PORTLAND ENGAGEMENT LOCATIONS
If you’re wondering what the best engagement photography locations are around Portland, or just looking for some inspiration for your PNW engagement shoot - you’re in the right place! There is an overwhelming amount of beautiful places in and around Portland to choose from. These options will help you narrow it down between the forests and waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge, the sweeping coastal views, stunning rivers or diverse nature parks. I love exploring new places, so if your dream location isn’t on this list or you’ve never been there let’s discover it together!
HOW TO CHOOSE A LOCATION
The location you choose is important because it sets so much of the mood and feel of the images. Do you like the moody intimacy of a dense forest? Is your relationship more at home on the cliffs above the ocean? To help you decide what’s right for you, think about putting your relationship into a film - where would it be set? There are also logistical limitations, accessibility and travel time. Many of these locations are in the Portland area, with some extending a few hours away. I’m here to help you find what resonates most.
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
My absolute favorite place to photograph near Portland. It’s hard to beat how diverse this area is with it’s waterfalls, sweeping views and dense lush forests.
Latourell Falls
This is an idyllic engagement location just 30 minutes outside Portland. Not only do you get a waterfall, but beautiful forest, amazing bridges and wide open views of the Gorge. Just ten minutes down the road is Crown Point Vista House, a scenic lookout with panoramic views. During longer sessions I love to combine these two!
Sheppard’s Dell Falls
This unassuming location has been a favorite little secret of mine. There’s a small waterfall with a beautifully designed bridge for cinematic shots. It’s only another five minutes down the road from Latourell Falls and has the added bonus of open views of the gorge.
Government Cove
With just a few minutes of walking you get absolutely epic views. It’s lush and green early in the year, turning a beautiful gold once summer fully sets in. It is owned by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and was recently closed to the public. I still wanted to share it for inspiration as the gorge is full of alternative. Hopefully it will reopen for public use!
OREGON COAST
There are so many amazing coastal locations within just a few hours drive from Portland! The Oregon coast is truly cinematic, offering everything from moody forest and beaches to epic cliffs and rock formations.
Indian Beach/Ecola State Park
The beach here is often uncrowded, leaving you with a romantic and secluded shoreline to explore. There’s big trees, rock formations and a stunning beach. One of my favorite things about this location is you can get beach images as well as views form up on the cliffs, accessible with just a short walk!
Roads End Point
Located in Lincoln City, this beach ends with a secluded point on the beach surrounded by massive rock formations. It’s private and feels like stepping into an epic hideaway.
Mt Tabor
No list of engagement locations would be complete without one of Portland bests parks, Mt Tabor. Right in the city, this is an incredibly beautiful park with towering trees and an incredibly view of the city. It offers so much diversity with the dense forest, groves of English Ivy and wandering hills.
Powell Butte
A massive and ever changing nature park of forest and meadows. You don’t even have to leave Portland! I’ve been to this location throughout the year and am always struck by how much it changes. In summer there’s beautiful expansive fields of purple flowers, turning to tall and dreamy golden grass as the fall approaches. It’s my go to spot for cinematic and dreamy engagement shoots close to Portland.
HOYT ARBORETUM
With almost 200 acres of incredibly diverse nature right outside the city, this is hard to beat for an Portland engagement location. The fall colors are gorgeous with so many varieties of trees changing into all the different colors. There’s a grove of Redwoods, Bamboo, Magnolias and so much more.
Portland Art Museum
The art museum is such a amazing location for engagement and couples shoots! The exhibits change throughout the year and so there’s often something new, making it a really dynamic location. Set in a really beautiful building, the artwork and lighting make really interesting and creative elements to interact with. If you like dressing up, this location is well suited to elevating the sense of elegance.
