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.
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 I am comfortable working in with morning light.
BRONTE CREEK PARK
Oakville, ON
A rustic farm setting with fields, barns and lots of trees. An admission per car of $17 is required for entry. This is a great location for morning sessions in the fall because there are so many trees and buildings where I can control how the light falls on my subjects. It also works great for evening sessions as well. There is a ton of parking and just a short 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. Keep in mind, the trees start turn colours late September/October but this location is still really pretty even when the leaves are green.
KERNCLIFF PARK
Burlington, ON
This is one of my favourite locations year-round but for fall it's spectacular. It's not too crowded and there is a small parking lot that is free of charge and always has spots open for mornings. It features lots of trees, a beautiful rockcliff wall, rocky ground, a short boardwalk trail along the tall marshy grass and wooded areas and some wooded trails. It doesn't require a lot of walking for little ones or expecting mamas.
CLAPPISON WOODS QUARRY
Waterdown, ON
This is a phenomenal 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.
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.
CITY VIEW PARK
Burlington, ON
City View Park is very family friendly with flat wood-chip pathways, open fields with tall grass and lots of big trees. There are lots of areas to find shade and photograph families. In late September and October the trees have gorgeous colours and the tall grass turns golden. The parking is ample and this location is not crowded at all on weekday mornings. It's right off Dundas Street and is easy to get to. It's a nice and simple nature location without distracting elements in the background.
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