Here is my list of locations I like for photo shoots. I will continuously update this list with links, photos, and more information.
PHOENIX
Roosevelt Row – lots of murals and cool buildings, lots of walking, urban, lots of possibilities for interesting backgrounds, bright and colorful, lots of traffic.
Downtown Phoenix the Orpheum Theatre, the Old Courthouse, and the Monroe Abbey were all built in the 1920s and they are cool backgrounds, I know of cool brick alleys, some murals, good for hotter times because we can stay in shade, quiet on the weekends usually (unless there are sporting events.) I know of good parking garage locations that have great views and are great at sunset.
Arizona Science Center and Heritage Park - This can be a great location for someone looking for both urban backgrounds and a little bit of nature. The Science Center has cool looking huge concrete walls and stair steps. There are vintage houses and even a parking garage that you can climb to the top floor for city views. Could be a lot of walking and must pay for parking.
Hance Park/Deck Park – I have never photographed here, but if I did, this is what I would do: first walk along the fence connected to the Japanese Friendship Garden where there are pretty plants and trees, head to the street south of the Friendship Garden that is a cool urban area, walk towards the light rail and bridge and come back through the neighborhood of historic houses. If parents wanted pics of kids playing, the Hance playground is unique with a fox, owl, and rabbit tower/slide/platform. (Busy location, week days are much quieter.)
Japanese Friendship Garden – gorgeous location with trees, flowers, water. Permit is $300 per hour, only available on Mondays and Wednesdays.
TEMPE
ASU campus – great for when it gets hot because there is shade and we can go into buildings for AC, urban and nature/flowers, moderate to lots of walking, must pay for parking, quiet on the weekends. The Secret Garden spot is peaceful, pretty, worth visiting. James Turrells’s light sculpture would be worth visiting.
Mill Avenue Bridge and Hayden Flour Mill in Tempe – urban, lots of walking, pay for parking, great at sunrise and sunset, lots of traffic.
Papago Park/outside the Phoenix Zoo – lots of walking, lots of great spots - there is a deck out over one of the lakes, may need to drive around between good spots, free to park, I always aim to be on the pyramid hill right at sunset when the city lights start to be visible.
Tempe Town Lake – lots of walking, can be great at sunset, Tempe Arts Center bridge is cool looking, can be crowded with people. Can be combined with Mill Avenue Bridge and Hayden Flour Mill (bit of a walk)
Google maps aerial view of the Lavender Farm at Chateau de Vie in Tempe, AZ.
The Lavender Farm at Chateau de Vie - Permit ranges from $350 - $650 depending on the number of people, cars, and whether you go inside the chateau or stay outside. This place is so unique - it’s a mansion surrounded by pine trees, a lake, lots of rose bushes, a lavender farm.
Serene Studios - 2121 S Mill Ave - Unit # 214 — Tempe, AZ https://www.sereneaz.com/ So there are tons of indoor studios in the valley. I will make a whole separate post about indoor studios. I mostly shoot outdoors, but I plan to shoot here eventually in their Sand Room. Which is a room completely full of sand! The best time of day to shoot there is around 9 or 10 AM, due to the light from the window.
MESA
Downtown Mesa – urban, lots of walking, murals, some spots of nature. The Mesa Arts Center is a cool spot.
Photos from the Mesa Community Rose Garden.
Mesa Community College Rose Garden- This place is amazing if you love flowers, blooms are best at the end of December/beginning of January and April to May, less walking, nature, cool murals across the street (would have to add extra time for walking or driving for that.)
The Meadow in Mesa - super easy parking, very limited walking, very green with tall trees, $75 plus tax per hour to book from owner
Mesa LDS Temple – lots of flowers, very manicured landscaping with walkways. I think this could be a good location for someone using a wheelchair, due to the sidewalk paths. I have only photographed here once for a wedding, but I have been told that anyone can go there and photograph. Easy parking, moderate walking.
CHANDLER
Veteran’s Oasis Park in Chandler, AZ – moderate to lots of walking, lake and trees, desert, lots of spots that are great, gets more green in late March/April. There are apple trees that bloom at the beginning of April.
The Ashley Castle - https://theashleycastle.com/ Only available during the week, not on weekends. $100 per hour.
GILBERT
Riparian Preserve – Gilbert, AZ – parking can be limited, but lots of great spots, does not get green until April. Mostly trees, has one desert spot with saguaro cactus that photographers love. This location can be especially amazing at sunrise when there are less people there and you get to see a lot of birds.
The Groves Church in Gilbert – I was amazed at this spot. It is now one of my FAVORITE locations. Fun and good light. Easy spot for kids. There is an orchard of trees and board walks to run/walk on and a little playground and coffee shop. Trees lose their leaves in late November, I am not sure when leaves come back on the trees. The church welcomes people using the location as long as there is not a church service going on. Easy parking, moderate walking.
The Four Silos Olive Grove and Farm
Four Silos Olive Grove and Farm – Easy spot for kids, super easy parking, very limited walking, very green, $35 plus tax per hour to book from owner. Their white flower trees bloom about February 8th, their purple flower trees bloom about April 10th. This location closes for the summer from about June to September.
Downtown Gilbert – lots of great spots, lots of walking. Murals, nature, alleys, rooftop garage, shops, have to deal with traffic/lots of people
Family photos at Zanjero Park. My fave thing is how there is usually nobody else at this park.
Zanjero Park – Pictured above. Gets green in April if we get winter rain, moderate walking, almost always very quiet (which is one of the best things about it, if you need a location without crowds) almost nobody is ever there, hill to climb on, green farmers field, savannah looking trees, wildflowers in April (if we get rain.) Can have a lot of stickers/thorns because of the desert plants, I recommend shoes that will protect feet. Watch out for bees and insects!
