Top 9 Engagement Photo Locations in Sacramento

Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and is situated in the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in Northern California's Sacramento Valley. The sunny city of Sacramento is the sixth-largest city in California and is known for its evolving contemporary culture. Playfully termed as the most ‘hipster city’ in California, Sacramento is also known to be ‘America's Most Diverse City’. Staying true to its California climate, the city is pleasant to sunny during the entire year, which makes it a welcoming place for both the residents as well as visitors. Dotted with iconic attractions like California State Capitol Museum and Old Sacramento Waterfront District, the city is alive and buzzing with activity, attractions, and a promise of fun. Perched by the river, the city also gets to enjoy some awesome mirrored skylines and sunsets. If your heart is lost somewhere in the streets of this beautiful city, choosing this location to feature in your engagement photography might be a wonderful idea. There are so many amazing locations in this city, you will be spoilt for choice.
 

To make your work a little easy, we have compiled a list of our favorite engagement photography locations in Sacramento which also happen to be some of the best ones! Sacramento sure has a wide range of locations which, we promise, will take your breath away! Have fun exploring!

The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden

One of Sacramento’s favorite locations, this location is such a beautiful spot, it will surely sweep you off your feet. Suitable for all seasons, this engagement location is filled to the brim with a variety of different settings to give your engagement photo session just the background it needs. Enticing trails amongst tall towering trees, cute romantic bridges, and a variety of flowering bushes and trees, this location is a party for your senses. Spread out throughout the Arboretum, there are redwood trees, a charming lakeside view, and winding roads perfect for slow romantic walks. From the cozy old-fashioned setting featuring willowy trees and arched bridges to the mild taste of wilderness, this location is a taste of everything. Let our engagement photographer capture the magic of this place in the most flattering light. There are so many pretty backdrops that every photo is bound to turn out just the right shade of perfect!

Website: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/

Address: One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616

Fees or Permits: Photo permit is required.

Apple Hill-High Hill Ranch

If you are planning for a fall engagement session in Sacramento, can there be any more fall appropriate location other than Apple Hill? We think not! As soon as you step inside this location, you will be embraced by the feeling of coziness and you can almost feel the crispness in the air. The apples grow heavy on the apple farms and considering that there are around 20 Christmas tree farms in the general area, the location is quite festive on its own. This engagement location promises several fun activities like orchard apple picking, hayrides, cider tasting, and pumpkin patches, making it everything that an ultimate fall destination can be. Situated at just an hour’s drive from Downtown Sacramento, High Hill Ranch in Apple Hill is a charming recluse which will bring a vibe of calm and serene sights and sounds, without having to get too far away from the city. From pristine wineries to magical Christmas trees, breathtaking fresh blooms and lush greenery, this is an engagement location which will steal your heart!

Website: https://www.highhillranch.com/

Address: 2901 High Hill Rd, Placerville, CA 95667

Fees or Permits: Photo permit is required.

Downtown Folsom and Sutter Street

If you are a couple fascinated by history, this might just be the place for your engagement photo session. Downtown Folsom is like a trip back to the past and provides you a glimpse of the city’s old-world charm. Having your engagement photoshoot here will ensure that your engagement album has a little piece of history in it. Leave the busy streets of Downtown Sacramento behind and set foot in this location which is a slice of yesterday. Stunning architecture and easy access to the American River, this area promises stunning photo opportunities which will leave our Sacramento engagement photographer spoilt for choices. From the quaint storefronts of historic Sutter Street, colorful buildings with historic architecture, and the old-world vibe reflected in this place, this engagement location is a refreshing change from the others in the list. Having this location as a backdrop for your engagement photo session might add a delightful old-world charm to your photos, making them even more special.

Website: http://visitfolsom.com/historic-sutter-street/

Address: 915 Sutter St #110, Folsom, CA 95630

Fees or Permits: No photo permit is required.

The Roseville Greenbelt

Can’t make up your mind whether you would like to shoot in a desert, a beach or amidst greenery? Don’t you fret! This location might be quite an expansive one, as the Roseville Greenbelt covers more than 41 trails that span 297 miles. The thing about these trails is that you can come across the sweetest spots when you least expect it. It also gives your engagement photo session a laid-back and chill vibe which translates beautifully on camera. Whether you want to walk hand in hand on an easy walking trail or go for a cute bike trail that ends with a picnic in a cozy spot, the options are endless. Whether it is the UC Davis and Russell Boulevard Paths or the Elk Grove Creek Trail, you will be spoilt for choice. The landscape is stunning every time, and if you are lucky to catch the slant of the golden hour, your pictures will speak in golden hues and end up looking stunning any time of year and with such a large park area they find new spots to photograph every time! Let your engagement photographer capture the magic of raw natural beauty for you to hold close to your heart for years to come!

Website: https://www.roseville.ca.us/government/departments/public_works/biking_walking/parks_trails_bikeways_map

Address: The Roseville Greenbelt, CA

Fees or Permits: No photo permit is required.

