Where To Take Senior Pictures In Dallas
When I moved to Dallas in the summer of 2016, I was completely lost. I felt secluded and isolated in a new environment that I knew nothing about. Little did I know, Dallas had so much to offer; I just had to get out there and discover it.
Over the past 7 years that I’ve been in Dallas, I’ve spent my time exploring the city, meeting new people, trying new foods, and most importantly, picking out the best spots for soon-to-be-graduates to take their senior portrait photos in Dallas. If you’re a senior (or a parent of a senior) asking yourself, “where do I take senior pictures in Dallas?” I’m here to help!
Being a senior portrait photographer in Dallas means that it’s my job to guide my clients and help them pick the perfect locations for their session to bring their dream senior portrait photoshoot to life. While there are many amazing places to have your senior portraits taken in Dallas, I’ve narrowed down 8 of the best locations for senior photos in Dallas.
White Rock Lake
I spend a lot of my time at this beautiful lake (I love going on long walks) and it is one of my favorite places in Dallas. Its colorful flowers and stunning greenery make it the perfect location for seniors looking for a more outdoorsy yet graceful setting for their portraits. White Rock Lake gives you a variety of spots to work with. You can take your photos by the lake, near the sailboats, or even in between the trees.
Best Days To Shoot: During the week
Best Time of Day To Shoot: Evening
Parking: Free
Accessibility: Not very
Cost: Free
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
This location is much more than a cute picnic spot. Some of my favorite senior portrait sessions have been here! With over 65 acres of stunning gardens, flowers and plants that change with the seasons, the arboretum is a paradise for seniors who want to have flowery and effeminate portraits to share with their family and friends. The Dallas Arboretum also has unique structures such as the Margaret Elizabeth Jonsson Color Garden and the Nancy Rutchik Red Maple Rill that make for amazing photo backdrops.
Best Days To Shoot: During the week.
Best Time of Day To Shoot: Early morning.
Parking: Up to $20 per car.
Accessibility:
Cost:
Klyde Warren Park
Klyde Warren is a beautiful oasis in the very heart of Downtown Dallas. It is an incredibly fun location and features greenery, sculptures and a stunning fountain. If you want a mix of natural and urban elements for your senior portraits, Klyde Warren Park is just the right place for you. Right after you finish your senior portrait session, you can stop by one of the many food trucks and grab a bite to eat (I recommend Ruthie’s, their grilled cheese sandwiches are heavenly).
Best Days To Shoot:
Best Time of Day To Shoot:
Parking:
Accessibility:
Cost:
Dallas Museum of Art
Right across from Klyde Warren Park is the beautiful Dallas Museum of Art. For my seniors who love art, sculptures, and architecture, this location is one of best spots for senior portraits in Dallas. The museum is filled with striking art pieces and sculptures, both inside and outside of the museum, that make unique portraits easy to create. Imagine having a photo of you sitting on a bench while an art piece you adore is in the background. Once your session is over, you can end the day with a nice tour around the museum.
Best Day To Shoot: During the week.
Best Time of Day: Morning-Mid-day
Parking: Street parking is free. Parking garages up to $10 per hour.
Cost: Free
Trinity Groves
Less than a 10-minute drive away from the Dallas Museum of Art is the eccentric and colorful Trinity Groves. Packed with restaurants (Beto and Son is my favorite) and decorated with murals, this location is just the spot for seniors looking for a trendy and chic setting for their portraits. Every year since 2018, Trinity Groves hosts the Wild West Mural Fest, and thanks to this festival, there are over thirty large-scale murals all over the area. Murals by artists like Mariell Guzman make for vibrant photo backgrounds.
Best Day To Shoot: During the week.
Best Time of Day: Morning-Mid-day
Parking: Street parking is free. Parking garages up to $10 per hour.
Cost: Free
Fabrication Yard
The Fabrication Yard is a gem in Dallas that I absolutely adore. Its creative and industrial aesthetic make it the ideal location for seniors who are creative and adventurous. The Fabrication Yard is home to many bright murals and bold graffiti made up of a variety colors, shapes and textures. If you’re looking for interesting and dynamic backgrounds in your senior portraits, this is just the spot for you! Feel free to walk around and find the secret murals that are hidden around the area after your session.
Best Day To Shoot: During the week.
Best Time of Day: Morning-Mid-day
Parking: Free
Cost: Free
Highland Park Village
The elegant architecture in Highland Park Village made it hard for me to leave it off the list. This quaint shopping center is decorated with gorgeous and colorful Spanish tiles that give photos a rich and lively atmosphere. I love using the HUGE plants in front of the storefronts in the center to add life to the backgrounds of photos. Seniors who are outgoing and extroverted will love this spot. This is also the perfect location for Highland Park High School seniors because of how close it is to home.
Best Day To Shoot: During the week.
Best Time of Day: Morning-Mid-day
Parking: Free
Cost: Free
UTD/SMU
For my college seniors, your campus might just be the right spot for you to take your senior portrait photos. Over the past 4 years, you have spent a majority of your time on your campus and this is why it is a special place to have your senior portraits taken. You made so many memories on your campus and it is such an amazing feeling getting to visit those spots again and take your senior portraits by those landmarks. If you attend the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) or Southern Methodist University (SMU), your campus has everything you need for a beautiful senior portrait session in Dallas. The university walkway at UTD and the Underwood law library at SMU are two of my favorite places to take senior portrait photos when I am on those campuses.
Best Day To Shoot: During the week.
Best Time of Day: Evening.
Parking: Free
Cost: Free
Dallas Arts District
The Dallas Arts District is one of my top locations for senior pictures in Dallas, so you know I had to save it for last. It’s got a bit of everything to make your photos more unique. The clean and modern look of the Winspear Opera House gives senior pictures such a sleek and sophisticated look. There’s also a secluded rooftop I love to take my clients to, which has beautiful greenery and a great view of downtown Dallas that we can use as a background.
Best Day To Shoot: During the week.
Best Time of Day: Morning-Mid-day
Parking: Free
Cost: Free
Honorable Mentions
There are so many amazing locations to take senior portraits in Dallas and I wish I could fit all of them in this list. Here are couple more spots to consider when choosing where you want to take your senior portraits in Dallas:
Downtown Dallas
Bishop Arts District
Turtle Creek Park
Deep Ellum
Addison Circle Park
Trammell Crow Park
From stunning parks to lively cityscapes, Dallas provides a wide variety of locations where high school and college seniors can have their senior portraits taken. Whether you’re looking for a more natural and outdoor setting or a creative and unique aesthetic, you’re sure to find just the right location for your senior portraits in Dallas. If you’re looking for a fun and talented senior portrait photographer in Dallas to help you navigate these locations and bring your dream senior photoshoot to life, schedule a consultation call with me and let’s get to planning.