I love it when couples contact me to schedule an outdoor engagement session (more info here). Being on the East Coast, there are so many beautiful and easily accessible locations close to each other. I’d like to share some of my favorite outdoor engagement photo locations in Maryland with you today! Today I want to share some of my favorite outdoor engagement photo locations in Maryland.
Patterson Park
Known to be one of Baltimore’s most intensively used parks, Patterson Park is a historic Maryland landmark that also happens to be an amazing place for outdoor engagement photos. Filled with large, open space, this park features a lake, athletic fields, an observation deck, and a park pagoda. In spring, the park also comes to life with cherry blossoms making it an especially beautiful time to visit.
Clipper Mill
If you’re looking for an industrial setting with a historic flair then Clipper Mill is the perfect place to take your engagement photos. Originally built in 1854, this mill has been used for a variety of trades and today it has been remodeled to be used as offices, rental apartments, and artist studios. Tours are available by request, but simply walking around this old, historic community can be the perfect date!
Sherwood Gardens
Located in Northern Baltimore, Sherwood Gardens is the perfect place to go for outdoor engagement photos, especially in the spring! The garden comes to life with thousands of tulips from April-May creating a gorgeous backdrop. The gardens are also a perfect place to stroll, taking in the beauty of nature all around you.
Cylburn Arboretum
Another beautiful garden to stroll and take photos in is Clyburn Arboretum. This 200-acre garden is filled with hundreds of trees and garden trails perfect for an engagement photo session!
Rawlings Conservatory
The Rawlings Conservatory is a grand, beautiful glass greenhouse located near Druid Lake. Outside of the building’s beautiful architecture, there are a variety of locations within the conservatory to take your engagement photos!
Gathland State Park
Sam and Julia loved our time in this Maryland Park, where Sam actually proposed! Check more of their photos here. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail traverses the park and fun fact, Gathland State Park was once the mountain home of George Alfred Townsend, a Civil War journalist. You will quickly notice a large stone monument dedicated to the memory of Civil War correspondents. Bonus point: the small town next to the park has the cutest historical houses! A great backdrop as well.
Rock State Park
Some of the best hiking views in Maryland are located in Rock State Park! Located in rural Harford County, this park is filled with amazing hiking trails and waterfall views! Rock State Park is the perfect outdoor engagement session location for those looking to experience more in nature.
Patapsco State Park
Located along the Patapsco River, Patapsco Valley State Park is another outdoorsy location for engagement photos. According to the park’s website, “The park is nationally known for its trail opportunities and scenery.” With over 200 miles of trails, there are so many opportunities to explore!
Cunningham Falls State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park is one of Maryland’s beautiful state parks! The park is split into two different sections, the William Houck Area and the Manor Area and features a bridge, cascading waterfalls, a lake for swimming and picnicking, and endless trails for hiking.
Elk Neck State Park
Elk Neck State Park is the perfect place to go if you are looking for waterfront views for your engagement photos. The park consists of four different sections each with its own unique offering from lighthouses to swimming areas to boating access to campsites.
Sugarloaf Mountain
Now a registered national landmark, Sugarloaf Mountain offers stunning overlook views of Maryland. Lots of wildlife can be seen in the area and the park is also home to Strong Mansion, a perfect setting for a wedding venue!
Great Falls
One of my favorite state parks in Maryland is Great Falls. Run by the U.S. National Park Service, this park is one of the most popular nature destinations in the D.C./Maryland area, and for good reason. With dozens of hiking trails, views of the gorge, and, of course, the iconic falls, this park is filled with so many amazing views perfect for your engagement photo session. The park can get a bit crowded on weekends but is an ideal engagement photo location if you’re looking to schedule a session during the week.
Fun fact: this park is actually split between Maryland and Northern Virginia. For more outdoor engagement photo locations in Northern Virginia check out my blog post here.
Chesapeake Park & Bay
One of Maryland’s most famous landmarks is the Chesapeake Bay. This bay is known as an estuary which is when freshwater mixes with saltwater and is the largest estuary in the United States and the 3rd largest in the world! There are lots of things to do and see around the Bay but one of my favorite locations is the Great Chesapeake Bay Loop.
The east coast has so many beautiful outdoor locations to explore for your engagement photo session and Maryland in particular has some of my favorite views! If you’re ready to book an outdoor engagement session with me, head over to my contact page and fill out the form to get started!
