Family photos are one of those things that whenever you look back on them, you’re happy that you did them. They capture a moment in time. It’s always so incredible looking back through family photos and watching how each of you has changed over the years. Little ones grow in the blink of an eye and family photos help to remind you of all of the amazing stages they’ve gone through.
Winter is often a popular time to do family photos. Usually, you’re getting ready to send out Christmas cards to the relatives and including a family photo that will get stuck up on a fridge for the next 12 months is tradition. It’s a way for extended families to keep in touch and watch nieces and nephews grow before their very eyes.
While picking your photographer is a big task, deciding exactly where you want to have your photos taken can be an even bigger one! Where are you going to have enough space to take photos? What kind of setting do you want for your photos?
Well, we’ve scouted out the best spots in London Ontario for your family photos. Take a look and find the one that suits your family best!
Tree Farms
If you’re taking family photos this time of year, you’re likely going to want them to be holiday-themed. If that is the case, there is no better place to take a family photo than at a tree farm. Tree farms are rustic and full of family charm. They invoke thoughts of family traditions and holiday fun. You have a plethora of Christmas trees as your background and many tree farms will have festive spots for you to take your family photos. Many of these tree farms have packages available for professional photographers, so if you’re looking to have your photos done at a certain tree farm have your photographer connect with them to check out their options.
TREE LANE FARMS
Tree Lane Farms offers a fantastic spot for your family photos. Cuddle around a roaring fire. Pet a reindeer. Set up a cute blanket around the perfect Christmas tree. Whether it’s blanketed in snow, has a light dusting of white, or has absolutely no snow, Tree Lane Farms’ charming farm still makes you think of family traditions and choosing that perfect holiday tree together as a family. Tree Lane Farms offers up packages for photographers looking to host mini sessions and is happy to work with photographers to make the day run as smoothly as possible. Tree Lane Farms has become a favourite spot for photographers to do holiday mini sessions with good reason. Check them out to see why!
LEO'S TREE FARM
Leo’s Tree Farm is another great option for family photos. Take pictures in front of their rustic, heated, wood shack. Or, go for a nature walk and find The Marker Tree, which is a unique tree that was created hundreds of years ago to have a special shape! The Marker Tree’s unique bend will offer a great spot for family photos. Or, head out to the Christmas Trees and take pictures among the evergreens.
PUDDLEFORD TREE FARM
Puddle Tree Farm is huge. In fact, it’s a 25-acre tree farm, so you’ll have lots of space for your family to have their photos done. They offer Instagram-worthy setups with benches and festive decorations. They have Christmas displays throughout. There are toasty warm fires to huddle around. It’s the perfect spot to have rustic, charming family photos. They also work with photographers looking to do mini sessions, so if you have your heart set on getting your family photos done there but don’t have a photographer in mind, keep your eyes open for mini sessions being held there!
Nature
Most of the family photos that I see take place outdoors. Why is that? First of all, the lighting. A lot of photographers love natural light. Second of all, is there anyone who can decorate like Mother Nature? Nope. Outside gives you beautiful options for the setting of your family photos. Lastly, with the whole COVID situation this year, doing your family photos outside allows everyone to stay safe! Take a look at some of the best spots in London to have your family photos taken in nature.
CIVIC GARDEN
The Civic Garden is a magical place for family photos any time of the year. There are bridges, pathways, a quaint gazebo, the glittering greenhouse, and plenty of nature as backdrops to your family photo, giving you plenty of variety, and sparking lots of great ideas for any talented photographer.
DORCHESTER MILL POND ECOTRAIL
The area of the Mill Pond Eco Trail where the wooden boardwalk hovers over the water is an absolutely beautiful spot for family photos. Imagine casual poses leaning against the rails. And with the stunning forested areas behind you, the family photos will come out beautifully.
MEDWAY VALLEY HERITAGE FOREST
Medway Valley Heritage Forest is a great place to take family photos. The trail is vast, so you’re likely to find multiple spots along the way where there is little to no traffic so you can take photos undisturbed. There are also a lot of different options for your backdrop. There are wooden bridges, trails, off-shoots from the trail that take you to secluded spots along the water, really high-up lookout points, fallen trees, and wide-open spaces. Any passionate photographer is going to have a ton of fresh ideas of poses and placements for your family. Plus, as a bonus, you’ll get a family hike in as you walk the trails finding the best spot!
