Popular Engagement Photo Locations in Detroit (and Their Policies!)
I get asked all the time about ideas and recommendations for popular engagement photo locations in Detroit and their policies. I’ve put together a list of some of the most popular locations, from indoors to outdoors, and notes on their policies or any fees required to shoot there.
CHOOSING YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTO LOCATIONS
It’s understandably tempting to lead with aesthetics when choosing where to do your engagement pictures in Detroit. However, it’s more important to start with asking yourself a few questions:
What are some sentimental or important locations in Detroit between you two?
What do you enjoy doing together?
When you close your eyes, what vision do you see of your engagement photos?
For example, you might have had your first date at The Sugar House bar in Corktown, like Hannah and Garret. Or maybe you love going to bookstores together on the weekend like Bella and Jack. Or maybe you love spending time at home with your dog, going on hikes, or visiting the Saturday market at Eastern Market. Whatever it is, start by answering those questions. Then, you can start to narrow in on locations based on those ideas. Based on what you come up with, the popular engagement photo locations in Detroit below are sorted into various categories. Do you envision being outdoors, a restaurant or bar setting, somewhere architectural, or an urban environment?
Outdoor Detroit Engagement Photo Locations
Best for couples who love nature and scenic views.
Belle Isle Park
(Park Entrance Fee & Permit Required On Occasion)
Belle Isle is a classic and never gets old. From waterfront areas, to fields, trails, the fountain and more, Belle Isle has a ton of different areas great for engagement photos and looks good almost every time of year.
In theory, unless you have a Michigan Recreation Passport, you have to pay to enter the park but there’s rarely an attendant there, especially on weekdays.
Belle Isle requires a $50 permit to take photos throughout the island but I will say, I’ve never seen someone enforce it. However, the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory and its garden require a $50 photo fee and this is enforced. You can pay this fee at the time of your session with the attendant at the entrance to the conservatory.
Detroit Riverwalk
(No Permit Required)
The riverwalk stretches from downtown near the former Joe Louis Arena area to nearly Belle Isle and there are plenty of spots for photos along the water. With views of Canada, you’ll get a mix of urban and waterfront feels depending on where you are.
Eliza Howell Park
(No Permit Required)
Eliza Howell Park is a hidden gem with fields of wildflowers in the spring in Detroit. The park has open fields and small trails making it a small but convenient outdoor area for photos.
Palmer Park
(No Permit Required)
Detroit’s Palmer Park is also a great location for engagement photos. The park continues to undergo improvements and is a historical landmark of the city. As one of Detroit’s larger parks, there’s lots of greenery, walking paths, a forest, waterfront area, and the historic Palmer Park fountain. There’s also a butterfly garden and a community apple orchard at certain times of year.
Bar & Restaurant Engagement Photo Spots in Detroit
Ideal for couples who love a cozy, stylish, or moody ambiance
The Apparatus Room
(Fee & Reservation Required)
The Apparatus Room, located inside The Foundation Hotel, is stunning with massive windows and tons of hanging lights. It’s a modern, well-designed interior that screams elegant and intentional. You do have to reserve in advance and there is a $500 photo fee.
Candy Bar & The Siren Hotel Lobby
(Fee & Reservation Required)
A dream engagement photo location in downtown Detroit, Candy Bar, tucked away inside the Siren Hotel, is a fun, entirely pink, very kitsch and glamorous bar. It’s got edgy romantic and trendy vibes. Pair it with the eclectic design of the Siren Hotel Lobby and you’ve got some very unique and fashion-foreward engagement photos. The Siren Hotel requires a fee of $250 per hour for the lobby space and $350 per hour for Candy Bar. You can reserve a time between 11am and 3pm before the bar opens.
Monarch Club
(Fee & Reservation Required)
Monarch Club is downtown Detroit’s most popular rooftop bar. Located at the top of the Element Detroit at the Metropolitan Hotel, it’s an upscale bar with classic interiors and a beautiful rooftop space with views of downtown. For photos, they require a reservation and around a $400 fee per hour. You can call the Monarch Club during their open hours to make a reservation and get their latest pricing.
Dessert Oasis Coffee
(No Fee or Reservation Required)
For a cozy coffee shop with great natural light, I love Dessert Oasis in Capitol Park. Their staff is always friendly and open to photography so long as you’re respectful to the atmosphere and other patrons. The downtown Detroit location is conveniently located for other downtown locations, walkable to the Z Lot, Woodward, both Alleys and more.
