The 31 Best Places in Northwest Arkansas for Engagement Photos — Jan 2023
Most couples here find themselves asking what the best places are for engagement photos. Northwest Arkansas has some seriously amazing locations and places for engagement pictures! It does not matter if you are looking for the outdoors, nature, and mountain views or cute downtown vibes. I don’t think there are many other places in the world where you have so much incredible nature just a short drive away. It is not called The Natural State for nothing and we really have the best photography spots in Arkansas. Read on to discover my favorite places to take engagement pictures, from the colorful murals on Emma Avenue in Springdale, to the top of White Rock Mountain, to downtown Bentonville square.
What is an engagement photoshoot?
An engagement session is included in many of my wedding photography packages and it is kind of a practice run for your wedding portraits. But it is also so much more! An engagement shoot is a great opportunity for you and your partner to get more comfortable in front of the camera and for you to get to know your photographer a little bit. Some couples also include engagement photos on their invites or save-the-dates, they are also perfect for your wedding website. Engagement pictures are typically scheduled between 6 and 12 months before the wedding but sessions can also be done the night before! The best months for engagement photos are April and May, those are my favorite, at least. Everything is fresh, spring is in full force and summer is right around the corner, just perfect! Although the session is 100% posed and I am guiding you throughout, I truly emphasize letting go and having fun. The dress code is usually casual in these photoshoots and I personally recommend that you choose colors and garments that represent you and your relationship. Have a scroll and check out my contact page to book your photo session.
When to hire an engagement photographer
There is some advice online that you should hire a photographer for your engagement photos immediately after getting engaged. I wouldn’t recommend this! Most wedding photographers include an engagement photo session in their wedding packages. So you should wait until you have a date and a venue set. Then you can hire a photographer to do both your engagement and wedding photos.
What to wear for your engagement photos
Bring your overall look together
The point is not to match completely, but to complement each other. Pick a few colors that go well together and build your outfits from that. Something dark, bright, and neutral is usually a good recipe for a good engagement photo look. But totally add on accessories that pop and add contrast to your look. Navy, beige, and red is a classic color combination that works in all seasons, for example.
Wear clothes that make you feel like you
If you dress up for even the smallest occasion then you probably should too for your engagement pictures. On the other hand, if you only dress up for the most formal occasions, then you should likely stick to something on the casual side. The engagement session is about you and your relationship and your outfits should support the story of you.
Consider the season and the weather
Light colors and pastels will work better in spring and summer and darker colors will usually work better in fall and winter. But also consider the location you’re going to shoot in. Wearing a lot of reds in a green field in summer might accidentally look like a Christmas card. The same thing goes for oranges and yellows in the fall. We generally want to pop a bit against the backdrop of our photos. Navy and dark green are great options in fall, for example.
What to avoid
Avoid wearing too many patterns and textured clothes. Clothes with text or large logos should also be left at home. I want the focus to be on your faces and your relationship, text, and graphics will compete for that focus. On that note, neon colors and eye-catching colors like hot pink and bright red should also be worn with caution. Our eyes are immediately drawn to these colors and they can also reflect on our skin.
Bring some props
Props aren’t cheesy — but you don’t have to bring flags to your early July shoot or pumpkins if you want a fall engagement shoot. Maybe you could set off some fireworks instead or pop a bottle of bubbly. Think of date-like props, like grabbing a cup of coffee or gelato.
A final note on what to wear
Try not to match each other completely (unless you’re going for the 80s cringeworthy vibe) but a cohesive color scheme that ties your outfits together.
Wear clothes that make you feel like you and tell the story of your relationship.
Consider the season, weather, and location when choosing your outfits.
Avoid or keep to a minimum of clothes that demand a lot of attention.
Definitely bring an accessory, or a prop or two.
My favorite engagement photo locations in NWA
Bentonville
Osage Park
Osage Park is an amazing spot for engagement photos! I simply love the versatility this new park offers, we have wooded areas, a boardwalk, a lake, an airport nearby, polished cement walls, pickleball courts, and food trucks. What more could you want? The golden hour is usually the best time for pictures – Osage Park really shines in the last couple of hours before sunset.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Probably the best known location in Northwest Arkansas, the Crystal Bridges museum offers endless opportunities for pictures. Starting with the cement corridor that I love to shoot in. There are miles and miles of trails with sculptures and installation pieces, like The Way of Color by James Turrell. A great path for an engagement session at Crystal Bridges is to start by the bridge by the parking lot and walk the trail south of the museum.
The Momentary
Crystal Bridges’ sister museum is The Momentary — smaller and more industrial than it’s bigger sister. The Momentary is perhaps most known now for its gigantic “You Belong Here” neon sign, an artwork by Tavares Strachan. But there is so much more to the museum and the outdoor spaces! It is usually easy to get a permit to shoot inside the museum as it gets much less foot traffic, then there’s also the Tower Bar, a super classy penthouse-style bar with amazing views. I personally like all the industrial vibes this cheese factory turned world class museum has to offer.
