As a wedding & elopement photographer in Indianapolis I know that the wedding day itself gets a lot of attention, both from the couple & their loved ones. This makes total sense as it is a hugely important day, one that you’ll likely put tons of hours & effort into planning. With that being said though, it’s no excuse to overlook the importance of your engagement! It’s a one of a kind experience & transitional period of your relationship, & as such it deserves celebrating. That’s why today I thought I’d go over my guide on how to plan an engagement session in Indianapolis. Creating an engagement session, one that’s fun & also captures what your love looks & feels like at this point in your lives, takes a lot of work, but trust me it is SO worth it. Let’s dive into it!
Things to Think About when Planning an Engagement Session in Indianapolis
First we’ll cover some things you’ll want to keep in mind when it comes to planning your engagement session in the fantastic city of Indianapolis. We’ll then discuss 10 of my favorite locations in Indy for an engagement session to give you an idea of just how many fantastic locations there are in the city!
When Should You Have Your Session?
First & foremost, when should you have your engagement session in Indianapolis? There are a few things to consider when making this decision, the first being of course the weather you’ll be dealing with for your session. Let me be clear first off that you can have an epic engagement session during ANY season in Indianapolis, though being in the Midwest we do have some interesting weather throughout the year. On average winter is pretty frigid, spring tends to be on the rainier side, summer is warmer though not usually too hot, & fall tends to be a bit all over the place. Every season has its pros & cons to it, so it more so depends on the vibe you’re looking for with your session.
Another factor to consider is when your wedding day itself is. Why does this matter you may be asking? You’re likely going to be using your engagement photos for your save the dates, RSVPs, & potentially some of your wedding décor as well. Knowing this, couples typically want to have their engagement session during the same season as their wedding in order to give the images a uniform feel with their wedding day. You can of course go the opposite route as well if that appeals to you!
What Should You Wear?
Another thing to consider, & one that may affect when you choose to have your engagement session in Indianapolis, is what outfits you want to wear for the session. Maybe the two of you are super into your fall sweaters & slightly warmer clothes, maybe you love some nice, light, summer clothes, or maybe you both adore your winter coats & want to show them off for the camera.
Once you have a season picked out I recommend choosing 2 different outfits for your session, one that’s more formal & one that’s a little more casual. This helps to give your engagement session a bit more variety, even if you’re only using one location for your session. When booking with me I also always help my clients work through their outfit options, recommend color palettes, & things to avoid such as matching or wearing clothing with loud patterns.
Make it a Date Night
These next two tips have less of a direct effect on your engagement session, & are meant more to help guide you through the day itself & how you should view it. First I recommend my couples make their engagement session in Indianapolis into a date night. Think about it, you’re already all dressed up, you’ve been loving on one another for a while now in front of the camera, & you’re freaking engaged, you deserve to celebrate a little bit! Typically engagement sessions take place in the afternoon, close to sunset, so the timing usually works out perfectly, & it’s a great excuse to get out of the house a bit if you need one.
Make a Day Out of It
In addition to having a date night after your engagement session, I also recommend you both build the day entirely around yourselves. Take off from work if you’re able, & do something together to make the day all about you & your love. Want to get after it & head out on a morning hike together? Go for it! Looking to keep things more lowkey? Why not make breakfast together & snuggle up for a movie. Anything that you can do together will make the day all the more special, & get you in the mood to be making out & showing affection in front of the camera later.
Decide on the Vibe You Want
Before deciding on the location of your engagement session in Indianapolis you’ll want to figure out the look & feel you’re going for with your photos. The season has a large impact on this, but most of it does come down to the location itself. Do you want something historic, something natural, something lowkey & personal to you, or something else entirely? Consider also whether you want multiple backdrops or if you want the same setting for all of your photos. Personally I recommend either choosing a location that has a bit of variety to it, or choosing multiple locations in close proximity that you can include into the same session.
Your Photographer
Lastly I want to talk a bit about booking the right photographer for your engagement session in Indianapolis. There’s a few things to keep in mind here, the first being that having a photographer who’s local & knows the area will come VERY much in handy if you’re not from Indianapolis. We’ll be able to suggest locations if you’re still undecided, we’ll be able to make on the spot decisions in case of inclement weather affecting the session, & we’ll know if your location has any permit requirements or restrictions on photos just to name a few things. I also recommend booking the same photographer for your engagement session as your wedding. This helps you get to know one another & get comfortable with each other so that come your wedding day there’s no feelings of awkwardness in front of the camera!
10 of My Favorite Locations in Indianapolis for Engagement Sessions
Now that we’ve covered some of the important things to keep in mind when planning your engagement session, it’s time to look at some of my favorite spots throughout Indianapolis for taking engagement photos. I want to note that this is by no means an all inclusive list. Indianapolis is full of incredible locations & spaces that make for the perfect setting for your engagement photos, some of which I like to keep on the down low for my couples to experience. If you’re looking to book with me but aren’t sold on any of these locations, don’t worry. I’m happy to work with you to find the best location for your session!