Folsom Lake 

The perfect combination of dry desert-like terrain and the lush blue of the lake, this engagement location is a treat to the senses. Folsom Lake provides a vast range of terrain for you and your photographer to experiment with. Whether you are a big fan of sandy beaches or dramatic rock formations, whether you like the feeling of water on your feet or the hilly and wooded mountains on the horizon, this location provides all this and more! Let your Sacramento engagement photographer take advantage of the gorgeous landscape surrounding this location, while you take a moment with your partner to appreciate the sheer beauty of nature. The variety in the backdrop and the unusual terrain makes this engagement location a favorite among newly engaged couples and professional photographers both. Choosing this stunning location to be in your engagement photos is a decision you will never regret. 

Website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=500

Address: 7755 Folsom Auburn Rd, Folsom, CA 95630

Fees or Permits: No photo permit is required.

Capital Rose Garden

The capital rose garden is not only a perfect spot for a springtime picnic but it is also one of the most favored spots in Sacramento for an engagement photo session. Whether it is the irresistible charm of the cherry blossom trees which will be blooming heavily early April onwards, or it is the orange trees in the background, this engagement location is abundant in photo-perfect beauty which will add value to your engagement shoot. The Pyramid building also adds a bit of character to the photos while the blooming flowers and romantic fountains add a dash of old-world fairytale charm. However, all said and done, it is the wide variety of roses that make this place such a win. Featuring more than 650 roses with more than 153 varieties, colors, and fragrances, this rose garden will add a lasting impression on your mind, and also your engagement album. Let our Sacramento engagement photographer capture some candid couple portraits in the best of frames in this iconic garden.

Website: http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/the-museum/world-peace-rose-garden

Address: 1315 10th St room b-27, Sacramento, CA 95814

Fees or Permits: Photo permit is required.

Crawdads on the River

What better than a warm evening in the docks of this city landmark? The dock witnesses a steady inflow and outflow of boats and the sheet of blue water welcomes one with infectious enthusiasm. Something about the soothing water lines, the sun on your skin as you enjoy a hearty meal is just so celebratory of sunny days. And when the day melts into night, the river puts on a show of shimmering nightlights and the view is worth a hundred pictures. If you want your engagement photographs to capture the true spirit of California, choosing this location as your chosen one might be a great idea. With good food, sun shunning happily, and the calm water to cool off, what could ever be better than this? Let our Sacramento engagement photographer capture the magic of this location in epic pictures which will forever remind you of the sun, the water, and each other!

Website: http://saccrawdads.com/

Address: 1375 Garden Hwy, Sacramento, CA 95831

Fees or Permits: Photo permit is required.

Dunes Beach in Half Moon Bay

Craving for the blue water and sand on your feet? We have got your back. Just a 2 to 3 hours drive southwest and you will discover this amazing engagement location which immediately welcomes you with red rocks. Dunes Beach, one of the northern beaches in Half Moon Bay State Beach is sure full of promise and beauty. As if the gorgeous stretch of water is not stunning enough, there is the golden sandy beach, the consistent lab of the water, and stretches of greenery to bring the whole picture together. Let our Sacramento engagement photographers seize the panoramic beauty of the surroundings in awe-inspiring captures. The gorgeous rocks look especially dramatic and foreboding as the sun sets, providing opportunities to get the perfect dramatic shots of you and your partner against the flaming sky and the dark rocks. This beautiful beach, like most beaches, is surely an engagement location that will not disappoint and will provide the perfect backdrop to create an engagement photo book to remember. 

Website: https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/dunes-beach-half-moon-bay/

Address: Young Ave and Cabrillo Hwy N, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Fees or Permits: No photo permit is required.

Sutter Buttes

The Sutter Buttes is a gorgeous location for your engagement photo session. It is by definition a circular complex of eroded volcanic lava domes which rise as buttes above the flat plains of the Sacramento Valley in Sutter County, Northern California. Situated just outside of Yuba City, this engagement location sits pretty at just about 30 mins north of Sacramento. Known for its uniquely beautiful terrain of charming hillocks and the most amazing view, this location is also known for its breathtaking sunsets. Although it is not technically a ‘mountain range’, the valley peaks are just as fascinating. Having this quaint and unique location featuring in your engagement pictures will surely lead to some stunning pictures. If you are the couple who like to have a story to tell behind your trademark moments or are just fascinated by this big blue dot called Earth, this location will add that sense of whimsy and fantasy to your engagement photos. Let your engagement photographer capture the gorgeous views that the location boasts- the greenery, the elevation, the story- all of it! We promise you will remember the magic of this place even years down the road when your hair turns gray and your skin turns wrinkly.

Website: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23786

Address: 1375 Garden Hwy, Sacramento, CA 95831

Fees or Permits: Photo permit is required.

Please note that permits and fees are subject to change. Please confirm the policies with the location before planning your engagement photo session.