Bentonville Square
Bentonville Square is just a short drive away from Crystal Bridges which makes it an ideal location when you want to walk away with a variety of images from your engagement photo shoot. The square and nearby streets have incredible walls in all colors to shoot against and the small park offers a little bit of greenery with an urban feel.
Orchards Park
Next door to Crystal Bridges, this park (or the Northwest corner of it) has completely different vibes. I love shooting against the Mediterranean Cypress trees that form a circle – there is a little waterfall that runs into a small lake in the center of the park that is also super cute. Orchards Park can also be combined with other options such as downtown Bentonville.
Fayetteville
University of Arkansas
From Old Main lawn to the Greek theater in by the School of Art to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The campus has endless options for photos, and it is beautiful in all seasons and weather. I’d recommend scheduling your session close to sunset as there aren’t many trees to offer shade from the midday sun.
Gulley Park
Gulley Park is a pretty good option if you want engagement photos that look like you took a day trip and hiked but you really just stayed in Fayetteville. The park has a super accessible creek, open fields, huge pine trees, and clean bathrooms (perfect for mid-session outfit changes.) It is very popular, especially with families — so maybe booking a photo shoot on a Saturday afternoon isn’t the best idea, but a sunset session on a weekday evening definitely is.
Dickson Street Bookshop
One of my personal favorites in Fayetteville is the Dickson Street Bookshop on, you guessed it – Dickson Street! Originally opened in 1978 by Donald Choffel and Charles O'Donnell, the bookshop has over 100,000 titles, spread out over seemingly endless small and hidden corridors of books, great for intimate moments and tiny little portrait shoots. Not to mention, the storefront is extremely photogenic as well.
Art Court
Just a block up from the Dickson Street Bookshop is Art Court — a one-of-a-kind basketball court that also serves as an art installation, right in the heart of Fayetteville. If you wear black and white a lot, then this is the spot for you! The mesmerizing graphics and lines of the court along with the energy of Dickson Street make this a very special photo location. Art Court goes really well with other locations near downtown Fayetteville especially if you want photos close to sunset and after sunset as the court lights up after dark.
Washarama or Sit n’ Spin
This one is a little out there, but why not do something unexpected and have your engagement photos done at a super funky and retro laundromat. The color scheme is perfect, like right out of the ’70s. Washarama and Sit n’ Spin (they are sister laundromats) also name all the washers and dryers, which is the cutest – and you get to walk away with beautiful photos and fresh laundry. Feeding two birds with one seed.
Downtown Fayetteville
Downtown Fayetteville Square and the nearby streets and alleys are awesome for engagement pictures! You can also go to the top floor of the parking garage behing Graduate Hotel. Downtown can also be paired with most of the other Fayetteville locations on this list because of how central it is. Urban photos on the square and then nature vibes on Old Main lawn, perfect, right?
Lake Sequoyah
Lake Sequoyah might be one of the better-kept secrets in Northwest Arkansas for engagement photos. I hardly ever run into people on the trails or near the lake itself. This is truly a great spot for those that are a tiny bit shy. The lake is just 15 minutes from downtown and one of the best places to take pictures in Fayetteville. The best seasons to shoot are summer and fall to take full advantage of the beautiful foliage surrounding the lake.
Springdale
Downtown Springdale – Emma Avenue
This one is really high up on the list for me. The balance between old and new is perfect in downtown Springdale, Walter Turnbow Park is sleek and smooth and mixes in beautifully with all the sunbaked buildings on Emma Ave. Did I mention murals! Downtown Springdale has them in spades!
Murphy Park
Murphy Park is an excellent location if you want to include water in your engagement photos. There is both a pond and a pretty large swimming pool within the park, the Springdale Aquatic Center. The park is reasonably large, you can certainly have a full session there, or you can do half at the park and half on Emma Avenue.
Rogers
Lake Atalanta
Lake Atalanta is comfortably close to downtown Rogers via the Railyard Bike Park. The park was reopened in 2016 and is a pretty popular destination for locals to spend time outdoors. There are endless opportunities for photos around the lake, the best times of day for photos will be in the early hours and a few hours before sunset.
Beaver Lake
Technically, not only in Rogers but one of the main marinas is in Prairie Creek. Many of the most beautiful spots are pretty much only accessible by boat. Full and half-day boat rentals are available at the Prairie Creek Marina in addition to the marinas by Lost Bridge and Starkey. This is definitely a half-day photo shoot and is recommended for the summer months.
Downtown Rogers
An engagement photoshoot in downtown Rogers requires a bit of walking in my opinion. All the streets provide something different and the sculptures in Railyard Park offer contrast to the brick buildings. The closeness to Lake Atalanta is excellent for couples that like a bit of nature and a bit of urban. Let’s put on some comfortable shoes and explore all the nooks and crannies of downtown Rogers.
More Locations
All of these locations are within my service area, some require a travel fee.
