Nashville Engagement Photos
If you want to celebrate your engagement, a planned engagement shoot is a great way to do it! Photos can serve as a timestamp, marking the beginning of your commitment to one another.
Beyond being something you can treasure forever, planned engagement sessions are beneficial for many more reasons:
It helps you become more comfortable and confident in front of the camera, prior to your big day. It also helps you get to know me! A planned session can serve as a “test run” to see if we vibe. If you’re comfortable with me and love the end product, the chemistry will be there on your wedding day.
It’ll help determine your style. Whether you’re serious, artsy, laid back, playful or a little bit of everything, engagement photos will help you figure out what style you like and don’t like.
The engagement photos can be used to package your save the dates, invitations, or website.
It gives you a chance to celebrate your love and connect with your partner before the wedding planning begins.
Planned Engagement Shoots
Whether you are newly engaged or planning to propose, engagement photography is a wonderful way to mark the start of a new chapter.
If you’re interested in booking an engagement photography session, contact me here or call me at (949) 933-7313
Photographing couples brings me such joy. Witnessing their love and creating something tangible is a great privilege. I’m thankful to capture moments that will last a lifetime.
Engagement sessions are normally formatted two different ways:
Planned engagement shoot (where the proposal has already happened)
Surprise engagement proposal with a mini session immediately after
Once you’ve decided on the type of engagement shoot you’re interested in, these questions normally come to mind:
What are the best locations in Nashville for engagement photography?
What should we wear for the shoot?
What is the best time for engagement photography?
I’ve outlined these types of shoots and answers to the questions below.
Surprise Proposals Shoots
Oftentimes, a future groom or bride will reach out with plans to propose. They want to capture the moment he or she gets down on one knee to ask their special someone to be their forever someone.
Surprise engagement shoots are so much fun. Whether I’m hiding in a bush or posing as an onlooker, my goal is to discretely capture the moment. Witnessing the surprise, realization and then tears is such a joy.
My goal is to make these shoots as stress free as possible. I focus on organization and clear directions to sync with the person popping the question.
Nashville Engagement Locations
If you're local to Nashville or planning a trip with your loved one - there are so many great spots for an engagement shoot or surprise proposal. I want to photograph you in a beautiful setting that you’re comfortable in - whether it’s outdoors, your home or your favorite diner down the street. If nature isn’t for you or if it’s too cold or hot outside, choose somewhere that’s special to the two of you. Whatever location you choose, just make sure it reflects your personality.
If you’re at a loss, lean on me! Between working with my clients and discovering new places, I've found myself visiting the same spots multiple times. I've compiled a list of the most photogenic spots in the greater Nashville area to ask your special someone to marry you.
Arrington Vineyards
Arrington Vineyards is about a 35-minute drive south of Nashville (depending on the traffic). It is known for its sprawling countryside, acres of vineyards and lovely wine tastings. Many locals will pack a lunch, grab a bottle of wine and enjoy a picnic in the sun. Live music is performed every weekend during the warmer seasons.
Couples often walk through the vineyards, find comfort on a tree swing or walk to one of the several barns on the property.
I've had the pleasure to photograph a few proposals at Arrington Vineyards. Because I have a longer lens, I'm able to capture a couple's intimate moment without invading their privacy.
Bicentennial Mall
Rich with history and a picturesque view of the Capitol, Bicentennial Mall is another perfect spot for a proposal. Nestled between the Germantown neighborhood and Downtown Nashville, this location features large symmetric columns, green pastures and the Capitol Steps.
Located near the Tennessee State Museum and the Nashville Farmer's Market, it's an ideal spot if you want to plan an activity before popping the question.
This groom planned ahead for a proposal. He brought his girlfriend the War Memorial (located within the park) where he had a table set up with flowers and champagne waiting. The large granite columns and outdoor auditorium steps were a great spot to capture the happy couple after he popped the question.
Centennial Park
Centennial Park features the iconic Parthenon with its massive stone columns and steps, along with historical monuments, walking trails, and a large lake. It’s a picturesque spot smack dab in the middle of Nashville.
Located in the West End neighborhood of Nashville, Centennial Park is a beautiful place to pop the question because you have so many proposal options. Between the Parthenon, the Sunken Garden (where the Taylor Swift bench is located), or near the large lake, you can’t go wrong for the ideal setting.
Cheekwood
Cheekwood is a 55-acre botanical garden in the Belle Meade area of Nashville, and their team goes above and beyond to make surprise proposals and engagements an unforgettable experience.
If you’re planning a proposal at dusk, the Cheekwood event staff offers a designated area exclusively reserved to pop the question. Blocked off from other guests to provide privacy, Cheekwood has created a string-light pathway leading to a large arch covered in lights. It’s a fairytale-like setting, outfitted with champagne and custom flutes to celebrate the magical moment.
As you can imagine, this location and experience come at a cost. If you’re interested in booking Cheekwood for an engagement or proposal, contact me. I can help coordinate with their special events and wedding staff.
Downtown Franklin - Main Street
Located 30 minutes south of Nashville, Downtown Franklin offers a charming backdrop for an engagement. Historic Main St. is lined with quaint restaurants, small shops, and a restored theatre.
The Downtown Franklin Theatre also offers the ability to place special messages, like the one in this photo!
Downtown Franklin - The Factory
Also located 30 minutes south of Nashville, just outside of Main Street, The Factory is a fun, urban setting for photos. Having undergone a recent renovation, there are a lot of options both inside and out to capture special moments.
It’s also a great place to eat and shop before and after your session!
Ellington Agricultural Center
Ellington Agricultural Center is the headquarters for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. This sprawling 207 acre landscape is known for its peaceful trails and rolling hills. Families, friends and couples can be found picnicking, working out and walking with their dogs.