WESTMINSTER PONDS
The Westminster Ponds offers plenty of variety and options for backgrounds to your shots. There are several trails, boardwalks, and even buildings and structures that have vintagey, old-timey feelings to them that your family would look great leaning on or standing in front of. Plus the ponds themselves are a beautiful natural backdrop.
KOMOKA PROVINCIAL PARK
Komoka Provincial Park offers plenty of options for spots to take the perfect family photo. There are cute wooden bridges to lean over, wide-open fields to gather in, trails to walk down with the whole family holding hands, and there are plenty of trees to stand in front of. With hills and valleys, your photographer will also be able to play with heights and depths, which can make for some really great photos.
CANCER SURVIVOR'S GARDEN AT MCKILLOP PARK
The remains of an abandoned house have been turned into a beautiful place for meditation, reflection, and strength: the Cancer Survivor’s Garden. The beautiful memorial was built using the abandoned home’s foundation, which was made up of these stunning stones that were collected by the nearby river. This awe-inspiring stonework makes for a homey and rustic backdrop for family photos. Because it’s situated within McKillop Park there is also plenty of green space and trees around for your family to take a variety of photos.
KAINS WOODS
Kains Woods is a beautiful spot to take your family. You’ll probably need to go for a bit of a hike to get to a really good spot, so be prepared for a little outdoor fun. The little rock beach that juts off from the trail is the perfect backdrop for your family photos, offering plenty of privacy and space for different poses and positions. There is also one part of the trail where through the forest you get to see this natural wall and the trees there are thin and so very tall, it creates a fantastical and magical feeling to the area. You can also find tall hills and low valleys, giving you plenty of options for height and depth. Because it runs alongside the Thames River there are plenty of opportunities for beautiful water shots as well.
SPRINGBANK PARK
Springbank Park is one of London’s most well-known parks, and for good reason. It’s a spacious and well-kept park with plenty of hidden spots that can be perfect for family photos. There are spots by the Thames River, spots that are enrobed in trees and plants, spots with benches, and even stunning brick structures! You’ll definitely be able to find the perfect spot for your family photos at Springbank Park.
London Landmarks
Okay, so these spots technically are mostly outside as well, but they’re more centred around London landmarks and are less about being located in Environmentally Significant Areas. Yes, there are elements of nature, but nature isn’t the main focus. It’s more about finding the perfect spots that show off this beautiful city.
VICTORIA PARK
You’re going to want to have a really good photographer for this one because Victoria Park is never empty, so the likelihood is that there might be people getting in the way of your photoshoot. A good photographer will find places and positions and angles to cut out the background people.
The bonus of Victoria Park is the beautiful light display. The lit-up trees and Santa’s House are such a beautiful and festive setting for your family’s photos.
TRAIN BRIDGE
This little bridge can be tricky to find if you’ve never been there before, but once you know where it is, it’s a fantastic place to take family photos! The bridge stretches over train tracks, giving you a unique and rustic setting for your photos. There is also a little trail beside the bridge if you’re looking for some nature-shots. This place is perfect for urban meets country vibes. If you’re lucky, a train might come by during your shoot, which is always exciting and can make for memorable photos.
BRESCIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
While Brescia University College might not immediately come to mind when you’re thinking of places to have your family photos done, it’s a fantastic location. The Brescia castle is epic and evokes imagination and fantasy and photographers would have fun planning ways to get those stunning stone walls in the background. On top of that, there is also plenty of nature on Brescia’s grounds. When the snow falls, Brescia gets turned into a magical wonderland. Your family can snuggle up in the fields with forests in the background. Plus, with the hills at Brescia, there are plenty of opportunities for the photographer to play with heights and elevation for the background.
COVENT GARDEN MARKET
The Covent Garden Market is another spot that can be tricky if it’s really busy but can make for really great and unique photos. Try to pick a time of the day and week where it isn’t too busy (the Saturday Farmer’s Market would be a bad time, for example). The great part about the Market is that there are so many spots to choose from that your photoshoot can end in an array of photos that all look like they’re from totally unique places! Hit up the murals in the alley behind the market. Stand against the beautiful brick walls of the market. Head upstairs to the mezzanine that looks out over the market. Or, stand with the beautiful market tower in the background.
DUNDAS PLACE FLEX STREET
For an urban feel to your family photos head downtown to Dundas Place Flex Street. There are cute downtown shops in the background. Those oversized sitting rocks are a great spot to stage your family. Or head to the alleyway between Covent Garden Market and the Flex Street where the string lights are hanging, creating a beautiful ambience.