Tanyard Creek, Bella Vista
Literally, just minutes away from the stunning Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel, Tanyard Creek Nature Trails is pretty perfect in any season, be it the middle of winter or around the summer solstice. If you are scheduling your photo session between December and March, you should consider Tanyard Creek. The park is also a great option for wedding portraits for those that are getting married at Cooper Chapel.
White Rock Mountain
White Rock Mountain is one of those magical places that make living here so worth it. White Rock is more than just a fantastic location for engagement photos, it is also perfect for elopements and micro weddings with a lodge that can accommodate up to 30 people and plenty of space on the campsite. This location is great any time of year but really shines at sunrise and sunset.
Eureka Springs
Probably the closest you’ll get to feeling like you’re in Europe without leaving Arkansas. This little town in the Ozark mountains is frequently called Little Switzerland – and for good reason. Steep and narrow streets and alleys along with stone houses and Victorian style homes make up the downtown area. It is so fun to shoot there! If you’re into the Wes Anderson aesthetics, you should book your shoot in Eureka Springs.
Kings River Overlook
One of the better overlook engagement photo locations around Northwest Arkansas. This spot is about an hour east of Fayetteville and is relatively easily accessible. There’s about a 15 minute walk from the parking lot to the main overlook but there are two other smaller ones on the way there along with a small cave just a minute off the trail. When you make it to the Kings River Overlook, you’ll have two options for photos (but take both!) Looking west over the river’s bend (pictured above) or looking east, overlooking the river but with a slightly less impressive view (still plenty impressive!)
Natural Dam Waterfalls
Technically not in NWA, I know! This spot is so magical and one of the best places to take photos in and around our beautiful area. Also just an hour South of Fayetteville! While the falls themselves are definitely the main attraction, the Mountain Fork River also offers some great backdrop options a few minutes down the river. This location is definitely best in late summer and fall when the river is low and you can stand on top of the dam to capture that amazing reflection.
Devil’s Den State Park
Devil’s Den is my favorite for hiking, period. The park is gorgeous for photos in any season but definitely one of the better ones for fall pictures. It offers multiple unique spots, you can simply park your car and have a shoot centered around the waterfall in Lee Creek or hike up to Yellow Rock and capture the view from the top – perfect for all types of nature lovers.
Yellow Rock
Speaking of which! Some might call Yellow Rock the ultimate Devil’s Den experience. The park is just 30 minutes south of Fayetteville and there is a 30-40 minute hike (just over a mile with a 300ft elevation) to reach the overlook area, but it is well worth it. The hike takes you along beautiful rock formations, tiny creeks, and deep woods to use as backdrops for photos before you get up to the top.
The Buffalo River
Another one not quite in NWA, but well worthy of a mention nonetheless. The Buffalo River is just a dream, and the national park might just deserve a post of its own as it is so much more. The park within the park near Roark Bluff and the Steel Creek campground is my personal favorite but the two waterfalls, Hemmed In Hollow and Twin Falls are truly gorgeous too! Here is some more information.
War Eagle Mill
Built in 1832, this still working gristmill is a wonderful spot for pictures, both using the bright red mill itself as the backdrop, or the over hundred year old steel bridge that crosses over War Eagle Creek. There are also multiple spots along the creek. War Eagle Mill has a café with a great brunch menu, perfect for an after-shoot meal.
All the hiking trails in NWA
Northwest Arkansas has some of the best hiking trails and nature in the entire United States. The trails rank anywhere from easy to hard but most of the ones near us are easily accessible and are either easy or moderate. Think Hobbs State Park, Mount Sequoyah, War Eagle Mill, Markham Hill, Lake Wedington, Lake Fayetteville, and more.
Ice Cream Date
Ice cream dates are huge where I am from. We’ll go for ice cream in the middle of January as well as after a dip in the pool in July, it doesn’t matter. I think this is a super adorable idea that can be easily incorporated into the end of your engagement session. If you’re not a huge ice cream person then we can substitute with coffee or delicious donuts. Or just any treat that is unique to your relationship.
Your first date restaurant
This is both a great and a very romantic option for engagement photos and to pop the question (if that’s what you’re thinking). Most restaurant managers are super easy to work with if you give them enough notice and schedule your shoot outside the busiest times for them.
Parking Garages
I like shooting in parking garages for a number of reasons. They tend to have amazing views, like the Garland Avenue and Walton Arts Center garages in Fayetteville. They can be an option for rainy days, and when it doesn’t rain they usually have amazing even light because they are usually not shadowed by nearby buildings. I also just love the texture of cement.
At Home
This option requires zero travel! And if you have a backyard, we can do some outdoor pictures for added variety. This is also a great option if you are worried about rain on your day.
These locations are just some of my favorites. What ultimately matters is your vision and what you want. If you feel like handing me the ball and letting me run with it, I am more than certain that we can make stunning engagement photographs in almost any space. I am always down to travel and explore new places and find nothing more romantic than taking engagement pictures in a spot that matters a lot to the couple. If you have more ideas, please drop them in the comments below, and let’s keep this conversation going. Cheers!