Door County Engagement Session locations are the absolute dreamiest. We are lucky enough to live in one of the most attractive locations in all of the county. How many places in the US can you find beaches, emerald waters, fantastical shallow bluffs, pine trees forests, sand dunes, meadows, cherry orchards, and historic fishing towns?
As Door County Wedding Photographers we are sharing a collection of our favorite engagement session locations in Door County to document your love story. While having a care free, classy, and romantic session. Bring champagne and a picnic basket with a charcuterie board and enjoy yourselves.
Door County Beaches
Follow the links to view past engagement sessions at these locations.
- Portage Park in Sturgeon Bay
- Deer Path – Public Access in Sturgeon Bay
- Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve
- Lakeside Park in Jacksonport
- Anclam Park in Bailey’s Harbor
- 24 Best Door County Beaches by Hello Door County
Portage Park
Portage Park is our absolute favorite Door County Engagement Session location. First off, it’s tucked away and seems to be a hidden gem that’s not crowded with visitors. It’s intimate and beautiful in every direction. Plus the sand and the direction of the light offers such complimentary colors on your skin.
It’s close to other locations so you we can travel to a few places and get you far more looks during one session. This beach is on the opposite side of the peninsula than the sun set so you have time at this beach location to get stunning light near sunset and then can travel down the road 5 minutes to the canal overlook for the true sunset over the Sturgeon Bay Canal. Which provides you beautifully light photos from the sunset twice.
Deer Path – Public Access
Deer Path is a public access beach in a residential area, which gives us pretty much the full run of the beach here. We’ve yet to run into anyone here yet, so it’s perfectly intimate for your beach engagement session in Door County. This location is typically a quick stop between other locations and it’s gorgeous with these sea grasses.
Anclam Park
Acclaim Park in Jacksonport is a great location to stop at shortly for a few boardwalk photos. Or they have a walkway out into the lake a bit more similar to a pier.
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve
The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve is such an under appreciated location in Door County. The views are spectacular and for sessions offers several backgrounds without any driving. The walk out to this beach is only a few steps where it opens up to the beach and incredible Lake Michigan. You have the Sturgeon Bay Lighthouse in the background if you walk out to the Pier. Turn around and you have full views of Lake Michigan and the Pier with the Sturgeon Bay Pierhead Light in the background or the Pier with Seagulls behind you. Walking back to the boardwalk, you have another beautiful view of the large beach. This one Door County beach turns into four locations, and it’s elegant in every direction.
Door County Docks & Marinas
- Sister Bay Marina
- Bayview Park in Sturgeon Bay
- Stone Harbor in Sturgeon Bay
- Whitefish Bay Park
Sister Bay Marina
If you love boating, sailing, or the nautical theme. This location is perfect for you! Or you can one up it with a session on a sailboat. The Sister Bay Marina has such a great amount of boats docked for most of the year that it creates a great background for any boat lovers. Plus we can pose you sitting, standing, walking, and another numerous amount of options easily. It’s a great addition or alternative to a beach location and can be very romantic.
Whitefish Bay Park
A close location to the Whitefish Dunes Red Pine Trail this little boat launch has a small beach. The lakeshore at this location is speckled with a few lovely lake homes in the background facing one direction. I’m not sure why, I think it’s the American flags in the background, but this spot always gives me presidential or Cape Cod vibes. Think the Kennedy’s on Martha’s Vineyard. lol.
Door County Meadows
- Sturgeon Bay Canal Overlook
- Ray and Ruthie Stonecipher Astronomy Center
- Heins Creek Nature Preserve
Sturgeon Bay Canal Overlook
The Sturgeon Bay Canal Overlook is another great location with several looks within one. The top of the overlook is a gorgeous location for a Door County sunset. You can walk along the canal, walk down the wooden steps, sit in the sand closer to the water. It’s a fairly natural landscape with a trail running through it and it’s a wonderful spot we absolutely love!
Ray and Ruthie Stonecipher Astronomy Center
The Astronomy Center is right down the street from the Sturgeon Bay Canal Overlook and a great spot for the last light of the day if you love the look of a meadow. These typically are more playful photos including some light running, bear hugs, maybe an epic sunset kiss or three.
Door County Gardens
- The Garden Door
Door County Woodlands
Whitefish Dunes Red Pine Trail
This is one of our most sought after locations by our clients. We get so many requests for this spot from our nature lovers. It’s right off the parking lot and provides beautiful light in the forest among one of the prettiest spots I’ve ever seen of tall pines. It’s always quiet and in close proximity to Cave Point and it’s within the Whitefish Dunes State Park. A $50 permit from the State Park is required for this location, but as you can see is completely worth it for these romantic woodland engagement photos.
The Door County Lakeshore
Cave Point County Park
If you love the natural rough shoreline of Lake Michigan this is your location right here! These incredibly unique rock formations along the bluff provide a gorgeous background and the perfect setting for more posed portraits. There isn’t a lot of moving around here since it’s quite dangerous on the rocks, however it works beautifully as a first location for your Door County engagement photos. There is a little walking on the trail that has a good amount of exposed roots, so be sure to bring flats for walking between spots. It’s a easy walk, a short distance, and completely worth it! I mean just look at these views!!
To further explore the area or take a peek at where these location favorites of ours are located. Here is a quick link to the Door County area map.
