Seattle has been my city of residence for almost 19.5 years. (Most people would query why I didn’t just round up to 20, but I like to be quizzically precise with subjects related to time and dates). During that time, I created a small photography business that has been simultaneously thrilling, aggravating, and challenging over the years.
With TIA International Photography nearing 17 years in oscillatory operations, I have decided to embark on the promotion of my portraiture services to interested entities within the metro Seattle area and Puget Sound region.
Please check out my portraiture services at TIA International Photography’s Portraiture Deluxe website.
In terms of prime locations for family portraiture in Seattle, I would like to recommend five spots that have been ideal and idyllic for family portraits (as well as couples and individuals). Listed in no particular order, each location has its own stunning and alluring qualities for professional portraits.
Located at the Washington Park Arboretum south of the University of Washington, the Seattle Japanese Garden is a cornucopia of breathtaking scenes and gorgeous backdrops for portrait photography. If you plan to have your portraits captured here during the weekend, definitely plan in advance. Also, pack a lot of patience and courtesy as this is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike — and you will almost inevitably cross paths. The are abundant and numerous choices for beautiful portraits at the Japanese Garden. (Note: Please do not confuse the Japanese Garden with the Arboretum’s Japanese Maples. They are two separate locations).
As one of the most centrally located parks in Seattle, Gas Works is a wonderful spot for portraits. You may wish to visit the park in advance to select the backdrops that you would like for your portraits. You’ll have plenty of choices between the grassy knolls, concrete arches, a play barn (which was originally a pump house), Lake Union, and the downtown skyline. The park is very spacious but plan accordingly as Gas Works is one of the most popular parks in the city all hours of the day.
Carkeek is one of those unique parks that, after spending several minutes there, visitors can easily forget that they’re still in a major metropolis that’s hustling and bustling with thousands of people. Located in the Broadview neighborhood in the north-westernmost region of Seattle, Carkeek features forests with towering trees and plenty of open space for recreation. There’s also an expansive, dreamy, sandy beach adjacent to the Puget Sound that you must use a pedestrian bridge over a pair of railroads to access. My very first portrait assignment as a professional photographer was of a high school student at Carkeek for her senior year in September 2012. This place is charming with numerous backgrounds for memorable portraiture.
In terms of area, Discovery Park is Seattle’s largest park with an atmosphere that feels boundless, timeless, and magical. There are many locations at this park that would be ideal for family portraits. Similar to Gas Works, visit Discovery in advance and coordinate with your chosen photographer (perhaps myself!) on the desired spots to prevent loss of time trying to make decisions on the day of the photo shoot.
Lincoln Park, in my view, is a very close cousin of Discovery and Carkeek Parks. Located on the southwestern shores of Seattle, there is approximately one mile of shoreline along the Puget Sound on which visitors can walk, cycle, or roll from one end of the park to the other. This is in addition to the forested bluffs in which there are walking trails traversing through the park. You cannot go wrong with most scenes at Lincoln Park for a portrait background.
Now I must offer a shameless plug (which I’ve been told that I should insert if I truly want my business to thrive, especially via the vain “pay-attention-to-me” realm that is social media…ugh): If you visit the above links for Gas Works, Carkeek, and Lincoln Parks, check out the featured images for each park. I believe all of those images are credited to TIA. Several years ago, Seattle Parks & Recreation hired me for a long-term photo assignment to visit and photograph hundreds of their parks several summers ago. I’m so pleased they are still featured on today. Seattle Parks & Recreation has been a regular client of TIA since 2015.
Even though cityscapes and urban landscapes are my “forever first loves” for my favorite subject matters in photography, I have listed these locations with the mindset of a family or couple that would prefer a natural landscape, setting, and atmosphere without having to commute several miles from the Emerald City to reach such a place.
Perhaps, in my next post, I will share some locations that feature urban backdrops for portraiture! There’s absolutely no shortage of suggestions for both urban and natural backgrounds if you’re in the Puget Sound region.
Please feel free to contact me if you need any recommendations or alternative suggestions for your family portrait’s location! Have fun making your selection!
