Looking for an amazing location to take your photos?
Vancouver and the Fraser Valley has some amazingly beautiful places to have your pictures taken. Everywhere you turn there are mountains, lakes, forests, beaches, city skylines, and couples looking amazing in epic pictures posted by their photographers. More and more people seem to be escaping their neighbourhoods to find these gems to be photographed in, and the choices can seem endless on great photo locations.
So where should you have your photos done?
We have compiled a list of 8 of our favourite spots and give some of our insight into the pro’s and con’s of each place. We will also include galleries of real couples who have taken their pictures in these spots to help you visualize what your pictures could look like!
**There are WAY more than 8 amazing locations throughout the Greater Vancouver so shoot us a message if you want more!
Pitt Lake (Pitt Meadows)
Located 20 minutes from the Golden Ears Bridge, Pitt Lake is one of the most beautiful places in the Fraser Valley to take pictures. This is extremely evident by the swarms of photographers coming here on any given day to capture the magic that this place holds. It is REALLY easy to look good here. The mountain background with the Pitt River in the foreground is hard to beat. The best spots to take pictures are easily accessible from road and have well taken care of gravel paths. It doesn’t matter if its Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall, it will look amazing. This place is perfect for every occasion, wedding portraits, engagement photos, family photos, and everything else if you can find space from all the other photographers with their couples!
CON’s
VERY busy at times + limited space for photos
No shaded areas
No bathrooms (for those emergencies)
It rains a lot here!
PRO’s
Everything always looks good
NATURE - mountains, water, and fields
Great evening light
On a dyke - easy access
Galleries at Pitt Lake:
2. Mud Bay (South Surrey)
Located off of King George Highway in South Surrey, Mud Bay is an absolute gem. Similar to Crescent Beach which is just a short trip across the bay, Mud Bay has amazing sunsets with ocean backdrops. This location is great because it has a great mixture of sandy beach spots, unique grassy fields, and shoreline beauty. There are great areas for photos that are just a few walking minutes away from the parking lot. This place can become quite busy in the summer months for those looking to catch an amazing sunset, so be aware of that! Also, be careful walking through the grassy fields as there are giant mud holes created by the tide that changes this area quite dramatically that you could easily fall into, so stay close to familiar areas (or risk ending up like Chantelle)!
CON’s
Can be busy in the summer
Not very many shaded areas
Parking lots fills up fast when busy
Muddy areas!
PRO’s
Beautiful sunsets
Maintained gravel paths to locations
Mix of beach and grassy areas
Lots of space
Galleries at Mud Bay:
3. Aldergrove Bowl (Langley)
Aldergrove Bowl is one of our favourite spots to take photos. It has everything we love for an outdoor picture spot. It has the wild rugged look while being accessible for all types of events. It is right on the border of Aldergrove and Abbotsford which makes it an awesome location for anyone in the Langley, Surrey, and Abbotsford area looking for somewhere close and convenient. There is a great mix of trees and open fields, and the sunsets are next level here. No matter what season, we love coming here.
CON’s
Far drive for anyone outside of Fraser Valley
Wasps in the summer months (they are in the ground!)
PRO’s
A lot of beautiful space
Parking lot is right next to the great spots
Variety of nature
If busy, there is space!
Galleries at Aldergrove Bowl:
4. Vedder River (Chilliwack)
The Vedder River (Chilliwack River) runs through the south end of Chilliwack and Abbotsford right around Cultus Lake, and has some amazing spots for photos. Depending on the depth of the river (higher in spring/early summer and lower in late summer/fall) it can be the most perfect spot for romantic pictures in ankle high water surrounded by mountains. There are parking lots that give you quick access to some great spots and sunsets here are amazing. If you are up for it you can grab a floatie after your session and float down while enjoying some drinks. There is an amazing mix of riverbed rocks and lush green trees covering the mountains in the background.
CON’s
Far drive for those coming from Vancouver
Limited shade if too bright
Water isn’t always your friend
PRO’s
Unique river bed location
Easy Access
A lot of room to move around
Hot Dog stand in parking lot in the summer!
Galleries at the Vedder:
5. Buntzen Lake (Anmore/Port Moody)
Bunzten Lake is a BC Hydro reservoir that screams PNW vibes. There is so much space on the sandy beach to move around with a background of evergreen covered mountains. In addition to the beach there is an awesome dock that can comfortably fit 10+ people. The cherry on top of all of this is there are trails through the beautiful moss covered forest filled with massive trees. There is a lot of parking and full facilities. Because this place is a popular summer spot, you might want to try coming here when the crowds are a bit smaller in the morning and evenings.
CON’s
Very busy in summer
Hydro closes the gates in (check the times before you go!)
PRO’s
Beautiful PNW vibes
Variety (mountains, lake, forest, beach)
Parking + Bathrooms!!
A lot of room
Galleries at Bunzten Lake:
6. Golden Ears (Maple Ridge)
Golden Ears park has to be one of the most beautiful places in the lower mainland. In this park you feel like your are hundreds of kilometres from any city as you drive through forests, mountains, over rivers, and around the lake. In terms of places to take pictures it is almost limitless. The park is HUGE. We have a couple spots we really like and that is what you will see from our images. This area can be quite busy on a nice sunny day so sometimes it pays to take the path less travelled through the trees to find that magical spot. The evenings here are something out of this world if the weather is right, and the lake is always tempting to jump into after a long day!
CON’s
Pretty far drive for most
Popular areas get very busy on nice days
Limited park day passes in Summer (since pandemic)
Limited cell service (can be a pro)
PRO’s
Unlimited space
Beautiful PNW scenery
Many options for locations
Great swimming lake (pictures in the water!)
Galleries at Golden Ears:
7. Campbell Valley (Langley)
Campbell Valley Park is amazing. It is located in South Langley and is a HUGE park. There are walking trails, horse trails, grassy fields, forests, an abandoned race track, and a historic barn. This is the place to be if you are looking for some space alone with your clients, away from all the busy crowds. Because the park is so big, the options for you and your clients are wide open. In the Spring there are beautiful wild flowers with deep green lush green grass, and in the Summer and Fall everything starts to turn to a beautiful browny-yellow. There are a lot of positives to the park being so big, but we suggest you explore beforehand to find all the nice spots so you don’t wander aimlessly with your clients!
CON’s
Muddy fields after rainfall
Not a lot of shade
Can be a lot of walking to find good spots
PRO’s
A lot of space to wander
Well maintained walking paths
Grassy fields + forested areas
Galleries at Campbell Valley Park:
8. Whytecliff Park (West Vancouver)
Whytecliff Park is located just west of Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver and features beautiful rocky cliffs that cascade into the Pacific. Pair this beautiful location with the most beautiful west coast sunsets and you have an amazing location to take pictures. Access to some of the nice photo spots can be a bit tricky to get to without proper shoes, so make sure your clients aren’t wearing those high heels! This spot can get quite busy on a nice weekend so finding quiet spots can be difficult at times. This location is greatly affected by the incoming and outgoing tides! When the tide is out there is access to the ‘island’ which has some of our favourite spots to explore. When the tide is in there is little to no access to this area. There is also a lot of marine life happening in this area and you are almost guaranteed to see some scuba divers, seals, or swimmers!
CON’s
Far drive for people in the Valley
Parking is often full at peak times
Tough terrain to navigate if not prepared!
Tides
PRO’s
Beautiful BC coastal location
The best sunsets
Bathrooms!
Galleries at Whytecliff Park:
