Market Square Engagement Photos

When you think of downtown San Antonio, your mind probably goes straight to the River Walk or the Alamo. But if you are looking for a colorful location for an engagement photo session that capitalizes on the city’s cultural history, Market Square is the perfect choice. I recently photographed Taiz and Jeremy’s Market Square engagement photos, and the setting could not have been a better match for their personalities. Find out exactly how – and get some photo tips for your own portrait shoot in today’s blog post.

Meet the Couple: Taiz and Jeremy

Taiz and Jeremy met during their senior year of high school, which, depending on how you define it, makes them almost high school sweethearts. According to Taiz, they cannot officially claim the title since they did not date throughout their entire high school experience. Regardless of technicalities, their story has all the charm and warmth you would expect. Today, they live in Helotes, and they wanted their engagement photos to reflect a mix of history, culture, and fun.

A Brief History of Market Square

Market Square, also known as “El Mercado,” has been a part of San Antonio’s story since the 1800s. Originally established as a farmers market, it quickly became a hub for commerce and culture, especially for the city’s Mexican-American community. Today, it holds the title of the largest Mexican market in the United States, spanning three city blocks with more than 100 locally owned shops and restaurants.

The Square is known for its lively murals, handmade goods, traditional foods, and an atmosphere that feels both historic and refreshingly alive. For photographers, it offers a unique mix of textures, colors, and culture that are difficult to find anywhere else.

Why Market Square?

While there are many beautiful locations closer to their home in Helotes, Taiz and Jeremy wanted a setting that offered more energy and color. Market Square checked all the boxes. It allowed them to celebrate their heritage, their love story, and their shared sense of adventure in a single location.

To make the most of our time, I focused on a few key areas within Market Square that offered strong visual elements for portraits.

Top Photo Locations at Market Square

1. Patio Beside La Margarita Restaurant

We started near the patio beside La Margarita Restaurant, one of the most recognizable spots in Market Square.

Key features here include:

The stone fountain, which gave us a classic, romantic backdrop
The staircase overlooking the plaza, which allowed for elevated angles and soft, storytelling compositions
The walkway with decorated with papel picado
Warm-toned architecture that complemented the evening light beautifully

Photo Tip:

Use the staircase along the wall for varied perspectives. Shooting from above through the papel picado keeps the poses feeling natural and relaxed.

2. Green Colonnade Walkway (Between S. Concho Street and La Margarita Parking Lot)

The green colonnade walkway is a quieter spot tucked between busy streets. It features wooden columns painted in an eye-catching shade of green.

Photo Tip:

Be careful of garbage cans and street traffic on either end of the walkway.

Couple sitting together on steps of the Centro des Artes Gallery in Market Square — With extensive editing….

3. Entrance to Centro de Artes Gallery

At the entrance to the Centro de Artes Gallery, we found a bold entrance, crisp architectural lines, and a charming VW bug parked out front. This area provided a dramatic, modern contrast to the more historic look of the Market Square center patio.

Photo Tip:

There is a lot of construction going on currently. The clean shot you see before you is largely the work of AI editing. Thank you, Photoshop!

Market Square Logistics and Planning

Market Square can be a dream location for photography, but it comes with a few logistical challenges.

Best Time to Shoot: I scheduled Taiz and Jeremy’s session for 6:00 p.m., right when the market begins winding down for the day. This timing gave us soft, flattering light and fewer crowds to navigate. Note that due to the intense crowds during the day, there is really no other time to schedule a photo shoot at Market Square.
Vendor crowd Management: Vendors begin packing up at this time, so you must work around background activity. Pay close attention to unwanted clutter sneaking into your frames.
Safety Considerations: While Market Square is lively during the day, it is not safe after dark. Plan to finish your session well before sunset for safety and the best possible lighting conditions.
Parking is a Pain: As you are no doubt aware, the roads around Market Square are currently undergoing major construction. The best places to park are going to be a far distance away from Market Square itself, so be prepared to walk.

Photo Tip:

If you are photographing here, plan for a bit of flexibility. Some areas may be unexpectedly blocked by vendor carts or setup crews, so be prepared to adapt your shooting plan on the fly.

Other Nearby Downtown Photo Shoot Locations

In addition to the colors of old Mexico, Taiz and Jeremy also wanted to capture an old school vibe during their photo shoot. So, they had me search out locations that captured the history of downtown San Antonio. In particular, I focused on the intricate marquee of the Alameda Theater as our secondary location.

Here are a few nearby historical landmarks also worth considering:

1. Alameda Theater

The Alameda Theater features classic architectural details. Although the theater is not in use at the moment, it still adds an old-school Hollywood charm to any downtown photo session.

Photo Tip:

Golden hour lighting works especially well here, highlighting the metallic and neon details without overwhelming the frame.

2. Majestic Theatre

The Majestic Theatre is an iconic piece of San Antonio history. The grand marquee and ornate building facade are ideal for more dramatic, romantic portraits.

3. Gunter Hotel

The Gunter Hotel offers a strong vintage aesthetic from an even earlier time in San Antonio’s history. Pay particular attention to the hotel’s symmetrical colonnade for some great photos.

4. Paris Hatters

Known for its history as the oldest hat store in Texas, Paris Hatters has a colorful, old-fashioned neon storefront that photographs beautifully.

5. Peacock Alley

Tucked between buildings, Peacock Alley offers colorful murals, romantic string lights, and a quieter atmosphere. It is perfect for couples who want something full of whimsical charm.

Final Thoughts: Why Market Square is Perfect for Engagement Photos

Market Square offers something few other locations can — a rich blend of color, culture, and authenticity that makes every photo session feel personal and alive. It does require some flexibility, a little bit of patience, and an eye for clean backgrounds, but the rewards are well worth it.

Taiz and Jeremy’s gallery perfectly reflects the energy they wanted to capture. Their session at Market Square, combined with historic downtown locations, gave them a collection of images that feels joyful, timeless, and full of personality.

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If you found this article on ‘Market Square Engagement Photos’ useful, then check out these articles:

Are you interested in saying scheduling your own engagement session in downtown San Antonio? Drop me a line and let’s chat about how I can help you. I have hourly rates, and all photo shoots include editing and high-resolution files.

To view more images from my wedding photography portfolio, please visit my website – KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com