Birmingham’s Best Engagement Photography Locations

Engagement sessions are the perfect way to celebrate a couple’s commitment to one another. They’re also invaluable for getting used to being photographed and building a relationship with your wedding photographer. Many people that get in touch wanting to have a couples shoot in the city have somewhere in mind, but equally, not everyone has a special ‘go to’ place. And that’s ok!

We’ve taken the pressure out of the decision by sharing Birmingham’s five best engagement photography locations.

Sutton Park

The most obvious choice that springs to mind is Sutton Park, and I absolutely love shooting there due to the variety within the landscape. If you’re familiar with Birmingham, you’ll know it’s one of the biggest urban parks in Europe, and it’s on our doorstep.

With seven pools, ancient woodland and canopy trees, vast open green spaces, a café, and yes…pedalos…there’s plenty we can capture depending on your taste. The park is dog friendly too. I’m a big animal lover and for a lot of the year there are both cows and horses in the park also.

Good for: Couples who want a ‘countryside’/wild feel without travelling too far and those that prefer to be away from people for your shoot. I can always find quiet spots in the park.

Digbeth

Digbeth offers a completely different, edgy feel for couples shoots. I tend to start most in the Custard Factory where there is a vibrant, arty atmosphere and some bustling shops.

We can do some café candids, brick wall backdrops, or get right on to a walk around of nearby streets where we will shoot against wall art in quiet spots that inspires you (I know a lot of good backdrops so can take the lead if easier). Timings of shoots are important in Digbeth. Do you want to capture the festoon lights of Floodgate street? If so we’ll aim for a golden hour session.

Good for: Couples that have a love of city and art, or simply just want more of a hipster vibe to their session. Check out Mary and Andy’s session to see a Digbeth engagement session in all its glory.

Cannon Hill Park

While Sutton Park is rustic and untouched in many ways, Cannon Hill Park is a little bit more ‘formal’ in terms of its planting. This means there are many different varieties of plants to work with in the shots, some that have a tropical feel (of course, what’s there will depend on the time of year!).

Just a stone’s throw from the city centre, there’s woodland, open spaces, a pool and stream with pedalos and beautiful bridges so there’s always a variety of images to be captured.

Good for: City couples that love greenery. Check out Hannah and Tom’s Cannon Hill Park engagement session to see the most beautiful winter sunshine filled imagery

Jewellery Quarter

A different vibe again, the Jewellery Quarter gives us a look into Birmingham’s past. Wondering down its quiet streets we’ll find lots of beautiful orange brick backdrops, bright coloured, forgotten (but beautiful) doorways that are great for framing.

There’s also some gorgeous monochrome walls for us to get creative with, as well as lots of cafes and bars for some candid shots. There are canals that we can walk to easily too to give real variety to your session, and if you’re a fan of sunsets we can head to the top of one of the car parks in the area that gives some great cityscape views. Also, many couples from across the UK visit the Jewellery Quarter for their rings, and a couples shoot can be a great way to mark that special day.

Good for: Couples that want a city feel to their shoot with a bit more privacy than other locations

Winterbourne

Last but not least, we simply have to mention Winterbourne House and Gardens! This is an Edwardian era house with botanical gardens located in Edgbaston, a short walk from University station.

Visiting Winterbourne gives the chance for some of those quintessential British / historic shots, and there’s a quaint tea room here too. With the botanical gardens it’s also a chance to immerse yourself in some stunning greenery, and get that wild, exotic, botanical feel. Separately, there’s also the Botanical Gardens in the city if you’d like more of this type of shots but please note, there is an entrance fee for both locations.

Good for: Couples that want to combine immersion in greenery with some historical vibes

While I’m based in the Birmingham area, I cover the whole of the UK and love scouting out new locations to help my couples find their perfect engagement session spot. Find out more about my wedding and couples photography and get in touch to book your session.