Finding the right location to do your proposal, engagement, or couple shoot can be a difficult task in Johannesburg! Even though we don't have any beautiful beaches or Table Mountains in our backyard, Joburg has some truly incredible options to use for your romantic photoshoot with your significant other!
Here are some of the best Johannesburg engagement photoshoot locations:
1. Delta Park
This is one of my top spots in Joburg! Especially around March/April when the cosmos is in full bloom, the vibrant surroundings of little white and pink flowers paired with the lush green scenery and the distant Sandton skyline make a perfect setting for both couple and family photos.
This location works perfectly if you want shots of your partner and yourself running through the cosmos fields, sitting on a picnic blanket or hiding in the long grass together.
With that in mind, I would recommend this location to any couple! But especially for those who are looking to run through the flowers and have some fun with their shoot!
Pros - Beautiful lighting, variety of scenery, free
Cons - Shoes might get a little dusty!
Photo Credit - Jordie Captures
2. Keyes Art Mile
A location special for the art and street style lovers! Keyes Art Mile hosts a collection of art galleries and street style cafes, and works incredibly as an urban setting that pairs well if you want to show off your appreciation for fashion.
Sitting in the middle of Rosebank, just off Jan Smuts Avenue, Keyes Art Mile is easy to get to and there is a parking lot close by.
The striking architecture, glass walls and varied lighting options are perfect for creating photos that stand out from your usual couple gallery, and you can even go check out an art gallery afterwards if you're feeling inspired with all this modelling!
Bonus note here - If you time your shoot during the Jacaranda blossoms, there are a couple other locations close by we can take a look at!
I would recommend this location for couples who are quite fashion conscious and looking for trendy photos.
Pros - Striking backgrounds, artsy, free
Cons - Can get very busy
Photo Credit - Jordie Captures
3. Northcliff Hill
Anyone following my Instagram will know that there is almost always a Northcliff Hill photo close to the top of my page, and for good reason! Northcliff Hill is one of the best places to view the sunset in Joburg, making it perfect for romantic sunset photoshoots!
What I love about this location is how the vibrant sunset colours and distant view of the Northern suburbs pair with care free and fun portraits with my couples! Basically, a sunset's best accessory is a couple having a lot of fun on their photoshoot!
The windy road up the hill can make the best of us feel car sick but there is plenty of space to park on the road inside of the boomed gate. There are usually plenty of cars there so you may need to walk a little while to get to the entrance.
I would recommend this location for any couple! But especially those wanting to show off their romantic side.
Pros - Beautiful sunsets, striking scenery, free
Cons - Can get incredibly busy during golden hour
Photo Credit - Jordie Captures
4. The Wilds Nature Reserve
Another one of Joburg's famous parks! The Wilds offers great variety in its environment since it has a lush, green forested area as well as an open hilltop with a great view of Joburg CBD. With lots of open space around you, you better be ready to run, dance and jump into the arms of your significant other for these photos.
If you want something a little more casual, packing a picnic for you and your SO to enjoy while I snap some pics of the two of you is a great way to spend an afternoon!
On the outskirts of Houghton, The Wilds Nature Reserve is pretty easy to get to since the M1 goes right past it, but have your walking shoes ready as not all the best photo spots are close to a parking lot.
I would recommend this location for nature lovers and couples on a picnic!
Pros - Scenery variety, casual
Cons - Can be dangerous when isolated
Photo Credits - Ingrid De Klerk Photography
5. 27 Boxes
Right in the middle of Melville is 27 Boxes, an urban shipping container “flea market” with loads of personality and plenty of great photo spots. Plus it's not a bad place to grab a coffee afterwards!
The artsy feel and colourful shipping containers make 27 Boxes an incredibly fun and lively photoshoot location that will be sure to make your photos stand out to the masses!
I would recommend this location for couples wanting to show off their colourful side and have a bit of fun with their photoshoot.
Pros - Vibrant scenery, unique, free
Cons - Often other people around, lacks scenery variety
Photo Credit - Jordie Captures
6. 44 Stanley
One of the unofficial coffee capitals of Joburg, 44 Stanley is an area filled with cute outdoor coffee shops, boutique shopping and amazing photo locations. Because of its location, 44 Stanley allows you to choose between a more urban, or natural feeling photoshoot because of the street style cafes and loads of trees and greenery in the outdoor area.
Just off Empire road in Braamfontein, 44 Stanley is easy to get to and there is plenty of parking available depending on the time of day.
I would recommend this location to a couple looking for casual and fashion-conscious photos.
Pros - Beautiful, variety of scenery
Cons - Can get busy
Photo Credits - Studio40six Photography
7. Gold Reef City
What a great idea right! Using colourful, motion-filled backgrounds of roller coasters and ferris wheels is just what you need for a photoshoot that oozes WOW factor.
