My Favorite Locations

Central Oregon is full of great places to take photos, and each has their pros and cons. I decided to put together this little article to help my clients choose the right location for their shoot! Although this isn’t an exhaustive list, it does cover my very favorite locations. Don’t worry if these don’t fit the bill for you, there are others I can suggest to suit your specific needs.

Choosing a location is an exciting step in the booking process as it allows you to actually picture what your shoot will look/feel like. I’ve included details about what time of day is best for each location, accessibility information and whether or not dogs are allowed. Take a look and let me know if you have any questions about any of these great locations!

Shevlin Park’s Pine tree backdrop.

Aspens at Shevlin in late fall.

Shevlin Park

Great for kids, babies and those with limited mobility. Year round. Most times of day.

Shevlin Park offers a lot of pros. It’s close to town, has restrooms and doesn’t require much walking. It offers a ton of variety with the river, pine forest and Aspen stands which change seasonally from a lush green to yellow to a beautiful white (as seen above) in the late fall through winter.

Parking can be more difficult at times, so I recommend arriving 10 minutes early for your shoot so you’ll be able to find a good spot.

If your family has a bit more mobility, I suggest shooting the very end of your session at Upper Shevlin Park which has some views and typically beautiful sunsets.

Upper Shevlin offers a more desert-like vibe with a beautiful view. Best right at sunset.

Dillon Falls at sunset.

Dillon Falls

Best May- early November. This spot is best for young ones, but doesn’t work well with those with limited mobility.

Sunset for falls. Morning or afternoon okay for meadow/forest.

Dillon Falls is one of my all-time favorite places for portraits! It’s hard to beat the rapids, forest and the meadow all in one spot. Dillon Falls is best for shooting right at sunset (are you noticing a pattern?) but there are some great meadow and forest shots to be had in the morning and late afternoon at this spot as well.

To get to the falls, there is a short hike (maybe 5 minutes) so keep that in mind if you aren’t feeling a hike! Bug spray is a smart thing to have on hand July-September. This spot is not easily accessible in the winter, so if your session is in winter, you’ll want to choose another spot.

Meadow area at Dillon Falls at sunset.

Mid-morning forest backdrop at Dillon Falls.

Mid-morning meadow backdrop at Dillon Falls.

Sunset at Sparks Lake Meadow with Mt. Bachelor backdrop.

Sparks Lake

Great for shoots late June-Late September. Longer drive. Best for mobile families. Sunset only!

Of all the places you can shoot in Central Oregon, Sparks Lake is probably the most iconic. It’s got mountain views, a gorgeous lake and beautiful sunsets. This spot only works at sunset, so you’ll want to reconsider if you have kids with an early bedtime. The drive from Bend is about 45 minutes, but parking usually isn’t a problem. In mid-summer to early fall you’ll want bug spray at this location as the bugs can be a problem.

Sparks Lake offers a lot of variety with the meadow view, the lake views and Soda Creek. See below!

View of Broken Top at Sparks Lake.

Meadow at Sparks Lake in Fall.

Soda Creek near Sparks Lake in early summer.

Main view at center of Smith Rock State Park. Does require a few steps down a rocky trail to access.

Smith Rock

Best for those who can hike (very) short distances and handle uneven ground. Perfect all times of the year. Sunset only.

If you’re looking for a location to wow your family back home, look no further! Smith Rock is where I got married, so obviously I think it’s pretty photogenic! At Smith Rock, the parking can be tricky during peak hours, but usually at sunset it’s easy to find a spot. We usually start with the most iconic view in the center of the park, then I’ll take you to my favorite spot that fewer people know about at North Point.

I don’t recommend this spot for little risk takers as their are some cliffs involved, but it’s never been a problem if parents are on top of it! This spot is only suited to sunset as there isn’t much shade!

Views from North Point.

North Point. Requires a short hike on easy trail.

Reynold’s Pond in late fall.

Reynolds Pond

Offers year-round access with ample parking. Perfect for all, especially babies and toddlers. Best at sunset.

I like to call Reynold’s Pond my lucky spot. I always get work I love when I shoot there, and there’s almost never anyone else around! Reynold’s Pond is about 30 minutes from Bend and offers a quiet and safe spot for little ones to run and play. It is a great spot for getting candids of families because of the relaxed vibe it offers.

Reynold’s is best at sunset (are you sensing a theme?) but can work for late afternoon or early evening as well if you stick to shady areas.

Grassland backdrop at Reynold’s Pond.

Perfect for candid shots of little ones!

Drake Park in late fall.

Drake Park

Great for all ages. Year round, most times of day.

Drake Park is a convenient location for most. There is typically parking available at non-peak times of day without issue. Drake Park allows dogs on leash, and has ample shade for shooting outside sunset hours. It’s great for kids and has restrooms available.

You can shoot at Drake Park anytime of year. It’s beautiful in the fall with lots of leaves falling, and also when it snows!

Drake Park footbridge in the snow.

Perfect for families of all sizes.

Fall leaves at Drake Park.

Quail Park in early fall.

Quail Park

The perfect place for families with young children. Good for morning shoots. Easy parking. Easy access.

Quail park is located in a neighborhood off Mt. Washington Drive. It’s an easy drive from most areas of Bend. Quail park is unique in that it offers ample shade in the morning hours, making it the perfect place for a shoot with toddlers or kids who still take afternoon naps or have an early bedtime.

The backdrop is pine forest, and it does offer some fallen leaves in fall.

Pine forest backdrop at Quail Park

Perfect for young kids

RIley Ranch at Sunset in early fall.

Riley Ranch

Best at sunset. Year round. Dogs not allowed. Some easy hiking required. Easy parking, restrooms available.

Riley Ranch Reserve is located in SW Bend. It’s easy to access all times of the year and has easy parking and restrooms available. Expect to hike .5 mile or so to get to good spots. Sunset is best at this location because some of the better views are wide open which isn’t conducive to bright sun. This area is great for young kids as they can run around on the wide trails freely. Most trails are wheelchair accessible, although they are gravel, they are wide and well groomed.

No dogs are allowed at Riley Ranch Reserve, so this spot isn’t for you if you’d like your doggo in the photos!

Riley Ranch Reserve offers wide open trails for kids to run!

Don’t see what you’re looking for?

Central Oregon has a lot to offer, so much it’s hard to fit it all into one page! If you’re looking for something I haven’t shared here, please let me know!