20 Best Places To Do A Family Photo Shoot In Austin
A family photoshoot in Austin can be one of the best way's to capture memories from your year. Good thing Austin is one of the most photogenic cities in the country! We have plenty of options for both beautiful urban sceneries and stunning natural backdrops. But before booking your annual family photo shoot in Austin, you'll probably want to take a few minutes to think about the location you want this year.
With so many amazing family photo shoot locations all over Austin for your family portraits, we get that it can be reaaaally hard to decide which one to pick this year! Here’s a guide with a few helpful tidbits to help you pick the best location to capture great photos and memories with your family.
20 Fun Places To Do A Family Photo Shoot In Austin
1. 360 overlook
If you and your family are hoping for beautiful sunset or sunrise photos, then you should try to visit 360 overlook. The golden hour light here is absolutely everything. A lot of local photographers and videographers are known for visiting this place just to get that perfect sunset shot.
It’s a bit tricky to find, but to get to this beautiful photo shoot location, enter 5300 N Capital of Texas Highway into your maps. (Or ask your photographer for directions - most Austin photographers know their way to this spot.)
They have a pretty big parking spot on the side of the highway for cars (you’ll see a row of cars on the side of the road…that’s where you can park as well.) Follow the trail path until you reach the highest point. Although this overlook is perfect for sunset views, be careful of the rocky cliff overlooking the busy highway below. If you have young kiddos, you might not want to take them on this path.
5300 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78730
2. Walnut Creek Park
This enormous 93-acre public park in Northeast Austin, Texas is a popular place for family photoshoots. With the large trees lining the park's miles and miles of hiking trails, it is perfect for a beautiful natural backdrop for your family photos.
(Psst: this Austin park is also ideal for little kiddos because there is a playground here!)
12138 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78753
3. Pflüger Bridge
The James D. Pfluger Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge (also known as the Lamar bridge) is used by both pedestrians and bicycles, but a lot of people go here for sunset viewing and to take good pictures with their family and friends.
From this bridge, you can easily see the beautiful Lady Bird lake and Austin's breathtaking skyline. You can also capture some cute pictures of the street art graffiti on the train bridge.
There are several bathrooms on the jogging paths and drinking fountains around the trail. Be aware that Pfluger Bridge has no on-site parking. The closest parking is the street parking on W Riverside Drive.
222 West Ave, Austin, TX 78701
4. Mueller Lake Park
This east Austin park is another favorite! There are numerous spots within Mueller Park where folks can take pictures, including some urban areas and a lovely park with plenty of shade. A lake that sits in the heart of the park gives the ideal backdrop for pictures. There are some beautiful rocks and stairs around the lake for a variety of photo options (meaning: you won’t get the same photo background as everyone else who shoots here.)
So many people visit Mueller to have their family photo shoots (it’s a great spot to go with kiddos!), so keep in mind that it can get crowded during the weekends. Mueller has some street parking as well as a parking garage. {Photo: Yelp, Simone H.}
4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723
5. Front of Long Center
The Long Center offers one of the best views of downtown Austin for a family photo shoot. It’s a cool, urban setting where you can easily see that stunning Austin skyline in the distance and an unobstructed view of Auditorium Shores. Lots of photographers love taking reflective photos in the Long Center's steel metal wall and mirrored windows.
It’s a great family photoshoot location, especially when you have little kids because there’s plenty of space to run around and move and no nearby traffic. However, plan to arrive early to find parking…this place is typically pretty crowded, especially on the weekends. Also, it probably goes without saying, but check the Long Center website and make sure there are no events scheduled during your photo shoot.
701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704
6. Auditorium Shores
If you want a nice lake backdrop for your family photo, head to Auditorium Shores. It’s just across the street from The Long Center, so it’s a bit closer to the water and the downtown buildings. Auditorium Shores is an urban park on the shores of Lady Bird Lake with spectacular views of the skyline. Since this park is surrounded by lots of tall buildings, it’s perfect for a calm, urban theme.
