire and Josh’s wedding here!
Boston waterfront skyline near MIT
Parking is an absolute pain here, but aside from Fan Pier near the Harborwalk area, I think it has one of of the prettiest skyline views! It’s also a very short walk away from MIT’s perfectly manicured lawns and greenery!
Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA
I used to hang here all the time in college. Historic awesome architecture and some gorgeous trees.
Newbury Street in Back Bay, Boston
Shopping galore! Back Bay’s most popular and famous shopping district.
Fenway Park
Even if you’re not a baseball lover, you’ve got to admire how iconic this park is.
There is no fee to photograph around the exterior and outside the park. There is a fee if you’d like to go inside.
Pro Tip: On a game day, it’s a mad house. On the trains, on the highways, to find parking. It’s insane. However, it’s super fun.
Piers Park in East Boston, MA
A quiet little park with a gorgeous view of the city.
Pro tip: It can get windy! I personally love the hair flying in the wind look, but ladies, make sure your dress isn’t TOO flowy! 😉
Castle Island
Parking, a beach, greenery, and a beautiful view of the water? Let’s go!
Pro tip: Leave time at the end for a Sully’s lobster roll (or burger), fries, and milkshake
Blue Hills and Houghton’s Pond in Milton, MA
I take my dog here to go hiking all the time. It’s one of my favorite spots for foliage!
Wollaston Beach in Quincy, MA
You don’t have to go all the way to the North Shore or the Cape for beaches, there’s a beautiful stretch of oasis right in Quincy. Easy parking, too.
Pro Tip: Get fried clams at Tony’s afterwards.
Marina Bay in North Quincy, MA
I love it here and would be happy to share it with you. There’s also a really good place for ice cream! Though Quincy is technically not in Boston, it definitely makes my list for favorite engagement photography locations in Boston
If you’re looking for something a little different, a little off the beaten path, here’s my secret. I grew up in an area of North Quincy and frequented a tiny area with a view of the city skyline, a small private beach, a charming boardwalk, and some beautiful greenery. There’s easy parking. It’s 15 minutes drive away from the city. I take my dog there all the time.
Very few photographers are there. It’s called Marina Bay. Even with the name, I know of a handful of little nooks and crannies for greenery, brick, and an urban feel that not many other photographers know about.