Dallas has no shortage of portrait locations for your next shoot. Here's a list of my favorites for engagement, bridal, portrait, or family photo sessions.
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve | Plano, Texas
About: Located in Plano, Texas, Arbor Hills Nature Preserve sits on 200 acres of rolling hills with miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, creeks, and a pond. This a a great portrait location for nature lovers.
Best Time: Late Spring to Mid Summer are the ideal times for shoots here, as that's when the wildflowers are in bloom.
Pro Tip: This park can get extremely crowded on the weekends if the weather is nice. It's best to schedule a weekday shoot here if possible
Fee: FREE
Hours: 5:00am-11:00pm Every Day.
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden | Dallas, Texas
About: One of the most popular Dallas portrait locations is the Arboretum. Located in East Dallas next to White Rock Lake, The Dallas Arboretum offers a wide variety of backdrops including flowers, trees, architecture, open fields, and water features.
Best Time: Spring through summer while the grass is green and the flowers are in bloom. Fall is also a great choice if you're looking for those autumn color vibes.
Pro Tip: The Arboretum tends to get very crowded on weekends when the weather is nice. Weekday shoots are definitely the way to go if you have that option.
Fee: Varies per season ($10-20 per person)
Hours: Every day from 9:00am-5:00pm (excluding some holidays). Reservations Are Required.
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Adriatica Village | McKinney, Texas
About: Adriatica is a unique European-style community located in McKinney, Texas. With a canal feeding in to a large pond surrounded by stone walls and steps, arched bridges, and the beautiful Bella Donna Chapel. There are also open fields and a large hill, which make for a great sunset spot.
Best Time: Anytime of year is great.
Pro Tip: Adriatica Village gets crowded on weekends when the weather is nice. Weekday shoots are definitely the way to go if you have that option.
Fee: FREE
Hours: Always Open
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Highland Park Village | Highland Park, Texas
About: Located just north of downtown Dallas, Highland Park Village is a shopping center and historic landmark. The Spanish-influenced architecture and design make for a unique and colorful backdrop.
Best Time: The Fall colors compliment the architecture well, but any time of year is great for this location.
Pro Tip: This is a public shopping center and can get busy during business hours.
Fee: FREE
Hours : Always Open
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Prairie Creek Park | Richardson, Texas
About: Prairie Creek Park is a small neighborhood park featuring lots of trees, a wooden bridge, and a waterfall.
Best Time: Fall is the ideal time as the colors really shine here, but any time of year can provide beautiful backdrops
Pro Tip: This park gets extremely overrun by photographers, so your best bet is a weekday morning, and to avoid weekends here altogether.
Fee: FREE
Hours: Always Open
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake | Dallas, Texas
About: Located on the shore of White Rock Lake in East Dallas, Winfrey Point sits on a large hill overlooking the lake and downtown Dallas. The building here is also an event venue.
Best Time: All Seasons offer a variety of photo opportunities. Golden hour (about an hour prior to sunset) provides some magical light at this location.
Pro Tip: Bring a blanket! This is a great spot for a cozy shoot.
Fee: FREE
Hours: Always Open
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Dallas Arts District | Dallas, Texas
About: Located in downtown Dallas, the Arts District provides unique architecture for a modern urban-style photo shoot.
Best Time: All seasons provide a variety of opportunities.
Fee: FREE
Hours: Always Open
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Downtown | Dallas, Texas
About: Exploring downtown Dallas and its wide variety of scenes and textures is a great option for your photo shoot.
Best Time: All seasons and times of day provide a variety of unique photo opportunities
Fee: FREE
Hours: Anytime
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Filter Building at White Rock Lake | Dallas, Texas
About: Located on the shores of White Rock Lake (near the spillway), The Filter building, which also serves as an event venue, features historic architecture, and a beautiful view of the lake. There is also a pier nearby, and a wooded area, making this a well-rounded location for your photo shoot.
Best Time: Golden hour (about an hour prior to sunset) is my choice for this location.
Fee: FREE
Hours: Anytime, with the exception of when there is an event being held at the venue.
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and Trinity Overlook | Dallas, Texas
About: Located on the edge of downtown over the Trinity River, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is a great combination of nature and a great view of downtown Dallas.
Best Time: All seasons provide great opportunities for a shoot. This is a great sunset shoot location.
Fee: FREE
Hours: Anytime
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Japanese Gardens | Fort Worth, Texas
About: A very unique location for dramatic photos. The Japanese Gardens is located inside the Fort Botanical Gardens.
Best Time: Spring and early really showcase the beautiful colors of this park, but anytime can be great for a shoot.
Pro Tip: A photography permit is required to shoot here.
Fee: $12 per person, or purchase a photography pass which is good for three guests.
Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm Daily
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Deep Ellum | Dallas, Texas
About: Deep Ellum is a lively entertainment district on the edge of downtown Dallas. It is known for it's vibrant street murals, live music, and an artistic vibe.
Best Time: All seasons and times of the day provide a variety of photo opportunities.
Pro-Tip: Although it is safe during the day, it has a reputation for being a crime hotspot after dark.
Fee: FREE
Hours: Anytime
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Rockledge Park | Grapevine, Texas
About: Located on Grapevine Lake, Rockledge Park offers beautiful red-colored rock formations and amazing scenery.
Best Time: This is the perfect spot for a sunset/golden hour photo shoot.
Pro Tip: Bring comfortable walking shoes as you will have to walk some uneven trails, rocky terrain, and sometimes a little mud to get to the best spots. You can always throw your nice shoes in a bag and put them on when you find your perfect shoot spot.
Fee: $10 per vehicle
Hours: 8:00am-After Sunset
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Fair Park | Dallas, Texas
About: Fair Park offers many amazing photo opportunities with its Art Deco Architecture and Texas history. This truly a unique place to shoot if you are looking for something with a little edge and a whole lot of Texas history.
Best Time: All seasons provide great opportunities for photos.
Pro Tip: Fair Park hosts The State Fair Of Texas every year from late September to mid-October. Any other day of the year it's pretty much empty.
Fee: FREE
Hours: 6:00am-9:00pm
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Klyde Warren Park | Dallas, Texas
About: Located on the edge of downtown Dallas, over Woodall Rogers Freeway, Klyde Warren Park offers a great mixture of urban and nature scenes.
Best Time: Spring or early summer when the grass is green and the flowers are blooming.
Pro Tip: This parks gets very busy on the weekends. A weekday shoot is advised.
Fee: Free
Hours: 6:00am-11:00pm
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Prather Park | Highland Park, Texas
About: Located in Highland Park, Prather Park offers beautiful foliage, shading most of the park. There are also stone pedestrian bridges, as well as a creek to explore.
Best Time: Spring to mid-summer when the foliage is green. Fall is also a great time when the leaves are changing colors.
Fee: FREE
Hours: Anytime
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Stone Creek Park | Farmers Branch, Texas
About: Stone Creek Park is a public park located in Farmers Branch, Texas. It offers a creek with interesting rock formations, and beautiful scenery.
Best Time: Anytime of year works well here.
Pro Tip: This is a popular spot for photographers, so try to plan your shoot on a weekday, and be prepared to wait your turn to shoot at the prime locations. Also; bring bug spray, as the mosquitos love this area in the summer.
Interested in scheduling a photo session with me? Let's chat!
Bishop Arts District
About: Located just south of downtown Dallas in Oak Cliff, Bishop Arts is known for its colorful street art, boutiques, and restaurants.
Best Time: Anytime of the year provides great photo opportunities
Pro Tip: Bishop Arts gets very crowded on the weekends. Schedule your shoot for mid-morning on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