And although Austin doesn’t have a lot of fall foliage, Auditorium Shores happens to be one of the best spots for photo shoots during the fall season. You can sometimes catch glimpses of the changing autumn foliage and make it your backdrop. You can sometimes find street parking on W Riverside Drive, or try to get a spot in the Long Center/Palmer Events Center parking garage. {Photo: Jessica C, Yelp}
900 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704
7. Circle C Metro Park
Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park is the perfect place for you and your kids if you're looking for a family photo shoot location in south Austin where they can enjoy lots of wide open space while having a photoshoot. Circle C park has it all, including soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, disc golf, picnic tables, and miles of gravel trails.
There’s lots of that iconic southwest Austin terroir here with cedar trees, tall grass, and dirt pathways. You’ll have plenty of room for a photo session (lots of space for dogs, too!) They also have a large parking area and public restrooms. {Photo: Madeline C, Yelp}
6301 W Slaughter Ln, Austin, TX 78739
8. The Domain
Not a lot of people think of this one, but the Domain is actually one of the best (and largest!) places to do a family photo shoot because it has a lot of instagrammable walls and murals (that Erin Condren wall, pictured here, is adorable.)
You can also access Domain NORTHSIDE for free and have a simple and cute photoshoot with your family. They also have plenty of free parking in the multiple parking garages, and it’s pet-friendly.
11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Austin, TX 78758
9. Bull Creek Park
Bull Creek District Park is a lovely place with stunning trees, running water (at certain times of the year), and interesting rock formations. It’s one of Austin locals’ favorite spots for family photoshoots.
The early morning and evening lights are the best...grab that golden hour glow if you can! If the water is shallow you can take a cute water shot, which is especially fun if you’re doing a family photo session with your dog. The park has a restroom and parking lot access from Spicewood Springs Road and N Capital of Texas Highway. {Photo: Edelyn C, Yelp}
6701 Lakewood Dr, Austin, TX 78731
10. South Congress
SOCO is one of the most ideal locations when it comes to commercial photography/videography and even simple family photoshoots. There are many Instagram-worthy spots here. You can roam around the shops at South Congress to see all the beautiful murals and paintings and have a group photo session with your family.
Stop at Jo’s Coffee to take a photo in the most famous mural in all of Austin "I love you so much". You can also visit Top Candy Shop, which is absolutely perfect for adorable pics shooting both inside and outside because of its vibrant colors. And of course, you can’t miss the iconic "So Close Yet So Far Out" sign in front of the Austin Motel.
South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704
11. Brushy Creek in Cedar Park
Brushy Creek Lake Park is a beautiful spot just north of Austin for cooling off on a hot day. With the big main field that's open to the public, a skate park, and a playground for young children, it’s also a perfect place for family photo shoots.
Even when the springtime sports season is in full gear, Brushy Creek Park has some lovely, serene locations that are tucked away from the craziness and are ideal for family portraits. There are plenty of these secluded spots to get lovely pictures aside from the main field and the lake itself; ask your photographer for their expertise, or just roam around the park and check it out yourself. {Photo: Preeti B, Yelp}
3300 Brushy Creek Rd, Cedar Park, TX 78613
12. UT Campus
There are so many photo-worthy locations on the UT Austin campus, and this is an especially great spot if you’re UT alumni and you want to capture that burnt orange in your family photos!
The most well-known photo location on campus is the UT Tower, the 307-foot-tall Tower that served as the university's most recognizable landmark. You can also try other landmark pieces on campus including the Blanton Museum of Art, the outside of the Darrell K Royal football stadium, and the sizable "Clock Knot" sculpture at the intersection of Dean Keeton Street and Speedway.
Or, just take a stroll around campus to find some of the other works on display. There’s always an interesting backdrop at the UT campus.
Austin, TX 78712
13. Sekrit Theater
The Sekrit Theater is one of Austin's historical landmarks and now is frequently used for all types of outdoor photography. Note: you need to book the location in advance and pay a fee.
