Though Portland is a busy place full of hustle and bustle, you’ll also find some stunning nature right in the city! From forest groves to waterfronts to hillsides, you’ll find plenty of spots that make a gorgeous backdrop for your engagement photos. In this guide, I’ll share my favorite Portland engagement photo locations – and even a few bonus spots just outside the city!

Portland Engagement Photo Locations

Part of my job as a photographer is helping you find a location that’s just right for you – so while all of my couples get personalized recommendations, here are a few ideas for Portland engagement photo locations!

Hoyt Arboretum

Sitting on the Tualatin Mountains, there’s a living tree museum with miles of hiking trails and over 2000 species of trees to see. From the pink magnolia blossoms in the spring to the red holly berries in the winter, each season brings something unique to the Hoyt Arboretum. This is also one of the very few locations in the entire state of Oregon to see towering Redwoods! The Redwood Deck, and a few other locations in the Arboretum are rentable for forest weddings too)!

Portland City Waterfront

Right in downtown Portland, on the waterfront of the Willamette River, is Tom McCall Waterfront Park – a park with paved trails and incredible views of the city and Portland’s many bridges. The cherry blossoms are incredible in the spring, and the Salmon Street Fountain is beautiful in the summertime, and you’ll have stunning views of the river!

George Rogers Park

Nestled on the Willamette River, George Rogers Park is a historic park from the Iron days of Portland’s past. In fact, you can still see the Iron Company Furnace from 1866! There’s a small beach on the riverfront with trails that take you past Oswego Creek and the Oswego Lake Dam. From personal experience, this can be a fun place to paddleboard in the summer time. In peak summer season there are even rentable kayaks and paddleboards on the beach here.

Tryon Creek Park

Step out of the hustle and bustle of downtown at Tryon Creek Park! The small creek runs through the trees and trails of the park, right in the city of Portland. Eight gorgeous bridges wind through the mossy forest and offer many paths to explore, and trees to climb! There are also several beautiful ADA-Accessible trail options from the visitor center that help you feel immersed in nature here.

Peninsula Park

Featuring over 5000 different rose plants of over 60 varieties, Peninsula Park Rose Garden is a colorful rainbow of blooms from June – October. At the center of the park is a fountain, often lively during the summer as kids play in the pool to cool off. The park also has baseball fields, some brick-lined ADA-accessible pathways, and manicured green lawns perfect for a golden hour picnic.

Marshall Park

Marshall Park is a quiet, protected woodland canyon in South West Portland. The park is full of wildlife and tall trees, and Tryon Creek runs through it. There’s a small waterfall, framed by boulders along the trail and an adorable stone bridge that takes you over the creek. There are a few different trails that you can take through the park, giving you plenty of space to take your photos!

Cathedral Park

Sheltered under the Gothic style robin-egg colored St. John’s Bridge, Cathedral Park got its name in reference to the beautiful cathedral-like arches that make this particular bridge so memorable. With many manicured paths winding under the bridge and along the riverbank, there is a special charm to this park. So it may not surprise you to know that this popular Portland engagement photo location is popular for weddings too!

Happy Valley Park

The wetlands of Happy Valley are centralized at the wetland pond in Happy Valley Park, surrounded by huge alders and Douglas firs. You can take the loop trail through the park, or continue on to the trail that takes you up Scouters Mountain all the way to Scouters Ridge. In the spring, wildflowers bring pops of color throughout the park!

Mt. Tabor

The forested setting of Mt. Tabor sits on an old lava field that’s been extinct for over 300,000 years. You can take the stairs or many trails to the summit of the park for panoramic views of the city. There’s a nice dog park here for your pup to play fetch too!

Seasonal Portland Engagement Photo Locations

There are some Portland engagement photo locations that really shine throughout the different seasons, so if you have a certain look in mind, these spots will have different blooms! If you take your engagement photos in the early spring, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn offers a rainbow field of tulips. Get a special sunrise pass for the tulip farm to watch the hot air balloons from the fields, or stay until sunset to catch golden hour and avoid the crowds!

In early summer, the roses in the International Test Rose Garden and Peninsula Park (mentioned above) are gorgeous! In August, the West Union Gardens have stunning fields of golden sunflowers.

Choose an Activity for your Portland Engagement Photos!

Your engagement photos should be all about you! Your personalities should shine through, so doing something you both love to do together can be a fun way to make sure you’re having a good time and can truly be yourself. Some ideas can include checking out a local arcade bar, visiting your favorite ice cream shop, enjoying a slice of pizza, or anything that feels special to you! Just be sure to check in with any business you’d like to take photos at in advance.

Punchbowl Social‘s location in downtown Portland is a bar, arcade, and bowling alley that made a fun date spot for Carson & Alex’s engagement session!

Bonus Engagement Photo Locations Near Portland

There are also plenty of incredible engagement photo locations just outside of Portland! From rushing waterfalls to gorge-ous lookouts, I’ll share a few of my favorite places to take engagement photos near Portland – all within a 45-minute drive!

Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls State Park is a place where you can see 10 different waterfalls on an 8-mile loop trail. You can walk under 4 of the waterfalls, which is something you don’t get to do often! There are shorter loops for small hikes along the trail, but if you want an all-day adventure, pack a picnic so you can savor the scenery!

Government Cove

A short, easy trail takes you to Government Cove right off the Columbia River Highway. Surrounded by the Columbia River Gorge, Government Cove Cascade Locks has a small trail that’s more popular with fishermen than hikers – which means you’ll find fewer people around here! The wildflowers look beautiful in the spring. Plus it only takes 5 minutes to reach the top from the trailhead, making it ideal for an engagement session. Want to explore more of the Columbia River Gorge locations for your engagement, wedding, or elopement? Check out my article here.

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is one of many cascading waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge. You can get to the base of the falls by taking the short (but steep) lower trail. Or take the half mile long overlook trail to see dramatic rock formations and stunning views of the Columbia River!

Want to Take Engagement Photos in Portland?

When you take your engagement photos, the experience should be more than posing in front of a camera, it should feel meaningful and fun! 

I’ll help you find the perfect place for your engagement photos – one that allows you to be yourselves. One that’s secluded enough to let you focus on your partner, not the crowds! If you’re ready to start planning your engagement session and find the perfect Portland engagement photo location for you, contact me!