Where Should We Go?

Sometimes choosing a location for your portraits is easy. Some clients have their heart set on Grandpa's farm, or the creek behind their house or maybe its even their own living room. But many clients find it really hard to choose a location, and that's okay. I'll help you out!

Working and shooting in Peterborough has deepened my love for this city. There are parks and rivers and secret trails everywhere each with their own charms and beauty. Below are some of my favourite places, maybe one will become your favourite too!

Jackson Park

Jackson Park has a wonderful forest to explore and looks great in every season. Centrally located with lots of parking it is a good choice for a very large group.

Accessibility: Low/Medium - Portraits can be taken mere feet from the parking lot, but most picturesque areas are a five minute hike away that includes hills and tree roots.   
Best Season: Summer and Autumn
Best Time of Day for Light: Early Morning and Late Afternoon, BUT It Has Spaces to Shoot at Anytime

Millennium Park

Millennium Park has a lovely blend of architectural and botanical elements that look great in every season. Located right downtown in the heart of the city it is the only place to find a non-active railroad track!

Accessibility: High - Portraits can be taken mere feet from the parking lot and a flat paved path is wheelchair and walker appropriate.
Best Season: Late Summer, Autumn and Winter
Best Time of Day for Light: Late Afternoon to Early Evening or an Overcast Day

Special Note: If you are not familiar with downtown Peterborough; panhandling and people experiencing addictions or homelessness are present at this location. Your session may be interesting to members of the public who are staying at or resting at the park. It is not uncommon to have a spectator or two over the course of a session. It has never been a big problem and most people move on politely after a few minutes of checking us out. If you or your children find spectators uncomfortable, a more private and less busy location would be a better choice.  

Hamilton Park

Hamilton Park off Bonaccord Street is like Jackson Park Light©. You can enjoy many of the same natural elements that makes Jackson Park so appealing without the long hike in.

Accessibility: Medium/High - Portraits can be taken mere feet from the street parking and the path is well trod. Maybe suitable for a wheel chair or walker.
Best Season: Spring, Summer, and Autumn
Best Time of Day for Light: Early Morning, Late Afternoon, Early Evening

Harold Town Conservation

The Harold Township Conservation Area has a large open field that looks great with an autumn sunset and may include a stunning sky if you are lucky enough to get a cloudy evening

Accessibility: Medium - Portraits can be taken mere feet from the parking lot. The grassy paths are easy to use with a cane but may be more challenging for a mobility aid with wheels.
Best Season: Late Summer or Autumn
Best Time of Day for Light: Very Late Afternoon or Overcast Days

Burnham Woods

Burnham Woods is a lush wonderland of trees and ferns and fallen logs with a carpet of leaves the can often last the winter.

Accessibility: Low/Medium - Portrait area is near the parking lot and the paths are well maintained with a slope and some roots. Hiking into the deep bush is possible but isn't necessary.
Best Season: Early Spring, Late Summer, Autumn Winter
Best Time of Day for Light: Late Afternoon

Armour Hill

Armor Hill is a delightful place with a little bit of everything, woods, flowers, winding stair ways and architectural features all only a few minutes’ walk from each other. Clients can opt to shoot on the wooded trail, in front of the historic liftlock, or

Accessibility: Low -  Most portrait areas are near parking but involve steep hills or stairs.
Best Season: Spring, Summer, and Autumn
Best Time of Day for Light: Mid Afternoon to Evening

London St Bridge & Area

The London Street Bridge and Area has a nice blend of architecture and nature and looks as good in the rain as it does at late sunset. This place is ideal for older children and families who would like a little adventure. There some sweet gems hidden in this area I bet you have never explored.

Accessibility: Medium -  Some of the portrait areas are a good walk in on paved pathways suitable for wheelchairs or walkers. Other areas are not accessible by mobility aid.
Best Season: Spring, Summer or Autumn
Best Time of Day for Light: Late Afternoon and Evening or Overcast Days

Newhall Park & Area

Newhall Park is my favourite secret. You’ve probably driven by and never gotten out to see it. With a “secret” beach, dozens of enormous maples and a beautiful lawn this is my #1 recommendations for morning sessions.   

Accessibility: High -  Portrait area is never more than 100 meters away from the parking lot. The grass is kept short and navigable.
Best Season: Spring: Summer or Autumn
Best Time of Day for Light: Early and Mid Morning, Late Afternoon

The Studio

The Studio can look great anytime of day and any time of year. Some sessions just work better under controlled lights and frankly some people just want climate control. 

Accessibility: Low - There are a series steps to get into the house, so not wheel chair accessible

Best Season: Anytime

Best Time of Day for Light: Anytime

A Place of Your Own

There might be somewhere special in your life that you'd just love to have included in your pictures.
That's great! Here's a quick guide to make sure your location is the right choice for you.

Where is the sun?
Sunlight looks best in photographs when it is streaming in from the side or behind you (sunrise/sunset) rather than falling from above (high noon). Sometimes it doesn't work to be shooting at 8am or 7pm so if you are compelled to shoot at a bright time of day your location needs to provide shade and shelter from the harsh sun.

Shade may be a tree line, or a barn, or a church wall, or a sprawling willow but it must be present. An open beach or a hay field it not a good choice for a 2:30pm photo session.

What will we see?
You are the subject of your photos. Your environment should serve you and not distract. In choosing our location ask yourself if there are any distracting elements in that space. Will there be pedestrians, or vehicles, or telephone poles? 

Beautiful backdrops come in all shapes and varieties. Sometimes they are winding trails and sometimes they are old sheds or your back porch but they are almost never cottage yards filled with lawn chairs. If in doubt; ask or send me a cell phone picture. There are probably places you never realized make great pictures just waiting to be discovered. 

Where are the hiccups?

• Will there be bugs?

• Will there be wind?

• Will there be mud?

• Will there be a hike?

• Will it get dark?

• Will there be rain?

• Will there feet of snow?

A location is not necessarily a bad choice if an answer to any one of those questions is a "yes". I'll wear bug spray, or snow shoes and I'll willing get muddy but the best photo sessions plan for those things. Let me know what to expect and I'll make sure we have the tools to make your session awesome.