You know how many people tell me it’s so awesome that I live in South Carolina because Charleston and Myrtle Beach are so beautiful? Well, I’ve lived in South Carolina for several years now and I hardly ever make it to the coast. I’ve been to all 48 state parks in South Carolina, so not only do I know where all the pretty places are, I know the logistics of taking pictures there. A lot of times, when people in upstate South Carolina give recommendations for pretty places to take pictures, they recommend places in western North Carolina. I know there are still plenty of places for me to explore and take pictures, and I’ve included a few at the bottom of the post that are still on my bucket list for an engagement session or elopement. Here are some of my favorite places to take pictures, all right here in good old Upstate South Carolina.

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Clemson University

Clemson has tons of beautiful scenery, from the architecture to the lake to the botanical gardens. Even if you’re not a student or an alum, there are still so many amazing places for you to take photos. See more engagement photos from Clemson!

Downtown Greenville/Falls Park

Greenville

I’ll start with the obvious one, which gets its own post that you can see here. While we usually think of the suspension bridge and the Reedy River Falls when we think of Falls Park, there are also more garden-like parts of the park to add some color and a nature-like feel, and some other cool manmade structures, like the water wall behind the Peace Center! There’s also a Christmas tree and ice rink nearby at Christmas, making this the perfect spot if you want your engagement photos to double as your Christmas card photos. One thing I like about Falls Park is that we can use the Wyche Pavilion as a backup location for a proposal if it’s raining - click here to see an example!

Bald Rock Heritage Preserve

Cleveland (Northern Greenville County)

Bald Rock overlooks the mountains of South Carolina, including Table Rock! It’s an easy stop off of Highway 276 and only a few minutes from a waterfall that complements the scenery perfectly. The lighting can work at sunrise or sunset, and there’s graffiti on the rock if you want a little more of an urban touch to the mountain scenery. Another thing I like about it is how close it is to a waterfall and Caesars Head State Park.

Lake Keowee

Accessible from Pickens and Oconee Counties

Lakes are perfect on colder days because not many people will be around, giving you a peaceful and intimate setting for your session. There are several places along Lake Keowee to use with views of the mountains!

South Carolina Botanical Gardens

Clemson

Clemson University has no shortage of people who are passionate about plants, so it’s no surprise that the South Carolina Botanical Gardens have so much diversity in their plant life. At any point during the spring or fall, you’ll find something that has pretty colors, so the window for taking photos with seasonal colors is a little wider here. There’s also a small desert garden if cacti and succulents are more your style! See more examples of photos taken around the gardens during different seasons!

Devils Fork State Park / Lake Jocassee

Salem (Oconee County)

Devils Fork State Park is the only public access point to Lake Jocassee, which offers the best combination of mountains and water in South Carolina. If you’re in the mood to jump in the water for your photos, this is some of the cleanest water in the whole state. Read more about Devils Fork and Lake Jocassee here!

Pretty Place Chapel

Cleveland (Northern Greenville County)

Fred W. Symmes Chapel at YMCA Camp Greenville has earned the name of Pretty Place for a reason. This chapel is right on the North Carolina border and faces the mountains to the east, making for gorgeous sunrise photos! Be sure to check the visitation schedule before you make a trip here because it’s a popular place to get married at any time of year, and you don’t want to drive all the way there to find out that it’s closed off. Check out my guide for anyone thinking about having photos at Pretty Place!

Table Rock State Park

Pickens

Yes, Table Rock State Park is the place everyone tells you about with the really steep hiking trails. Neither of the pictures below were taken on those trails. I don’t want you to be sweaty and exhausted before you even get to the pretty views, so I’ve found some other spots that are beautiful and easier to access. My husband and I actually had our own photos here because I love it so much! Click here for more information about Table Rock!

Campbell’s Covered Bridge

Landrum (northern Spartanburg County)

This red bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in South Carolina, but we can also take pictures at some spots around it, like the water below it and the tall grass.

Lake Hartwell

Accessible from several places in the upstate

Fun fact: I was married in front of Lake Hartwell at Clemson! There are so many places along the lake to use for photos, but we can also go here at the end of a session at Clemson.

Caesars Head State Park

Cleveland (Northern Greenville County)

The overlook at Caesars Head State Park is a great option if you love the mountains, but aren’t up for a hike. This is also a great spot for watching the sunset! We’d take some pictures at the picnic tables and in the woods before the sun gets low—that’s when it really gets magical. Read more about Caesars Head here!

Waterfalls

The Upstate has tons of waterfalls to choose from—Oconee County alone has over 150! I’ve visited several and can help you choose one that’s not too hard to get to. Here are some of my favorites for elopements and photo sessions!

Rock Quarry Garden

Greenville

Can you believe this spot is right between two streets in downtown Greenville? Rock Quarry Garden is so easy to get to, and there’s no shortage of beautiful scenery in this little park.

Death Valley

Clemson

If you’re a Clemson fan, this is a must! Even on the days when the stadium isn’t accessible to the public, you can still show your support for the Tigers outside the stadium. I have a whole blog post here for some of my favorite places to take engagement photos at Clemson!

Lake Robinson

Greer

I’ve done a portrait session at Lake Robinson, but not an engagement session. This is an easy drive from Greer and you can see the mountains over the lake!

Furman University

Greenville

Even if you don’t have ties to the university, the campus has so much to offer for pictures, from fountains to a lake to a rose garden! You can even see the mountains behind the lake and the bell tower from here!

Local Farms

From blueberries to sunflowers to lavender, there are plenty of gorgeous farms around here that would make for stunning summer engagement photos! Keep in mind that some farms require a photography fee, and you definitely shouldn’t just start taking photos on a farm without speaking to the owners first.

Any Place that’s Special to You Two

Sometimes, you have a vision of what you believe best fits your story. Maybe you’ve spent a lot of time hiking, or maybe you want to have your engagement photos in the place where you met or got engaged. Wherever you choose to have your photos, I’m happy to show it off with you in it.

Places that are still on my bucket list:

Jones Gap Falls
Chattooga Belle Farm
Jumping Off Rock
Hotel Domestique
Sassafras Mountain
Paris Mountain State Park (in the fall)
Ice on Main (at Christmastime)
Happy Berry
Beechwood Farms
Twin Creeks Lavender
Greenville Downtown Airport

Ready for the best day ever?

My name is Christine (Scott) Gow and I’m an elopement photographer based out of Greenville, South Carolina. I’m a wife and a beagle mom. The three of us have visited beautiful places in every corner of South Carolina, to include all of our state parks. We love being outside as much as we love sitting on the couch and watching Pixar movies or Back to the Future.

One thing I love about South Carolina is that it’s not just the beaches and colorful houses that you imagine when you picture it. Whether you’re looking for mountains, beaches, or anything in between; I can help you find the perfect place for the two of you and make it as smooth of a day as possible. No matter how you two choose to spend your day, I’m happy you’re doing it the way that you want.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Engagement Photo Details