If you’ve recently gotten engaged and are in the Houston area, we highly recommend doing an engagement session! This is an incredibly special and unique season in your relationship and capturing these memories will result in photos that last a lifetime.
To help plan your engagement photos, we’ve rounded up the best Houston engagement photoshoot locations based on recommendations from our local team.
Since we have taken engagement photos in so many places in the Houston area, it was a tough task to narrow it down! Here are some of our favorites.
Display your pride for the city by heading downtown. If Houston plays an important role in either of your backgrounds or is highlighted throughout your love story, make sure to get some engagement photos taken downtown. With the city skyline behind you, your photographer is bound to capture some authentically joyful moments. And depending on the time of day and the color of the sky behind you, your photos will take on a unique form.
Showcase your love for learning and for each other at Rice University. Whether or not this is your alma mater, Rice University always ranks as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States. With over 4,000 sweeping trees and pristine architecture, this is one of the best Houston engagement photoshoot locations. If you graduated as a Rice ‘Owl’, work in the field of teaching, or are lifelong lovers of learning, then this can be a unique setting for an engagement session. Keep in mind that you will need to schedule with the university in advance, pay $50/hour, and take photos in an approved location. Learn more.
Location: 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005
Get a taste of history at Cy-Hope. There are two featured locations at Cy-Hope: an exact replica of the façade of the San Antonio Alamo, and the Hope Lodge log cabin. You will also find plenty of greenery with mossy trees, bridges and ponds, and an open field with a connecting photo-worthy road. The main buildings can be used for event spaces, so you can take your engagement photos here and then come back for the real deal on the wedding day! Keep in mind that Cy-Hope is a charity, so you must fill out a release form, have the time reserved and donate to the charity to shoot there. Their website has the waiver to sign and more details on availability. Learn more.
Location: 12715 Telge Road Cypress, Texas 77429
Show the camera your green thumb at the Mercer Botanic Gardens Spanning across 393 acres, the Botanic gardens have plenty of trees (including bamboo), rare flowers, and a walking trail which leads you to a magical pond. If you pair up with the right photographer who knows how to capture photos in different shades of lighting, outdoor engagement sessions can be some of the best because of additional interesting dimensions. Learn more.
Location: 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, Texas 77338
See the world through rose colored glasses at the Hermann Park Conservancy. If you’d like to have options for different settings which are all within close proximity, this is the place to be. Get some fun photos while laughing on pedal boats, holding hands in front of a waterfall at the Japanese Garden, or kissing in front of the Rose Garden at Hermann Park. (We think this is one of the best Houston engagement photoshoot locations…it also made our list of ‘best proposal places in Houston’, too!) Learn more.
Location: 6100 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, Texas 77030
Take a picnic basket to Eleanor Tinsley Park. Take a stroll across lush green hills and then get some romantic photos of the two of you enjoying a picnic. (Don’t forget the blanket and the champagne for some cute shots!) Since this park is adjacent to the Bayou’s scenic art park, you can also pose for some photos in front of one-of-a-kind art pieces and sculptures. Check their events calendar in advance to see what’s taking place around the time that you hope to schedule a session. Learn more.
Location: 500 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas 77019
Soak up all that nature has to offer at the Brazos Bend State Park. With 37 miles of trails, horseback riding, and plenty of lakeside places to stop on the shore, we love shooting engagement sessions at this park! (Especially when fur-babies are involved.)
Oh, speaking of animals, did we mention that alligators are common in some of the areas of water? (Travel fees may be required.) Learn more.
Location: Farm to Market Rd 762, Needville, TX 77461
Get the best of Houston parks at Discovery Green. Houston is known for its parks so its no surprise that we’ve added another to the list! This park features many different areas to snap some engagement photos---so even if it’s a busy day, there will likely be some more secluded spots. From patios and stages to art and water installments, there are plenty of options which can reflect who you are as a couple. After your engagement session, stay for the evening and cuddle up while watching an outdoor movie on the lawn. Check the calendar in advance. Learn more.
Location: 1500 McKinney Street, Houston, Texas 77010
Pose on the dock at Ashton Gardens. There is a beautiful dock by the water along with unique art installments scattered throughout the garden. We’re obsessed with this photoshoot from the North Houston gardens which highlights many of our favorite photogenic garden locations. (This is just one of a few on our list that serves as a dynamic location for both engagement photos and a wedding venue!) Please take into consideration that this will be one of the more expensive options on this list. If you aren’t getting married at the venue but want to use the location, they charge $500 for a 2 hour shoot. This includes giving you a space to get ready, shoot time, and exit time. Learn more.
North Houston Location: 21919 Inverness Forest Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77073
West Houston Location: 18002 Clay Road, Houston, Texas 77084
Breathe in some fresh air at the Kleb Woods Nature Center. If you want a low-key outdoor place that isn’t packed with tourists, the Kleb Woods Nature Center in Harris County is a good option. There are a variety of places to sit, big trees to lean up against, and frequent ‘visitors’ in the form of birds, dragonflies and butterflies! Learn more.
Location: 20303 Draper Road, Tomball, Texas 77377
Highlight your fascination with architecture at Forever Five. This popular event space (that allows for weddings, too) is one of the best Houston engagement photoshoot locations. With a mix of chic and modern indoor spaces, to outdoor woods with neat architectural installments and cascading ponds, there are plenty of options for engagement photos. Take note that if you aren’t getting married at the venue, it will be an extra charge to take photos outside. Learn more.
Location: 11780 Calfee Road, Conroe, Texas 77304
We’re thrilled to be able to serve many Joy couples across Florida and Texas, but Houston has a special place in our hearts. It was the original home of Joy Photo and Video!
We hope you enjoyed getting to know our recommendations for the best Houston engagement photoshoot locations. Keep in mind that pricing and availability may vary since this article was posted, so check directly with each location for details. We’d love to see how we can help you with an engagement session. Connect with us today.
[Photoshoots in the spotlight: Ivonne + Andres, Victoria + Daniel, Veronica + Trey, Kaitlin + Christian in Houston, Texas by Rochelle , Erica + David by Julian, and Aida + Eduardo.]
Choose Joy,
The Joy Team