Top 5 Engagement Photo Locations in Louisville

Located on the banks of the Ohio River, this place is famous for the Louisville Slugger baseball bat and the University of Louisville and its Cardinals. And of course, the lip-smacking Kentucky Fried Chicken! Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky and has been named after King Louis XVI of France and was founded by George Rogers Clark in 1778.
 

Did you know that one-third of all of the bourbon comes from this gorgeous city? Well, in case you are one of those who do not know what bourbon is, let’s enlighten you! Bourbon is a whiskey that contains a 51% corn-oriented grainy mixture. Cheers to the city producing this liquid sunshine! 

Louisville is also home to the Kentucky Derby, which is an annual horse race. It is held on the first Saturday in May and precedes a two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. It’s always a great experience hitting the stands and placing bets while sipping chilled mint juleps! Louisville is also home to the legendary boxer, Muhammad Ali, and one of our faves, J Law! Well, Jennifer did her schooling from Kammerer Middle School in the city.

Louisville has a lot of options when it comes to tourists and locals. The architecture of Louisville is inspired by both old and new elements. While many old homes here are built in the Victorian revival style, the downtown witnesses the skyscrapers! The city bustles with art hubs and restaurants that serve authentic Louisville dishes like our very own ‘burgoo’, the iconic ‘hot brown’, and the mouth-watering ‘Louisville-Style Pizza’. 

Louisvillians have various places to go out and enjoy a day or two with their families and partners. From parks like the Cherokee Park, Iroquois Park and the Parklands of Floyds Fork, to various cultural festivals that are held throughout the year, Louisville has boundless options for having a memorable time. Louisville is a city where you can witness all the four seasons. And guess what’s our favorite part about that? Photography! - Come on, no brownie points for guessing that!

Now your engagement announcement to the world is a big deal! And the Louisville engagement photography is the one that you both will remember for your entire life. And you want it to be etched in the minds of your nears and dears too! It totally deserves an awesome location to shoot at, gorgeous props and backdrops and professional engagement photographers. Now, you can trust us for providing you with exceptional photography. 

And as far as engagement photography locations are concerned, we can help you with that too! Yes, we know, you are glad we are here! We are equally happy to serve you. Therefore, we have shortlisted five most beautiful places in Louisville where you can head to for your engagement photography! Read on to know more about them. You can thank us later!

Red River Gorge

This beautiful place is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest and is a canyon system that falls on the Red River. Situated in east-central Kentucky, the Red River Gorge is all about beauty with a plethora of waterfalls, bridges (which are our all-time favorites!), and magnificent sandstone cliffs. Also called the Red, this place is home to more than 100 natural sandstone arches. You know what that means, right? Plenty of photo ops! The Red River Gorge is a fave spot for hikers and climbers. From a photography perspective, there are endless options here. Copperas Falls is the showstopper! So, let’s start with the 3.6-mile-trail that leads to the Copperas Falls. The trail to Copperas Falls is a great journey in itself! You’ll come across a forest, along a creek, rich in lush greens, interesting rock formations, eventually reaching the Copperas Falls. The falls are gorgeous and photography here is ‘photography-done-right!’ Your Red River Gorge engagement photography at this spot promises to be dreamy and fairytale-like! And when you reach the Chimney Top Rock, you’ll be further enchanted! The trail to Chimney Top Rock is about 0.6 miles of gorgeous beauty! And if you are a non-adventurous couple, but you want to explore the wild side of nature for your photography, then you can indulge in this trail. And if you are a hiking couple, then this would be a cakewalk! The view from the top offers spectacular panoramic views of the nearby valleys. The backdrops work like magic for your romantic engagement photography. One thing to be remembered is the timing. Consider reaching this spot before the golden hour strikes! The light amber-ish glow of the sun would lend a heavenly effect to your romantic Red River Gorge engagement photos. The arches here, namely, Princess Arch and Whistling Arch are perfect places to strike intimate poses. While the Princess Arch boasts a Natural Bridge and various small caves, Whistling Arch has bigger rocks to pose along and a relatively easier trail. Then there’s the Lookout Point, which offers breathtaking views of the valley and the Natural Bridge. The spot is even better during sunrise, so try to make it around that time!

Website: http://www.redrivergorge.com/

Address: Robbie Ridge Rd, Stanton, KY 40380

Fees or Permits: Filming/Photography - $100.00

Yew Dell Botanical Gardens

For a typical princess-story-book kinda feel, the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens is the right place for you. The stone castle makes you feel like you are designing your own fairy tale. And rightly so, you are after all! Your wedding that’s round the corner is nothing short of a fairytale - a gorgeous princess finding her prince charming! The fairytale in today’s times only being a lot sassier! The bewitching castle offers beautiful backdrops for your romantic love story. Yew Dell Botanical Gardens was originally the residence of the late Theodore Klein and comprises the gardens, the house, and a commercial nursery. The 61-acre property was open to the public 2005 onwards and converted to an active botanical garden. Yew Dell Botanical Gardens is located in Crestwood, in the suburbs of Louisville, and an hour away from it. We can’t help swooning over this property for its sheer lushness! The place stays booked much in advance, therefore, sessions should be scheduled in advance. The botanical garden comprises various sub gardens - Serpentine Garden, Secret Garden, and the Walled Garden. The gardens are home to rows of trees that provide a natural frame to romantic portraits. Take a cue from Rebecca and Donnie to get more inspiration. These rows belong to our list of favorites when it comes to shooting here. Stone benches made in various shapes contain a unique kind of rusticity and a medieval-type look. They are great places to relax and indulge in some intimate poses for your Yew Dell Botanical Gardens engagement photography. The natural light permeates through the trees and creates magic wherever it falls. Imagine standing against the gorgeous backdrop of lush trees and the warm glow of the sun envelopes you both like a blanket! That touch of gold is what will make your engagement photography totally worth every effort and planning! For a dash of color, you could get a contrasting deep red colored throw or a blanket! Get it wrapped around yourselves, as you both snuggle for some romantic photos. 

