Austin, Texas, photo shoot locations
Updated February 2020
There are so many beautiful locations in Austin, Texas, for photos, so this list is hardly thorough. While I have not had a chance to visit all of these locations, I have heard from others & seen on their websites that they are gorgeous locations. Hint: If there are photos below a location listed, that means I have been there.
I do not know if each location (specifically wedding venues) offers portrait session availability.
Regardless of what type of photo shoot you are planning (bridals, engagements, seniors, etc.) my ideal locations feature a variety of backdrops with options for sitting, standing, &/or leaning.
Historic Buildings
Please contact each venue to ask about photo shoot policies, fees, & availability. The listed photo fees may have changed.
Barr Mansion
10463 Sprinkle Road, Austin, TX 78754
(512) 926-6907
Photo Fee: $75/hour
Chateau Bellevue // indoor & outdoor options
708 San Antonio St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-1336
Photo Fee: $250/days, $350/evenings
Commodore Perry Estate // 10 acres of land, chapel, Italian country villa feel
(512) 628-4100
Photo Fee: $250 for 1.5 hours
Hotel Ella // gorgeous historic home turned hotel with columns, staircases, ivy covered walls, & a beautiful ballroom
1900 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78705
Photo Fee: yes
Bathrooms & parking on site.
Laguna Gloria // Austin Art Museum
3809 W 35th Street, Austin, TX 78703
512 458 8191
Photo Fee: $80
Mayfield Park // Quaint white cottage surrounded by gardens with stone walls with arches, ponds, & peacocks. The indoor use of the cottage may be available for extra fee.
3801 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 974-6700
Photo Fee: $50
Photos below were shot in June
Parking on site.
The Mansion, Texas Federation of Women's Clubs // Features a large ballroom with enormous windows, a sunroom with a grand piano, & several other rooms with vintage furniture & large windows. A small courtyard is also available. Indoor & outdoor options.
2312 San Gabriel St, Austin, TX 78705
(512) 476-5845
Photo Fee: $200 for two hours
Photos below were shot in October
Bathrooms & parking on site.
Springdale Station // industrial historic train station in East Austin
979 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX 78702
Bathrooms & parking on site.
Texas State Capitol // This is a public space & we will have no control over the amount of people who may or may not be in the background. Large staircases, grand hallways, manicured lawns with shade. Indoor & outdoor options.
1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 463-0063
Photo Fee: FREE, no permit required
Exterior photos below were shot in April
Bathrooms on site. Parking is either street parking or in public garages.
Villa Antonia
19039 Adrian Way, Jonestown, TX 78645
Photo Fee: $200 for 2 hours
The Wild Onion Ranch
12112 Old San Antonio Rd, Manchaca, TX 78652
Woodbine Mansion
Gorgeous historic home with all white interior & large windows, & vintage furniture. Indoor & outdoor options.
405 E Main St, Round Rock, TX 78664
Photo Fee: yes
Bathrooms & parking on site.
parks & natural areas
I have not been to all of these parks, & some of them are huge. Some scouting before the day of your shoot may be in order!
Auditorium Shores // Lining the Colorado River in Downtown Austin, this is a fun walking trail where we can walk to either side of the river for a variety of backdrops including the Austin skyline. This is probably one of the least "woodsy" areas on this list & is usually fairly crowded with joggers.
Photos below were shot in March
Parking is either street, public garage, or next to the Long Center.
Brushy Creek Park // Very large park with fields (sometimes wildflowers) & a creek.
Photos below taken in June.
Parking & bathrooms on site.
Bull Creek District Park // This is a very overgrown walking trail park that runs along Bull Creek & features plenty of rock formations & shallow waters to wade in.
Blue dress photos were shot in April; Maroon dress photos were shot in September.
Parking on site.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739
(512) 232-0100
Photo Fee: $100
Photos below were shot in April
Bathrooms & parking on site.
McKinney Falls State Park // One of my favorite places! Access to a small waterfall, some shady areas, & wide open rock formations.
5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy, Austin, TX 78744
(512) 243-1643
Photo Fee: $25
Park Entrance Fees: $6/adult // Check on photo fees & other restrictions.
Pink dress photos - June; Tuxedo photos - November
Bathrooms & parking on site.
Mt. Bonnell // The highest spot in Austin with a view of the river. This short & slightly steep walking trail is a hot spot for watching the sunset & can be very crowded on weekends.
Photos below taken in June.
Parking on site.
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park // This park is huge! It has some great rock formations closer to the river that are breathtaking. It does have a few good hills & open spaces too. My favorite location in this park is a little bit of a hike down. Walking shoes are a must for getting around. The scenery also changes with each storm.
12138 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753
First two photos below were shot in May (overcast), last two in July (sunny)
Bathrooms & parking on site.
Zilker Botanical Gardens // This garden offers a lot of options as well. It has some concrete pathways, some rock/stone pathways, a Japanese garden, a waterfall, & offers plenty of options to sit, stand, & lean against. One of my favorite places! Unlike some gardens that I have been to, you are allowed off of the pathway in some areas & can sit on some of the stone walls.
2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746
(512) 477-8672
Photo Fee: $50
Photos below were shot in October
Bathrooms & parking on site.
WEDDING VENUES
Not all wedding venues may allow portrait sessions if your wedding is not booked at their venue. Also keep in mind that these places may not be furnished on a non-wedding day. Portrait sessions may also be restricted to week days only.
The Addison Grove // natural oak barn, sprawling oak trees, all white interior bridal suite, long horns
11903 Fitzhugh Rd, Austin, TX 78736
The Chandelier of Gruene
1924 Bretzke Ln, New Braunfels, TX 78132
The Ivory Oak // white oak barn, sprawling oak trees, all white interior
1521 Unit B Deer Lake Rd, Wimberley, TX 78676
Ma Maison // a southern venue with a French twist
2550 Bell Springs Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
MUSEUMS
Please contact the museum to ask about photo shoot policies, fees, & availability. I've not done any photo shoots at these museums, so I am very unsure as to if they allow photo sessions at all. Like any other public space, there are going to be people milling about. While they should stay out of our way (& I try my hardest to avoid strangers' faces in your photos) I can't guarantee that they will not show up in the backgrounds.
AMOA - Arthouse at the Jones Center // Crazy huge windows with a beautiful modern staircase.
hours: Saturdays noon-9pm
admission: $5/adult
Blanton Museum of Art // Features a large atrium with the blue walls & a covered walkway. They do hold weddings in the blue room, but you would need to ask about doing photography in the actual exhibits.
200 East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Austin, TX 78712
(512) 471-7324
hours: M-F 10-5pm, Sat, 11-5pm, Sun 1-5pm
admission: $9
The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria // Featuring an Italian-style Driscoll Villa & expansive gardens
3809 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703
Bridal Sessions $100, Engagement Sessions $50
MUSIC/CONCERT HALLS
I found this website & thought it was useful! Because there are so many music & concert venues in Austin, I'm going to leave this up to you to research.