Sugar House Bar
(No Fee Required)
A personal favorite, Sugar House, in Corktown is a swanky, moody whiskey bar, great for engagement photos. The exterior and Michigan Avenue are also fun to shoot around. Sugar House Bar welcomes photos. Just reach out to them via email or call during their open hours a few weeks in advance. They will alert the staff and allow you to come in 30 minutes prior to opening at which time you’ll have the space to yourself. Once they’re set up and open, you can order and shoot with any cocktails too. The best bet is a Wednesday or Thursday. I would avoid weekends so that the place is emptier for longer. This way, you can utilize the full space and bar without being disruptive.
Eastern Market Brewing Co.
(No Fee Required)
For a more casual, fun atmosphere, Eastern Market Brewing Co. in Eastern Market is a great spot to grab a beer and take a few photos. Of course, this pairs well with a session around Eastern Market in general. In the summer, the garage door at the entrance is open making for really great natural light and creative indoor/outdoor photo opportunities. The staff is super friendly and welcoming to photos. I would recommend going in the summer but right when they open. Avoid Wednesdays (trivia night) any time after 6pm because it’ll get busy fast in the summer and weekends.
Barcade Bar
(No Fee Required)
If arcade games are playful, engagement photos are the vibe you’re after, Barcade in Midtown is a fun location. With a bar and arcade games in the back, you can get some quirky, edgy and fun engagement photos there. Just email or call in advance as a courtesy and I would advise going right when they open so you don’t have to work around too many people. The Barcade is a short drive to downtown locations or places like the Detroit Institute of Art.
Architectural and Historical Detroit Photo Locations
Perfect for couples who love timeless, grand backdrops
Detroit Institute of Arts (Exterior)
(No Permit Required)
No photography in the interior of the museum is allowed. However, the exterior of the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum is a Detroit landmark for a reason. It remains one of the most popular engagement photo locations in Detroit at all times of year. Its marble facade and staircases, ornate details and location make it a staple engagement photo spot in the city. I love the front and the back of the building equally. Both are great at different times of day depending on the light and offer lots of variety.
No fee or permit is required to photograph on the exterior of the museum. However, the odds are very good that someone else will also be taking photos there so you’ll have to work around other groups.
Detroit Public Library Main Branch (Exterior)
(No Permit Required)
Across the street from the DIA is the Public Library. Its stunning beaux-arts architecture is also grand and impressive. The front entrance can be great as an add on to some time spent at the DIA!
Michigan Central Station
(Reservation & Fee Required)
Central Station is the new hot spot! Of course, the exterior is always available to photograph in the surrounding areas (though be wary of possible crowds on the weekends in the summer). However, to take photos inside, you must reserve and pay a $250 fee per 30 minute block. You can reserve on their website here up to one month in advance for Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays.
The Fisher Building
(No Fee Required)
Detroit’s gem of an art deco building is the fabulous Fisher Building. It’s golden, ornate interiors with breathtaking details and an array of little spots to get creative with make it a personal favorite. And who can forget about the elevators…
The exterior is also lovely so long as it’s not under construction and therefore covered with scaffolding.
You don’t need a permit or reservation to take photos on the first floor. In fact, the staff is always super welcoming to couples and photographers. However, if you’d like access to the second floor, you’ll need to call or email in advance to make a reservation and pay a $250 fee. As a note, they are VERY slow to respond to email so I suggest calling and giving yourself ample time to get on their books.
Book Tower
(Reservation Required)
Book Tower, ever since opening after their extensive renovations, is a dream engagement photo location in Detroit. Book Tower does not allow any photos in any of their food and beverage spaces (like Kamper’s Bar, Le Supreme, etc.) whatsoever. Even if you are getting ready for your wedding in the hotel, they don’t make any exceptions.
However, you can schedule a 30 minute reservation for free to take photos with up to two people (couples only) in the first and second floor lobby area. Sessions can be scheduled Monday through Thursday between 9am and 3pm. Call Book Tower or get in touch via Bedrock to schedule a session.
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
(Reservation & Fee Required)
The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in St. Clair Shores is a beautiful place for engagement pictures. While it’s not technically one of the popular engagement photo locations “in Detroit”, it deserves a spot on this list. With stunning and historic architecture, gardens, willow trees, fields and waterfront views, there’s a bit of everything. Ford House requires a reservation and photo fee, which must be requested at least 3 weeks in advance. You can see their current pricing and request a reservation here.
With a reservation, the best part is their staff will cart you around on a golf cart to the various locations of your choice and bathroom access is available to change. They limit the number of sessions at one time too so you’ll rarely be overlapping with many other sessions taking place.
Urban Detroit Engagement Photo Locations
Great for couples who love a city vibe with edgy, modern energy
Z Lot Rooftop
(No Permit Required)
The Z Lot parking structure in downtown Detroit is a surprisingly great location for engagement photos. If you head up to the 10th floor, there are great views of downtown Detroit with a colorful and fun urban style. It’s free! Just be mindful of cars and the fact that you’re in a public space. Each floor also has a different colorful mural outside the elevators, sometimes worth utilizing for a bright and colorful environment.