Indiana Statehouse
First up is the incredible & immaculate Indiana Statehouse! I’ve talked at length about the Indiana Statehouse a few times now on my blog, including an article covering it in detail as a wedding venue. Many of the things that make the Indiana Statehouse appeal as an engagement session location in Indianapolis can be found in that article, but I’ll give you all a quick run-through here as well. The statehouse is in the heart of Indianapolis, making it a prime location if you want to include a 2nd location or want to head out & experience Indy after your session. The building has incredible architecture, both inside & out, giving you tons to work with in terms of backdrops for your session. Finally, there’s no permit requirement or reservation needed in order to take engagement photos here as long as they’re done during public hours!
Fountain Square
One of my favorite neighborhoods in Indianapolis for an engagement session has to be Fountain Square. This fun, quirky, & charming neighborhood is on the southeast side of Indy. With tons of shops, the Fountain Square Theatre with its iconic marquee, & plenty of restaurants & bars to enjoy, the options are endless for engagement photos here. If you’re looking to get the full downtown Indianapolis feel for your photos then you’ll LOVE Fountain Square, & there’s plenty for you to enjoy after your session as well.
Holliday Park
For couples looking for a more natural feel to their engagement session, but also want a bit of history mixed in, Indianapolis’ Holliday Park is for you. The park is on the north side of Indy, & is one of the most beautiful & serene locations in the city. The ruins that are in the park are of course the main attraction. These pillars came all the way from New York in 1950, when their building at 220 Broadway was demolished in order to make way for a new skyscraper. The beauty of the park extends well beyond these ruins though, as there are scenic walking paths to enjoy, wide open fields to frolic in, & a nearby river to use as a backdrop as well.
Your Favorite Shop
Something that I love for my couples to do is include one of their favorite shops of Indianapolis into their engagement session. Whether it’s a coffee shop, vintage shop, record store, or something else, if it’s something you’re both passionate about I am ALL for including it into your photos. It’s a great way to add a personal touch & flair to your photos. With the abundance of these shops in downtown Indy there’s no shortage to choose from, & their centralized location means that it’s easy to include a second location into your session.
I do recommend though that you reach out to any shop prior to our session just to be sure that they’re ok with us taking photos there. These businesses are often more receptive when the couple reaches out rather than the photographer. They’re more excited to hear from a couple that loves their space & wants to include it in their love story, rather than a random photographer just asking to use their space!
Mass Ave
Next up is Massachusetts Avenue, which everyone just calls Mass Ave. Mass Ave is Indianapolis’ arts & theater district, making it the ideal choice for couples that want a bit more character in their engagement session. Mass Ave features colorful & charming small shops, art galleries, stunning murals, & more for you to enjoy. Similar to Fountain Square, Mass Ave is basically in the heart of Indianapolis. Found just northeast of the heart of downtown, the central location means there is PLENTY to do & enjoy after taking your engagement photos.
Your Favorite Bar or Brewery
Similar to including your favorite shop into your engagement session, including your favorite bar or brewery in Indianapolis is another fantastic idea for your session. There are practically endless options to choose from in Indy, some of which you can find in the neighborhoods we’ve already covered too. If you do plan on including one of these into your session I recommend having it as your first location. Having a beer is a great way to loosen up in front of the camera & get the good vibes rolling right away. Lastly, just like with your favorite shop, you’re going to want to reach out to the bar or brewery ahead of time to ensure that they’re fine with us using their space for photos. Sometimes they’ll even have you come in early before they open to the public which adds a level of privacy to the session.
Bottleworks District
Part of Mass Avenue, the Bottleworks District is a bustling & insanely fun part of Indianapolis to have an engagement session at! Named after the Coca Cola bottling factory that has now been repurposed into the Bottleworks Hotel, this district features a ton of great settings & vibes for your photos. Whether it’s the Bottleworks Hotel itself, the Garage Food Hall which has some of the best food vendors in Indy inside, or the brick streets with string lights hanging overhead, there’s so much to see & enjoy in the Bottleworks District.
Lockerbie Street
A few blocks south of Mass Ave you’ll come across the quiet & charming Lockerbie Street! This street features an old style stone road, with some of Indy’s oldest & most beautiful homes lining it. It’s a historic & beloved little piece of Indianapolis, making it a wonderful location for your engagement session. The close proximity to Mass Ave also makes it ideal as a starting location for your session.
Carmel City Center
Making our way around half an hour north of the heart of Indy we’ll find the gorgeous Carmel City Center. The city center is a large building that features tons of shops, a hotel, live music, restaurants & more. Outside of the Carmel City Center though are stunning brick roads that are lined with these old style street lamps. The area has so much charm to it & so much to see that you can have it as the only location for your engagement session & still have an album with a ton of variety to it.
Fort Harrison State Park
On the outskirts of Indianapolis, around 20 minutes northeast of downtown, you’ll find our final engagement session location, Fort Harrison State Park. This massive park is a dream come true for anyone looking to get a more natural feel for their photos. The park consists of 1,700 acres of beautiful land, featuring lakes, creeks, trails through the forest, & more. The park is absolutely stunning year round, & with it only being 20 minutes from downtown you can still enjoy a night in Indy after your session!
Now that we’ve covered my favorite locations in Indianapolis for engagement photos, & how to plan your engagement session, it’s time to book your photographer. Head over to my contact page to send me an inquiry so we can start planning your session together ASAP. For more engagement, wedding, & elopement tips be sure to check out some of my other articles here.
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