Cox Arboretum MetroPark Photos & Engagement Session Location Information

Cox Arboretum MetroPark Description

This park, just south of Dayton Ohio is an engagement session location that is the busiest in Dayton, Cox Arboretum MetroPark. It is a beautiful park with thousands of flowers, trees, shrubs, two ponds, fields, and more. Be prepared to fight the crowds if you choose this Dayton engagement location. The perennial garden (the first thing you see when you pass the ponds) is always full of color and life.

I have mixed emotions about shooting engagement session photos here. One on hand, it is the busiest park around, especially if it happens to be a high-school dance weekend or a popular wedding weekend. On the other hand, this park offers so many options for engagement photos. Creeks, evergreen trees, ponds, fields, and even a four-story tower make this location unique. Besides dealing with other guests walking in and out of photos, it is hard to choose from so many locations!

This is a Five Rivers MetroParks park located 5 minutes north of the Dayton Mall and 10 minutes south of downtown. The mix of tall grasses, rock gardens, ponds, a butterfly house (sometimes), and other natural areas make this a unique experience. Occasionally, I even take a few photos inside the education center. This is where indoor weddings and receptions take place as well.

Cox Arboretum Highlights

• Address: 6733 N Springboro Pike, Dayton, OH 45449
• Permit Requirement: A daily or yearly permit is required for photo sessions
• Beautiful in every season
• Flowers and ponds
• Monet Bridge
• Fields
• Observation tower
• Rock formations
• Creek
• Reasons You Should Choose: Beautiful scenery with lots of choices.
• Reasons To Not Choose: This is the busiest and most used park in Dayton.
• Warning: Permit required

TIP: Arrive early in the day for decent light and fewer crowds.  This park is popular!

Park Photo Location For Beautiful Engagement Photos

2025 Cox Arboretum Fall Engagement Session Photos

Early Morning Engagement Photos At A Park South Of Dayton

Creating Engagement Photos At A Park South Of Dayton

I was looking forward to this couple a lot since she had been very good at communicating with me. At the park opening, 8 am, I set out to create engagement photos at a park south of Dayton. Ideally, the best light was already gone by 8 am, but I made do with the sun and clouds. Cox Arboretum is a beautiful and busy park, but there is a way to avoid the crowds.

Why Morning Is Important For Engagement Photos At A Park South Of Dayton

Early morning is my favorite time to create engagement photos and family photos. The lack of people disrupting the photo shoot is the primary reason. While I respect the other guests, they are often not aware when they are walking into a photo shoot. Photographers using the MetroPark for shoots is probably the reason for needing a permit. The second reason I love mornings is the good light. While 8 am in the summer is too late for the best light, 8 am in the Fall is perfect. Of course, this all depends on rain, humidity, and other factors.

Stress Of The Day

Another bonus to morning photo shoots is the stress of the day hasn’t happened yet. We all know as a day goes on, things build up, schedules get messed up, and errands weigh on us. Making the shoot your first thing in the morning avoids all of this stress. Additionally, couples who are anxious about the session don’t have much time to worry. Get up, shower, shoot, and it is over!

Freshly Showered & Hair Is Done

The final benefit of a morning photo shoot is purely superficial. By being the first event of the day, the couple is freshly showered, and made up, and their hair is looking good. We all know what a humid afternoon can do to someone’s hair. Let’s get the session out of the way for the best results.

Dayton Marriage Proposal Photographer And Engagement Photographer At a Park

On a beautiful Saturday evening in April 2021, I photographed my third marriage proposal. This marriage proposal took place at Cox Arboretum MetroPark near Dayton and was followed by a fun-filled engagement session. This newly engaged couple was so much fun and was open to all of my suggestions. As Cox Arboretum is a very popular engagement photography location in Dayton, I tried hard to get unique and different engagement photos for this couple. These are some of my favorite engagement photographs ever. Thank you! I love being a Dayton wedding photographer, Dayton engagement photographer, Dayton photographer, and Dayton marriage proposal photographer!

As with my second marriage proposal photography session, this was in good weather but with no leaves on the tree. Both engagements were on bridges but at different parks. The big difference with this one was that the bride-to-be cried. This was great for me to photograph, and I gave them plenty of time to talk before starting their engagement photos.

Review Of My Marriage Proposal Work

Here is the review/testimonial the great couple left for me on Google. It was my pleasure! “He was a great professional who helped in selecting the perfect location. A great photographer that’s easy to work with! We got so many amazing pictures that we love sharing with our family and friends.”

Pro Tip For Planning A Proposal

I have a pro tip for anyone who is planning a proposal and engagement in one session. Make sure your partner is either dressed for photos or has a spare outfit. This is tricky because the other will know something is up. For the few brides-to-be I have done like this, they have all been very happy with the engagement (obviously) and the pictures have turned out great.

Marriage Proposal Photography Is Fun

Marriage proposal photography is one of the most exciting types of photography for a wedding photographer to capture. It is a moment of pure love, joy, and anticipation that marks the beginning of a couple’s journey. I feel privileged to witness that moment and honored to capture photographs that people will cherish for years.Each proposal is unique, and that is precisely what makes them so special.

One of my favorite things about marriage proposal photography is the surprise. The man proposing (so far, only men have hired me) often works hard to make the moment a surprise. As the photographer, I get to be a part of that plan, working behind the scenes to capture the surprise and delight on the couple’s faces when they realize what is happening.

One Of The Best Engagement Shoots Ever Dayton’s Most Diverse Park, Cox Arboretum

Early Morning At A Popular Park

In May, I did one of my best engagement shoots ever, and it happened to be at Dayton’s most agriculturally diverse park. We arrived an hour after park opening on a Sunday and knocked out an hour’s worth of engagement photos for this couple. I love getting there early because the crowd is non existent. Not only is the crowd still sleeping, the weather usually isn’t as volatile in the morning. Tip: this is why I always try to take the earliest flights of the day as well. So, if you want to be part of one of my best engagement shoots in the future, contact me today!