Bridge at Riparian Preserve – tall cottonwood trees (leaves turn yellow in early December and fall off trees late December and come back on in late March) I would not recommend this site for little kids who are very drawn to water, the water here is rushing. I brought my nephew here and I was so afraid he was going to fall in the water, I made us leave quickly. That said, this place is gorgeous with tall cottonwood trees and water and a great spot at sunset – better for older kids and adults. UPDATE: my nephew got a little older and I tried taking him here again and he LOVED it. We did eventually play in the muddy water and getting back to the car with very muddy feet was difficult. I recommend bringing a second pair of shoes just in case!
Greenhouse- Rustic, Outdoor, Open Air and Natural Light Photography and Video Studio - $70 per hour. I have never photographed here, but I have seen work by other photographers here and it looks like a fun spot! Click on the link under the image to learn more about the location.
Mother Nature’s Farm – the last time I ented the space in December 2023, it was $50. I loved having this huge space to myself and my clients for photography and exploring/wandering around/playing. There are pine trees, open fields, a hill to climb on, little buildings and playground areas.
We wandered around Agritopia and took baby announcement photos. I love all the cactus near the coffee shop.
Agritopia (excluding the orchard) – lots of pretty spots, green with a beautiful grape arbor and gardens and flowers. There are lots of spots to walk around to. There is a coffee shop and restaurants that become part of the background. $75 per day permit.
I love it when the peach orchard at Agritopia turns golden in the fall. And when the blossoms bloom in February.
Agritopia peach and citrus orchard – $99 - $125cfor the permit usually – so green and pretty. On their website they say these dates are still available: January 31, February 1 and 28, March 1, 14, 15, 21 and 22nd. In the fall, the peach orchard leaves turn golden. In February or very early March, the pink blossoms come out on the peach trees.
QUEEN CREEK
This was an Easter egg hunt photo shoot that we did at the Queen Creek Wash.
Queen Creek Wash – easy parking, lots of walking, pretty, very nature-y and wild, next to a bike path and golf course with wild sunflowers that can be good spots, sometimes there is running water in the wash and I have had kids want to wade in the water, must be ok with getting dusty/dirty/muddy shoes, must be ok with trees being wild and not “perfect” looking, must be ok with walking in sand that your feet will sink into. There is a bridge that we can walk under for shade, which can also be a good spot for photos. Bring a second pair of shoes!
Hagen Farms – citrus orchard and extremely cool looking big white farmhouse. $50 - $100 for photographer permit the last time I inquired.
Queen Creek Botanical Garden – This location is so pretty with trees, flowers, a lake. Cost is $150 for 90 minutes.
APACHE JUNCTION/EAST VALLEY DESERT
Lost Dutchman State Park – must pay admission per car, moderate to lot of walking, best at sunset, great if you want that “iconic” desert view, great desert location.
Many people that were in the background of these photos were edited out! There is a before and after showing one of the photos with a ton of people in the background. Since doing this particular shoot at the Salt River, I have been able to find much quieter/secret locations and have discovered that weekdays can be very quiet at the river.
The Salt River – river in the background. Moderate to lots of walking. I have found some AMAZING locations, but they do require being willing to walk there for about 15 minutes. Phon D Sutton and Water Users and Coons Bluff are different beautiful locations. Some of these locations have lots of trees and feel very wild. Must watch out for bees and desert critters. Sometimes you get to see the wild Salt River horses! Must buy Tonto Forest Permit ($12)
Butcher Jones Beach at Saguaro Lake – super crowded in summer, so best on week days that time of year. If you want to be in water for your photos, this is a popular location for in-water photos. Lots of variety with water and trees and desert. There is a trail that if you are willing to walk for a ways will take you to more cool spots along the lake. If we get winter rain, there will be wildflowers in March/April and lots of green grass. There are cactus and beautiful trees here. Must buy Tonto Forest Permit ($12)
SCOTTSDALE
Downtown Scottsdale/Scottsdale Civic
The iconic LOVE statue is fun. Lots of little spots, some little bits of nature amongst urban. There is a tiny little alley that is fun for photos. It’s good to plan extra time for this location, because it can get crowded, especially when there are events happening here. This is a location that is easier on weekdays and sunrise. Possibly lots of walking, may have to pay for parking.
Tom’s Thumb – I have never been here, lots of photogs love it and do awesome desert photos here, getting that kind of classic/iconic desert look. I think it’s a lot of walking.
BUCKEYE
Sweet Flower Home – Buckeye, AZ – broccoli fields, onion flowers, garlic – broccoli has yellow flowers and blooms March/April. Onions have white poufy flowers and bloom in April and May. Sunflowers bloom in October. I am not sure when garlic is available. $65 extra permit paid to the farm owner. (This is the same farm that has sunflowers in the fall.) Fields can possibly be dusty or muddy and have bees.
Nardini Manor - https://nardinimanor.com/ Historic house on 5 acres with tall pine trees, stone lions out front, and a hedgerow maze. $150 per hour during the week.
VERRADO
Verrado parks/downtown Verrado – I have never photographed here, but I know a lot of photographers love it and it looks really picturesque.
VALLEYWIDE
Moon Valley Nurseries – I have always wanted to do a shoot at a Moon Valley Nursery. I have been told that there is no charge and that it is allowed….although I would have to see if that is still the case.
ALMOST ANYWHERE WITHOUT NO TRESPASSING SIGNS!
Have you ever just been driving by or walking somewhere in the valley and seen a cool tree or flowers or building or mural and thought to yourself: this is beautiful, this would make a great background for photos? Tell me about the location if you are wanting to do photos there! These photos of a high school senior (below) are a good example of just driving by and seeing something that catches your eye. This mural by Lauren Lee is just on a street in Tempe, on Hardy between University and 5th Street.
