Living in a city as beautiful as Chattanooga, TN, it can be difficult to choose a spot for your family photos. There are so many options! In this post, I’ll share with you my top 15 Chattanooga Family photo locations, with the hopes that it will bring some clarity to your decision. When choosing a family photo location, I think it’s very important that it be a space that is generally accessible and family friendly, away from heavily trafficked streets or dangerous terrain if young children are involved. I want you kiddos to be free to run and explore! This high comfort level results in some of the most joyful and genuine photos.

1. Stroll Favorite Park or Path

Chattanooga has so many wonderful parks and paths sprinkled throughout the city, most of them with free entry and some with free parking.  Consider selecting a park your family frequents regularly. This can automatically put your family in a more relaxed state, ready for genuine, natural pictures. Parks like Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park, the Riverwalk and Ross’ Landing offer a more manicured, city feel. Reflection Riding, Chester Frost, Greenway Farm, and Heritage Park are all great options for a more rural backdrop. 

2. Hang Out at your Favorite Urban Spot

Our city has a lot to offer in terms of pedestrian friendly areas and beautiful architecture. The iconic Walnut Street Bridge is always a classic option. Consider checking out the recently revitalized West Village. The Bluff View Art District is a stunning option (just note that this location charges a photography session fee and requires a reservation to be made at least a week in advance). While you’re hitting up the town, are there any favorite local businesses you’d love to incorporate? I’m always up for grabbing some coffee at Rembrandts, munching on a doughnut from Julie Darling, or indulging in some mint chocolate chunk from Clumpies.

3. Head to the Mountains

Our area has lots of beautiful elevations to incorporate into your photographs! While we do have to take special care if there are little ones involved in our session, places like Rock City, Point Park, Cloudland Canyon and Craven’s House are all lovely options. (Rock City and Point Park both charge an entrance fee, so you may wish to make a whole afternoon out of the adventure.

I hope this will make your job of sifting though your options for Chattanooga family photo locations easier! Don’t forget to consider your own neighborhood as a possible setting. I typically have specific criteria that I consider when choosing a shooting location for optimal lighting to achieve my bright style, but I’m happy to consult with you to come up with a plan that works for your family. Now let’s get a session on the books! More details about sessions with me can be found here. To schedule a family session with me, find my contact form here.