Places along the Charles River to take engagement photos are endless, but knowing what you are looking for is key. The first thing to know about the Charles River is that it runs from West to East and empties out in the Boston Harbor. The second thing to know is that parking can be tricky but not impossible.
If you are looking for a photo with the city in the background, you have to be careful what time of day you are shooting. If you shoot later in the evening hoping to have the city behind you, you are likely to have the sunset shining in your face producing squinty eyes. Not to worry, I have solutions for that!
If you decide to head down to the Esplanade, the parking is great because you can park right at the Boston Common Garage and walk over the Arthur Fiedler Footbridge (once painted Orange and now is gray) its a landmark to those who drive on Storrow to a game at Fenway Park.
If you want to stay closer to the architecture of MIT and Harvard, you can always park at the MIT Visitor parking lot and walk over to the Charles River.
The other thing to think about is what you want in the background. There are so many places along the river that are famous, and picking one is not always easy. Several bridges along the famous Charles river have appeared in movies over the years making the Charles River a great place for engagement photos.
Each one of these bridges is located along the Charles, and depending on what you are looking for, they are easy to navigate.
The Eliot Bridge
The Anderson Memorial Bridge
The John M. Weeks Bridge
The Western Avenue Bridge
The Cambridge Street Bridge
The Boston University Bridge
Harvard Bridge
The Longfellow Bridge
Leonard Zakim Bridge
The Longfellow Bridge is the famous bridge appearing in such movies as Good Will Hunting, and The Departed as well as The Boston Strangler. This bridge is known to the locals as the Salt and Pepper Bridge as it has concrete structures that resemble Salt and Pepper Shakers. This bridge is used when referencing MIT and Harvard as they are close by in Cambridge. The bridge is also used to give directions, ‘cross over the Salt and Pepper bridge then…’
Places to take photos along the Charles all depend on what you are looking for. The easiest place is to head to the Esplanade on the Charles where you can sit on the river bank and watch boats and crews going by. It’s a wonderful spot with willow trees and lots of shade to hide in if the sun is too much. There are also views from the Esplanade. You can shoot with the Cambridge Skyline or aim towards Kenmore and get the bridge in the background.
Down at the Zakim Bridge along the Charles are the famous locks used by boats to come in and out of Boston Harbor, through North Point Park. North Point Park, has a wonderful view of the Zakim Bridge as well as the footbridge to shoot from below capturing a great photo of a couple snuggling. There is plenty of tree cover here so you don’t have to be in direct sun. This is also near the North Point Park skateboard park, so if you like graffiti, it’s a great place to get both nature views and urban backdrops. North Point Park is also close to the Museum of Science, so you can walk across the street, and use the top level of the garage for a Boston Skyline Engagement photo that no one has.
No matter where you want to take your engagement photos along the Charles River, I am happy to share with you various examples of photos from around the area. I have taken many photos for engaged couples as well as set up surprise proposal sessions. It’s a beautiful area of Cambridge Massachusetts and one you should really explore soon, maybe even grab a duck tour through the locks.
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Reading, MA Photographer Headshots-Portraits-Kids-Families-Senior Portraits 45 High Street, Reading MA 01867 | 781-315-6030 - aw@cordelephotography.com