Engagements
The Best Locations in Columbus Ohio for your dream engagement
When it comes to celebrating your love and marking the journey towards marriage, engagement photos capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments in a tangible way. Columbus, Ohio, with its rich history, stunning parks, and unique urban landscapes, offers a plethora of perfect backdrops for your engagement session. Whether you're envisioning a nature-infused backdrop, urban sophistication, or something uniquely quirky, Columbus has it all. Below, we explore the best locations that promise breathtaking engagement photos.
Why It's Perfect: The Scioto Mile features a blend of stunning cityscapes and natural beauty. With the Columbus skyline as your backdrop and the serene Scioto River flowing nearby, it offers a variety of compositions within walking distance.
Pro Tip: Visit during the golden hour for a soft, glowing light that adds a magical touch to your photos.
The Scioto Mile: Urban Elegance Meets Natural Beauty
Why It's Perfect: For couples who love nature but want the convenience of an urban location, the Franklin Park Conservatory cannot be beaten. Its lush gardens and exotic plant collections provide a colorful, vibrant setting for your engagement session.
Pro Tip: While the Conservatory is known for its indoor gardens, don't forget to explore the outdoor landscapes. The Bride's Garden offers an intimate, European-inspired setting while the Wolfe Terrace provides the opportunity to use the historic Palm House as a backdrop for your portraits.
Franklin Park Conservatory: A Floral Paradise
Why It's Perfect: With its quaint brick streets and historic architecture, German Village adds a timeless charm to your engagement photos. The area exudes an old-world feel that brings a romantic and intimate vibe to your session.
Pro Tip: German Village's hidden alleys and garden gates provide ample opportunities for unique compositions, ensuring that no two engagement sessions here look or feel the same. The Book Loft is a wonderful place to start exploring the neighborhood while nearby Schiller Park with its foot bridges arching over the duck pond is worth a stop.
German Village: Charming and Historic
Why It's Perfect: With over 20 parks across the Central Ohio region, the Metro Parks offer an escape into nature's beauty, featuring scenic rivers, dense forests, open meadows, and picturesque trails. There's truly something for everyone; the question simply becomes which park best matches your vision for your engagement photos.
Pro Tip: Highbanks Metro Park and Scioto Audubon Metro Park are two of my absolute favorites for engagement photos. Highbanks is stunning in the fall, with opportunities to capture fall colors and autumn fields while Scioto Audubon offers amazing views of the downtown Columbus skyline.
Columbus Metro Parks: Nature's Canvas
Why It's Perfect: One of Columbus' most iconic destinations, the Short North Arts District is filled with energy and art. This is a wonderful choice for couples looking to capture an urban aesthetic and who want more of a lifestyle engagement session. There are numerous breweries, cafes, and other local establishments to explore, giving you the chance to enjoy a fun date while having your portraits taken!
Pro Tip: The arches throughout the Short North are iconic, a perfect backdrop for a quick kiss. Also, the roof of the parking garage at the south end of the Short North offers one of the best views of downtown Columbus in the city.
Short North Arts District: Vibrant and Eclectic
Why It's Perfect: Downtown Columbus is rich with historical landmarks, including the Ohio Statehouse and the Ohio Supreme Court building. These locations not only offer a glimpse into the state's history but also provide elegant architectural backgrounds that add a classy, timeless feel to your engagement photos.
Pro Tip: The Ohio Statehouse, with its stunning Greek Revival architecture, offers a variety of photo opportunities, from its columned exterior to the grandiose rotunda and intricately detailed interior spaces. The Ohio Supreme Court building, known for its Art Deco design, offers a more subtle but similarly elegant aesthetic.
Downtown Columbus: Landmarks and History
Q: Do we need permission to photograph at the Ohio Statehouse?
A: Yes, the Ohio Statehouse requires a $50 photography permit to take professional photos on the Statehouse grounds. The permit process is relatively easy and can be handled by your photographer.
Q: What is the best time of year for engagement photos at these Columbus landmarks?
A: While these locations are beautiful year-round, spring and fall are great options for scheduling your engagement session. The temperature is comfortable, and with sunset coming a bit earlier in the evening, we can capture your photos in the most flattering lighting conditions.
Q: Should we schedule our engagement session in the evening?
A: Most couples end up scheduling their engagement sessions in the evening, since it's easier to schedule around work schedules and allows us to capture the beautiful, soft light of golden hour. With that said, if you and your fiance are morning people, sunrise engagement sessions can be a wonderful way to start the day!
Q: Are there any restrictions we should be aware of when planning our session downtown?
A: Downtown areas may have specific photography restrictions related to tripod use, commercial photography, or access to certain areas. It's always best to check the current guidelines and obtain any necessary permits.
FAQs for Engagement Sessions in Columbus Ohio
Lindsay & Kyle
We really appreciated how flexible he was with changing plans and moving around to multiple sites for photos. Everyone in our wedding party commented on how fun and comfortable getting photos was. Brad even made sure that we were enjoying our reception and not just taking pictures with guests, which we really appreciated. Our photos turned out beautiful and really captured our personalities.
"Brad was wonderful to work with! He made the wedding stress-free and fun"
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2025 wedding collections begin at $3400, and the average couple invests $4500 for complete coverage.
As part of my desire to craft an experience that is tailored to you, I design custom collections for each and every couple.
For more details on your wedding photography investment, please contact me. I'd love to get to know more about you and to create a custom collection for you!
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