When it comes to shoot locations, we are lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Seattle has endless possibilities when it comes to photography. I never run out of ideas and I never get bored with shooting here. Choosing the location greatly depends on what kind of vibe you want your session to have. You need to ask yourself what kind of story: Do you want shots that are edgy, urban, colorful, or artistic? Or do you want beauty, nature, timeless, or outdoorsy? Do you want to shoot somewhere that is very personal and means something particular to you at this time in your life? Do you have places that you and your loved ones have been going to for years? Are you looking for a specific kind of ‘look’ for your photos? These are all important questions that can help get the ball rolling. If we’re doing a family session, your considerations should weigh heavily on your kids personalities and their temperament.

City parks are always a safe bet and will never go out of style. You could also try something a little more fun and colorful like the Olympic Sculpture Park or Georgetown in Sodo. You also need to think about how your children will be with tons of people around and varied distractions. If we’re doing an engagement session, you’re going to want somewhere that speaks to you as a couple. You’ll want to shoot somewhere that speaks to you and makes you happy. Here’s a list of places that I think are amazing for photo shoots. I’ve put a ♥ next to places that I think are especially good for engagement photos. Please comment below and let me know if I’ve forgotten anything!

HERE IS A MAP I’VE CREATED IN GOOGLE MAPS THAT HAS EVERY LOCATION LISTED BELOW. This way you can get an idea of where things are in relation to where you would like to shoot…or just to discover fun new places.

1. Carkeek Park
2. SODO
3. McAuliffe Park
4. Scenic route off HW 2
5. Short scenic hikes around Snoqualmie
6. Wallace Falls
7. Eagle Falls
8. Bridal Veil Falls
9. Gold Creek Pond
10. Dr. Maze’s Farm & Pumpkin Patch (Halloween!)
11. Seward Park
12. Juanita Bay Park
13. Rooftop Seattle City Skyline Views ♥
14. McAuliffe Park
15. The Arboretum ♥
16. Meridian Park
17. Gasworks Park ♥
18. Volunteer Park
19. The Urban Horticulture Center, UW
20. Pike Place Market & Post Alley ♥
21. The Pier by the Ferris Wheel ♥
22. Pioneer Square ♥
23. The University of Washington
24. Capitol Hill Coffee Crawl ♥
25. Capitol Hill Graffiti Crawl!
26. Date night! ♥
27. Seattle University
28. Georgetown ♥
29. Marymoore Park
30. Seattle Center
31. Green Lake
32. Canoeing on Lake Union ♥
33. SAM Olympic Sculpture Park ♥
34. Snoqualmie Falls ♥
35. Schmitz Park
36. The Woodland Park Zoo!
37. Ravenna Park
38. Rizal Park
39. Mercer Slough Nature Park
40. Downtown Ballard ♥
41. Downtown Fremont/Fremont Canal Park ♥
42. Trolley Hill Park
43. Fox Hollow Farm and Equestrian Center
44. Squak Mt Greenhouses & Nursery
45. Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery ♥