It’s easy to find a beautiful location to take engagement photos in Portland. Located just a little under a 2 hour drive to the Oregon Coast or to the mountains, Portland is packed with scenic spaces, picking just one is where it gets difficult! Below is a list of some areas that I think are the best locations for engagement photos in and around Portland.
Photoshoot Locations in Portland
Powell Butte Nature Park
16160 SE Powell Blvd
Portland, OR 97236
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 32 minutes.
A natural refuge in the middle of urban sprawl that is SE Portland. I love Powell Butte because it combines my love of open meadows and forests all in one park. With a small amount of hiking it’s easy to put together a photo shoot that combines both of these microclimates in one session. Here are some engagement photos from a session at Powell Butte.
Washington Park
4033 SW Canyon Rd
Portland, OR 97221
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 5 minutes.
Washington Park is a favorite among tourists coming to Portland as it’s kind of a one stop shop for the city’s main attractions. The Oregon Zoo, Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum, and the Rose Garden are all located within the park. The last two are great locations to consider for your Portland engagement photos.
Hoyt Arboretum has 189 of acres and 2300 tree species from all over the world making it easy to feel like your deep in the forest when you’re actually in the heart of the city.
By late Spring the International Test Rose Garden is exploding with colorful blooms and is a photographer’s wonderland.
Mt Tabor
SE 60th Avenue and Salmon Street
Portland, OR 97215
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 16 minutes.
This old volcano is one of my favorite spots in Portland to go for a neighborhood walk. The park is located in the middle of SE Portland and easy to get to. After your photo session you can grab a bite to eat at ¿Por Qué No? taqueria or a drink at Sapphire Hotel. This sessions is from a foggy fall morning but Mt Tabor is great any time of the year.
Cathedral Park
N Edison Street and Pittsburg Avenue
Portland, OR 97203
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 15 minutes.
Cathedral Park is located right under the historic span of the St. John’s Bridge. It gets its name from the gothic cathedral style bridge towers which make for not only a visually striking engagement photo but a great wedding venue too! The park is right on the banks of the Willamette River and a short walk to the St Johns neighborhood in North Portland.
Downtown Portland
701 SW 6th Ave
Portland, OR 97205
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 0 minutes.
Hit some food carts, walk on the waterfront, take a ride on some electric scooters, or go for a lift on the OHSU tram. There are so many fun things to do downtown and you can easily plan a fun engagement session with a lot of variety that highlights the city you love.
Engagement Session Locations near Portland
Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 1 hour and 25 minutes.
One of my favorite places to be is near the ocean and the Oregon Coast is a beauty. Cannon Beach makes it easy for engagement photos whether you want to be in the shadow of Haystack Rock or overlooking the beach from Ecola State Park. The beach gets busy on the weekends, especially in Summer, but weekdays or off season are great times to shoot. Here are some photos from a recent engagement session at Cannon Beach.
Trillium Lake
Government Camp, OR 97028
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 1 hour and 23 minutes.
Trillium Lake offers one of the easiest and prettiest views of Mt Hood in the area. The lake is easy to get to from Portland and on a clear day visitors are treated to an amazing mountain reflection in the water. Walk the small trail that loops around the lake or rent a kayak for some super cute and adventurous photos.
Silver Falls State Park
20024 Silver Falls Hwy SE
Sublimity, OR 97385
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 1 hour and 6 minutes.
Silver Falls State Park is considered the jewel of the Oregon State Park system and for good reason. This lush dreamscape is home to 10 waterfalls (you can do a hike that hits all of them!) and some great hiking trails.
Portland Engagement Photographer
Hello! I’m Chris and I’m a wedding and engagement photographer located in Portland, Oregon. I’ve been documenting weddings for over a decade and I love what I do.
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