Managing Other People Not Your Photography Clients

The hardest part of photographing in a busy place like Cox is working around all the other people utilizing the park. Seeing as this is the busiest of the local parks, it can be especially hard to get “clean” images without people in the background. I do this very well since I have been shooting for 18 years. I think of it as an art inside of the art of photography. You really have to be aware of everything behind and around the couple. If someone is walking into frame, I’ll prep the couple by saying “ok, 3,2,1 and I got it!” I will use the couple to block the lurkers in the back.

Having A Permit During Your Best Engagement Shoots

As a reminder, all Five Rivers MetroParks require a photography permit. Don’t risk embarrassing yourself in front of clients by showing up without a valid permit! I can’t imagine how awkward it would feel to be stopped by a park employee during one of my best engagement shoots. (I have a permit now, so it wouldn’t bother me.) Update 2025: MetroParks now mails lanyard passes that photographers must wear during sessions in the parks.

Another Early Morning Engagement Shoot At An Empty MetroPark

Cox Arboretum engagement photos are always beautiful and enjoyable. This newly engaged couple was willing to try so many poses and locations during this engagement session at Dayton’s most diverse park. The bride-to-be’s contagious smile lit up the morning, a surprising burst of joy so early in the day. Everyone laughed a lot, making the photos more fun and natural. I always love the natural expressions and emotions that couples bring out in each other. These two were two of the best and most expressive.

What can I say about this park? I could require each session to last at least 90 minutes. Between the over-crowded areas, waiting for our turn at locations, and long walks, it is becoming harder to take good photos here. Try to avoid this park on high school dance nights, especially prom. I’ve made that mistake too many times. While most photographers are cognisant of other photographers, many people are not.

The Benefits of an Early Morning Portrait Session

Rise with the sun and unlock a world of enchantment with an early morning portrait session. As the world awakens, you and your loved ones can bask in the soft, golden light that lends a dreamlike touch to every frame. Here are some of the countless benefits of embracing the early morning hours for your photo shoot.

Embrace Serenity

Early mornings bring a sense of tranquility that is unmatched. Before the hustle and bustle of the day begins, you can stroll through landscapes or explore settings in solitude. This serene atmosphere creates a calm and relaxed environment, allowing your natural emotions and connections to shine through every click of the camera.

Glorious Lighting

The first rays of the morning sun cast a gentle, warm glow on everything it touches. This exquisite light works like magic, lending a soft and ethereal quality to your portraits. It beautifully enhances skin tones, highlights the delicate details, and creates a natural, radiant ambiance that is difficult to replicate at any other time of the day.

Beat the Heat

Summer months can bring scorching temperatures, making outdoor photo shoots uncomfortable for everyone involved. By scheduling an early morning portrait session, you can avoid the blistering heat and ensure that everyone feels comfortable and at ease. No more worrying about sweaty brows or melting makeup – just pure enjoyment of the moment.

Minimal Distractions

As the day progresses, the world comes alive with activities, crowds, and noises. By booking an early morning session, you escape the chaos and distractions. This allows you to focus solely on capturing authentic moments and genuine emotions without interruptions. Whether it’s at a picturesque park, a serene beach, or amid the urban charm of a city, the absence of distractions will allow connect with one another.

Time for Adventure

Embracing the early morning for your portrait session opens up a world of opportunities for adventurous locations. From stunning landscapes painted with the first light to architectural marvels bathed in the glow of a new day, you can choose from a plethora of locations that are often off-limits during peak hours. Let your imagination run wild as you embark on an enchanting adventure to create timeless memories.

At Kevin Lush Photography, I believe that the early morning hours hold a special kind of magic, offering an exceptional setting for your portrait session. I hopefully have mastered the art of capturing these moments of beauty, ensuring that your images will tell the story of your love. Book your early morning portrait session today!

Spring Marriage Proposal In A Beautiful Dayton Park

Photographing At A Busy Park On Mother’s Day

Normally I don’t photograph on holidays, but my wife insisted that I photograph this Cox Arboretum marriage proposal on Mother’s Day 2025. This was an awesome Spring marriage proposal at a flower filled park south of Dayton. There were people everywhere due to the holiday and the beautiful spring weather.

Keep Your Distance To Avoid Being Noticed During A Spring Marriage Proposal

While I had the groom-to-be share his location via iPhone with me, I still had to be inconspicuous. Thankfully, there were dozens of other people enjoying the park, so I blended in. I remained 50 feet behind them and stayed behind bushes and trees. She never saw me! For about 10 minutes, they wandered around the park while he determined the best place to propose. When was this spring marriage proposal going to happen? Ever? LOL

It’s smart to plan where you’ll propose, but stay flexible in case things change. If he had chosen the Monet Bridge, he would have been disappointed by the crowd gathered there. So we did have a plan for me to follow then and to be ready when he proposed. Finally he settled on a gravel path along the north side of the large pond. I popped out from behind an evergreen tree and photographed the proposal.

A side note to this story: While he was proposing, three kids under 7 walked between the couple and me. Thankfully, the kids walked quickly, and I got shots! What else can you do when fun things happen at a Spring marriage proposal in Dayton?

Dealing With The Unexpected

Always be prepared for the unexpected when photographing. A perfect example would be photography permits. I don’t want anyone to be put in an awkward position by being approached by staff. MetroParks requires a photography permit each time a professional photographer is shooting in a park. A daily pass for $25 or a yearly pass for $100 can be obtained. I would be mortified if I didn’t have my permit while I was on a shoot. How embarrassing!

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