One of the things I love most about being a wedding photographer in Orlando is the fact that Central Florida offers such a diverse variety for places to take photos. Not only is it home to over 300 unique wedding venues, but the options for stunning engagement photo shoot locations are just as plentiful!
Some of my favorite places in Orlando to shoot engagement sessions are at spots that are special to the couple such as the place where they had their first date or their family home for example. Another option is to incorporate something that you love to do together into your location– for example a nature trail might be perfect if you love to bike or a winery would be awesome if you are wine lovers!
Lastly you can consider a place that has the a specific vibe or style that you are after. For example if you want something with a “city” feel we could go downtown to the Church Street train station or to a parking garage with city views. Feel free to think outside the box and come up with something a little different.
As an Orlando native for over 20 years and a full time photographer for over 10 years I have all the tea on these locations and more so feel free to reach out directly if you need tailored advice.
Regarding Disney parks & resorts: As of Summer 2022, Disney is no longer allowing professional photography at Magic Kingdom. Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are the only available options for outside photographers to capture in-park Disney sessions.
Here are my top locations to have your engagement photos taken around Orlando:
1. Leu Gardens – North Orlando
This lovely and expansive garden near downtown has beautiful lush greenery, several gazebos, a rose garden and an adorable cottage with white picket fences. It’s huge and offers lots of variety in backdrops for your engagement photos! The paved walkways are also especially convenient if you plan to wear heels. It does close at 6pm (and last entrance is at 5pm) from March-September and from October-February it closes even earlier so it is not ideal for those seeking a sunset look, but it is very beautiful most times of day since the trees offer lots of shade. They did recently begin offering “Late Night Thursdays” for the Spring & Summer months though so this is one I would highly recommend to book for then if possible. Also note there is a $15 per person entrance fee.
2. Wall Murals in Downtown Orlando
There are tons of amazing wall murals and artwork around the Mills and Milk District areas downtown! I’ve scouted them all and I know where all of the best spots are, so as long as you’re willing to do a little bit of driving we can hit them all for some fun colorful photos. (You can totally ride in my Tesla too if you want and I’ll uber you around!)
3. Historic Winter Garden, Florida (West of Orlando)
This is my favorite location for classy engagement photos with a little vintage charm! There are tons of great brick walls, an old school theater, a beautiful fountain and a clock tower. It’s located about 40 minutes west of Orlando and while it’s probably too far out for out-of-state visitors, it’s a great option for those local to the area. It does get busy after working hours so that is something to keep in mind for sunset photo shoots. You can see a full blog post of this location here: https://capturedbyelle.com/orlando-engagement-session-location-downtown-winter-garden/
https://www.cwgdn.com/355/Historic-District
4. Lake Eola – Downtown Orlando
From the iconic fountain to the colorful amphitheater, this huge lakeside park in downtown Orlando has tons of cool places for portraits. Some of my fave spots include the red bridge, Chinese pagoda and the numerous art sculptures throughout the park. It also has some beautiful city views and can be combined with other stops around downtown like Church Street station. Keep in mind it does get busy in the evenings so street parking can take some time to find.
https://www.orlando.gov/Parks-the-Environment/Directory/Lake-Eola-Park
5. Dickson Azalea Park – Downtown Orlando
This urban park is like a nature preserve right in the middle of downtown Orlando. It has tons of cool bridges, a tunnel and mega lush landscapes with tons of greenery and rocks. The historic 1920s Washington Street bridge is also a staple. It definitely has a bit of a jungle oasis vibe and it’s also dog friendly!
https://www.orlando.gov/Parks-the-Environment/Directory/Dickson-Azalea-Park
6. Winter Park Train Station & Hannibal Square (North of Orlando)
This part of Winter Park north of Orlando is an upscale area with Park Ave being known for it’s boutique shopping and fancy restaurants. The train station adds some romantic charm and has a pretty rose garden with a fountain, while the park has lots of open green space. Nearby you’ll find ivy covered walls and Spanish tile staircases all within just a short drive.
7. Port Orleans Riverside Resort
Located at Walt Disney World, this resort is easily accessible for day visits compared to some of the other premium resorts that will require dining or room reservations. It has a New Orleans southern charm feel and has some amazing spots for photos including a water wheel, gazebo, wooden bridge and various water fountains. The resort is large and spacious so it’s rare to find crowds here. You can see a full blog post featuring this location here: https://capturedbyelle.com/disney-port-orleans-grand-floridian-engagement/
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/port-orleans-resort-riverside/
8. Baldwin Park – Harbor Park (Downtown Orlando)
This trendy downtown Orlando neighborhood has an awesome community area along the lake with grassy steps and a couple of docks lined with palm trees, a biking trail and some really lovely fountains. It offers a more upscale urban vibe while still having tons of beautiful Florida greenery. Free parking is available on the street or in various garages in the area, but it may be a small walk to the waterside so allow extra time to park here.
https://www.orlando.gov/Parks-the-Environment/Directory/Harbor-Park
9. Celebration, Florida (Near Disney)
This little town south of Orlando was created by Disney and it has that adorable hometown vibe! The waterfront area is super pretty and has rocking chairs and walking paths that are perfect for photos. The cute colorful buildings in the area are perfect for a more soft, romantic look or for a playful vibe– it’s very versatile and ridiculously charming! This spot is perfect for couples wanting to shoot near the Disney resorts without having to be on property. With tons of free, easy street parking it’s very accessible just steer clear of busy weekends here.
10. Kissimmee Lakefront Park (Near Disney)
This beautiful town park is located south of Orlando with close proximity to Disney. It’s located along Lake Toho and offers an adorable quiet park feel with lots of pretty waterfront views. It has paved walkways and some brick steps as well as plenty of open green space. It would be picture perfect for a picnic if you wanted to bring along a blanket and a bottle of champagne! I usually recommend to park at the lot by Ruby Plaza Cafe which is free and close to restrooms.
https://www.kissimmee.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/4/378
11. Gaylord Palms Resort – Indoor Atrium (Near Disney)
This is my go-to spot for those wanting to shoot in the Summer! This lavish indoor location at the Gaylord Palms resort in Kissimmee offers a garden vibe with natural light while still being air conditioned and fully covered. There are also some beautiful areas outdoors if the weather permits. It is perfect for those days when the Florida humidity or rain is unpredictable which is especially common from June-August. Please note there is a fee to park (approx $35 per vehicle) so you’ll want to take that into consideration.
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcogp-gaylord-palms-resort-and-convention-center/overview/
12. Rollins College Campus – Winter Park, FL (North of Orlando)
This gorgeous college campus is very photographer friendly and the Spanish architecture and aesthetic is to die for. There is also a small waterfront pier as well as a beachy waterfront park (Dinky Dock) in the same area. You can definitley dress down here but if you want to really dress up-up this is the place to be extra grown & sexy. It is an active campus, so it can get busy during regular school hours and finding visitor parking is difficult which is why I recommend it more for evenings and weekends.
