4 Great Parks for Photoshoots North of Houston, TX
Finding the perfect spot for your photoshoot can mean the difference between a good photoshoot and your favorite photoshoot. Whether you’re in the market for your next portrait session or a fellow photographer looking for inspiration, I hope this post proves helpful. Today I’m sharing not just my favorite spots to shoot, but what makes them special.
Here are a few of the things I like to consider when choosing my photoshoot location:
Distance from me and my client
If there are likely to be distractions in the background (cars on the road, parking lots, power lines, people, playground equipment, ugly buildings)
What time of day I’ll be shooting and whether I can capture great light- if it’s sunset, where can I place the subject with the sunset behind them? The middle of a dense forest won’t be optimal
If it requires a long hike from the car- fine for some clients, but not all!
Whether there’s a place to change clothes
If it’s a safe area
Whether it’s generally beautiful and captures the feeling we’re going for in the photoshoot
Perhaps these points will help get your gears turning as you consider what your needs are for the perfect photoshoot location!
If you want a dramatic forest backdrop for your photos, this is the one for you. W. G. Jones State Forest is just north of The Woodlands off of FM 1488. I recommend this trailhead. It can be a bit of a longer hike to get to where the pine forest really shines though, so consider your clients’ needs and the weather. I went here once with my very pregnant sister at the beginning of summer- bad choice! But when it’s cooler and your client is a little more robust, this is a no-brainer. One nice aspect of this park is there’s no distractions and a pretty simple background of pines and tall grasses. You’re not going to risk getting a bunch of playground equipment, buildings, or cars in the background. Simple editing jobs make my photographer heart sing!
2. Dennis Johnson Park
This is definitely a tried and true favorite. Dennis Johnson Park is a sprawling 45 acres, but you don’t even have to hike down its trails to get awesome photos. Located in Spring, it has a lovely butterfly garden for charming flower backdrops, a large pond with a fountain, a grassy field with lovely mature trees across the road, and a little wooden bridge. It also has bathrooms if your client needs to change outfits. And if you have children who need a little motivation to smile for the camera, there’s a great shaded playground too.
3. Huntsville State Park
Huntsville State Park offers unlimited opportunites for photos. Located between Huntsville and New Waverly, it’s over 2,000 acres of trails and recreational areas. This has definitely been one of my favorite places to take portraits. The variety of backdrops (lake, woods, bridge, trails) makes getting variety in my shots easy. They also have restrooms for easy wardrobe changes. One thing to note: since it’s a state park, there is a $7 entrance fee to anyone over the age of 13.
4. Owen Park
This one is probably the most peaceful park on the list. Owen Park is under 20 minutes away from The Woodlands and it has stolen my heart. It has gorgeous trees, fences for your more Texan photoshoots, open fields, a large pond with a pier, and lovely trails. Be aware during the rainy season though- this is a bayou preserve, so bring boots and watch for mud on the trails! It also has bathrooms if you need to change outfits- always a big plus!
You should now feel confident that you’ve picked the perfect photoshoot location north of Houston. Congratulations! It took me a while to visit many parks in the area and figure out what made for the perfect photoshoot spot. Now you can skip the distraction-filled, poorly maintained parks and go straight to the most photogenic parks this area has to offer.
Interested in whimiscal portraits that will make your dreams come true? Learn more about my packages and pricing here!
