The Top 8 Locations To Have Your Photoshoot In Bend, Oregon
Discover the best places for your photoshoot here in beautiful central Oregon!
Wondering where you should take your photos here in Bend, Oregon? Bend is a photographer's paradise, & it’s an amazing destination no matter what time of year you visit. With its breathtaking natural landscapes, Bend offers a wide variety of stunning locations for outdoor portrait photoshoots. From the towering mountains, alpine lakes, pine forests, & cascading waterfalls to our charming downtown streets, there's no shortage of unforgettable places to take photos here in Bend.
If you’re in the midst of planning a photoshoot, it’s important to choose a location that fits not only the look you want, but that is also accessible for you & your family during the time of year that you have your session scheduled. The Bend area is unique in that it offers many different types of landscape options - we have lakes, mountains, deserts, & forests all within an hour’s drive from Downtown Bend. The weather here in Central Oregon can be changeable depending on the time of year - the winter snow prevents us from reaching certain locations, & the summer heat (& sometimes, smoke from occasional nearby wildfires) can make being outdoors somewhat challenging. Thankfully, we always have a variety of both indoor & outdoor locations to choose from!
Here are some of the best locations for your portrait photoshoot, all within an hour’s drive of Bend!
#1. Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock is a very popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts & photographers alike. The towering cliffs, jagged peaks, & winding river make for a dramatic backdrop for your portraits. There are several easily walkable trails that don’t require too much hiking & make for easy family photoshoots, couple’s sessions, or individual portraits. This location is great for any time of year, but is definitely busiest during the Summer months. I’ve found that it’s best to shoot at Smith Rock mid-week if possible to avoid weekend crowds & to make for easier parking. This location is best photographed at Sunset - there is very little shade to be found & the sun is very hot & bright during the daytime, even during the winter months. If you’re looking for a unique location for your next photoshoot, Smith Rock is the perfect choice!
Perfect for: Dramatic views, Desert terrain, Earthy tones
Best time(s) of day for Photoshoots: Sunset
Accessibility: Open Year Round | Restrooms On-Site | $5 Parking Permit | Dogs Allowed On-Leash
Travel Time from Bend: 45 - 60 minutes
Learn more: Official Smith Rock Website
#2. Dutchman Flat
This has become one of my favorite places for photoshoots here in Bend! A short 30(ish) minute drive up the Cascade Lakes Highway, Dutchman Flat offers gorgeous views of Mount Bachelor, the Three Sisters Mountains, & Brokentop Mountain. The best views require a short 5-10 minute trail walk from the parking lot to the open flat area, so comfy walking shoes are a must. The unique part about this location is that it is accessible in both the Summer & (usually) in the winter time as well - all depending on road conditions. Sunset makes for the best lighting if you want photos with gorgeous, glowing mountains in the background - this location is best mid-week in order to avoid traffic & other visitors. If you’re looking for a spot with a wide variety of mountain views that’s close to town, Dutchman Flat may be a great fit for you!
The Vibe: Stunning mountain views
Best time(s) of day for Photoshoots: Sunset
Accessibility: Open Year Round | Restrooms On-Site | $5 Parking Permit | Dogs Allowed On-Leash
Travel Time from Bend: 30 - 45 minutes (depending on weather)
Learn more: Forest Service | Dutchman Flat SnoPark
#3. Shevlin Park
Shevlin Park is an incredibly diverse location! The park is split into two portions - Upper Shevlin (pictured) which offers wide open walking trails & fields with distant mountain views, & lower Shevlin, which offers pine tree forests & beautiful aspen groves with lots of color during the Fall seasons. This location is great for individuals who are looking for easy access, a variety of locations, & timing flexibility. Lower Shevlin park offers more shady areas & the lighting is workable in early afternoon or early morning. Upper Shevlin is best at Sunset & does not offer much shade. This location is great for families with young children as it is generally pretty quiet, is located in town, & offers plenty of space to run around & explore.
The Vibe: Wide open fields, Mountain views, Pine tree forests
Best time(s) of day for Photoshoots: Flexible, Sunset (Upper Shevlin Park)
Accessibility: Open Year Round | Restrooms On-Site | $5 Parking Permit | Dogs Allowed On-Leash
Travel Time from Bend: 15 - 20 minutes
Learn more: Bend Parks & Rec | Shevlin Park
#4. Sparks Lake
For a truly breathtaking & scenic selection of locations, head up the Cascade Lakes Highway! A popular favorite for portrait, branding, & family sessions alike is Sparks Lake. Sparks Lake offers beautiful mountain views & is best photographed in the hour before sunset. This location requires a 15-20 minute drive up a dirt road to access the Lake, so if you are planning to visit Sparks, be sure to come in a car that has good ground clearance & can handle an unpaved road. This location is only accessible in the summertime, as the majority of the Cascade Lakes highway is closed during the winter months (October-ish - late May). Sparks is a classic choice for Family, Senior, & Branding portraits, & is also best photographed mid-week if possible as there are many other photographers & visitors in the scenic viewpoints during the Sunset hour.