Parker’s Alley
(No Permit Required)
Parker’s Alley is a brick-lined alley with string lights and boutique shops located behind the Shinola Hotel just off Woodward Avenue. The alley brings a classy and warm urban setting, great for outdoor city engagement photos. There’s even a couple ice cream spots within and at the end of the ally (I love Huddle and Mr. Dips is great too) for cute ice cream photos! It’s also conveniently located to lots of other downtown Detroit spots for photos. Of course it’s free, but can be busy depending on the time of year, day of the week and season so be prepared to work around people.
Eastern Market Neighborhood
(No Permit Required)
The entire Eastern Market neighborhood is like a fun playground for photographers. It brings a more industrial, gritty and urban setting with colorful murals throughout. Eastern Market can be great to just roam around and see what you find. You can easily access the Dequindre Cut greenway nearby as well. The entire area is busy on Saturdays, especially in the spring and summer so I would avoid doing an engagement session on a Saturday year round. Sundays can be busy in the summers but are usually pretty dead in the winters outside of Lion’s game Sundays. Weekday evenings are a sure bet for few crowds, especially Monday evenings because most shops are closed.
The Belt Alley
(No Permit Required)
Not far from Parker’s Alley is The Belt downtown. This alleyway is the artistic, colorful, gritty and graffiti sister alley of Parker’s Alley. Lined with murals, graffiti and art, the belt is a cool and vibrant spot for engagement photos, especially in the summer months. Located right next to the Z Lot, it’s a great add on to a session in the area. You can even pop over to Queen’s Bar across the street or into The Skip for bar photos nearby.
Woodward Avenue and Downtown Detroit
(No Permit Required)
As a Detroit photographer, I love incorporating Detroit’s bustling downtown in engagement photos. Simply roaming around Woodward Avenue can provide a fun urban setting with opportunities for photos in the crosswalks, with historic architecture and small city parks.
Certain areas, like Capitol Park and the lower Woodward area are beautifully lit during the holiday season. String lights in the trees and twinkly lights hanging make it perfect for romantic nighttime urban engagement photos.
Things to Consider Before Your Engagement Shoot
Permit Requirements & Fees
As you consider popular engagement photo locations in Detroit, keep in mind the policies, if applicable, of the various locations. If you’re going into a business or indoor location, as a general rule of thumb, always call or contact someone well in advance to make sure they’re okay with you coming in for photos. This stands even if they are typically open to photography. It’s courteous and helps all of us photographers maintain access to certain spaces and can benefit you! Some places are really excited to have you in for photos and will make special accommodations for you and can advise you on the best days of the week or times to come in to avoid crowds.
Time of Day
Within the confines of any reservation or time requirements set by the location, consider the time of day and the lighting you’re hoping for. For example, a place like Dessert Oasis can look really different with lots of light and give you natural light perfect for photos, or later in the evening, it can be more romantic, edgy and fun to use direct flash. Same goes with most bars.
A place like Belle Isle screams for you to come around sunset to take in its magical golden hours and sunset views of the Detroit skyline. However, a location like the Siren Hotel doesn’t really get influenced by the time of day because it’s dark and moody no matter what.
Crowds & Accessibility, and Being Courteous
Another important factor to consider when choosing your locations and scheduling the day and time is crowds (and parking or accessibility). In general, I avoid Saturdays just about all around. In the summer, I also shy away from Sundays, especially for indoor businesses and the most popular Detroit engagement photo locations. And even if a place doesn’t have any policies for photography, always aim to be courteous and plan in a way to be the least disruptive to their business service and clientele as possible. As a community of wedding and engagement photographers in Detroit, we’re grateful that places allow us to use their spaces, especially without a fee. We want to maintain those good relationships for the long haul.
Backup Plans
Having backup plans in case of weather, crowds or unexpected closures or private events is always a good idea. Have a few alternate locations you like ready in the back of your mind just in case.
Conclusion
In the end, your engagement photos should be a reflection of the two of you, your relationship and things, places or activities you love. The wedding day will capture an elevated version of yourself and the day will be a bit more structured. Meanwhile, engagement sessions are a great time to capture your day to day and to play, have fun and experiment.
You can combine a couple locations and different styles to get the most variety in your session too. And some locations will warrant more time than others. These are things you should chat through with your photographer to come up with the best plan for your time.
Detroit is full of popular engagement photo locations that extend far beyond this list. For more ideas and to chat about your engagement session ideas or vision, get in touch! Telling the story of your connection and planning a date for you within your session is one of my favorite parts of the wedding photography experience.
