It’s no secret that though we are a state known for its’ natural beauty, we are also known for an extremely cool town called Denver filled with so much culture, fun and experiences. Denver is a GREAT spot year round, and one of my favorite places to take engagement photos, which is why today we are going over my favorite spots around Denver for engagement photos.

Scheduling Your Denver Engagement Session

When it comes to scheduling your Denver engagement session you will want to take note of the following. One, the weather, Colorado is known for some extreme weather so you’ll want to be prepared! Then two, Denver is a sports town so scheduling the Rockies or Av’s games is a must. When you’re looking for a date for your Denver engagement session, keep these two parameters in mind and you will be good to go.

A Look at Some of My Favorite Denver Locations for Engagement Photos

Union Station and Surrounding Area

Permit Required: Yes

Union Station and the surrounding area is by far one of my favorite locations to photograph an engagement session as a Denver photographer. Union Station is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Denver opening in 1881. The building is famous for it’s stunning interiors, and it’s iconic Union Station sign at the front of the building. If you’re planning to take your Denver engagement photos at Union Station, your photographer will need to apply for a permit at least five business days before your shoot. To reach out for your permit you can email info@unionstationindenver.com.

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Hotel Teatro

Permit: Yes

Hotel Teatro has a cozy interior, art deco exterior and so many beautiful spaces throughout. This location is one of my favorites as it carries so much character and the building has been a staple to downtown Denver for over 100 years. Officially a Denver and National Landmark the Tramway building was used as an office building until the 1950’s and then was rehabbed in the late 90’s into a hotel. Though it isn’t specifically mentioned on the website, it’s always best practice to call ahead when using a private establishment for photos to get permission.

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Larimer Square

Permit: No

Larimer Square in downtown Denver is a historical stretch of “LoDo” (Lower Downtown) loved for its historic buildings and romantic string lights. The stretch of commercial shopping and dining is full of historic charm and a full spread of restaurants and cafes and is a staple of the Denver community. This area has a very romantic feel to it around sunset making it the perfect spot to close out an engagement session in downtown Denver. Take your engagement photos then spend the rest of your evening checking out all of the great restaurants on this stretch of town.

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Mount Falcon Park

Permit: Yes

Mount Falcon Park is a beautiful park just 30 minutes outside of Denver popular for it’s gorgeous cliffs and mountain views. Schedule your session during sunset to take in the beautiful colored skies and scenery Mount Falcon Park has to offer. The park is also known for its accessibility with many easy hiking trail routes throughout the park. Mount Falcon Park is a part of Jefferson County Colorado which does require permits for photography usage. You can access more information on permits here.

If you want to see a full engagement session at Mount Falcon Park check out Becky and Tyler's engagement session here!

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Red Rocks Park

Permit: No permit required for engagement sessions in Red Rocks Park, if you want to take photos in the Amphitheater you will need a permit.

Red Rocks Park is known for its stunning red rock mountains and its event space, the Red Rocks Amphitheater. The parks beautiful red sandstone formations offer a stunning backdrop for engagement photos in Denver. The park is full of trails and stunning views and if you do not plan to have a large set up or more than five people in attendance at your session, you do not need a permit to shoot at the Red Rocks parks.

City Park

Permit: Yes

Denver’s primary park contains the Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, outdoor spaces, picnic sites, two lakes and SO much more. The stunning park is the perfect location for engagement sessions as it carries so much charm with its beautifully kept land and a Spanish style pavilion in the center of the park. The parks vast space, it's two lakes and fun architecture offers so many unique back drops for a Denver Engagement session.

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South Valley Park

Permit/Permission: Yes

South Valley Park, just outside of Denver is famous for its dramatic red sandstone spires and stunning views. This park is full of beautiful trails that are extremely accessible for hikers of all skill levels. South Valley Park is a trails only park so you must remain on the trails at all times, they have the park set up this way to preserve the fragile sandstone that the park is known for. Nonetheless this location is stunning and a beautiful and easy place to take engagement photos in nature in and around Denver.

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Civic Center Park

Permit: No permit required for less than 25 people

The Civic Center Park in Denver contains beautiful 100+ year old structures making this spot an architectural gem. Between its Greek Amphitheater and Carnegie Library there is so much to explore throughout the park. I love integrating the historical architecture of Denver into my couples engagement photos which is why the Civic Center Park is one of my favorite spots! Between the Grecian style architecture, the natural back drops and the skyline of downtown Denver, there is so much to love about Civic Center Park for your engagement photos.

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Denver Botanic Gardens

Permit: Yes

The stunning Denver Botanic Gardens is the perfect location for engagement photos if you want the beauty of nature with minimal walking. There are so many varieties of plants and flowers throughout the gardens. The space is beautifully kept year round making the gardens a perfect spot for your Denver engagement session. To purchase a permit and to review the rules for professional photography within the Denver Botanic Gardens you can find more information here.

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Cheesman Park

Permit: No permit required, as long as your group has less than 5 people

Cheesman Park is a beautiful park full of stunning architecture, expansive lawns and beautifully kept gardens, a perfect place for engagement photos in Denver. Near the Denver Botanic Gardens this space offers a variety of backdrops for a low key but stunning engagement session. For more information on Cheesman Park, you can head to their website here.

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Planning Your Denver Engagement Session

When it comes to planning your Denver engagement session, one of my top tips is to make your session feel like a date night. Start off your evening with your photos and then make plans after the session to enjoy the city you love so much. If you’re looking for places to spend the rest of your date night, here are a few of my favorite Denver date night activities!

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Spend the evening at the Arcade 1UP
Getting ice cream and walking around downtown (Littleman Icecream is a personal favorite)
Getting a drink at one of the bars in Larimer Square
Taking your dog for a walk as the sun sets over the city.

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Denver is SUCH a magical and unique city and thus the perfect place to take your engagement photos. Whether you want a mountain view from South Valley Park for your session or historic downtown Denver, there are SO many options within an hour of Denver. If you’re in the early stages of planning your engagement session, head to my contact page for more information, and we can start planning your session together.

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