This photo was taken in early spring and required careful coordination with the future groom. I posed as a photographer capturing wildlife when he got down on one knee. I was able to capture the special moment just as he asked his girlfriend to marry him.
Shortly after the surprise proposal, we did a mini engagement session. From the beautiful trail paths to the historic barns, this location is quintessential Tennessee.
Harlinsdale Farm
Located in Franklin, TN, Harlinsdale Farm is a large (198 acres!) historic farm that has become a public park. Featuring a large white barn, green pastures, a pond, and hiking trails, Harlinsdale offers a range of backdrops to create variety within your photos.
The most popular spot in the park is the large driveway to the barn. Photographers will use this location because it provides natural symmetry and the fences create leading lines to their subjects. I love this location, but I also love exploring other parts of Harlinsdale to fully utilize all that the park has to offer!
Lover’s Circle
It's all in the name, right? Lover's Circle is a grassy knoll located at the top of a hill off West End Ave. The spot gives panoramic views of Nashville, with a distant view of Downtown.
This spot is particularly beautiful during sunrise or sunset. If you want to make an afternoon of it, I recommend packing a picnic or bringing a bottle of wine. It’s a great place to unwind and be with your special someone.
Couples of all ages gather at this spot, and it can get busy during the warmer months.
Nashville Pedestrian Bridge
John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge is quintessential Nashville. With a view of the cityscape, the Pedestrian Bridge offers a unique perspective for anyone who wants to celebrate their engagement is an urban setting.
The bridge connects Nissan Stadium to the busy streets of Lower Broadway. With a distance of about a half mile, crossing the Cumberland River is convenient and easy.
Posing as an onlooker or tourist, I've been able to photograph many surprise proposals with Downtown Nashville as the backdrop.
Percy Warner Park
Many will recognize Percy Warner Park as the spot with the historic limestone steps. Located near the Belle Meade neighborhood, this park is a great place to gather, work out and to spend time with one another.
The park is very large, and there is so much more than the steps landmark. Wooden benches are nestled along winding roads and forest paths. During the weekends it can get busy, and I’ve been known to go off the beaten path to discover really beautiful spots.
During the Spring and Autumn seasons, the park is vibrant and colorful.
Rolling Mill Hill
Rolling Mill Hill is a small neighborhood east of SoBro in Downtown Nashville. With incredible views of the skyline and Cumberland River, this location offers an urban setting without braving Downtown traffic.
This couple selected a clearing at the corner of Middleton Street to celebrate their engagement. In early evening, the sun sets behind the tall buildings, creating beautiful, even light.
A short walk from Pinewood Social and the Pedestrian Bridge, this location is a great spot to get a taste of Downtown Nashville from a local perspective.
Riverfront Park
Located at the base of Broadway overlooking the Downtown Nashville Pedestrian Bridge, Riverfront Park is a great spot to pop the question. With so many wonderful restaurants and bars within a short distance to celebrate after they say yes!
After our engagement shoot, couples I work with often venture Broadway or Downtown Nashville for dinner. Some of their favorite spots have been Hampton Social, The Southern, and Pinewood Social
Shelby Bottoms Park
Located in East Nashville, Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and Greenway is a great spot for locals to walk or hike.
The Greenway features a large body of water towards the southern portion of the park with large trees and lush greenery.
Vanderbilt Campus
Located between Hillsboro Village and Midtown, the Vanderbilt University offers a sophisticated and historic setting for timeless photos.
Students and graduates who fell in love at Vandy often select it as a spot to propose as a way to commemorate the closing of one chapter while opening anew. The Vanderbilt campus is also open to the public. Historic architecture, open courtyards, benches, and parks set the scene for the perfect photo.
I was hired to capture a surprise proposal from a few Vanderbilt alums. It was a joy to document such a beautiful moment in a place that meant so much to both of them.
What should you wear for your engagement shoot?
Photos should age well, remaining timeless for decades to come.
Avoid tech
You don’t want to look back at your photos and know what year they were taken. For example, if I saw a Motorola Razr in a photo, I’d know it was taken sometime between 2006-2008. I always ask my clients to set aside their phones. They stand out in pockets and date the photos. In addition, I always recommend removing tech-specific wristwwear, including Apple Watches and FitBits.
Pick a color palette
I always suggest coordinating, but not matching. By mixing tonal colors, prints and textures you will look cohesive without trying too hard. Maintain your own personal style, but look like you’re going to the same place. Focus on complimenting one another so you both shine.
Match your surroundings
Dress for the occasion and think about how your outfit will look in your surroundings. If you’ve scheduled an autumn session with fall foliage, try and match your surroundings with warm, rich tones. If you’ve scheduled a summer session near the ocean, focus on casual, nautical tones.
Weave in textures based on the elements. Cable knit sweaters, flannel over shirts, and wool blazers are perfect for crisp, cool seasons. Sundresses or linen shirts are great for warmer months.
Bring a comfortable pair of shoes
Many shoot locations involve nature or grass. If you want to avoid scuffing up a pair of nice shoes, I recommend packing shoes to walk in. Then, when you arrive at your location, you can swap out your comfortable shoes with your fancy ones.
Dress like yourself
Wear what makes you feel good, comfortable, and confident.
What time of day should you plan your engagement shoot?
The time of day that we take your photos is so important.
I can take your photos any time of day and they’ll turn out beautifully. However, the best times of day are sunrise and sunset.
I recommend shooting around those two specific times because they are the golden hours when the gorgeous glow makes everything look soft and even.
If you’re a morning person, I like sunrise because there tend to be fewer crowds, especially if you choose a popular location.