Picking a Location for Your Family Photos
April 28, 2022
My clients are always asking for location suggestions for their family sessions, so below I’ve described my favorite locations in the Madison area. You’ll be able to see some of the photos I’ve made in each of these places, along with some key factors to consider (location, parking, walking required, space for your kids to run around, available bathrooms, etc). I hope this will help you select the best place for your family photos!
UW Arboretum
2880 Longenecker Drive, Madison, WI 53713
The UW Arboretum is a great location for your winter, spring, and fall photos! The mosquitoes can get a little out of control here in the summer, so I don’t usually recommend that. This is my absolute favorite location in May when the Magnolia and Crabapple trees are in bloom. It is gorgeous! Easy parking at the visitor center, lots of space for your kids to run around, and bathrooms available when the visitor center is open (Monday-Friday from 9:30am-4pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30am-4pm). You will have to do some walking at this location.
Picnic Point
2003 University Bay Drive, Madison WI 53706
Picnic Point is a great place for photos any time of year! You have beautiful trails, a few small beach areas, the lake, lovely colors in the fall, and wildflowers in the spring and summer. Plus they just added lots of additional parking, which is fantastic. You will have to walk at this location and there are no convenient bathroom options.
Allen Centennial Garden
620 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706
Allen Centennial Garden is beautiful and compact! This is a great option to get a variety of settings without having to do lots of walking. There are tons of flowers, a bright red bridge, a nice grassy space, cute little benches, stone work, and a koi pond (this is a kid favorite). There are no public bathrooms available here, so keep that in mind. And this location charges a $30 photography fee; so if you want to do photos at Allen Centennial Garden that fee will be added to your invoice.
Aldo Leopold
330 Femrite Drive, Monona, WI 53716
Beautiful location for fall photos! Tons of trees with bold fall colors and you don’t have to walk to get to them. This is a great option if you are bringing grandparents that may not be very mobile because there is convenient parking right by ideal locations. There is also a lovely prairie you can walk into for more variety if you want to walk around.
Olin Park
1156 Olin-Turville Court, Madison, WI 53715
Olin Park provides a variety of background options in one place. You have the lake Monona with a nice little beach, open space for kids to run around, and a beautiful wooded area with wildflowers. There is also a playground here, which is a big hit with the kids for after their photos (or during, I love that too).
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA)
227 State Street, Madison, WI 53703
The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is the perfect location for the winter when you don’t want to be outside in the cold. There are huge glass windows that let in tons of natural light. And if you want to pop outside for a quick second you are right on state street with a great shot of the capital in the background. MMoCA charges a $25 photography fee; so if you want to do photos here that fee will be added to your invoice.
Pope Farm Conservancy
7440 Old Sauk Road, Verona, WI 53593
Pope Farm Conservancy has a lovely farm landscape with a variety of crops growing, tall grass, rolling hills, and some wooded areas as well. In August there is a field of sunflowers in bloom, which makes it a very popular location for photos. This is a great location if you have active kids that need space to run around. It’s not a great location if you are not interested in walking.
Vilas Park
702 S Randall Avenue, Madison, WI 53715
Vilas Park is right by the Zoo! So if you have kids, you know what I’m talking about. There are cute ponds, open space for running around, a sweet little bridge, and lots of trees that look lovely in the fall. And since it is right by the zoo and a Playground you can stop there after photos, OR we can just start there and take photos of you family having fun.
Yahara River
2025 Yahara Place, Madison, WI 53703
The Yahara River is the perfect way to add some water to your photos without all the wind you get right on the lakes. There are even nice little spots your kids can dip their feet in the water, which is always a source of delight. There is plenty of street parking available so you won’t have to walk far, but there are not public bathroom options.
Westmorland Park
4114 Tokay Boulevard, Madison, WI 53711
Westmorland Park is beautiful year round. There are beautiful wildflowers in the spring and summer, gorgeous leaves in the fall, and it is a great place to sled and/or ice skate in the winter if you want some action photos (which are my favorite)! Plus, there is a playground and public bathrooms here.
Enchanted Valley Acres
5047 Enchanted Valley Road, Cross Plains, WI 53528
Enchanted Valley Acres is a great way to get your family photos while you enjoy a family tradition- cutting down your Christmas tree. Not only is the tree farm is a lovely background for your family photos, but when you do your family photos here, your children will have the memory of finding the perfect Christmas tree. And believe me, that will mean more to them than any of the photos you take at a park.
Hann’s Christmas Farm
848 Tipperary Road, Oregon, WI 53575
Hann’s Christmas Farm is another great location for a tree farm session. Plus, Hann’s has an adorable little shop where you can get hot cocoa or cider, lots of yummy treats, and choose the newest ornaments to put on your Christmas tree. AND Santa is at Hann’s Christmas Farm, so you can see him and knock that off your list too!
And last but certainly not least, YOUR HOME!
Believe it or not, we can make great photos in your own backyard! Kids are so much more relaxed in their own home, which makes it easy to capture their authentic personality. And let’s be honest, it’s less stressful for parents too. You don’t have the hassle of loading them into the car and making sure you brought all the pieces of their outfit that you want. You be right by your closet when the baby spits up all over your shirt. And you’ll have easy access to bathrooms, snacks, and toys if one of your kids needs to take a break for a moment. I know what you are thinking, “My house isn’t nice.” Don’t worry about that. Your house is not the subject of the photos- your family is. We can pile everyone onto your bed and make some great memories.