Great Places to Take Family Pictures
Where Should I Get My Family Photos Taken?
Are you wondering about a good location to have your family pictures taken? Does it seem like other families have this secret ingredient to finding amazing locations to take their family photos, and all you can seem to pull off is the awkward, cramped living room shot? I’m not suggesting the studio at your local vacant department store...please, that’s so ‘90s. I’m talking about the golden hour, stone wall, green fields, and under-the-tree family pictures. Whether you plan to take your own family pictures or have them professionally done, you have the power to make those pictures less cringe worthy to you and future adult children.
Family Portraits in Parks
We’ll break down three and a half very attainable location options for your family pictures. Let’s start with parks. This is one of the more obvious ones, after all, everyone has some kind of park nearby. State parks, township parks, skate parks, national parks, you name it, there is probably one within reasonable driving distance. Most parks have grass ✓, trees ✓, sunshine ✓. Basically, those are the only ingredients to make a family picture that is ten times better than your living room photos that evoke reactions like “eww my eyes are red,” “I look so pale!,” or, “the left half of my face isn’t in the picture!” Please don’t settle for taking the yearly picture in the living room. Our natural habitat is not being completely surrounded by painted drywall. After all, we’re part of nature, and we look best in it! You teenagers may roll their eyes, but drag their butts out to a park and take that picture! They will appreciate that later...I almost promise. The best part about this is, it’s FREE.
Family Portraits in Your Local Downtown
If you're not into the whole green landscape, natural vibe of parks, then no doubt you have a downtown of some sort near you. It goes without saying, urban locations yield more earthy tones with brick, stone, pavement, and concrete buildings, but you still have the luxury of using the sun to your advantage as well as lots of space for those desirable blurry backgrounds. Not to mention, you can bribe certain family members with shopping or ice cream afterwards. Look for benches, less crowded streets, and eastward and westward facing streets (these should be easy enough to figure out on Google Maps). Finding longitudinal streets is paramount for getting those sensational back lit photos. If you don’t want to worry about the sun, then just find some shade and a pretty solid background devoid of signs, trash cans, and other less desirable stage props. The best part about this is, it's also FREE.
Family Portraits in Your Backyard (or a Friend’s Backyard)
Yes, your backyard. Super obvious and I’m probably wasting both your time and mind. I realize not everyone has a backyard. I also realize that if you do, it requires getting off the couch (insert gasp). Nonetheless, if you have a backyard consider it as an option! No doubt you already have but have discarded it for one reason or another. Maybe your neighborhood is crowded and there are houses, cars, and other random objects everywhere...like the rusty boat your neighbor has been planning to work on for 20 years now. Well, photography is art. It always requires at least an ounce of creativity to make it work. There is a reason people, like me, get paid to do this. You can make your backyard photos work. It may not “feel” as special or as adventurous, but I assure your grass and your tree are just as grassy and green as the park’s down the road. Likewise, your brick walls and stone patio are just as bricky and stony as the wall downtown. And guess what...It’s FREE.
Now, to really blow your mind. Chances are you know someone who has a bigger or nicer (or whatever ever qualifier you throw in there) backyard than you. Swallow your pride if you have it, and ask them to use it for your family pictures. Some of the best photography locations are regular peoples’ private property and can’t legally be used by anyone else without permission. So use your connections!
Consider Hiring A Professional Photographer
Professional photographers are great at making things that are there, to not be there. For instance: you don't want your pictures in your backyard because of the houses behind you. Understandable, but a somewhat experienced photographer can compose a shot where it looks like there are miles of scenery behind you. Better yet, a shirtless dude is walking down the street in the background of your downtown picture. Not a problem for an experienced photographer.
Now, if you want to hire a professional photographer, you will no doubt gain access to their wealth of knowledge on secluded, scenic locations in your area you never knew about. And while that’s not free, it is totally worth it!
If those benefits don’t tempt you to consider a professional, just check out the gallery. I bet you your COOLPIX digital camera or smartphone can’t do that. However you decide to go about the yearly family pictures, I hope this gives you a nudge to kick things up a notch this year and create better family photos and memories. Talk to me to today if you want my help to make those sensational family portraits.,
For the Chester County, PA Locals
Those of you in the Chester County area may want to look in to these locations for your next family portrait session. These are places I frequent and highly recommend! If you’re looking for professional photography services in West Chester, Pa, give me call today!
Valley Forge National Park
Ridley Creek State Park (especially Hunting Hill Mansion)\
East Goshen Park
Applebrook Park
Downtown West Chester
Downtown Malvern
Main Street Exton
Harmony Hill Nature Area
Exton Park