Whatcom County is prime for shutter time! With mountains, water, forests and fields, Whatcom County has just about any backdrop for a family, senior or individual portrait session you can dream of! Take a look at some of my favorite locations around Whatcom County (and 1 in Skagit!) for dreamy photos and a great day out!
Birch Bay
Sometimes known as the Upper Left, the far northwest corner of Washington State offers vast, sweeping views of the Canadian Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands as a backdrop for a variety of photo styles! Known for its warm waters and small-town atmosphere, the beautiful beaches of Blaine and Birch Bay host a variety of wildlife, water sports, and scenic views. White Rock is visible from Semiahmoo Park, and offers a beautiful, hill-side cityscape day or night! This location is a favorite of mine for headshots and family portraits!
Waypoint Park & the Acid Ball
Nestled between downtown Bellingham and the Whatcom Creek Waterway, Waypoint Park offers the best of Bellingham Bay’s unique skyline! The architecture, graffiti walls, giant octopus carving, and Acid Ball make for unique and avant-garde portraits in the heart of Whatcom County. This location has been perfect for extraordinary senior photos and family portraits. I recommend finding a time outside of rush hours, to create the atmosphere you desire without the distraction of local traffic!
Whatcom Falls Park
As one of my favorite natural backdrops, Whatcom Falls Park hosts a beautiful, green forest that is picturesque year-round! With a plethora of trails, benches, and foot bridges, there are many different areas with beautiful scenery. Walking into this park is like walking into the scene of a fairytale. The rambling waters, lush greenery, and elegant forest surround you soon after walking into the park, and the tree cover provides amazing lighting by perfectly filtering direct sunlight.
Mt. Baker Ski Area
Located at the end of State Route 542, the Mt. Baker Ski Area is perfect for winter shoots. Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan are known for the plentiful snowfall, and more often than not it’s the powder variety. One of my favorite aspects of shooting in this area is that it’s located far away from civilization. Being located in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, development is strictly regulated, and the surrounding backcountry is free of buildings or man-made obstructions.
Hovander Homestead Park
Bordering the Nooksack River and Tenant Lake, Hovander park has several beautiful backdrops for photo shoots of all kinds. This park is set away from busy streets, has plenty of parking, and nature as far as the eye can see. Between Tenant Lake Trail and Boardwalk Trail that run through the park, the Hovander Homestead farmhouse and barn, the fragrance garden, and the wildlife viewing tower, this park is a perfect host for both architectural and natural photography. Being a local of Whatcom County, this is one of my favorite locations to shoot at!
Bonus Location: The Northern State Recreation Area, in the Skagit Valley
Over the years I have become fond of shooting at the Northern State Recreation Area in Skagit County. With a special mixture of historical interests and recreational activities available, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination! Being the site of the former Northern State Hospital, which was a psychiatric hospital that closed in 1976, many of the buildings host century-old fixtures and finishes that bring me back in time. The hospital was known for being self-sustained, with gardens and farms on the property, of which the remnants remain to this day. For a hauntingly cool photo shoot, try this area in autumn when the valley is covered in breathtaking fall foliage!
Spring is the perfect time to book a photoshoot in one of the gorgeous locations around Whatcom County (Skagit too!) Click HERE to book your free consultation now~
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