When my husband and I moved to Maine, one of the things that I was thrilled about was the proximity to so many beaches. I knew that they would be the perfect backdrop for engagement and couples photos. As a lifelong New Englander, the beach is one of my favorite places. And even more so in the off-season. There is something about cool days on an empty beach that makes my heart happy – the color palette and views are inspiring, and it’s one of my favorite locations to suggest for engagement and couples sessions. 

If you’re planning your engagement photos or a couples session, here are some great options for beaches. And they are all within about an hour of downtown Portland. 

Popham Beach

The beach at Popham Beach State Park is my personal favorite, and I never miss an opportunity to photograph here. It’s a remote beach with no buildings dotting the coastline, so you get a full view of nature. The beach is vast and giant boulders are sitting out in the water. It truly looks otherworldly and makes for the most beautiful background for a minimal and beachy couples or engagement session. 

Willard Beach

This beach is Portland’s backyard beach. Located just a few minutes from downtown in South Portland, I love this beach for engagement photos because it’s got some great views of several lighthouses and charming fisherman’s cottages overlooking its shoreline. This is a perfect spot if you’re looking for an engagement session where you can tack on a few locations. It’s down the road from Willard Scoops, so you can get ice cream (which always makes for fun photos). It’s also dog-friendly (restrictions change throughout the year), so this is a great option if you want to bring your pup along for photos. 

Scarborough Beach

Scarborough Beach State Park is a great option for engagement photos in Maine because it’s got a long stretch of beach to walk and connects to Prouts Neck during low tide. This makes for a gorgeous, adventurous, rocky backdrop for your engagement or couples session. 

Crescent Beach

Another personal favorite is Crescent Beach State Park in Cape Elizabeth. This is a classic beach with beautiful vistas of the rocks and islands dotting the water out in the cove. I love this beach because there are beautiful grassy dunes with trails running through them coming onto the beach. Photographing on those trails is a treat and it adds some variety to the engagement or couples session. This beach is only 20 minutes from Portland and does require a $6 entrance fee year-round. 

Planning your own engagement or couples session on the coastline of Maine? Get in touch! I’d love to plan something dreamy for you and your partner.