Your Ideal Portrait Location
So you want some portraits taken in Virginia Beach, but you’re not sure where you want to go. I’m here to help you pick out a location that will match your aesthetic and help tell your story! Being born and raised in Virginia Beach, I’ve been lucky enough to explore some of our breathtaking scenery through my lens over the years. VB offers so many different backdrops—beach, forest, urban, rural, you name it. Here are some examples of my favorite places to take portraits. If you’re interested in working with me, we’ll work together to pick the perfect place for you. Let’s explore!
Pleasure House Point
Cam & Tyler Engagement Session - April 2021
Pleasure House Point, located in Chicks Beach on the Lynnhaven River, has a little bit of everything. We can cover a lot of ground in one area, making it look like we visited several locations in one session. This location has beautiful golden hour light and is a great place to see the sunset. It has a diverse mix of beach backdrops as well as lots of trees to make for a forest vibe with lots of earth tones. One of my favorite things about this location is the seagrass that plays well as a neutral addition of color in the fall and spring, or a bright touch of green in the summer.
To get to this location, you’ll park at the Brock Environmental Center. It’s a bit of a walk through sand from the parking lot to the natural area, so if you choose this location, be prepared to get some steps in. It’s also important to note that this is a natural area that local nonprofits work very hard to keep intact. This area is home to many diverse species of wildlife, and we want to keep our footprint small.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Katelyn & Matt Family Session - December 2021
Back Bay has been one of my favorite places to go ever since I was a little kid and my dad taught me how to fish here. It’s likely the most magnificent place to see the sun set over the water in VB. The water of the marsh provides a fantastic beachy backdrop, but I also love how the tall reeds and walking trails provide a beautiful sense of dimension. In the fall and winter, the grasses and reeds are nice neutral touches, along with the wooden texture of the walking trails. In the spring and summer, Back Bay is alive with vibrant shades of green.
To get to Back Bay, it’s a bit of a drive past Sandbridge Beach, almost to the NC border. It’s very easy to walk around, but it’s imperative to keep in mind that this is a wildlife refuge and as such, we don’t want to mess with any habitats.
Zoe’s Senior Portrait Session - June 2022
Red Wing Park offers a calm forest background, and fun fact—that’s where I took my senior prom pictures! Red Wing Park has a beautiful Japanese garden filled with rich greenery, hydrangeas, and this cute red bridge. Parking is super easy at this location with several on-site, free parking lots. This park is located off of General Booth just a few miles from the Oceanfront. This location doesn’t get too crowded, so if you’re a bit nervous about your session, you will have a bit more privacy. However, you might not come away with as wide a range of backdrops like the locations mentioned above.
Of course there are so many other spots in VB to choose from. Pungo has a picturesque rural feel, and there are several urban spots at Town Center or the Oceanfront. Feel free to shoot me an email and we’ll work together to pick a spot that best fits your personality and story.