Plus it's not just roller coasters and ferris wheels, Gold Reef City offers an incredible variety of scenes with the mining gold rush decor, wild west saloon type buildings, and of course carnival games and eats.
Located in Johannesburg South just off the motorway, Gold Reef City isn't too difficult to get to and there is plenty of parking if you are driving yourself. Of course you will have to pay an entrance fee to get inside the theme park, but just remember you can save some money if you get the non-rider pass - no rides for us after the shoot :(
I recommend this location for any couple who wishes to create something different with their photoshoot or dress up to fit the scene!
Pros - Unique, vibrant scenery, dress-up works well!
Cons - Entrance fee
Photo Credits - D’amor Photography
8. Sandton City
This one has become pretty popular over the last few years… Who would've thought a parking lot could attract so many photographers!
But the key here is that it's popular for good reason - the combination of beautiful sunsets, incredible lighting and views of Sandton’s modern and aesthetic buildings works perfectly for couples who want to have a bit of fun with their photoshoot.
If you're asking how you can have fun on your photoshoot in a parking lot, just picture photos of pushing your significant other around in a trolley, twirling each other around with your best ballroom dance moves and popping champagne bottles. Pretty fun for a parking lot right!
I would recommend this location for couples who want to do something super casual, fun and carefree for their photoshoot.
Pros - Unique, casual
Cons - R10 parking fee
Photo Credit - Wynand van Der Merwe Photography
9. Avianto
Typically a wedding venue, Avianto also offers plenty of opportunities for photographers to use their gardens for engagement and couple shoots. Avianto also has a couple of walking trails too, meaning that there are plenty of options available for our photoshoot!
Sitting in the middle of the wedding mile in Muldersdrift, Avianto isn't difficult to get to but may take some time since it is a little way outside of Joburg.
I recommend this location for couples who like a more formal looking photoshoot, or couples who would like to have their shoot at the same location they are getting married at!
Pros - Variety of scenery
Cons - Travel time
Photo Credit - Jordie Captures
10. Bryanston Forest
In the photography world, there is a saying that you aren't a real Joburg photographer unless you have done a photoshoot at Bryanston Forest. The reason for this is that it really ticks all the boxes - beautiful, striking scenery, free, easy to get to, safe… What more could you ask for!
With that in mind, this location is a great choice for your photoshoot as the pine trees create intimate photo options and the sunrays softly shining through the leaves on a sunny day create a beautiful vibrancy in photos.
The Bryanston pine forest is located in the middle of Bryanston, quite close to William Nicol Drive, not too far from the Western bypass offramp and there is plenty of safe parking right next to the forest.
I would recommend this location to any couple! Period.
Pros - Casual, free, beautiful
Cons - Can get busy
Photo Credit - Jordie Captures
Bonus Locations!
Okay these last 2 aren't actually in Joburg but they are too good not to mention!
11. Pretoria Union Buildings
Just 50 minutes from Joburg are the Pretoria Union buildings. The monumental scale of these buildings is a real wow when you first arrive and the green gardens in front of the buildings give great options for couples who want a little more than just photos of them with some buildings in the background.
There is also an incredible view of Pretoria from on top of the hill so this location is honestly a great choice for any couple or engagement shoot!
I would recommend this location for couples who live closer to Pretoria.
Pros - Unique, wow factor, free
Cons - Can get very busy
Photo Credit - Escada Photography
12. Rosemary Hill Farm
Just over an hour away from Joburg is a beautiful lifestyle farm and wedding venue called Rosemary Hill. It really has some incredible glowing scenery and I even had my own engagement shoot with my now wife there a few years ago!
Some of the famous shots at this location include couples running hand in hand down a farm road lined with trees, sitting in the short grass field with the glowing sunset behind them, or standing in front of the chapel to practise for their wedding day! Oh and did I mention that they have an absolutely stunning greenhouse purely for taking photos in!
Rosemary Hill is about 20 minutes East of Pretoria and pretty easy to get to apart from the rough dirt road for the last 3kms. There is a big parking lot on the property so no need to worry about your car.
I would recommend this location for couples wanting a casual, romantic farm setting for their shoot.
Pros - Golden hour gem, variety of scenery
Cons - The road is very rough for 3kms, entrance fee
Photo Credit - By Grace Photography
Final Thoughts
While these are some of my favourite spots in Joburg, there are many more locations that could have easily brought this list into the 30s!
If you have a couple more ideas, contact me so we can collaborate together for a shoot :) Otherwise, scope out the rest of my blog to find our more juicy Johannesburg based photography info and galleries.
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