Where to take your pictures can be as daunting as who to take them! Some clients want to visit the location in advance where others trust in their photographer to find just the right spot for the right light.
For several photoshoots, you get to pick from my favorite spots! These are locations I’ve been to so much over the years that I know what is in bloom, where the light is, and most importantly, how to make you look good!
If you’ve been curious about these locations check out the list below and what time of year is best to visit. And I’d love to know what you are looking for in a location!
Beaverton Portrait Locations
Cooper Mountain Nature Park
Perfect for seniors, families and lifestyle photoshoots year round. Dogs are not allowed at this park.
Cooper Mountain Nature Park is one of my favorite Beaverton locations for portraits. Not only is the view breathtaking, but you can achieve multiple looks. The tall grass is green through July and then turns to that wheat grass look that so many want in August with the warm golden sunsets. The red “barn” has glass garage doors to give a more urban look.
Old Town Beaverton
Perfect for seniors, headshots and lifestyle photoshoots year round
Old Town Beaverton is one of my favorite locations for murals and an urban feel without leaving the burbs! Walk around and you’ll find alleys with paintings, metal stairs and weathered brick walls that make for interesting backdrops. This area has had a resurgence with new shops and housing that so you can find the perfect urban mix of Eastside and Pearl District!
Tigard Portrait Locations
Cook Park Butterfly Garden
Perfect for seniors and families. Best late June through September but bring the bug spray for the mosquitoes in this wetlands area!
Cook Park Butterfly Garden is one of my favorite locations in Tigard. It’s right by the high school and easy access from the parking lot. Depending on when you visit there will be different blooms from the wall of white hibiscus flowers to the firey red crocosmia and golden daisies.
Dirksen Nature Park
Perfect for seniors and families
This is a newly developed park in Tigard. I did my first shoot at Dirksen Nature Park in late February 2020. The bridge is a great feature but at the time there wasn’t much in bloom. I drove by in late April and there were a ton of wildflowers! So excited to watch this area bloom. Easy access right next to Fowler Middle School.
Main Street Tigard
New favorite location I’ve not had a shoot in! Will you be the first?
I grew up in Tigard and have found myself driving down Main Street and noticed the newer development! There’s a huge mural wall, a bridge that you can walk under and across the way a parking lot with a field behind it. I’m super excited to shoot in this “new” location this year!
Tualatin Portrait Locations
Brown’s Ferry
Perfect for seniors, families, lifestyle, everything really! Only available June and late August-October.
As far as I’m concerned, there is only ONE location in Tualatin. I’m sure there are tons more but I’m obsessed with this park. Can I list the features? Old barn, open fields, forest, river access and wood bridges. This park checks all the boxes for me and I LOVE coming here. The one downside is the entire park isn’t useable for all of July and most of August due to a kid’s art camp. Though who knows if that will happen this year.
Portland Portrait Locations
Portland locations are a “favorite” choice for the Senior Portrait Classic Shoot. These are not available for Family or Mini Sessions.
Pearl District
Perfect for seniors and headshots year round.
The Pearl District has been a top spot for senior pictures since the beginning. The mix of nature and hardscape is hard to beat! The landscaping in the Pearl is always beautiful, the buildings have that unique mix of brick and glass to give your portraits a modern look.
Eastside Esplanade
Perfect for seniors and headshots year round.
The Eastside Esplanade will give your portraits the city skyline! We’ll be on the river and can access some truly beautiful sightlines with the buildings or bridges in the background. Perfect location for the city and urban feel to your portraits.
Portland International Rose Test Garden
Perfect for seniors and headshots. Ideal June through July but always beautiful year round.
The Rose Garden is a fantastic location for seniors and headshots because of the variety of backdrops! So many colors and types of roses, old stone stairs, brick water fountains and more. There are a few downsides to this location, it’s always busy. So a lot of your photoshoot might be waiting for a clear background or waiting for someone to leave an area we want to shoot in. Parking can be hard to find or create quite the hike so be sure to give yourself extra extra time to get there!
Are there more?
Of course! I’ve photographed at tons of other locations over the years but these are the locations that I know always produce beautiful light and backdrops for the best portraits. I revise this list yearly, add some new ones, and take off some that weren’t as popular. If you’re a senior looking for a totally custom photoshoot with unique locations just for you, check out the Luxe Shoot. You’ll love the videos I’ll send you of me scouting areas and you’ll pick what you like!
Off Limits
There are a few places I can’t take pictures. First is private land. If you have a contact or family member that will let you use the property, great! The other is railroad tracks. Please do not walk on or near railroad tracks ever. It is illegal and very dangerous. Everyone thinks that they’ll hear the train but I’ve heard of too many in the past few years that lost their lives because they were on or near tracks taking pictures. Be a good example and speak out about this because these are preventable deaths. Railroads are not for pictures. Generally, I need to stick to public spaces for portraits to keep everyone safe.
Have a spot that you think would be great? I’d love to know! I’m always on the lookout for a new spot that has beautiful backdrops and most importantly, beautiful light!
I’d love to hear from you! Email Anna at hello@annagraf.com
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