In a place as beautiful as the high desert of Oregon; its tough to narrow down this list! here are my five absolute favorite Central Oregon Photography Locations and the pros and cons of each! I do extensive location scouting for my sessions and like to keep a Location Guide PDF of at least 8 locations at all times. When I’m scouting a location I check for; lighting, parking, backdrops, obstructions (like housing), distance from down, and I try to keep some very diverse spots available for every vibe!
when youre done checking out these dreamy locations; head over to the Family Photography Session Info page to check out more details about my epic family photography experience!
Shevlin Park, Bend Oregon
Shevlin Park is located between Bend and Tumalo in this cute little draw between hills. it boasts beautiful aspen trees that change with the seasons, a flowing river, and an adorable little pond with bridges. I love that the aspen trees offer some diffused lighting during the evening hours to get that dreamy glow without waiting until sunset. Lighting is one of the most important considerations for me as a family photographer! it needs to be as even as possible and diffused lighting ensures we dont have those unflattering shadows or squinty eyes! The only downfall to this location is it can be busy during peak hours, fortunately I’ve never had an issue finding space!
Indian Meadows, Sisters Oregon
This spot is a new favorite! a recent client from Sisters showed it to me for her session and it is a perfect hidden gem. Its a cute little meadow complete with wildflowers depending on the season, tall grasses, little walking paths, willow plants, and peek-a-boo mountain views. I love finding spots all over Central Oregon so that my clients can choose a location that is close to home if they would like! I also love that this location is very lightly traveled and has parking right next to it. That helps a lot with kiddos and pregnant mamas that don’t want to walk a long ways.
Smith Rocks, Redmond Oregon
This Central Oregon photography location is so near and dear to my heart. It was a spot my friends and I visited often as kids; I even lived with a view of it for a few years. It has gained a ton of popularity in recent years so its definitely a high traffic spot. I usually shoot here on Saturday and Sunday nights and have never struggled for space. The large rock formation allows for an “earlier” sunset which is great for small kids. It also goes beautifully with any outfit choice because of the neutral stones.
Tumalo Reservoir, Tumalo Oregon
This spot is my go to for folks wanting to bring their fur babies along! Especially the large ones! In the summer time the reservoir is full of water. In the fall the trees are turning and you get that dreamy splash of oranges and reds. Year round it has beautiful mountain views, tall pines, sage brush, and trails for walking and riding horses. The tall pines offer pockets of diffused light most times of the day. Its very lightly trafficked and has ample parking. It’s located just up the hill from the town of Tumalo. It’s biggest downfall is the dust! which is around alllll year long.
Brasada Ranch, Powell Butte Oregon
Who doesn’t love an epic old wooden bridge? This spot is located much further from town but is about equal distance from Bend and Redmond. the bridge offers a super unique back drop; and a some fun interaction for kiddos. Shooting under the bridge offers diffused light all day. I usually head up on top for some fun shots and the fields as a back drop. This spot has a bit more walking involved but its very accessible, we just have to watch out and dodge the golf carts!
I would LOVE to know which one of these Central Oregon Photography Locations you would choose for your family or maternity session! Head to my instagram page for more sessions shot at these locations and let me know what ya think in the comments!