The Vibe: Gorgeous lake with mountain views
Best time(s) of day for Photoshoots: Sunset
Accessibility: Open June - September | Restrooms On-Site | Dogs Allowed On-Leash
Travel Time from Bend: 45 - 60 minutes
Learn more: Forest Service | Sparks Lake
#5. Oregon Badlands Wilderness
If you’re looking for that middle-of-nowhere, wide-open desert feel, the Oregon Badlands Wilderness is the perfect choice! A short drive out of Bend, the Badlands offers plenty of space for any type of Photoshoot. This location tends to be pretty quiet, & is accessible all year. Sunset is the best time of day for photography, as there is not much shade to speak of & the sun is very hot & bright during the Summer months. There are plenty of walking trails that allow for off-leash dogs as well, so if you are looking for a dog-friendly spot to have a photoshoot with your pup, this is a great place to go!
The Vibe: Desolate wide-open desert, Small rock formations, Juniper trees & low brush
Best time(s) of day for Photoshoots: Sunset
Accessibility: Open Year Round | No Restrooms | Dog-Friendly - off leash ok!
Travel Time from Bend: 30 - 45 minutes
Learn more: BLM | Oregon Badlands Wilderness
#6. Downtown Bend
Downtown Bend has lots of great spots to explore if you are looking for a more Urban vibe to your photographs! Bond St. offers the classic “downtown” look, & has plenty of brick walls & cute little alley areas to walk through, & nearby Drake Park can offer some great scenery too if there are not too many people around or events going on nearby. The Old Mill District contains Bend’s outdoor shopping mall & has some great little spots to snap a quick photo, & the walking areas around The Box Factory can make for some very cool shots as well. Downtown Bend is generally consistently busy, especially during the summer months while tourist & concert season are in full swing. Downtown Bend areas are best photographed mid-week, & the ideal time of day for photography varies depending on the exact location. Our Downtown areas are usually best for one or two people who don’t mind crowds, & I would not recommend this location for any large group or family sessions.
The Vibe: Urban, Downtown, City
Best time(s) of day for Photoshoots: Varies
Accessibility: Street Parking (Free & Paid options available)
Travel Time from Bend: 15-20 minutes
Learn more: Official Downtown Bend Website
#7. White Aspen Creative
We love White Aspen Creative - our one rental photography studio space here in Bend! If you are looking for classic Studio portraits, White Aspen offers a wide-open indoor space with plenty of natural light, various props, & tons of flexibility for different types of creative projects. This space is perfect for any type of photoshoot, & is my go-to for any Studio session where I need plenty of space to work with. White Aspen is also a great backup option to keep in mind as well if we are unable to shoot outside due to weather, wildfires, etc. You can reserve time slots in this space ahead of time, & the checkout/check-in process is super easy!
The Vibe: Classic Photography Studio rental space containing props, backdrops, etc.
Best time(s) of day for Photoshoots: Anytime, Book Appt. Online in Advance
Accessibility: Has AC & Heat | Open Year Round | Restrooms On-Site
Travel Time from Bend: 15-20 minutes
Learn more: White Aspen Creative Website
#8. Miranda Kelton Photography | Portrait Studio
Last but not least - let’s talk about my home Studio! It’s small but mighty, & this is where I hold all of my Headshot sessions for clients who need a quick shoot & aren’t in need of larger branding or portrait photoshoots. I do not offer this space for rent, so if you are looking for an indoor space to rent out for your next photoshoot I would recommend White Aspen Creative. I love this space & spend much of my time here planning your shoots, editing your photos, & designing wall art for your homes!
The Vibe: Full-service Portrait Studio including hair & makeup artists, wall art design, etc.
Best time(s) of day for Photoshoots: Anytime, By Appointment Only
Accessibility: Open Year Round | Restrooms On-Site
Travel Time from Bend: 15-20 minutes
Learn more: Miranda Kelton Photography Website
Here’s last more thing to keep in mind - if there is a place here in Bend that is special to you & your loved ones (maybe a spot you have always gone to on vacation, a family property, or a specific place you have great memories at), keep that in mind as a potential photoshoot location as well! This list above covers only my personal favorite Bend locations, but there are plenty of other options available as well. If none of the options above seem quite right for your project, I have other spots that I can suggest that may be a better fit for your vision. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have - as your photographer, I am here to help you every step of the way!
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Meet miranda
Hello! I’m a Portrait, Headshot, & Personal Branding Photographer based in Bend, Oregon.