Best Photography Locations Hampton Roads - Parks in Virginia Beach

Best Photography Locations Hampton Roads - Parks in Virginia Beach

When you schedule a photo session for family photos, engagement portraits or senior portraits in Hampton Roads, there are a variety of options for session locations. After booking, one of the first questions I am asked by clients is: "Where is the best location for photos?" The answer may vary depending on your hobbies, personal taste, and the time of year. Fortunately, Hampton Roads offers a wide variety of locations, so there are plenty of options to suit any photo session.

Since this question comes up so often in client consultations, I thought it would be helpful to put several ideas into a blog series for easy reference. Today I am sharing some awesome locations for a photo session in Hampton Roads in a park setting. This list is not exhaustive, but will offer some helpful examples of what's available. Keep in mind even dog friendly parks require animals to be leashed, and all parks close at sunset.

1. First Landing State Park: located in Virginia Beach, this park offers miles of walking trails, marshy waterfront areas and beach front property. There are two entrances, one off Shore Drive and one at 64th Street. This is a lovely location year-round, though in the summer months it can be very buggy in the wooded areas, and in the spring-fall some parts of the park can be inaccessible due to tidal flooding. I especially love shooting here in the fall. When the leaves change in early November, it's pretty spectacular. It is a popular spot for photography and is also dog friendly. There is a $5 fee to enter & park on site. 

UPDATE: First Landing now requires a permit & fee to shoot on site. Permit applications must be submitted with payment 30 days prior to a session appointment.

Red Wing Park: located in Virginia Beach off General Booth Boulevard. Red Wing Park offers wooded trails, a lovely Japanese garden and gorgeous rows of Cherry Trees blossoming in the spring. There is also a rose garden and a playground area. This park is dog friendly and there is no fee to enter the park. 

Great Neck Park: This park in Virginia Beach is located off Great Neck Road. It's a smaller park than the other two, but still offers wooded areas, a gazebo overlooking the water, an open field and a playground. It's lovely year-round and is dog friendly. There is no fee to enter this park. 

Regent University: Centrally located near the border of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Regent University is a beautiful private campus with well manicured gardens, green space and wooded areas. It is pretty year-round and offers some lovely variety all within a short walk. Regent does require a prior reservation and permission to use the premises and they charge a substantial fee for large sessions or anything longer than a mini. 

Pleasure House Point Natural Area: Located off Shore Drive near Bayville Farms and Chic’s Beach, Pleasure House Point is on a tidal basin which offers wide open spaces, tall grasses and marshy wooded areas. Though the grasses are off limits for environmental reasons, there are plenty of walking trails and lovely waterfront vistas which make this a beautiful spot for a session. Parking is on street, or in a small lot near the Brock Environmental Center. But be advised that shooting in the area near the Brock Environmental Center is off limits for photography.

These are just a few examples of some of the great park locations available for photography sessions in Hampton Roads. There are many options so check back soon for part two of this location series. Coming soon...even more park areas around Hampton Roads, beach locations, urban sites and more!

Looking for tips on what to wear for your photo session? Find lots of helpful wardrobe advice here.

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