Choosing a Location for Family Photos


There is a lot to consider when choosing a location for your family photos! Here are some things that come to mind as a photographer:


  • How busy is the location at the time we would like to do our session? It can be a challenge to work around other groups of people, or to have to wait for a clearing to take some photos.
  • Does the location provide nice distraction-free scenery? (Not too many garbage cans, light posts, benches, signs, power poles, buildings, cars etc.) Of course, this can be a bit different if you're aiming for an urban setting.
  • Is there a good mix of scenery within a short walking distance? My favourite places will have a mix of tall shade-providing trees, open spaces, paths - bonus points for a body of water or some flowers!
  • Where is the light? There are some locations that look best in morning light vs. evening light (and some locations that look awesome at all times of the day!)
  • Is accessibility a consideration? Not all locations are equal if you have a loved one with limited mobility or using mobility aids.

Now for some of my favourite locations!


I'll share some of my favourite locations within the areas surrounding Edmonton and Leduc, Alberta along with a short description of what I like about the location.

Twin Brooks District & Nature Park


Location: 1510 119 Street NW Edmonton, AB T6J 7H6

(South Edmonton)


What I like about it:

  • This park feels like South Edmonton's best kept secret - I have never had to compete for space to take photos, and have generally had the place to myself.
  • There are a few pockets of good photo spots in here, including treed paths and some rolling hills.
  • This spot looks wonderful in late evening light when the trees glow, making for lovely backlit portraits.
  • Looks great in summer and autumn!

Devon River Valley

(Voyageur Park & Prospector's Point)


Location: 100 Saskatchewan Ave W, Devon Alberta T9G 1B2


What I like about it:

  • It's beautiful! I love that you can get right up to the water's edge, and the river is nestled in a valley that makes for a nice textured background beyond the river itself.
  • There are logs to sit on and tall grasses for texture
  • The path to the river valley is also beautiful and heavily treed
  • There are spots on the north and south shore of the river to work with.
  • This location works well in both morning and evening light, and in summer and fall alike.

Something to consider:

  • This can be a busy location on warm weekend evenings - I have always been able to find a way to exclude others from the photos, but it can be trickier!
  • The parking lot on the north side of the river is small. If the location is busy, that might mean having to cross to the south side of the river to find space. Not generally an issue on weekday nights.

Terwillegar Park


Location: 10 Rabbit Hill Road NW, Edmonton AB T6R 0R7

(Southwest Edmonton)


Why I love it:

  • Good variety of settings - small tree-lined paths, wide open grassy fields, hills, a pond, the North Saskatchewan River.
  • Big parking lot
  • Looks absolutely magical in the evening light
  • Pretty in all seasons, and one of the places that still looks nice in late Autumn (though there are a lot of leafy trees in the paths, so the look isn't quite the same

Some considerations:

  • There is an off-leash park here so you may have to deal with the occasional photo-bombing pup. If your child is very afraid of dogs, this might not be the right choice for you.
  • If you want a variety of scenery (treed path, grassy field, pond, river) you may end up walking quite a bit. It's a big park! If you're okay with one or two settings, that's easily done with very little walking
  • This is a very popular park on gorgeous days, especially Saturdays in September! It's sometimes necessary to have a back-up location in case the parking lot is completely full (for a back-up location, I recommend Twin Brooks District and Nature park - see above). It's still beautiful enough that it might be worth risking the crowds if you can find a space to park. The actual park is quite large and it's not a problem to find a space that's free for photos once you're there.

North Telford Area & Whiskey Hill


Location: Leduc Lions Park, Leduc AB T9E 8C2

(Leduc)


What I like about this location:

  • The field at Whiskey Hill with its big trees and path leading through the tall grasses is just so pretty
  • There are also other more narrow paths deeper within the trees, as well as wider paved paths, giving a good amount of variety to work with
  • You can also go down the big hill and get closer to Telford lake

Some considerations:

  • The big field is a popular spot on sunny weekend evenings in fall, so occasionally you have to work around other groups of people and maybe adjust to choose one of the less busy spaces in the park (or wait your turn!)
  • The little fence in front of the field looks best in morning light, or on a cloudy day. In full evening sun it can be a bit too bright. So if that particular spot (with the fence) is something you are looking for, a morning session might be the right choice.

Telford Boardwalk


Location: 4905 46 Street Leduc, Alberta T9E 5V9

(Leduc)


What I like about this location:

  • I love the leading lines and texture provided by the wooden boardwalk
  • Kids love the ducks, pelicans, coots, grebes and blackbirds that often can be found here
  • The trees to the west of the boardwalk filter the evening light nicely
  • The boardwalk is a nice accessible choice for those in a wheelchair or with limited mobility.

Some Considerations:

  • While there are some trees in the area, the boardwalk isn't my favourite location in bright light as there is very little shade on most of the boardwalk, and no shade at all in the morning. (That said, on a cloudy day this is one of my favourite places to go!)
  • Sometimes we have to step out of the way of people walking or cycling down the boardwalk
  • Due to the width of the boardwalk, this might not be an ideal location for an extended family photoshoot with a large number of people.


Mill Creek Ravine


Location: Mill Creek Ravine South, Edmonton Alberta (I've linked to where I like to park when I access this location).

(South Central Edmonton)


What I like about this location:

  • Excellent colours in fall, some big yellow trees or trees with red berries
  • Lots of paths, bridges, stairs for interest and variety
  • There are multiple access points into the ravine
  • Can go right down to the creek's edge if you're up for a bit of a walk.


Something to consider:

  • The upper level of paths have become very popular with cyclists. If working there, we may have to step out of the way every once in a while to let a cyclist through
  • Some of the lower dirt paths along the river are off-leash dog areas.

