You’re engaged….yay!! I remember the feeling of excitement mixed with the “what now!?” I proposed to to my now-wife Alyssa at Deer Lake Park, in Burnaby, a place just blocks away from her childhood home, and a place we’d walked around many a time together. That was on a beautiful evening in June of 2015! We just happened to to snag the last Saturday of the next summer for our wedding reception, the Hart House!
When it comes to engagement photos, there are SO MANY PLACES to choose from, especially for those of us who live in the Vancouver area. We’re surrounded by beauty everywhere we look! I love asking my couples to think of a few places that are sentimental to them, whether it be the place that they got engaged, a favourite park of theirs, or a spot they’ve wanted to visit but just haven’t yet! And if you don’t know where to go after answering those questions, maybe this list will help you find that spot!
Vancouver has some excellent options for engagement session locations. Many of the ones listed here are free and open to the public. Others may take a little planning or require a fee, but are often well worth it! Either way, you have plenty of great options to choose the perfect location for your engagement session!
Here is a list of my current top 15, in no particular order. And yes, my top locations change all the time!!
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Whytecliff Park, West Vancouver
Click for Directions | Free | Usually open 11am – 7pm
Wanting that beach + rocks + water + cliffs + forest location, all in one? Whytecliff Park, 25 North of Vancouver, is that place for you! Looking for that magical, awe inspiring location a little bit away from the city? You’ll find that here! Whether it’s walking through the tall trees, climbing the cliffs right by the ocean and seeing the BC Ferries sail by, or walking on the beach, this is one of my favourite places for photos time and time again!
Stanley Park, Vancouver
Click for Directions | Free | Usually open 9am – 5pm
The gem of Vancouver, one of BC’s most beautiful parks, Stanley Park is iconic for so many reasons. First of all, everywhere you look is beautiful, and there are so many unique spots in the park, whether it’s the seawall, the aquarium, the many lakes and ponds, lookouts, gardens and scenic areas, you can’t NOT come and see the beauty for yourself. Want a mix of modern or rustic photos? You can get both here!
Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver
Click for Directions | Free | Usually open 6am – 10pm
Situated on Little Mountain – the highest point in Vancouver proper – this former rock quarry has been converted into a beautiful city park with flower gardens, public art, grassy knolls, and panoramic views over the city. Whether you want photos in front of the water fountain, a stroll through the many gardens and pathways, a view overlooking Vancouver, or a visit to the Conservatory (tickets start at $7 CAD), there is no end to creative and beautiful spots to take engagement photos at this beautiful park!
Sea To Sky Gondola
Click for Directions | $66 roundtrip per person | Usually open 10am – 5pm
The Sea to Sky Gondola is located on Highway 99 just south of Squamish, a scenic 45 minute drive from downtown Vancouver. A 10 minute gondola ride will take you up to a truly magical place with some of the most spectacular views you will ever see in Metro Vancouver. A popular spot for spectacular photos is the 100 metre Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge. After your engagement session, you can enjoy a meal with a view at the Summit Lodge. Take in the vistas on the Summit Lodge deck and watch the sunset.
Green Timbers Urban Forest, Surrey
Click for Directions | Free | Open 24 hours
One of Surrey’s hidden gems in my opinion, this beautiful park offers a variety of really intimate spaces for a private and personal engagement session! With pathways, grassy fields, a lake, you can easily spend a few hours holding hands with your fiancé and getting some amazing photographs here. Parking can get a bit busy, but the city has recently added parking by the street, so that should help! Check it out!
See Emily and Leo’s Engagement Blog Post here.
Fort Langley, Langley Township
Click for Directions | Free | Open 24 hours
Looking for a laid back, slower engagement session location, with that small town feel and variety in locations? Fort Langley is the place for you! From the walk by the river, the yellow community hall, the multiple cute bridges, beautiful older buildings, and a diner or two to grab a coffee or some ice-cream at, this little community is the cutest! Parking can be limited, so you might need to park a few blocks away, but it’s worth it!
See Erica & David’s full blog post here.
Deer Lake, Burnaby
Click for Directions | Free | Open 24 hours
A hit with people both local and coming from afar, this beautiful lake has a ton of beautiful spots to stop and take pictures at! You could rent a canoe from the nearby boat rental shop, just enjoy the walk round the lake with a stop on the floating dock, or take a rest on one of many park benches lining the walkway. In the late fall, the lawn by the entrance often has beautiful long grasses, allowing you to get those romantic “walking in a field” photos, with beautiful trees draping their branches down over you!
Gastown, Vancouver
Click for Directions | Free | Open 24 hours
Gastown is filled with beautiful brick road, small cafés, and so much Vancouver history, including the famous Gastown Vancouver Steam Clock! Stroll though the streets, stopping by the many cute alleyways and stores.
“We did both of our engagement and wedding photos with Andrew! He is prepared well in advance, kind and professional! We were never once nervous about how our photos would turn out. We really enjoy natural tones and candid expressions & Andrew’s pictures were spot on!”