The Sekrit Theater is a lovely location for family portraits, regardless of the time of year you come. For any special occasion, it truly makes for some beautiful photos. Whether you're having an elegant picture shoot or simply some general fun family photographs, it’s an incredible option. Since it’s a paid photo shoot location, they provide guest parking spaces. {Photo: Sekrit Theater}
1145 Perry Rd, Austin, TX 78721
14. Commons Ford Ranch
Commons Ford Ranch, located off Bee Cave Road outside of Westlake, Texas, is a fairly remote park. It’s the ideal location for family portraits at any time of year thanks to its lakefront park with picnic tables, walking trails, and waterfalls.
Although spring is probably the best season for photography because the wildflowers are all in bloom and the grass is growing, you could take photos here at any time of the year.
It's the ideal park if you have young children because they can play and run around as you take pictures.
614 N Commons Ford Rd, Austin, TX 7873
15. Butterfly Bridge At The Seaholm District
The Seaholm District, which was formerly an industrial area of downtown Austin, has undergone a significant transition in the past few years and is now a mixed-use urban neighborhood. The Butterfly Bridge, which is just a few feet away from Austin Central Library is one of the go-to places for any type of photography session (but it would make a really cute family photo option!)
The bridge's arches are canted in the shape of a butterfly, making it very appealing to the camera. Oh, and the surrounding urban areas in downtown Austin also make for a beautiful setting for family portraits. Since the Butterfly Bridge is an actual road with downtown traffic, you’ll have to be pretty quick if you’re taking photos here.
Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, TX 78701
16. Woodlands Park
Woodlands Park offers a variety of spaces for you and your family to use for a styled photography session. It’s situated in River Place at the bottom of Big View Drive, so you get perfect access to the Colorado River as your backdrop.
And if you’re doing a photo shoot with very young kids, they’ll be able to have fun after the photo shoot at the main playscape area. With the playground, the shaded walking path, the river, and a huge green field with tall trees, you’ll be able to find plenty of photo backdrops here. {Photo: Brent L, Yelp}
8820 Big View Dr, Austin, TX 78730
17. Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve
The 21-acre natural area known as Mayfield Preserve is home to a wildlife refuge and walking trails and is a perfect place for photo shoots. In fact, it has grown to be a very well-liked location for photography for both commercial and professional photographers because of those cool peacocks that are roaming the grounds!
Mayfield Park is the perfect location if you want a stunning backdrop that shows some of the best scenery and wildlife in the city. There are also restrooms in the park and free parking nearby.
3505 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703
18. River Place
River Place is a simple site at the base of the River Place Nature Trail. There’s a small pond with a wooden walking trail, as well as plenty of natural areas nearby.
This is one of the best (and toughest! ) hiking trails in Austin, so expect a steady crowd of people on the weekends. But if you can do a weekday photo shoot, there should be plenty of places to find a quiet photo backdrop for your family photo session. {Photo: Emily A, Yelp}
6611 River Place Blvd, Austin, TX 78730
19. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a botanical garden open to the public all year long with a mission to promote native plant conservation. The Wildflower Center is ideal for photography and videography (and weddings!) because it offers so many wonderful photo backdrops that change with the seasons.
Please keep in mind that some forms of photography and filming require permission, and visitors are also expected to follow some rules. Also, note that this park requires admission fees.
4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739
McKinney Falls State Park is a beautiful 641-acre park that offers a variety of outdoor activities like fishing, mountain biking, and hiking. This park attracts lots of photographers due to its stunning scenery.
From its gorgeous falls and pools to its hiking routes, McKinney Falls offers plenty of photo opportunities. You’ll definitely be able to capture some amazing family shots here. Parking is also allowed in the paved parking lot, and there are some restrooms available. But keep in mind that you need reservations (it’s a popular spot!), and you need to pay an entrance fee. {Photo: Stephanie W, Yelp}
5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy, Austin, TX 78744
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