Ten Best Locations For Family Sessions In Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, NC is filled with a variety of awesome places to take GREAT family photos. From parks, to urban areas, to off-the -beaten path ideas there is something to suit every family’s personality style. So whether you have a session already booked or are just getting some ideas in your back pocket for a future session, check out this list of my 10 favorite Charlotte Photos Session location ideas!

1. Your Home

If you have been following me for a while then you know that I'm all about the real, candid, and natural. So for me, the home is one of the best locations to shoot your family portraits. Everyone is a bit more relaxed and feels at ease to be themselves. (And no one is stressed about getting anywhere on time because you are already there!) AND if you throw a fun family activity in the mix like baking cookies, playing board games, or jumping on the bed your session will not only be less stressful it can actually be FUN!

2. Your Yard

You can either do your yard and home together during a session or you can choose to have the whole session take place in your yard. Basically, just like being in your home, a family session in your outdoor space helps reduce stress and help everyone have an enjoyable time all the while capturing beautiful and artistic photos of your family. The best bet with this is to have some fun activities lined up. These possibilities for activities are endless but can include sidewalk chalk in the driveway, swinging on the swing set, or a family game of basketball.

3. Camp North End

If you're looking for something edgy, colorful, and urban then Camp North end is an AWESOME location. There are so many colorful backdrops like cool mural walls, rustic old warehouse windows, and exposed brick. Also, the back parking lot has an awesome skyline view if you want to highlight Charlotte, NC in your photos! This location has gained alot of popularity over the past few years so you may want to try to plan to your session outside of peak hours to avoid the largest crowds.

4. Mint Museum on Randolph Road

If you're going for a green grassy, natural look, I love, love shooting families at the Mint Museum off of Randolph road. There is so much space it hardly ever feels crowded and the light at that location is always so pretty! There is lots of open green space, big pretty trees, a bridge, several brick pathways, and a big iron gate. All of which make really pretty background for your family photos.

5. UNCC Botanical Gardens

Located in North Charlotte on the UNCC campus, this location has it all! It really feels like two separate locations in one. On the one side there is a very natural, forest area for a really natural, woodsy look. On the other side there is a beautiful manicured garden with all sorts of beautiful nooks and crannies to provide a gorgeous backdrop for your session! The manicured area includes a large pond with a waterfall, an asian garden section, and a butterfly area. This location does require reservations and a $50 fee, but its definitely worth it!

6. Downtown Waxhaw, NC

If you want something a little different than a green park space, but aren’t up for an urban photo shoot then downtown Waxhaw is a great compromise. About 40 minutes outside of central Charlotte this little downtown has tons of charm and a lot of cute little backdrops like bright, colorful doors and exposed brick walls. It has a brewery (great idea for a couples shoot!) and an ice cream shop (great idea for a family session!). It can be somewhat busy on the weekends, but the crowds are usually manageable and the parking is pretty easy which is a definite plus!

7. Chantilly Ecological Sanctuary

Located directly behind the Chantilly neighborhood park playground is a little gem of a spot that many people do not even know exists . The Ecological Sanctuary is a big, open, flat, grassy area. There are usually tall grasses that make for a beautiful portrait backdrop with trails mowed to make paths so you don’t have to walk through the grasses. This is an excellent spot for small children who like to run and explore. As there are not alot of tall trees to block sunlight in this area, timing for your photo session can be a bit trickier and usually right around sunset is best.

8. Ice Cream Shop

Maybe not the first thought that comes to mind when considering locations for your family photo session, but who doesn’t love an ice cream shop?? This is a great way to get the kids excited about the photo session and promote some genuine emotions and candid interactions. There are a ton of options in the Charlotte area. The ones featured below are from Two Scoops Creamery and Jeni’s Ice Cream.

9. Pins Mechanical

For me, the more creative, imaginative, and personal to the family the location is, the better. In full disclosure, I have not yet done a photo session here, but this is one of my family’s favorite spots to hang out and I think it would be an amazing place for a family photo session. If you know me, you know I will take the pretty “smile and the camera” shots, but the more candid and real the photos the better. This space allows for so much play and interaction among family members, I think it would be ideal for an “off beat” location idea.

10. You local library

Again, not a typical photo shoot location, but if you have a family of bookworms this could be a great location for you!

So there it is, in no particular order, 10 great Charlotte, NC location ideas for a family photoshoot. When selecting your location, it is important to consider the age ranges of your children, the personality of your family members, and also what you envision for your final images. Your photographer should be able to steer you in the right direction so be sure to communicate with him or her about your needs and desires!

Did a particular location stick out to you? Ready to book a session for that location? Contact me for more information and to schedule your next session !