Denver and the surrounding areas (Golden! Boulder! Lyons!) offer an incredible variety of settings, scenes, and vibes for your engagement photography shoot. As a Denver engagement photographer who’s been doing it for a minute or two, here’s a curated list of some of my favorite engagement photo locations in the Denver metro area:

Downtown Denver & RINO Art District

For a more modern, urban aesthetic, Denver’s RiNo (River North) Art District is filled with colorful murals, industrial-chic backdrops, and trendy coffee shops. If you want a stylish and playful vibe, we can explore the alleyways, breweries, and hidden gems that make this neighborhood one of the best for engagement photos.

Lookout Mountain & Downtown, Golden, CO

If you’re looking for panoramic mountain views without a long hike, Lookout Mountain is perfect. Overlooking the city of Golden, this spot provides sweeping vistas of the foothills and an unbeatable golden-hour glow. And Downtown Golden is so cute and charming with lots of backdrops for photos and vibing.

LoHi (Lower Highlands in Denver) 

Maybe my favorite area for Denver engagement photos. There’s a lot of historical buildings mixed in with new builds plus great restaurants and bars. If you’re looking for something eclectic, hip yet historical with lots of photographic appeal, LoHi is the place!

Chautauqua Park / Pearl Street / The Hill (Boulder)

Just a short drive from Denver, Chautauqua Park is a dream for couples who love nature. The Flatirons provide a striking backdrop, especially at golden hour. In the spring and summer, wildflowers add extra charm, while fall brings gorgeous golden aspen trees. And Pearl Street is lovely in the spring and summer, making it easy to capture you while you sip margaritas on the Rio’s rooftop or eat Gelato Boy as the sun dips behind the mountains.

Lyons, Colorado

A quaint small town (where my husband grew up) north of Boulder on the way to Estes Park. Lots of scenic open space options in the area with outdoor seating at Oskar Blues or Spirit Hound during the warm months. There’s also a fantastic pinball arcade downtown!

Coot Lake & Boulder Reservoir (Boulder County)

Coot Lake is another favorite Boulder County outdoor location of mine for shoots of all kinds. You can start there, then head over to Avery’s patio for a cold beer on a sunny day. Boulder Reservoir is right next to Coot Lake and is a beautiful body of water as well. There’s a great mix of terrain with the gorgeous foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the background. The views are absolutely stunning at sunset in the spring, summer, or fall.