Sir Wilfred Laurier Park & Buena Vista Park


Location: 13221 Buena Vista Rd NW, Edmonton AB T5J 2R7

(Central Edmonton)


What I like about the location:

  • Central Edmonton location for those who aren't on the south side
  • Lots of paths
  • Access to the river bank
  • There's a dock
  • Great location for morning light
October 1st, 2022

Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary

*Note - location closed for construction until 2026*


Location: Sanctuary Road, Spruce Grove AB, T7Y 1E7

(Close to Devon/West Edmonton)


What I like about the location:

  • The narrow boardwalk and marshy setting is unique
  • I love birds, so being in a bird sanctuary is a lot of fun!


Something to consider:

  • There is very limited parking, so this is a location best used at non-peak times, like weekdays.
  • The boardwalk is narrow, so best suited for smaller families

Blackmud Creek Ravine


Location: 10415 Ellerslie Road SW Edmonton AB, T6W 1A1

(South Edmonton)


Fun fact: This park used to be the old Klondike Valley campground!


What I like about it:

  • Not as busy as some places
  • Lots of tree cover if shade is desired
  • There's a cool old bridge
  • There's a big log to sit on
  • You might see some beavers in the creek


Some things to consider:

  • They (unfortunately) recently put up a sign post right in the middle of the bridge on both ends, so if photographing on the bridge, you have to be positioned strategically to not see the ugly signs.
  • There can be a fair bit of walking from the nearest parking lot to get down to the interesting parts of the path (where you see the creek well, and where the bridge is).
  • The path is a bit rustic/unkempt and has a bit of an unmaintained look to it.
  • It's pretty heavily wooded, so on a very cloudy day you'll lose the light a bit quicker. Might be a good spot for early evening rather than right at sunset.

Forest Heights/McNally School


Location: 8440 105 Avenue NW Edmonton AB T6A 1B6

(Central Edmonton)


What I like about it:

  • Great view of the city and river valley if you would like a cityscape
  • Also has a forested area for shade in the evening
  • Can park right by the view in a parking lot, making this a bit more accessible for those with mobility concerns


Some considerations:

  • The city view looks best when there are a few clouds in the sky - it can be very bright otherwise for a background.
  • This location works best in the evening.

McTaggart Sanctuary


Location: 820 119 Street NW Edmonton, AB T6J 7H7

(South Edmonton)


What I like about it:

  • Pretty place with forests, ponds, a creek, a bridge
  • One of the more popular photo places in the fall, it's very pretty!
  • Lots of room to explore if you want to go for a bit of an adventure
  • To the south end there's the Larch Sanctuary, which is gorgeous if you catch the larches when they've turned yellow but before they have dropped their needles.


Some considerations:

  • This is probably one of the better known fall photo locations within Edmonton, so if going at peak times, expect to see others!
  • Limited parking
  • The bridge in particular is pretty busy
  • The old rustic bridge has been replaced by a new light and modern one, so if you were wanting the old chipped-paint bridge, there'd be other choices that are better within the city right now for that


The first two autumn family photos below are from the first week of October.

Fern's Flowers Garden


Location: 20303 33 Street NE Edmonton AB, T5Y 6K3

(North Edmonton/close to Fort Saskatchewan)


Why I love it:

  • What a uniquely stunning location! There are flowers everywhere and it is so wonderfully colourful.
  • The owners of this u-pick flower farm are such warm and lovely people
  • There are paths down to the river
  • It's a fun place to explore or to gather a bouquet of cut flowers for your home; you get a fun family outing in addition to your family photos!

Considerations:

  • This is in the far northeast of Edmonton, can be a bit of a drive depending on where you're coming from
  • There is a fee for photography sessions at this location which would be incorporated into the session price. At the time of writing this, the fee is $100 for up to 2 hours which would be added to my family photography rate.
  • This is a seasonal location, available during the summer months


The photos below are from the first week of September

Keillor Point & Belgravia Neighbourhood


Location: 7433 Saskatchewan Drive NW, Edmonton AB T6G 2A5

(South Central Edmonton/University area)


Why I like it:

  • A pretty vantage point close to the University area

Something to consider:

  • The viewing platform at Keillor point partially obstructs the view - could be difficult to get family photos that show the view if taken directly on the platform.
  • The view is to the west, so best in the evening, or a morning with some clouds (could be a bit squinty in full morning light). The photos below were on an overcast morning.


The autumn colours you see below are from mid-September (September 19 & 20)

The Woods behind Caledonia Park School


Location: right down the back path from my house!

(Leduc)


Why I love it:

  • It's just a little patch of trees, so it's not a location that gets busy during the peak times of the year/week
  • I love the birch (?) trees and the texture they provide
  • Lots of colour in the fall, and shade for all times of the day
  • It's just down my back path behind my house :).


Most of the photos below are from last week of September and first week of October of different years, to give you an idea of the kids of colours we can expect in fall.

Whitemud Ravine near Chapelle Gardens


Location: 6075 Crawford Drive SW Edmonton

(South West Edmonton)


Why I like it:

  • There are paths and a storm water pond without houses surrounding it.
  • A variety of settings: tall grasses, paved paths, gravel paths, a pond, a creek
  • Tree cover to east and west: would be a great location in the morning or evening
  • Easy street parking
  • I barely saw anyone there when I was checking it out.


Something to consider:

  • I haven't brought any clients here yet, so the following photos are just from my cellphone :)

So those are some of my favourites!


I also love to explore. Bring me along to your best spots, and I'm sure to have new favourites to add to this list every year!