If you're looking for a location that's totally "Chattanooga," you really can't go wrong with shooting your engagement photos in Coolidge Park or Renaissance Park.

These two parks sit on opposite sides of the Market Street Bridge in downtown Chattanooga. While they have different vibes, they're both classic **engagement photo destinations. Plus, since they're so close to each other, we can hit both during your engagement session!

Here's everything you need to know about shooting your engagement photos in Coolidge Park and Renaissance Park. If you're still looking for a photographer, I'd love to hear from you!

 

 

COOLIDGE PARK, A CHATTANOOGA CLASSIC

When locals think about downtown Chattanooga, they most likely envision Coolidge Park. It's a classic landmark downtown and a popular destination for both tourists and Chattanooga natives. On a sunny day, it'll be full of families on picnics and friends grilling out.

Of the two parks, Coolidge is the more manicured one. It features tons of paved paths, lush landscaping, and stone fountains. It's also super accessible, offers plenty of parking, and provides a great view of the city and the Market Street Bridge. We can get a wide variety of shots in the park itself, and then we can dip under the Market Street Bridge or hit the Walnut St pedestrian walking bridge for a different backdrop.

The only downside to shooting engagement photos in Coolidge Park is that they don't allow dogs or alcohol in the park itself. (Sad, I know.) If you want to include your pup in your engagement photos, we'll probably have to go slip over to the Renaissance Park side.

 

FUN ENGAGEMENT PHOTO IDEAS IN COOLIDGE PARK

As if the landscaping wasn't pretty enough, Coolidge Park is also home to a few interactive elements that can make your engagement photos even more dynamic.

My favorite (and everyone's favorite, really) is the carousel. The antique carousel was built in 1894, and it still features over 50 hand-carved wooden animals. Plus, you can ride it for $1! I love taking my couples on a ride on the carousel for some fun, playful images with tons of rich colors.

If you're really down for an adventure, we can also visit the fountains. I usually shoot my family photo sessions here, but it's fun for all ages! You can kick off your shoes, run through the fountains, and splash around for a while at the end of your session. No judgement here!

If you're down for a more chill experience, you can always pack a picnic, grab an ice cream cone at the local shop, or go for a stroll along the river. Whatever you do, the city views are unmatched and the park is gorgeous. You can't go wrong!

 

RENAISSANCE PARK, A LITTLE SLICE OF WILDERNESS

On the other side of the Market Street Bridge, there's Renaissance Park. It's not as manicured as Coolidge Park, but in my opinion, that's what makes it so cool. If we shoot your engagement photos in Renaissance Park, you can get those outdoorsy, middle-of-nowhere vibes without ever leaving downtown.

If you're the kind of couple who loves grabbing a beer downtown just as much as you love a hike in the woods, let's hit up Renaissance Park. Since it's in the heart of Chattanooga, we can start at your favorite bar, snap a few photos on the streets downtown, and at sunset end your engagement photo session in Renaissance Park. You get all the good vibes - urban and rural - without driving an hour outside of town or hiking up a mountain.

And even better, you can bring your dog! Seriously, what more could you want?

 

OUTDOORSY ENGAGEMENT PHOTO IDEAS IN RENAISSANCE PARK

If you saw some of my engagement photos from Renaissance Park, you'd never know they were taken in downtown Chattanooga. Because the park is so wooded, you get a lot more privacy than you would in Coolidge Park. It still gets busy on nice days, but you won't be fighting any crowds or dodging picnickers.

Like Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park has plenty of interactive elements to add some interest to your engagement photos. My favorites are the walking bridges and water features. Instead of fountains, Renaissance Park is dotted with natural ponds and streams. We might even spot some wildlife!

You can totally rock the picnic look in Renaissance Park, but it also makes for some great moody images. The dark woods, stone stairs, and overgrown grasses make for a rugged, edgy look that's totally different from the Coolidge Park vibe.

 

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS IN COOLIDGE & RENAISSANCE PARK - THINGS TO REMEMBER

• Coolidge Park gets busy on nice days, so if you're camera shy or nervous about crowds, this may not be the best spot.
• There are no dogs allowed in Coolidge Park itself, but they are allowed in Renaissance Park.
• Both parks are closed off once a year for the Moon River Festival. Check the Moon River Festival schedule to make sure it won't interfere with your engagement photo session.
• Renaissance Park does offer some paved trails, but many of them are dirt. They're well-kept but not quite as accessible for wheelchairs or other medical devices.
• We can visit both parks during your engagement photo session! They're close enough that we can start downtown and then hit the two parks as the sun starts to set.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CHECKING OUT THIS INFO ON ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS IN COOLIDGE PARK! I HOPE IT INSPIRED YOU FOR YOUR OWN PHOTO SESSION.

Hey, Chattanooga! I’m Rachael Crowe of OKCrowe Photography. Chasing a more rugged vibe for your engagement photos? Check out my recent post about engagement photo locations in the nearby mountains or contact me for other suggestions.

If you're still on the hunt for a wedding photographer, I'd love to chat! Visit my contact form, and let's start planning your dream wedding!

You can take engagement photos just about anywhere - your house, your favorite restaurant, even your grocery store - but you can't go wrong with the classic mountaintop look. Lucky for us, Chattanooga offers several mountain engagement photo locations, each with their own charm!

These are my favorite engagement photo spots with wide, open mountain views. If you want to shoot in one of these locations (or anywhere else for that matter), let's chat!

