Top 15 places to take family portraits
Having family photographs taken is one way to capture memories of your children, a milestone in your life or to remember a place you once lived. If you live in Northern Virginia better known as NoVA; there are many outdoor locations and famous places where you can have your family photos taken. Here are 15 places that I love and highly recommend for your next family portrait session.
STAFFORD/FREDERICKSBURG
Snead’s Asparagus Farm – FREDERICKSBURG, VA | A family-run sustainable Christmas tree and asparagus farm located in Fredericksburg. Photo backdrops include seasonal plants, a beautiful wooden barn, open fields and more. $20 photo fee plus $5 admission.
Downtown Fredericksburg – FREDERICKSBURG, VA | Downtown Fredericksburg has lovely blocks of bricked buildings, quaint shops, vintage signage and courtyards. A great option if you want a historic downtown feel without the city crowds!
Government Island- STAFFORD, VA | Located in the middle of Stafford I-95 exit 140, Visit the quarry where the U.S. Government’s most famous buildings were born. Government Island, a historic 18th and 19th century quarry site provided Aquia sandstone for the construction of the U.S. Capitol and the White House and other historic buildings in Washington, D.C.
Chatham Manor – FREDERICKSBURG, VA | (Historic mansion and grounds – free after 5:30pm) requires permit where you can find the information here.
Alum Springs Park – FREDERICKSBURG, VA | Discover this hidden treasure within our city limits! This wooded park is located at the end of Greenbrier Drive extended. It is equipped with a picnic shelter, picnic tables, restrooms, grills, play equipment and walking paths.
Belvedeer Plantation– FREDERICKSBURG, VA | They’re a 645-acre heritage farm, built in the 1760s on the historic Rappahannock River.
Canal Path –FREDERICKSBURG, VA | 1.8 miles of pathway along the canal –also right across from a great river-shooting location!
Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont – FREDERICKSBURG, VA | A magnificent estate with a mansion to use as a backdrop for your family portraits. There is an archway, brick buildings, pathways, and more available to use for your next fall family photographs. Photography is not allowed inside the house itself. To make a secure the estate for your next family portrait session, contact Buffy Knappenberger by email at eknappen@umw.edu or call (540) 654-1843. There is a $50 photography fee for family portraits. In addition, it is requested you contact the estate at least 48 hours in advance of the proposed portrait session. The photography Reservation form is located here.
Dixon Park – FREDERICKSBURG, VA | with trails, playground, nature preserve, athletic fields, and an outdoor swimming pool
Motts Run Reservoir – FREDERICKSBURG, VA | 860 acres of nature await in this Fredericksburg park…hiking trails, picnic area, docks, woods!
Potomac Point Vineyard and Winery– STAFFORD, VA | Potomac Point is Northern Virginia’s premier winery. Their Mediterranean estate will make you feel as if you’ve entered Tuscany, only to be up-scaled by their award-winning wines and delectable cuisine.
Locust Shade Park–STAFFORD, VA | Located next to the Marine Corps Heritage Museum, and minutes from I-95, Locust Shade park offers much more than scenic beauty, tranquil water, and picturesque trails. The park is open year round from 7:00 a.m. to dusk.
Kelly’s Ford– FREDERICKSBURG, VA | Beautiful grounds and so many places to capture beautiful family portraits They even have an Equestrian Center!
These images are all taken at Chatham Manor.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
Manassas Battlefield – MANASSAS, VA | A large space with grassy fields, old wooden fencing, historic houses, stone bridge, lots of sun and pretty fall foliage. One of the busier portrait locations in the area, especially during the peak fall season.
Lake Anna State Park – SPOTSYLVANIA, VA | The park has a beach on one of Virginia’s most popular lakes, a fishing pond accessible to children and the disabled, a bathhouse-concessions complex and a boat launch. Overnight stays are made possible by camping, six camping cabins, two six-bedroom lodges, and 10 two-bedroom cabins. Seven cabins and the lodges have views of the lake. With more than 15 miles of trails, the park offers many hiking, biking, and horseback riding options. Visitor center exhibits trace the history of the area’s gold mining and highlight the park’s natural features. Nature and gold panning programs are popular, and the park offers guided tours of the Goodwin Gold Mine.
I’m a birth, newborn and maternity lifestyle photographer serving Washington DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Reston, Leesburg, Manassas, Gainesville, Haymarket, Stafford County, Prince William County, and Fredericksburg. I am located in Stafford, Virginia and I’m available for travel in the Virginia, Maryland and DC areas.
Virginia has so many possibilities for family portrait locations. This list is just the beginning. For more location possibilities in Northern Virginia and beyond stay tuned for my next blog post!
To schedule your own family’s portrait session with Brooke, contact me here or email me @ info@brookeflanagan.com