I get asked the question almost every time we book a new couple. Where are the best NC locations for our engagement photos? The simple answer is anywhere you want! Daniel & I love making our engagement sessions personal to every couple. However, sometimes you just want a gorgeous location and your boo to snuggle up to! We totally get that! So we’ve compiled a list of our favorite NC locations for an engagement session!

Here is our list of the Best NC Locations for Engagement Photos:

Moses Cone | Blowing Rock, NC

Blowing Rock is one of our favorite little towns in NC. It’s quaint with fun shops to explore and tons of great food! It’s also right off the Blue Ridge Parkway! Which is rich with gorgeous mountain overlooks and trails ready to explore!

During Mallory & Peter’s engagement session, we explored several locations. The first was Moses Cone Manor. A beautiful park complete with a white Manor house. Its rolling hills, historic buildings, & walking trails are full of beautiful photo spots!

Rough Ridge Trail | Blowing Rock, NC

Beacon Heights Trail | Blowing Rock, NC

We drove just a little further down the parkway to the Beacon Heights Trail. This is a much easier hike, with a multitude of places for gorgeous photo opportunities. When you reach the pinnacle the view seems to last for days! If you’re in the right spot you can also expect a pretty epic sunset. Beacon Heights is the best hike vs payoff in the Blowing Rock area.

Couple hugs at Beacon heights trail in Blowing Rock, NC

Couple watches the sunset at the Beacon Heights trail near Blowing Rock, NC

Hawksbill Trail | Linville, NC

If you’re looking for the most epic mountain views then the Hawksbill trail is where to go! This trail is located near Linville, NC. The payoff is big here folks, but with a big payoff also comes a long hike! It’s not an easy hike either so come prepared with water & good shoes! In our opinion it’s totally worth the huffing and puffing it takes to get to the top. Thankfully we stop a lot along the way because the trail is beautiful! So plan a good amount of time if you want to visit Hawksbill.

Couple explores Hawksbill Trail in Linville, NC

Asheville, NC

The Biltmore | Asheville, NC

One of our favorite spots in Asheville is the epic grounds at The Biltmore. You aren’t able to photograph inside the house, but if you purchase a ticket we’ll be able to wander the grounds and get a huge variety of epic and romantic photos.

Craggy Gardens | Asheville, NC

One of the most popular spots to visit when you’re in Asheville, NC is Craggy Gardens. This is another fairly easy hike with a beautiful payoff! The only downside is it can get busy depending on what time of day or year you’re there. We didn’t mind much tho since we’re used to shooting around people. Plus there were tons of spots around the pinnacle that were pretty empty. When you are at the pinnacle there’s a 360 view of the mountains so you can get great shots from every angle!

Looking Glass Falls | Brevard, NC

Deep in the Pisgah National Forest nestled in a rich green valley is Looking Glass Falls. It’s another popular spot for engagement photos because it’s super easy to access. They have a long staircase that takes you right down to the base of the falls. We got to wade in the cold water and take some pretty epic shots with Hannah & Rob.

Black Balsam Knob | East Fork, NC

This is a location I can’t wait to go back to. It’s pretty easy to access off the Blue Ridge Parkway and it has gorgeous 360 views. We made it just in time before the clouds took over. Some of my favorite epic sunset photos ever!

Greensboro, NC

Timberlake Earth Sanctuary | Whitsett, NC

We understand not everyone is as into mountains as we are, so here’s another great option! Timberlake Earth Sanctuary is located just outside of Greensboro, NC. Greensboro in itself has tons of great spots, but Timberlake holds a special place in our hearts. There are thousands of little nooks hidden away on this nature preserve. The ladies who run Timberlake are a joy to work with and we can’t wait to visit it again soon!

Couple frolics through a field at Timberlake Earth Sanctuary

couple hugs in the woods at Timberlake Earth Sanctuary

Downtown Greensboro

The city of Greensboro has the art & culture of a lot of big cities without all the crazy traffic! There are tons of coffee shops, books stores, and alleyways that make it perfect for taking some amazing photographs!

Charlotte, NC

Uptown Charlotte, NC

If you’re looking for a city vibe, then Charlotte is the place to go! Uptown is easy to explore with tons of architecture and beautiful light. We love when our couples visit their favorite spots like Amelie’s or Bird Song Brewery. Charlotte offers a lot and we can’t wait to explore it more!

NoDa in Charlotte, NC

NoDa (North Davidson St) is the artsy part of Charlotte. In recent years it’s been revitalized and is now rich with color and atmosphere! If you want vibrant and fun NoDa is the best place to go. There’s a beautiful mural at every turn, donut shops in the wall, and eclectic shops and people all over the streets!

Engagement photos outside of Abari with Yoda mural in Charlotte, NC

South End | Charlotte, NC

Rain or shine Charlotte is a gorgeous location for engagement photos. It’s also HUGE so to add to our Charlotte list there’s also South End with it’s hipster vibe. Not as artsy as NODA and not as upscale as Uptown. It’s a happy middle for couples.

Raleigh, NC

JC Raulston Arboretum | Raleigh, NC

You won’t find a ton of parks on this list. Mainly because they require some sort of permit or fee. Tho we understand why we’re not huge fans of that. So when we found that JC Raulston Arboretum was fee free we were absolutely delighted! It’s also HUGE with tons of “themed” areas to choose from. We had fun exploring the different gardens with Mary & Jeremy and can’t wait to go back again!

Couple kisses in sunflowers at JC Raulston Arboretum

Couple snuggles at the RC Raulston Arboretum

The city of Raleigh, NC

Another great city for wandering is Raleigh! There’s so much to do! Exploring little shops, eating great food, and taking in the beautiful architecture! They’ve also got some pretty amazing museums and monuments scattered around. When we explored with Mary & Jeremy we found the skyline was getting a facelift, so you may want to check before trying to get the skyline. We were almost interrupted by a building being constructed, but there was just enough left for a beautiful shot!

Statesville, NC

Mac Anderson Park | Statesville, NC

Okay, so I’m a little biased on this one. This park is literally around the block from our house, but LOOK HOW PRETTY IT IS?! It’s unique in the fact that it’s a walking park rather than a recreational one. So it’s less manicured and a little wilder. I’m obsessed with the giant pine trees. When the sun is shining through them, it’s magic!

Couple kisses in the snow at Mac Anderson Park

Eskimo kisses at Mac Anderson Park

Your own backyard | NC

There are so many gorgeous spots in NC we have yet to discover. We’ve even found that your own home or backyard can be the perfect spot! I’m obsessed with Lauren & Adam’s beautiful home and yard. They both were immediately at ease in their own home.

Now that you’ve seen some of our favorite locations, what are some of your favorites? Is there a spot in NC that you’ve always longed to explore? Maybe a location that you visit frequently and feels like home. Maybe it is your home! Where do you dream of having your NC engagement session?

XOXOXO,
Mabyn