Website: https://www.yewdellgardens.org/

Address: 6220, Old Lagrange Rd, Crestwood, KY 40014

Fees or Permits: Charges for engagement photography sessions are $75 per session. 

White Hall

This Greek revival mansion was the erstwhile property of Kentucky legislator Cassius Marcus Clay and was built in the 17th century by John Marshall. Clay published True American for around 25 years. This historic site is located in Richmond, Kentucky and has been restored from a 7-room structure to a 44-room Italianate and was opened to the public in the year 1971. The almost 10-acre garden that surrounds the White Hall mansion is perfectly manicured and an ideal backdrop for your Louisville engagement photography. The mansion boasts Victorian-style decor and original gasoliers fixtures. The spectacular gardens of this estate include an arboretum, a Specimen Garden, a Woodland Fern Garden, and a formal Florentine Garden. The gardens are open to the public and our Louisville engagement photographers can’t seem to get enough of them! The Specimen Garden is also called Annie’s Garden and has been blooming since 2001, the year it was brought to life. The garden is in full bloom during spring to summer and offers a vibrant touch to your White Hall engagement photography session. Take a cue from Chateria and Shawn for more summer engagement inspo. It is known to have more than 60 species of peonies. The benches take you back to the golden era and provide a unique place to pose romantically, while the flowers add colors around you! The cozy walkways are other places where you could strike a pose, walking hand in hand. The walkway is a marvel, especially during fall. The meandering paths covered with fallen leaves are a sight to see! We absolutely love the dreamy wintery vibes! The wrought iron gate is another fave to take rustic romantic White Hall engagement photos. Adorned with flowers and lush foliage, the door speaks a thousand words! You could add more vibrancy to your White Hall engagement photoshoot by wearing colors that are in perfect contrast to the surroundings, like turquoise, fuchsia, deep reds, or yellows! The iron arch is a great place to take photos under. How about taking that ‘archy’ feel before the wedding? The white pillars of the mansion give it a timeless feel and the vibes are unmatched. The pond within the vicinity is ideal for whimsical photos and looks even more stunning around as the sun goes down!

Website: http://www.historicwhitehall.org/

Address: 3110 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40206

Fees or Permits: Charges for engagement photography sessions are $100 per session.

Barn at the Springhouse

This barn, located in Nicholasville is full of delights! It is home to some of the timeless decor and vintage furniture. This is also a very popular wedding venue and nursery. The greens are lush and the flowers are plush! The epitome of rustic romance sports a vintage look with various antique mirrors and a whitewashed ancient tobacco barn. Along with the mirrors, the indoors of the Barn at the Springhouse are adorned with sparkling chandeliers, vintage furniture, bourbon barrels, antique cabinets, and a rustic loft. Needless to say, the rusticity and antiquity are totally worthy of being captured as a backdrop for your authentic Louisville engagement photography. The barn also houses a gazebo that offers plenty of photo ops! Picture the dreaminess of rich greenery and a white rustic gazebo - straight out of a storybook! The stone steps surrounded by vibrant blooms are another ideal spot for your romantic Barn at the Springhouse engagement photography. Among the other photogenic spots are a vintage Barnwood bar, super mature trees, and a little pond. And how can we forget the serpentine stone walkways! The gloriously blooming flowers keep smiling along, as you both walk hand in hand towards a fascinating future!

Website: https://www.springhousegardens.com/about-the-barn

Address: 185 Catnip Hill Rd, Nicholasville, KY 40356

Fees or Permits: Charges for engagement photography sessions are $50 per hour.

Shaker Village

This National Historic Landmark is located in Harrodsburg, around 25 miles from Lexington, atop Pleasant Hill. This 3,000 acres of preserved land of the Shaker religious community dates back to the period between 1805 and 1910. The preservation efforts started in the year 1961 and as of today, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Louisville. The Shaker Village is home to around 34 surviving iconic structures that were built by the Pleasant Hill Shakers. Shaker Village is another favorite of ours due to its immense beauty. The whole area is covered in rolling hills and distinctive historic buildings. The fences are made from old stone and are so typical Bluegrass! The little houses that are found here are more than 200 years old. If you are a history-loving couple, then this is the perfect way to include the iconic history of Louisville in your classic Louisville engagement photography. For more ideas, check out Samara and Mark’s engagement photos to learn about how to make your city’s history a part of your engagement photography. The pond makes for a gorgeous backdrop for your romantically dreamy photos. We always love water! You can even venture into the woods and creeks to indulge for a whimsical touch to your Shaker Village engagement photos. Among the other photogenic spots here are a spectacular waterfall, vintage barns, tree swings, fields of wildflowers, and beautiful rolling hills.

Website: https://shakervillageky.org/plan/

Address: 3501 Lexington Rd, Harrodsburg, KY 40330

Fees or Permits: Details for engagement photography sessions can be obtained by reaching them out at [email protected]