One of the most popular and important questions after families book their outdoor session is "where should we go?" I have quite a number of places that I am familiar with and love for various reasons. There are a few factors to consider. The most important for me is lighting. It's the number one thing that can make or break a photo. Therefore, the locations that I prefer to use have really great light, but also gives us pockets of shade where I can control how harsh the light hits you. It's all about the balance of having that beautiful warm glow of the sun without it being too much. Speaking of warm glow, this is why I schedule all of my sessions close to sunrise or sunset. The fall season brings later sunrises in the morning, which means I'm able to accomodate some morning sessions around 8-9am in certain locations. This is a great option for toddlers and pre-school aged children or anyone with a flexible work schedule.
Secondly, you as a family have to decide how far you want to travel. Most of my locations are within Hamilton, Burlington or Oakville so as long as your family is local, you won't be driving too far a distance.
The last consideration is crowds - for the most part, weekday morning sessions will be far less crowded than Fri-Sun evenings.
I've been photographing families for 10 years now, so I have a vast collection of places I have used. Here are my favourite locations for sunrise sessions that also get gorgeous fall colours and manageable morning light.
BRONTE CREEK PARK
Oakville, ON
This is my absolute favourite location for fall mornings. It's a rustic farm setting with fields, barns and lots of trees that creates warm and earthy photos. There is a ton of parking and just a short (stroller friendly) walk into the farm area where I like to photograph. It's perfect for families of all ages, especially those with active kids because they can run around and the farm setting keeps them engaged in the location.
NOTE: An admission per car of $17 is required for entry. I have a pass for my vehicle, but your family would have to pay your own entry fee. The pass is good for the whole day, so your family could stay after we are done photos or come back later in the day for a walk, see the animals or visit the play barn area .
CLAPPISON WOODS QUARRY
Waterdown, ON
This is a great option for morning sessions. It's not crowded, it's easy to get to and has ample parking. It features lots of trees, a beautiful rockcliff wall, trail along the tall marshy grass and water reservoir ponds. The morning light when it's sunny is gorgeous and the area offers options for shade along the treeline for when that morning sun gets higher. It requires just a moderate amount of walking for little ones or expecting mamas. The lighting is better and I usually recommend starting 1/2 hour earlier here - so if your session is scheduled for 9am, an 8:30 start is better.
CITYVIEW PARK
Burlington, ON
City View Park has lots of thick trees that get gorgeous leaves in the fall. There are wood-chip trails and open fields with tall grass. The parking is ample and this location is not too crowded on weekday mornings. It's right off Dundas Street and is easy to get to. It's a nice simple location without distracting elements in the background.
DUNDURN CASTLE
Hamilton, ON
This is one of my favourite locations, year round and one I recommend often. It’s easy to get to, has a big, free parking lot and gives families a ton of variety of backgrounds. There are tree-lined pathways, white walls with cream pillars, green shutters and doors, rustic stables, stonework and greenery and obviously the castle makes a stunning backdrop. There are quite a few maple trees on property which do turn into nice fall colours and later in the season you'll get piles on leaves on the ground.
LOWVILLE PARK
North Burlington, ON
This park is wonderful because there are so many trees and if you time the season correctly, you can get amazing fall colour on the trees and blanketing the ground. There are a few bridges over a flowing creek, a historic school house that provides an interesting backdrop with it's stonework and barn-board walls. There are some nice gardens on site and often families will end their session at the playground where I can capture some candid and fun moments of kids playing. Parking is easy and free and this location doesn't require too much walking for little ones.
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