10 Locations to Take Awesome Engagement Photos
I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU FIND THAT PERFECT LOCATION! ~ PHILIP THOMAS
(updated March 2026)
I’m lucky to call San Antonio, Texas, home. The Alamo City is growing fast and has a rich cultural history, but finding the right spot for engagement photos can be tricky. I want to help by sharing my favorite locations with you. Most of these spots are free to use. I left out most hotels since they usually charge high fees unless you’re having your wedding there.
I suggest picking a place that means something special to you, but if you need inspiration, these San Antonio locations are great options. Here are my top 10 engagement photo spots for 2026.
#1 Downtown San Antonio
Downtown San Antonio is one of my favorite places for engagement sessions because there are so many different spots, from the lively streets to the Riverwalk. Each time I shoot there, I discover something new. I usually meet my clients at a local hotel bar for a drink or two to help everyone relax before we start. Then we explore the streets together. I do some planning, but often the best photos happen by chance.
Recommended Days: Weekday morning or early evenings
Permit Fee: None
Restrictions: None, except some hotels might charge a fee to shoot inside, so be sure to check ahead.
#2 Landa Library
The Landa Library is a gem in the Monte Vista neighborhood, steeped in history. The grounds are open to the public and chock-full of interesting architecture and history.
Recommended Days: Weekday morning or early evenings
Permit Fee: Apply to the San Antonio Film Commission. No fee. Shooting inside the library is not permitted.
Restrictions: None except. Just be respectful to the grounds.
#3 Historic Market Square
The historic Market Square sits just east of downtown San Antonio. It’s lively and colorful, making it a great spot if you want your photos to stand out.
Best times to visit are weekday mornings or early evenings. While the main area can get crowded, the side streets usually stay quiet.
Permit Fee: None
Restrictions: None
#4 McNay Art Museum
Another exciting spot for your engagement photos is the McNay Art Museum. The building houses American and European art from the Medieval to the contemporary, in a 1929 mansion with a modern addition. Here, you find a mix of old and new architecture, making it a lovely place to photograph couples and brides.
Recommended Days: Weekday morning or early evenings.
Permit Fee: $50 on grounds. $100 inside the courtyard on a select day. Undergoing renovations in 2020/2021, so the days may have changed. Contact
the museum for details.
Restrictions: Grounds are open anytime. Restricted days/hours inside the courtyard.
#5 Hemisfair Park
Hemisfair Park includes the Iconic park housing the Tower of the Americas, fountains & a playground.
Recommended Days: Weekday morning or early evenings.
Permit Fee: Free
Restrictions: None
#6 Spanish Governor’s Palace
Most of my photo sessions here have been bridal, but it’s also a great spot for engagement shoots. This location is unique and just a short walk from the downtown courthouse in San Antonio. When I last visited, entry was $10. I recommend calling ahead to reserve a time since tour buses often stop by, and it’s best to avoid the crowds.
The best time to visit is on weekday mornings, except Mondays, when the location is closed
The permit fee is $10, but it is highly recommended to call ahead to confirm you do not need a permit and to make an appointment.
There is a one-hour limit for photo sessions.
#7 Hays Street Bridge
Really cool place to shoot, especially just before sunset or an early San Antone morning. Located just northeast of the Riverwalk, you’ll get a great panoramic view of the downtown vista. The beautiful architecture will await you for this early-1900s former railroad bridge, now open to pedestrian traffic only.
Recommended Days: Any day
Permit Fee: None
Restrictions: None
#7 Japanese Sunken Gardens
So much history here at the Japanese Sunken Gardens. Beautiful area to capture engagement photos. The Sunken Gardens opened in an abandoned limestone rock quarry in the early 20th century. Great place to visit, close to Brackenridge Park and the city’s zoo.
Recommended to visit on weekdays; weekends tend to be crowded with families.
Permit Fee: Please check by calling the Sunken Gardens.
Restrictions: None
#8 The Missions
I love to capture engagement photos at any of The Missions. There’s a $100 fee to shoot here, and you’ll need to make a reservation in advance, subject to availability. Once again, I have photographed many bridal, engagement, and wedding here. The San Antonio Missions, a National Historical Park and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserve four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio, Texas, USA. These outposts were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local natives.
Recommended Days: Weekdays, avoid weekends if possible.
Permit Fee: $100. Call to reserve and sign the permit.
Restrictions: There are rules and regulations that have to be agreed to and signed.
#9 King William District
This is a beautiful area in Southtown, originating as a part of a revitalization project in the early 1990’s. The King William District is an opulent neighborhood full of beautiful houses built on land once farmed by Mission Concepción. Built by German immigrants, the neighborhood is an area that you just fall in love with, and you can easily reach it by walking from a downtown hotel or the Riverwalk, about a 10-15 minute stroll. Along the way are some ornate bridges dating back to the early 20th century.
Recommended Days: Any day
Permit Fee: None.
Restrictions: None
#10 The Pearl Brewery
Recommended Days: Any day except Saturdays
Permit Fee: None.
Restrictions: None
I hope this will help. I’m happy to capture your engagement or bridal session. Let me know if you have any questions, and I look forward to hearing from you.
