My 10 Favorite Southern Maine Engagement Session Locations

Jun 17

As a photographer specializing in capturing love stories along Maine's stunning coastline, I've discovered that Southern Maine offers some of the most breathtaking and romantic backdrops for engagement sessions. From dramatic clifftop views to intimate forest preserves, this region provides endless possibilities for creating timeless images that reflect each couple's unique story.

After years of exploring these coastal gems with countless couples, I've curated my top ten favorite engagement session locations that never fail to deliver magic. Each spot offers its own character and charm, ensuring your photos will be as unique as your love story.

1. Marginal Way, Ogunquit

The crown jewel of Maine's coast, Marginal Way offers a mile-long clifftop walkway with panoramic ocean views that take your breath away. This paved pathway hugs the rugged coastline, providing multiple scenic overlooks perfect for intimate portraits. The dramatic rocky shores below and endless Atlantic horizon create a naturally romantic atmosphere that photographs beautifully during golden hour. The accessibility of this location makes it ideal for couples who want stunning coastal views without the challenge of hiking to remote spots.

2. Kettle Cove, Cape Elizabeth

Kettle Cove combines the best of Maine's coastal beauty with its unique tidal pool and smooth rock formations. The area offers a gorgeous walking path with a bridge and stunning wildflower field areas. During low tide, the exposed rock formations and tide pools add interesting textures and depths to compositions and you can walk a small beach for some gorgeous beachy portraits. The intimate scale of this location makes it perfect for couples seeking a more private, secluded feeling in their engagement photos.

3. Tidebrook Preserve, Freeport

For couples who love the tranquility of nature, Tidebrook Preserve offers a peaceful escape into Maine's pristine wilderness. The preserve features winding trails through diverse ecosystems, from salt marshes to wooded areas, providing incredible variety within a single location. The large paths through big fields overlooking the water create beautiful leading lines and sweeping views, while the changing seasons offer dramatically different moods throughout the year. This location is perfect for couples who want their engagement session to reflect their shared love of outdoor adventures.

4. Ferry Beach State Park, Saco

Ferry Beach State Park combines the classic Maine beach experience with unique dune landscapes and nature trails. The expansive sandy beach provides plenty of space for playful, candid moments, while the protected dune system offers more intimate settings among beach grass and native vegetation. The park's diverse habitats mean you can capture both open beach scenes and more secluded forest moments all in one session. The changing light throughout the day creates different moods, from bright and airy morning sessions to romantic sunset portraits.

5. Footbridge Beach, Ogunquit

The iconic pedestrian bridge that gives this beach its name creates a perfect architectural element for engagement photos. The beach itself offers classic New England coastal charm with its coastal views and gentle waves. The bridge provides an elevated perspective for marshy views, while the beach level offers opportunities for intimate shoreline portraits. The combination of human-made structure and natural beauty creates compelling compositional opportunities that make photos distinctly Maine.

6. Fortunes Rock Beach, Biddeford

Fortunes Rock Beach offers a more rugged, natural coastal experience with its rock formations. The beach's unique geological features create natural frames and interesting textures that add depth to portraits. During different tidal conditions, the exposed rocks and tide pools provide varying backdrops, ensuring each session feels fresh and unique. This location appeals to adventurous couples who aren't afraid to get a little sandy or wet for the perfect shot.

7. Highland Farm Greenhouse, Scarborough

Highland Farm Greenhouse provides a completely different aesthetic with its lush, cultivated beauty and charming rustic structures. The greenhouse environment offers protection from weather while providing gorgeous natural light filtered through glass and surrounded by flourishing plants. The farm setting includes beautiful gardens and a open field that create a romantic, countryside atmosphere. This location is perfect for couples who prefer a more intimate, garden-party feel to their engagement session.

8. Perkins Cove, Ogunquit

Perkins Cove embodies quintessential Maine charm with its working harbor, colorful boats, and historic buildings. The cove provides a perfect blend of maritime culture and natural beauty, with opportunities to incorporate lobster boats, weathered docks, and classic New England architecture. This location tells the story of Maine's fishing heritage while providing romantic waterfront settings.

9. Pleasant Hill Preserve, Scarborough

Pleasant Hill Preserve offers diverse landscapes from open meadows to wooded trails, making it ideal for couples who want variety in their engagement photos. The preserve's elevated areas provide beautiful views over the surrounding countryside, while the meadows create soft, romantic settings perfect for golden hour photography. The seasonal changes here are particularly dramatic, offering everything from spring wildflowers to autumn foliage. This location works beautifully for couples who want their photos to reflect Maine's inland natural beauty.

10. Camp Ellis Beach and Jetty, Saco

Camp Ellis Beach and Jetty offers a unique combination of intimate small beach and dramatic stone jetty that creates stunning contrast in engagement photos. The long stone jetty extends into the ocean, providing an iconic Maine coastal structure that serves as both a beautiful backdrop and an adventurous walking path for couples. The small beach overlooks the charming dock with boats that add authentic maritime character to portraits. This cozy beach setting offers classic New England charm while the jetty adds architectural interest and elevated perspectives over the water. This location is perfect for couples who want both intimate beachside moments and dramatic structural elements that showcase Maine's maritime character. The interplay between the natural beach environment and the man-made jetty creates compelling compositional opportunities that make photos distinctly memorable.

Choosing the Perfect Location for Your Story

Each of these locations offers something special, and the best choice depends on your personal style, the season, and the story you want your engagement photos to tell. Some couples gravitate toward the dramatic coastal scenes, while others prefer the intimate forest settings or charming harbor views.

When planning your engagement session, consider what environments make you feel most comfortable and reflect your relationship. Are you adventurous beach lovers, peaceful nature enthusiasts, or do you prefer the charm of working harbors and historic settings? Your engagement photos should feel authentically you.

Planning Your Southern Maine Engagement Session

This couple started their engagement session at Marginal Way.

The beauty of Southern Maine is that many of these locations are within a short drive of each other, making it possible to incorporate multiple settings into a single session if desired. However, I often recommend focusing on one or two locations to allow time for relaxed, natural moments to unfold.

Each season brings its own magic to these locations. Spring offers fresh greens and wildflowers, summer provides perfect beach weather and long days, autumn brings spectacular foliage, and winter creates a serene, intimate atmosphere with snow-covered landscapes and dramatic skies.

Ready to capture your love story against the stunning backdrop of Southern Maine? Let's discuss which of these beautiful locations speaks to your heart and start planning an engagement session that perfectly reflects your unique relationship.