Top Four Spring Family Photo Session Locations in the Portland Oregon Area
Previously published blog post, Updated February 2024.
Spring is such a beautiful season in Portland!
(If you don’t have rediculous pollen allergies that is!)
The weather starts to warm up, we get to enjoy the growth of flowers and buds on the trees, and we all feel motivated to get organized and plan for the summer. In addition to all of the beautiful weather one thing I love are the activities that we love to do as a family during the spring.
Spring is also a great season for your family photo session!
Spring is a great season for your family photo session in the pacific northwest as the parks are filled with beautiful flowering trees and bushes, and sunset isn’t as late as the summer so we can have earlier photo sessions in the afternoon, or later in the morning before the sun is as strong, which creates beautiful light.
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Favorite Portland Spring Photo Location Ideas
I wanted to share some of my favorite spring photo locations for your next family photo session!
#1. The Tulip Fields
Tulip fields are beautiful spring locations for family and kids (of all ages) photo sessions. Tulip fields and festivals typically have lots of activities and booths available to expand the activity beyond just exploring the tulip fields.
There is tons of beautiful color, a plethora of photo opportunities, and amazing lines which create unique composition opportunities for artistic portraits.
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn Oregon runs from late March through April, and is the location of my Tulip Field Mini Sessions each year. If you’d like to check our more families visits to the tulip field, you can check out the blog post about why visits to the tulip field make for the perfect family photo session.
Need tips on what to wear to the tulip fields? I’ve got you covered in this guide to selecting outfit colors for pictures at the tulip fields.
#2. Cherry Blossom Trees
The cherry blossom trees bloom in Portland Oregon typically in late March at Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, and then bloom a little bit later at Hoyt Arboretum and Laurelhurst Park.
The exact time of their peak bloom depends on the weather, temperature, and rain...so if you’re interested in a session with the cherry blossoms be sure to reach out so we can plan accordingly.
Sessions at Tom McCall Waterfront Park can have a great mix of the trees, as well as the river and bridges as a backdrop, and I recommend that we do the photo session either first thing in the morning or 90-60 minutes before sunset for the best light.
To avoid the busy crowds who are all enjoying the cherry blossoms, mornings and weekdays are best. To learn more about where to see cherry blossoms in Portland, check out this article by ‘Embrace Someplace’ and Travel Portland’s Guide to where to find Cherry Blossoms in the Portland Oregon metro area.
#3. Your Backyard
Now…I’m guessing that this option for a top spring photo session location may have surprised you, but I know that many families have amazing spring flowering trees and foliage at their home.
Do you have beautiful blooming trees and plans at your home?
Spring can be a great time for a backyard photo session to really capture that landscape, and to do so in the comfort of your own space. Kids and pets are often quite relaxed when we have your family photo session at home, and it’s easy on the family as well with no need to drive to a location.
This is the perfect way to combine indoor at home photos with beautiful spring outdoor portraits. You can learn more about at home photos sessions at my guide for lifestyle family photo sessions at home.
#4. Local Parks
I’m curious if you have a favorite park to visit in the spring here in Portland? Many of Portland’s local parks have beautiful spring flowering bushes and gorgeous warm late afternoon light.
The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden peaks with their flowers in late May with many varieties of rhododendron and azalea bushes in pristine bloom.
Lots of other local parks in the area have blooming azalea and rhododendron bushes as well as wild flower fields. To see images taken in spring at Gabriel Park, check out this blog post.
