Chicago Union Station engagement photos

If you’re dreaming about Chicago Union Station engagement photos, there is a reason this location keeps ending up on couples’ inspiration boards. The massive columns, grand staircases, beautiful skylight, and historic architecture make it feel elegant and editorial without losing that unmistakably Chicago character. I recently photograph an engagement session at Union Station, and it quickly becomes one of my favorite indoor locations in the city. But this isn’t a location where I recommend simply showing up with a photographer and hoping for the best.

There is a permit. There is a fee. Timing matters. And because this is still a functioning train station, knowing how to photograph it makes a huge difference. Here is what you need to know before planning engagement photos at Chicago Union Station.

Do You Need a Permit for Engagement Photos at Chicago Union Station?

Yes. Chicago Union Station requires a photography permit for professional photography, wedding photos, and engagement sessions. As of 2026, the photography permit costs $150.

Union Station requires you to submit the permit form and payment at least 48 hours before your intended session. Permits are accepted Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and they will not accept applications more than eight weeks before your photography date. There is also one slightly old-school detail you need to know: payment must currently be made by cashier’s check or money order. They do not accept cash, personal checks, or credit cards for photography permits. Always double-check the current requirements before your engagement session because fees, unavailable dates, and policies can change.

How Much Do Chicago Union Station Engagement Photos Cost?

Currently, you should budget $150 for your Union Station photography permit, plus the cost of your engagement photographer. You do NOT need to rent the entire Great Hall to have a standard permitted engagement session there. That’s an important distinction because renting Union Station for a private event is a completely different ballgame. The Great Hall is a massive private event space, but an engagement photography permit allows us to photograph within the station without renting it as an event venue. For the scale of this location, I think the $150 permit is incredibly worthwhile. If you want to reach out about an engagement photoshoot with meeeee, contact me!

Best Time for Engagement Photos at Chicago Union Station

Union Station is beautiful, but there is one tiny complication. It’s a train station. People are actually trying to catch trains while we’re busy creating your cinematic engagement photos. Because of that, I recommend avoiding the busiest commuter periods whenever possible. Having fewer people moving through the Great Hall gives us more freedom to use the architecture and create wide photographs without constantly waiting for crowds to clear.

The Great Hall’s restored skylight also brings natural light into the space, which is one of the reasons I love photographing here. Your photographer should be thinking about more than simply finding an empty corner. Light direction, symmetry, movement, architecture, and the number of people in the background all matter.

Best Photo Spots Inside Chicago Union Station

The Great Hall is absolutely the star. This is where I want to create those giant, wide photographs that show off the scale of Union Station. The room is enormous, with towering columns, a barrel-vaulted skylight, historic details, and plenty of opportunities to play with symmetry and negative space.

Then there are the grand staircases. They give us completely different compositions and allow me to photograph from above, below, and across the space. Fun Chicago fact: these are the staircases made famous by The Untouchables.

I also love looking for smaller architectural details between the obvious locations. A great engagement gallery shouldn’t be 75 versions of you standing on the same staircase.

What Should You Wear for Union Station Engagement Photos?

Union Station can handle a LOOK. This is one of those Chicago engagement locations where dressing up makes sense rather than feeling out of place. Think long dresses, movement, tailored suits, structured jackets, heels, elegant separates, or something slightly more fashion-forward than what you would normally wear on a Tuesday afternoon. I especially love clothing with movement here. A flowing skirt or dress creates a beautiful contrast against the enormous, structured architecture of the Great Hall. This Chicago couple had a few outfit changes for their 2 day Chicago engagement shoot!

You don’t have to wear black tie, but I would take advantage of the setting. If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to dress like the leads in a movie who have suspiciously glamorous lives, this is it.

Is Chicago Union Station Good for Winter Engagement Photos?

YES. In fact, this is one of my favorite reasons to consider it. Chicago engagement sessions don’t have to disappear when winter arrives. Union Station gives you a gorgeous indoor photography location without sacrificing the feeling that you’re actually in Chicago. It’s also an excellent option when you want an indoor location as part of a larger engagement session. We can photograph inside Union Station and then add an outdoor downtown Chicago location for a completely different look. That gives you variety without gambling your entire engagement session on Chicago weather behaving itself. For a bigger list of allll the best engagement session spots in Chicago, check out my Chicago guide!

How Long Do You Need for Chicago Union Station Engagement Photos?

You don’t need hours inside Union Station to create a great gallery. I’d rather go into the session knowing exactly what we want to create, photograph the Great Hall and staircases intentionally, and then move to another Chicago location than spend the entire session wandering around looking for ideas. This is also why planning your engagement session with someone who knows the location matters. We can determine the best timeline, outfits, permits, and additional locations before you ever step in front of the camera.

Planning Your Chicago Union Station Engagement Session

The best Chicago Union Station engagement photos aren’t created by simply showing up at a pretty building. They’re planned.

We think about when to photograph, where the light will be, what you’re wearing, how we’re using the architecture, what permit you need, and where we might go afterward to give your final gallery more variety. And you don’t have to figure all of that out yourself. When I photograph engagement sessions in Chicago, I’m not just showing up with a camera. I help you plan the experience, choose locations that work together, think through timing and outfits, and create photographs that feel like the two of you rather than a checklist of Pinterest poses.

If you’re dreaming about engagement photos inside Chicago Union Station, let’s plan something incredible.