5 best outdoor portrait locations within 2 hours of Portland
April 27,2022
One of my favorite parts of my job is location scouting. Since I started out photographing mostly nature, I am drawn to and find the most inspiration from the outdoors. Theres nothing more beautiful than witnessing lovers in love in front of a waterfall or a mother-to-be sitting in the tall golden grass of an Oregon field.
Here are my top 5 recommended locations for portrait sessions :
If you’ve heard of Rowena Crest, then what probably comes to your mind is that cool looking horse shoe road. This location blew up as Instagram grew in popularity amongst the PNW photographer community and for good reason.
What draws me to this location isn’t the picturesque road, although it’s pretty cool, but the tall sweeping grass over looking the Columbia River Gorge.
The best seasons to visit this location:
Late spring for the wild flowers & Fall for the tall golden grass
The best time of day to visit this location:
Close to sunset to get that golden light
Located on the outskirts of Portland is one of the best local parks, in my opinion. There are trails to hike with your pup, picnic benches to have lunch with your family and awesome views of the surrounding mountains. The park is covered with tall grass, trees and meadows. Conservation signs are placed in certain areas, so be mindful when visiting.
The best seasons to visit this location:
Late spring for wild flowers & peak fall for autumn foliage
The best time of day to visit this location:
Any time of day, but if you want golden light arrive close to sunset. It also gets extremely crowded during the weekend, so I would try to visit during the week.
An important thing to note: the gate to the parking lot currently closes at 10pm sharp, so, plan accordingly.
Anyone who has been to Portland has seen THE bridge. The most beautiful bridge in Portland, the St. Johns bridge. Below the bridge is a beautiful park sitting right on the Willamette River. Cathedral park is best for picnics, hanging with friends and walks, but is also a hot spot for photography. If you’re looking for a scenic location, but want to stay in city limits, this is the spot.
The best seasons to visit this location:
Peak fall for autumn foliage, spring for flower trees blooming & summer for picnics
The best time of day to visit this location:
A couple hours before sunset before the sun hides behind the hills.
Something to note: This location is always busy, but is most busy on the weekends. It is also a wedding venue location, so keep that in mind.
By now you know Im a sucker for tall golden grass. Well, Sauvie Island is full of it. If you are looking for more of a cottage/ farm style vibe, this is the place. There are small farms everywhere and the wildlife area has the sweetest little pond surrounded by tall grass.
The best seasons to visit this location:
Anytime between mid April and mid September
The best time of day to visit this location:
Any time of day if it’s overcast, but for the best light, early morning or close to sunset.
Something to note: the wildlife areas are only open from mid April to mid September. You need parking permits to park at most locations on Sauvie Island, so plan accordingly.
Probably one of my top favorite places in the world. You really cant beat the place where the forest meets the sea. And honestly I think this location speaks for itself.
The Best seasons to visit this location:
Any time of year, but the best weather will be May-October.
The bEst time of day to visit this location:
Early morning or close to sunset. On the weekends anywhere on the Oregon coast will be packed with tourists, especially locations like Cannon Beach. If you can swing it, I would suggest visiting during the week.