Capilano Suspension bridge, north vancouver
Click for Directions | $63 per person | Open 8:30am to 8pm (times dependant on season)
Love the feel of being IN the forest? Want dramatic engagement photos? Capilano Suspension Bridge is the place for you! Hanging 70 meters above the Capilano River, the bridge and the accompanying CliffWalk are something you need to experience! Perfect for the adventurous and nature loving couple!
Join me behind-the-scenes
on VIDEO as I photograph
Allie + Doug’s Engagement session!
“Andrew is the best photographer, and I am not saying that lightly. He was so funny and so kind, made us feel relaxed, and took these incredible photos where we were guided to act like ourselves. Thank you, Andrew!”
Pitt Lake, Pitt Meadows
Click for Directions | Free | 6am to 10pm
Wanting a location that makes you feel like you’re in the mountains, but is just a short drive away from Vancouver? Visit Pitt Lake! A popular spot with locals and visitors alike, you’ll be surrounded by water on either side of the dyke, and there are a ton of cute gravel paths, gates, and even a lookout hut that gives you a spectacular view of the surrounding land! Be sure to put it on your list!
Crescent Beach, Surrey
Click for Directions | Free | Dawn to Dusk
This place has everything! The beach obviously, but also areas with covered paths and cute little shops to stop at! Whether you’re wanting that water feel, or just want to run on the sand, Crescent Beach is a great place for engagement photos!
Rocky Point Park, Port Moody
Click for Directions | Free | 7am to 7pm
Probably Port Moody’s most famous park, Rocky Point is a great spot to catch the sunset if you don’t want to travel into Vancouver. It’s got a great mixture of modern and rustic areas in the sense that you can stay in the treed areas and forest, or head out to the dock and enjoy the walkways! You can also stop in at Rocky Point Ice Cream to finish off your engagement session! Yum!
Ambleside Park, North Vancouver
Click for Directions | Free | Open 24 hours
With great views of the Pacific Ocean and the Lions Gate Bridge, as well as Stanley Park, Ambleside is a beautiful spot to relax, enjoy the fresh ocean air, and get some beautiful engagement portraits! Walk right by the ocean, climb up on the rocky beach, check out the points that jut out into the water, or run into the shaded forest and get cosy pictures! I have found this spot to be the best for parking!
See Joan & Mike’s engagement photos here.
“We found Andrew through one of the Wedding buy/sell facebook groups, and are so excited to have booked him to be our engagement and wedding photographer! He was so personable and professional that we felt comfortable with booking him after just a telephone call, and not surprisingly our positive feelings were confirmed when we did meet him over coffee for us for our in-person consultation. Andrew was attentive to our ideas, and walked us through the whole process so we felt well-prepared for our engagement shoot in mid-October at Ambleside and Whytecliff Parks. During our session, he was fun but professional, made us feel comfortable at all times, and was able to capture many natural candid and posed shots for us. After the shoot, Andrew was very efficient and timely in getting our photos edited and uploaded for us, and we are so thrilled with the results! We definitely recommend Andrew for anyone looking for a great photographer who is truly passionate about his work”.
Granville Island, Vancouver
Click for Directions | Free | Open during usual business hours
Home of some of Vancouver’s most popular breweries as well as a large arts district, Granville Island has such a cool feel to it! You can rent a rowboat for an hour, walk with the crowds, grab lunch by the water, or find one of many cool alleyways with buildings painted all different colours! Parking is hard to come by, so be patient as you’re finding a spot or just try and take transit!
Lafarge Lake, Coquitlam
Click for Directions | Free | Open during usual business hours
Open year-round, just 5 minutes away from Coquitlam Centre Mall and steps away from the end of the Skytrain line, Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam is an ideal location for engagement photos. The lake is surrounded by lush greenery and beautiful walking trails, making it a tranquil and romantic spot for a photoshoot. The lake is also close to the city center, making it easily accessible. Additionally, the lake is a popular spot for photography, so the couple can be sure their photos will be unique and special. The lake also has a picturesque bridge and a lovely backdrop of mountains, making it the perfect place to capture special moments. With its natural beauty and serene atmosphere, Lafarge Lake is the perfect spot for an engagement photoshoot.
See Lindsay & Eric’s engagement blog post here.
And that’s my list of top engagement session locations in the Vancouver area! Come back to this post often, as I’ll be adding to it regularly! Know someone else who is engaged? SHARE this will them!
Think I MISSED a must-see spot? Tell me in the comments below!
A few quick engagement session tips:
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Plan for an outfit change! This way you get 2 looks, and can do something a bit more casual, and then formal! I always bring a popup change room if we need to change in the middle of nowhere!
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Engagement photos are a great time to try out that makeup artist for your wedding! Do a trial, and get your makeup done for this session!
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Bring a few props that meaning something to you, just like Allie and Doug did! (in the behind-the-scenes video above) These sessions are all about you as a couple, so make them as personal as you want!
Looking for a photographer for your own photos?
I know a guy! Seriously, looking for some fun engagement photos of you and your fiancé? Contact me today!