Mother Nature is a knockout year-round, everywhere. It’s one of her many charms. But in the summertime, it’s easier for us humans to shed our layers and interact with her, including gorgeous photoshoots!

So we brainstormed some of our favorite nature settings that we believe make spectacular backdrops and photoshoot experiences this time of year. Grab hold of Mother Nature’s hand with us and take a wander through some of her most dazzling displays, just waiting for you and one of our local photographers to capture summertime memories!

Beaches

I think most of us would agree that beaches are good for the soul. They wash us in inspiration, excitement, calm, even a sense of adventure. If you live near a beach or will be vacationing somewhere near a beach this year, we hope you’ll get your shorts and suits on, lather up with sunscreen, and make time to play in the sea. 

Because all those beachy good feelings radiate through our bodies and express themselves on our faces, making for awesome, authentic photos. So splash in the water, chase the waves as they rush back into the sea, and taste the salt on your lips. While you soak up the joy of the beach, our local photographer will capture these sunkissed moments.

Take your beach photoshoot to the next level:

• If it’s a group photo, bury someone in the sand...just make sure their head shows!

• Plan your photoshoot for sunrise or sunset for beautifully dramatic photographs

• For a shoot with kids, bring sand pails and toys, build a sandcastle, and capture the spirit of fun

Backyards

You don’t have to travel far to immerse yourself in nature. Our backyards are filled with sunshine, flowers, and foliage, even if you’re not a gardening wizard or have a half-acre plot. My backyard is a strip of a neglected, concrete jungle, but that neglect has resulted in a gorgeous wall of lush green ivy that makes for a beautiful backdrop. 

One lovely tree, a patch of grass, a few potted plants all count as nature. Add to them a good photographer who knows how to create photo compositions and you’ll have amazing nature photographs you’ll cherish always...and see your yard in a whole new way! And if you’re a master gardener with a to-die-for yard, don't let all that beauty and hard work go to waste; indulge in a shoot that will memorialize your and Mother Nature’s co-creation.

Take your backyard photoshoot to the next level:

• Set up a tableau (or “living picture”): you and a friend pruning flowers or sipping wine in the garden setting

• Try a “flower foreground”...where a few blossoms or a branch of leaves create a natural frame

• Take advantage of having your closet near and plan a few outfit changes

Parks

Parks are specifically created to hold the promises of nature. There are local parks with swing sets, picnic benches, and peaceful afternoons. And there are national parks spreading across acres and whole corners of states, conserving the majesty of nature. Both make perfect backdrops.

Choose your perfect park setting based on what best suits your summer plans. National parks can be great family experiences and road trip destinations, while local parks offer easy access, perfect for a Saturday afternoon getaway or evening walk that includes a magical summer photoshoot. 

Take your park photoshoot to the next level:

• Invite the family for a BBQ and capture this year’s family portrait

• Make it an active photoshoot: cartwheels in the grass, time on the swings, hula hoops, a game of tag

• Ask your photographer to get some wide shots, especially at national parks

Botanical Gardens

We think the jewels that are botanical gardens deserve a special category all their own. Granted, they’re not always technically “outdoors.” Some are in great biospheres and others in glass conservatories, but they are places filled with natural wonders and, even indoors, bring outdoor nature to us on an epic scale.

A photoshoot in a botanical garden can be romantic and intimate. It can evoke an old-timey feel, as well, reminding us of all those Victorians who loved bringing back their horticultural discoveries to cooler climates and hothouses. A botanical garden offers a wealth of wonders as well as photographic opportunities.

Take your botanical garden photoshoot to the next level:

• Take advantage of hidden nooks and lush, leafy corners for intimate settings

• If you’re planning a surprise proposal, check into your local botanical garden

• Pop with bold colors or play up the romance of the setting with pastels

Forests

The word, “forest,” hints at so much: green glens, hidden ponds, a canopy of green, the smell of pine. Here you find moss, toadstools, streams, and all manner of magical settings. If you live in a place where summer includes thunderstorms and showers, a forest covered in glistening raindrops can be otherworldly. 

With forests, Mother Nature outdoes herself, creating worlds within a world. Every corner is full of wonder and life. To be able to immerse ourselves in it takes us out of every day and connects us with the divine. A forest photoshoot is a gift to everyone. Photographers play with light and shadows, inspired by the setting, and you get eternal extraordinary photos.

Take your forest photoshoot to the next level:

• Use the forest as your stage: climb fallen trees, stand in streams, lie in the leaves

• Try unique angles that make the most of the towering trees

• Use shafts of sunlight through trees as natural spotlights

Mountains

One of my favorite daydreams is standing in a meadow with towering mountains rising up around me. Sometimes it’s from the valley floor at Yosemite National Park, sometimes it's from somewhere in the Swiss Alps. Always I feel dwarfed beside the majesty of Mother Nature and one of her greatest creations. 

When we head to the mountains we often say we’re “getting away.” In the summertime, they offer coolness, grand vistas, and physical challenges. We think of fresh air, full lungs, tingling legs, and cozy cabins. Mountains make us feel alive and it is those moments we most want to capture always with an amazing photoshoot experience.

Take your mountain photoshoot to the next level:

• Ask your photographer to channel Ansel Adams and get some black and white photos

• The cooler weather allows for sweaters and the setting is a perfect backdrop for must-have Christmas card photos

• Try fashion photography in this epic setting

Are you ready to book your nature photoshoot? Our professional photographers are ready to capture it, in whichever setting you prefer. And to help make all those gorgeous summer memories a little sweeter, we’re continuing to offer special summer discounts:

🍃 Use code SUMMER1 for $20 off a 1-hour package

🍃 Use code SUMMER2 for $30 off a 2-hour package

🍃 Use code SUMMER3 for $40 off a 3-hour package