If you have a family photography session planned with me here in Grand Rapids, or with another photographer, you’re probably wondering, “Where should we have our photos taken?”
We’re so lucky to have great parks, woods, beaches, and urban areas within easy driving distance of Grand Rapids, so choosing a spot for your family’s photos isn’t the easiest.
I know this might be stressing you out instead of a cause to look forward to your photos. I want you to have a relaxed and fun experience, so let’s consider some ideas!
Here are a few things to think about when choosing the best location for family photos in Grand Rapids:
1. What does your family like to do for fun? How do you all like to spend your time?
Make sure you’re choosing a location that will best suit your family’s personality. For example, if you love hiking together we can head out to some trails.
2. Consider the ages of your children.
If you have super young kids, an urban location may not be a great choice because you don’t want to have to worry about cars and other people to distract your little one. An open field or park may be the best location.
3. Take into account the season your session is scheduled for.
For example, there are some gorgeous parks in the fall that really show the beautiful autumn colors off. Or, if it is going to be warm on your session date, going to the beach and letting the kids get their feet wet would be super fun!
4. Let’s talk about traffic.
Grand Rapids is gorgeous, but the traffic can be awful at the wrong time of day. We don’t want you commuting across town during rush hour. That won’t make anyone excited for family photos. So make sure to choose a location that will be easy to get to at your scheduled session time.
Here are some different types of locations Grand Rapids has to offer for family photography:
1. Urban
Grand Rapids has some incredible urban locations that show off our historical architecture as well as some great textures.
2. Beach
We have an abundance of beaches so close to Grand Rapids on Lake Michigan, and many smaller lakes even closer. We are so lucky to be surrounded by so much water. What is fantastic about our beach locations is that they are usually surrounded by trees and water so you get a ton of diversity at these locations.
3. Forest
We actually have forests within the city limits! Grand Rapids is so incredible. If your family loves to spend time in the woods, the forest may be be best location for your session!
4. Park
Grand Rapids is full of gorgeous parks! Parks can be especially gorgeous in the fall when the leaves are changing. This makes a lovely backdrop for your family photos.
5. Open field
Luckily, my favorite field is nearby in Jenison. Fields make a gorgeous back drop for your family photos.
Hopefully this gives you some great ideas about where to have your next family photography session! You have invested your time and your money into this experience so taking the time to really consider the location is a good idea.