10 awesome engagement photography locations in Raleigh North Carolina

As a professional engagement photographer, I am often asked where the prettiest photography locations are in and around the Raleigh and Durham metro areas to hold my client's photoshoots. This is not an easy question to answer since there are tons of great places to capture some really beautiful images here in the Triangle. Happily, we are blessed with nice weather year-round in North Carolina  (even in January!) so no matter the season or the weather there is always someplace nearby to capture great photos with a pretty sweet backdrop.

I have made a list and found that these locations offer the best opportunities to capture gorgeous photo's any time of year! It was quite difficult to narrow it down to just a few choice locations but in no particular order here are my top 10 favorites...

1. The JC Ralston Arboretum

 http://jcra.ncsu.edu

2. Yates Mill Farm Park 

Ok so I know I said that this list isn't in order but I really love the top two locations listed above.  

http://www.wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill/Pages/default.aspx

3. Harris Lake Park 

http://www.wakegov.com/parks/harrislake/Pages/default.aspx

Engagement photography at Pullen Park Raleigh, NCA couple floats in the pond on a paddleboat during an engagement photography session at Pullen Park in Raleigh NC.

4. Pullen Park 

* Pullen Park is very, very, very, very BUSY on the weekends and parking is a pain in the a@#!. Always schedule an engagement shoot here on weekday mornings, the earlier the better! That aside, this a fun location to hold an engagement shoot, especially while using the paddle boats.

http://www.raleighnc.gov/parks/content/ParksRec/Articles/Parks/Pullen.html

Downtown Raleigh and Moore Sq. Engagement photosEngagement photos captured in downtown Raleigh and at Moore Sq. by engagement photographer S. Siko.

5. Moore Square and surrounding streets in downtown Raleigh NC

 http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/go/moore-square

NC State Engagement photography + A moment at the Memorial Bell tower in Raleigh NCA couple shares a kiss under the Memorial Bell Tower on the NC State Campus during their engagement photography session in downtown Raleigh NC.

6. The campus of NC State University  

http://www.ncsu.edu/belltower/

Engagement Photography + Raleigh, NC + The NC Museum of Art + glass dipNorth Carolina engagement portrait photography as shot by Sally Siko of Silvercord Event Photography LLC. Locations included as follows,The North Carolina Museum of Art in Cary/Raleigh NC

7. The NC Museum of Art 

* The NC Museum of Art requires a permit, a client fee and appointment to be made ahead of the photoshoot date!

http://ncartmuseum.org

8. Sarah P. Duke Gardens

* Duke gardens requires a permit, an appointment & charges a (very steep!) fee to clients who want to take photos here!

 https://gardens.duke.edu

9. Mazarick Park Fayetteville NC 

https://fcpr.us/parks-trails/parks/mazarick-park

Chapel Hill engagement photography 1An engaged couple in front of the Old Well in Chapel Hill NC.

10. The University of North Carolina campus

 http://www.unc.edu/interactive-tour/landmarks/

EXAMPLES OF ALL OF THE ABOVE LOCATIONS MAY BE FOUND ON MY ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO PAGE LINK BELOW, CHECK IT OUT!
http://sallysiko.zenfolio.com/engagement/photography/from/raleigh/nc/and/beyond