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Looking for a spot to take engagement photos in Boise? As a wedding photographer, I am always scouting stunning locations to take my couples for their engagement photos. Boise is such a beautiful location for engagement photos and I love the diverse landscape. With so many options, I always recommend starting by considering some photo locations that are personal or meaningful to you and your partner. Just because the landscape of Boise is breathtaking doesn't mean you have to choose the most epic backdrop for your photos—number one is that your photos reflect you and your relationship. The best spot for your session might be at home or at your favorite date spot. It might be your favorite trail or point to watch the sunset. Whatever you decide, make sure the location you choose for your engagement photos fits your relationship and your vibe.
If you’re planning your engagement session in Boise, here are some of my favorite photo locations to get you thinking:
Downtown Boise has some amazing locations for engagement photos! City scapes often have unique architecture, clean lines, and many different surfaces and materials that can serve as the background for beautiful photos, and Boise is no exception! As a photographer, one of my priorities is getting clean, consistent light on my couples during their engagement session. One of the factors I always consider are the surfaces that light reflects off of, because they can cast colors on the subject. With lots of neutral colored surfaces and walls, I love using downtown Boise for engagement photos!
If you’re looking for architectural interest or something that feels iconically Boise, the Idaho State Capitol Building is a great option. Not only is it an iconic building in Boise, I can find even light there during any season. Its beautiful architecture and neutral surfaces create lovely tones and strong compositions in my images. Depending on the season and time of day, it could also be possible to go indoors at the Capitol Building for some photos.
Another reason downtown Boise is a good option for engagement photos is the opportunity to capture some personal date vibes. If you and your partner enjoy going on dates together, it could be fun to plan a date in Boise and have your photographer tag along to capture more documentary style photos that feel true to you and capture you both doing something you love together!
No matter where you walk or stop downtown Boise, there are plenty of options for engagement photos!
If you're looking for amazing mountain views for your Boise engagement photos, Bogus Basin is the perfect location for you! With lots of tall grass, trees, and sweeping mountainside views of the Boise valley, your engagement photos will be epic in this location. I love that Bogus has lots of places to explore, and shows off the more adventurous side of Boise. For Bogus Basin engagement photos, it's important to remember that it's typically colder (around 10+ degrees colder) than downtown Boise and takes some extra time to get there. This also makes Bogus a great spot if you’re hoping to have snow on the ground for your photos!
The Boise foothills is another iconic location for engagement photos—it feels so characteristically Boise! The sweeping views are incredible and the Boise landscape really shines in foothills locations. Another thing I love about using the foothills in Boise for engagement photos is when the location aligns with a couple’s interests. When I work with couples who love exploring the foothills, it makes it so fun to capture photos there!
As always when visiting locations like the foothills, it’s important to leave no trace and pack out what you bring in. I highly recommend checking out any foothills trails on the Ridge to Rivers website before using them for photos in order to check trail conditions, etiquette, closures, etc.
With so many places you could use for a foothills engagement session, here are a few of my favorites:
The Military Reserve is located on the northeast side of Boise. With a couple creeks running through it with hills on either side, this engagement photo location offers spots that have open shade and more foliage as well as spots that have sweeping views of both rolling foothills and the Boise horizon. With just a five or ten minute hike, you can utilize both during your photo session!
As the sun goes down, it lights up the tall grasses at the Military Reserve, creating a stunning desert glow that will make your engagement photos shine.
Camel's Back Park is conveniently located near the North End in Boise. With a short hike along the trails at Camel's Back, you can get amazing engagement photos! Camel's Back Park has the natural atmosphere of the Boise foothills, while being close to downtown and amenities like a restroom that is open year-round.
Just past Camel’s Back is Hulls Gulch, another easily accessible location in Boise with foothills views. Hulls Gulch Reserve has two trailheads—The Grove and Lower Hulls Gulch—that are the starting point for some of the 180 miles of Ridge to Rivers trails in the foothills.
Lucky Peak is located about 20 minutes from downtown Boise, and is another beautiful location for engagement photos! Lucky Peak combines foothills style scenery with river and lake views. The landscape is unique and different from what you’d find closer to downtown, but equally stunning.
I love Lucky Peak as an option for engagement photos, and especially love the idea of boating, swimming, picnicking, or hanging out by the lake as the inspiration for photos there!
Boise is also known as the “City of Trees,” and you can really see that in Boise’s parks and along the Boise River. Fall engagement photos are amazing in Boise for this reason. While some of the parks or river spots in Boise may not have sweeping views, they are just as beautiful for engagement photos in Boise.
Here are some of my favorite parks in Boise for engagement photos:
The Boise River is one of Boise’s most loved features and activity spots and lots of couples love taking engagement photos along the river for this reason! The river sits at different levels depending on the time of year and season, but local photographers can usually find a spot along the river for photos any time of year! There are some beautiful river spots all along the Boise River Greenbelt—some in Boise and some in Eagle too!
I’m Becky, a photographer based in Boise, Idaho where I live with my favorite guy and our son. Being invited into the most personal celebrations and intimate stories is one of my greatest privileges as a photographer. Beyond amazing locations and beautiful details, I love photography because of the people. Camera in hand, I simultaneously get to know people and give them the gift of seeing a deeper part of themselves and the people they love. I believe in photographs that are evocative, nuanced, and personal, and I’d love to create some for you.
If you're looking for an engagement photographer in Idaho, Get to know me or send me an inquiry, I’d love to connect with you!
Wedding photography is my heartbeat. For me, it holds the perfect tension between creativity and authenticity, observation and connection. In front of my camera clients transform to friends, and behind it you'll usually find me tearing up, cheering you on, or holding my breath because of the raw goodness of the moment at hand.
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