Best Places in Austin for Family Photos

So Step 1 is done – you’ve booked your family photo session in Austin this Fall. Now you’re ready for Step 2 – what’s the location going to be? What are the best places in Austin for Family Photos?

By answering a few simple questions, we can narrow down your search. There are over 50 suggestions below on where you could have your family photos this Fall.

Question 1:

Do you want to leave your house?

If no, search over, let’s have a cozy, in-home lifestyle session. You can snuggle on the couch and play in the yard. Pets always welcome.

1. Your house – indoors/outdoors

Question 2:

Are you ok with a location fee ($50-$250*)?

If yes, some great options include

1. Cityhouse Collective – Pflugerville, $115/hour
2. The Woodbine Mansion – Round Rock, $300/session (1.5 hours)
3. Laguna Gloria – Central Austin, $150/hour
4. Mayfield Park – Central Austin, $50/session
5. Jones Center Rooftop (Contemporary Austin) – Downtown, $100/hour (only during Museum hours)
6. Jennifer’s Garden – Central Austin, $125/hour (2 hour minimum)
7. Sekrit Theater – East Austin, $150/hour
8. Pioneer Farms – Northeast Austin, entrance fee only if during regular hours ($8/adult, $6/kid)
9. Gentle Person Ranch – red barn, animals – 20 minutes from Central Austin ($120/hr for pasture side, $175/hr for the farmhouse)
10. Zilker Botanical Gardens – South Austin, $50/hour
11. Wildflower Center – South Austin, $100/hour (during business hours – $250/weekends)
12. Lake Austin or Lake Travis boat rentals (price varies) – various companies
13. Roadhouse Relics/Greetings From Austin mural – South Austin, $150-$200/hour (Weekday vs. Weekend prices)
14. Star Hill Ranch – West Austin, $125/hour
15. The Social House – Cedar Park $75/hour
16. Greenhouse at Driftwood – Driftwood, TX $400 for two hours
17. Chapel Dulcinea – out near Driftwood, TX; Monday-Thursday, $200/hour
18. Ice Plant Building – La Grange, TX – $100/hour
19. Barr Mansion – Northeast Austin; Monday-Thursday 10am-5:30pm and Friday-Sunday 9am-1pm *depending on our event schedule – $150/hour
20. One Eleven East – Hutto, TX – $95/hour (2-hour minimum)
21. The Lumen Room – South Austin – can book online, $75/hour
22. Elgin Christmas Tree Farm – Elgin, TX – only available to photographers on certain dates
23. Wish Well House – Georgetown, TX – $250/hour
24. A Light Collab Studio – Pflugerville, TX – $110/hour (2 hour minimum)

*2023 prices – may be subject to change

 

Question 3:

If you want a free spot, do you prefer an urban or a nature setting?

If you want an urban setting, some spots include (Outside of Austin, then North to South):

1. Downtown Georgetown – Main Square
2. Downtown Round Rock – Main Street
3. Old Settlers Park – Round Rock
4. Shops at the Domain – North Austin (Rock Rose Ave.)
5. State Capitol – Central Austin
6. University of Texas campus (various locations including: Blanton Museum exterior/Ellsworth Kelly exterior) – Central Austin
7. Mueller Development (Thinkery exterior, shops) – Central Austin
8. 2nd street/City Hall – Downtown Austin
9. Central Library – Downtown Austin
10. Springdale Road – East Austin, buildings around Springdale Station, Dimensions Sculpture Park, etc.
11. Seaholm Power Plant – Downtown Austin
12. Tau Ceti mural / garage rooftop (or other downtown garage rooftops)
13. Butterfly Bridge – Downtown Austin
14. Waterloo Greenway – Downtown Austin
15. Lady Bird Lake pedestrian bridge – Downtown Austin
16. South Congress shops – South Austin
17. South Congress bridge – South Austin
18. View of downtown skyline from the Austin Rowing Club dock or the Boardwalk
19. View of downtown skyline from various Rooftop Bars
20. Greetings from Austin mural (or any mural around town) – South Austin (and various locations)
21. Butler Park – South Austin
22. Long Center (and nearby parking garage roofs) – South Austin
23. Alamo Drafthouse (S. Lamar location) – exterior and nearby shops
24. Jester King Brewery – South Austin
25. Your favorite restaurant (permission needed)
26. Your favorite coffee shop (permission needed)
27. Your favorite arcade (permission needed)
28. Your favorite doughnut shop (permission needed)

If you want a nature setting, some spots outside of Austin (North to South) include:

1. Sweet Eats Farm – Georgetown
2. Brushy Creek Community Center – Round Rock
3. Twin Lakes Park – Cedar Park
4. Champions Park – Cedar Park
5. Brushy Creek Park – Cedar Park
6. Stagecoach Park – Buda
7. Meadows Center – San Marcos
8. Barton Hills Farm – Bastrop
9. Gruene Hall – New Braunfels
10. Pedernales Falls – Johnson City

If you want a nature setting in town, some spots in Austin (North to South) include:

1. Balcones District Park
2. Mill Pond
3. St. Edwards Park
4. Bull Creek District Park
5. Central Market Pond
6. Seider Springs Greenbelt
7. Mueller Park or Mueller Southeast Greenway
8. Northwest Park
9. Bartholemew District Park
10. Pease Park and Treehouse at Pease Park Conservatory (Kingsbury Commons)
11. Red Bud Isle (very dog-friendly but limited parking)
12. Lady Bird Lake Trail/Pedestrian Bridge
13. Commons Ford Ranch
14. Woodlands Park (near River Place Nature Trail)
15. McKinney Falls
16. Bee Caves Park
17. Wild Basin Trail
18. Zilker Park
19. Greenbelt Trail
20. Austin Nature & Science Center
21. Circle C Park
22. Waterloo Park / Greenway

So what’s your best match? Or do you have other ideas for great locations? Contact me and let me know. Let’s find you the best place in or around Austin for your family photos.