Top 5 Best Times for Engagement Photos in Grand Rapids


Whether she’s already said yes, or you’re about to pop the question, finding that dream spot for your proposal and engagement photos in Grand Rapids all comes down to timing. 


Each season and time of day carries its own special magic, and it can be hard to know when and where will be best to create a moment and photos you’ll cherish forever. 


As a Grand Rapids wedding photographer who’d done a lot of engagement in and around the city, I can’t help but weigh in. Here are my top 5 times of year for engagement photos in Grand Rapids (with examples!).



1. Summer Evening: A cinematic classic


Let’s not kid ourselves, summer engagement photoshoots in Grand Rapids are hard to beat. You’ve got perfect weather, lots of greenery depending on the location, and good odds for a spectacular sunset. 


Once the sun gets low enough, it’s the perfect time for dramatic light angles and colors for your love story.


Now, this does rely on the sun being out, or at least partly cloudy. Grant and Addison's engagement session at Millenium Park is a great example. 

A couple embraces in a golden meadow during sunset as they share a romantic moment in the warm evening light.

A partly cloudy summer evening like this sets the stage for drama and cinematic compositions with the sun, but leaves room for less shadowy photos with more color accuracy. 


This is a great time to be at the beach, too. With the horizon not blocked by anything, you get more time with the sun shining into the photos, and it does wonders for the colors of the shoreline. 


As a Grand Rapids engagement photographer, I can’t help but love the summer. Winter is finally over, everyone wants to be outside for a shoot, and there’s no bad time for it. Except for those crazy hot days, of course. 


But there’s another warm part of the year that can’t be forgotten when looking for the best time to take engagement photos.

2. Spring afternoons: For the Cherry Blossoms


Finally! The snow is melting, the birds are chirping, and love is in the air. Couples who popped the question over the holidays are ready to get outside and capture their joy, now that the trees look a little less dead. 


In Grand Rapids, there’s a perfect time in spring for photos in my opinion, but it’s a little contingent on location: Cherry Blossom week.


In 2024, the cherry blossoms in Grand Rapids bloomed the second week of April. Frederick Meijer Gardens is a wonderful place to see them, but other parks around Grand Rapids are both free and just as beautiful. 


Matt and Jalynn's engagement session at Hagar Park is a great example. With a perfect date of April 14th, we took advantage of the brief yet magical moment when the blossoms were in full bloom.

A romantic couple embraces and kisses in a sunlit meadow at golden hour with trees in the background.

In my opinion, shooting in the afternoon is important for a spring engagement shoot in Grand Rapids. Midday, and there are too many shadows. Morning, and it’s just a bit too cold. 


Afternoon gives you the best temperature, light, and opportunity to extend into sunset time. 



Grand Rapids is known for its many beautiful parks, and you’re bound to find somewhere wonderful with new life springing up everywhere. 


Sometimes the shoot can’t wait for spring of course. If that ring is burning a hole in your pocket over the holidays, we’ve got a cooler option up next.

3. Winter midday: An overcast overture


Get your hand warmers out! If you want to propose and take engagement photos in Grand Rapids during the winter, midday is your best bet. 


Needless to say, there's not much sun after mid-November. But a cloudy session brings out different colors and details that a sunny session can’t. 

With more flexibility in when you can shoot, I love a midday engagement session. 



Let’s say you propose at the beach at 2:00 pm, and have your session from 2:30-3:30. You’ve got time to call your folks in the car, make the drive back to Grand Rapids, and enjoy the surprise engagement party before it gets dark.


And during the shoot, it’s as warm as can be, you’ll have all the light you need, and nobody is hungry. It’s a good combo!


Here’s a favorite from Michael and Maya’s engagement at Rosy Mound a few years back.

Two people sit together on a blanket overlooking a scenic winter landscape with wispy clouds in the blue sky above.

And another from Justin and Krissy’s downtown Grand Rapids proposal and engagement session.

A couple embraces and spins joyfully along the Grand River and city buildings in the background.

Rosy cheeks are a small price for an intimate and cozy session. But if you prefer the leaves to be red instead of your nose, the next two best times for a photo shoot in Grand Rapids are for you!

4. Late Fall Mornings: COLOR!


This one is in a league of its own. Fall engagements are simply unmatched when it comes to color, light quality, and temperature. 



But late morning? Wouldn’t the sun be too overhead for good photos?



Nope, it’s perfect.


By mid-October, like for Patrick and Taylor’s engagement at Robinette’s, the earth has rotated enough so that the terrible directly-overhead-lunchtime-sun has moved to an angle. 

Two people stand together in a golden autumn field with colorful fall foliage in the background during engagement photos

Cloudy or not, the leaves and grass explode with color, making it easy for your engagement photographer to capture the joy of your love, and the beauty of the season. 


It’s obvious that a golden hour session this time of year would be coveted as well. But if you’re not feeling dramatic and cinematic, scheduling your engagement photos just before lunch is a classic, reliable time to shoot.

5. Early Summer: An unmatched golden hour


Grand Rapids gets hot in the summer. But there’s a brief period from mid-May to mid-June with nearly perfect weather.

Anywhere you go, the trees and flowers are lush, and your engagement photographer is eager to get outside and make the most of the season. 

It was a privilege to take advantage of this time of year for Jackson and Lianna’s engagement pictures just north of Grand Rapids at Provin Trails this year.

A couple stands together on a dune at sunset with green forest in the background during an engagement shoot.

Three weeks into May, the land looks as happy as the people enjoying it. It’s easy to feel comfortable in front of the camera when it’s 72 and sunny!


If you are looking for the perfect time to capture the feeling of your love and add life and color to these memories, early summer evenings are where it’s at. 


There are many beautiful seasons and times to propose and celebrate the occasion with an engagement session. I hope this has helped you pick the perfect time for your proposal and engagement session this year.


Are you looking for a Grand Rapids photographer for your upcoming engagement? I’d love to chat. Contact me today and let’s see how we can work together to let your story shine.