 

My Favorite Mountain Engagement Photo Locations in Chattanooga

Sunset Rock

The Sunset Rock overlook on Lookout Mountain has it all: mountain views, the winding river, and of course, gorgeous sunset light. It's one of my go-to spots no matter the season. The pine trees surrounding the rock are lush year-round, and the valley looks amazing even in winter. In fall, you get an entire array of colors spilled across the rolling hills.

Plus, the hike there and back is only 0.3 miles round-trip! That's short enough that you can get there and back in formalwear if need be. Caitlin and James went for a semi-formal look and rocked the sunset vibes. They even brought their pup!

Sunset Rock is also a great option if you want to hit multiple locations during your engagement session. It's only about 15 minutes away from downtown Chattanooga, so we can grab a drink and shoot some photos downtown before heading up the mountain.

The only downside is that this spot gets busy, especially when the weather is nice. I like to ask my clients to arrive early so we can get a spot in the parking lot and hang out until the light gets good. Expect a crowd, and if you don't want any eyes on you while you get handsy with your partner, let's pick a more private engagement photo location.

 

Hang Gliding Launch

You won't find this spot on Google Maps, and that's exactly why I love it!

Chattanooga has a huge outdoor sports scene, and it's a popular hang gliding destination. There's a hang gliding launch (basically a wooded ramp to nowhere) on the opposite side of Lookout Mountain as Sunset Rock. Just a ways past the launch, there's a pull-off where friends can gather to watch hang gliders take the plunge. This is where we'll be shooting!

This spot offers a beautiful view of the valley, and it's probably the most accessible of all the locations on this list. You pull over on the side of the road, walk about 10 feet, and you're there! The only downside is that there's not a ton of variety here. I'd recommend we get a few shots at this overlook and then head around the mountain to find some different backdrops.

 

On the Ocoee

While this spot on the Ocoee River is technically in Benton, but it's close enough to Chattanooga that I make the drive with plenty of my couples. The fall colors were so rich during Chris and Brandon's engagement session, and the mist on the mountains made for a picture-perfect backdrop.

This is one of my favorite locations, and it's perfect for adventurous couples. There are docks, rocky rivers, mountain overlooks, watering holes, picnic areas, you name it. Whatever outdoorsy vibes you want, you can get them here.

Plus, unlike some of the spots closer to the city, this area looks wild in photos. Lookout Mountain is gorgeous, but if you're going for a more wilderness-y look, I highly recommend driving a bit outside the city.

Another bonus: This area is rarely busy. We might meet a few other hikers, but we won't be fighting crowds like we would closer to Chattanooga.

For my Chattanooga couples, you're looking at an hour's drive to this location. But if you want a great view that's different from the classic Chattanooga spots, it's definitely worth the drive! Just plan ahead as there aren't many gas stations on the mountain itself. (By the way, I'm always down to carpool!)

Prentice Cooper State Forest on Signal Mountain

One of my favorite areas for mountain engagement photos near Chattanooga is Signal Mountain. This particular spot offers a gorgeous overlook of the Tennessee River Gorge. This overlook is about a 30-40 minute drive from downtown Chattanooga. While it's not far mileage-wise, the reason this overlook takes a while to get to is that you have to follow a long gravel road up the mountain to the overlook. The view is definitely worth the trip though! And if you're worried about your car managing the gravel road, you're welcome to park your car at the base of the mountain and carpool in my SUV.

In the summertime, you might even get lucky enough to see a cloud inversion during your mountain engagement photo session. This weather phenomenon is pretty rare, and we're lucky to get it here in Chattanooga. During an inversion, the clouds and fog all fall into the valley, right above the river. The result is the otherworldly feeling of standing above the clouds. Ana and Paolo caught a cloud inversion during their sunrise elopement, and the images are stunning.

If you want to catch a cloud inversion during your engagement session, let me know! I've gotten pretty good at predicting when the weather will be just right.

Just a couple of notes: I only shoot here at sunrise. The angle of the light is perfect first thing in the morning, but it's not great for the rest of the day. But if you're down for a crack-of-dawn engagement photo session, this is the spot for you.

You'll also need a permit to have your engagement photos here. The permit is free, but we'll need to file for a permit about a month out. If you want your shoot here, let's plan it well in advance!

Point Park

Though it got its start as a Civil War battlefield, Point Park on Lookout Mountain is now a beautiful hiking destination. From the overlook, you get a view of Chattanooga and Moccasin Bend, the huge bend in the Tennessee River right outside the city. If you want a view of the city and mountain vibes, this is a great spot.

The backdrop here isn't as hilly as the other engagement photo locations on this list, but the flat landscape makes the sky look huge. The blue river, lush forests, and dappled city make for a super dynamic, colorful background - without taking the focus away from you and your partner.

Unlike some of the mountain spots, Point Park is super accessible. All the paths are paved, and there's tons of parking available.

Quick note: Point Park charges $10 per adult to get in – I'd say it's definitely worth the fee!

 

A Secret Spot

Want your engagement photos to be truly one-of-a-kind? I got you!

There are several mountain engagement photo spots near Chattanooga that either don't have names or that I keep to myself. If none of these locations jumps out at you, send me a message. I have a few secret locations up my sleeve!

Looking for your own mountain engagement photo location?

I'd love to help you get that on-top-of-the-world look! I'm Rachael Crowe of OkCrowe Photography, and I help couples in Chattanooga and beyond capture real (and really beautiful) images. Just reach out!

If you're looking for a wedding or elopement photographer, head over to my contact page, shoot me a message, and let's start planning!