Whether it’s for a lifestyle shoot, a headshot portrait, or an engagement session, the location influences the look and feel of your photos. Let’s plan your photo shoot and explore these beautiful places in Dallas to take pictures, including iconic landmarks, artistic districts, and natural settings for memorable shoots.

Most Beautiful Places in Dallas to Take Pictures

Dallas's diverse landscape encompasses everything from serene parks and nature reserves to bustling commercial areas, art hubs, and majestic historical buildings. This makes the city a photographer's paradise for discovering nice places in Dallas to take pictures. It also allows me, as your photographer, to provide diverse backdrops for any type of photo shoot you need.

Whether you're planning headshots, family portraits, engagement photos, or lifestyle photo sessions, these varied locations provide the perfect settings to match any creative vision or personal style. I’ve also included a few nearby gems in Fort Worth, Grapevine, Plano, and Flower Mound. Since many photo sessions often cover the broader DFW metroplex, these locations are close enough to be practical choices, and they’re too good to leave out.

1. Fort Worth Stockyards

The Fort Worth Stockyards is a great place for doing lifestyle photo shoots, business portraits, and music video productions to capture the local Texas vibe. The Stockyards is my current favorite location because of its Western scene and interesting, eclectic buildings, including the Hotel Drover and the Livestock Exchange Building.

Location: Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas
Best time to shoot: Mornings are usually less busy, yet you can shoot year-round.
Cost: Free on the grounds for non-professional, casual shoots and day and hourly rates for commercial photography.

2. Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge

The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge is a great spot for taking fun photos, with its stunning architecture and iconic arches creating a magnificent backdrop. This location is perfect for a variety of photo shoots, including urban portraits, engagement pictures, and dramatic landscape photos of the skyline.

Location: Situated adjacent to the main bridge for traffic across the Trinity River
Best time to shoot: Sunset and night are ideal to capture the bridge's illuminated cables and the glowing city skyline.
Cost: Free to take photos on the grounds and from the pedestrian bridge.

3. Fort Worth’s Magnolia Avenue

Next on the list is Fort Worth’s Magnolia Avenue, which has streets lined with restaurants, bars, and vegan diners. It’s decades old, yet this location boasts interesting buildings and small businesses. There are also gorgeous backdrops in the form of graffiti walls and art installations, perfect for album covers and product lifestyle sessions.

Location: West Magnolia Avenue, Dallas, Texas

Best time to shoot: Consider scheduling a shoot between September to November, when the weather isn't overwhelmingly hot and humid.
Cost: You can shoot for free on the streets, although establishments may ask for a fee.

4. Deep Ellum

Where Magnolia Avenue radiates a more artsy vibe, the Deep Ellum area is more gritty and grungy. Deep Ellum is one of the best locations for photography in Dallas if your shoot's theme requires an urban setup. The neighborhood features hipster restaurants, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and concert venues.

Location: Elm St, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: A huge crowd flocks during the weekends, so it's best to schedule shoots during weekdays.
Cost: It's free to hold a shoot on the streets, whereas you may need to inquire about certain establishments about their rates.

5. Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is a serene haven in the midst of Plano, offering a breathtaking backdrop of lush nature and winding trails. Its diverse landscape, from open fields to wooded areas, makes it a perfect location for capturing beautiful photos. Arbor Hills Nature Preserve is best known for wedding photos and album cover photo shoots due to its stunning nature scenes.

Location: Parker Road, Plano, Texas
Best time to shoot: Early mornings are ideal to avoid crowds and get soft, natural light, especially on weekends.
Cost: Free for personal and casual photos. Professional photographers may need to pay for a permit.

6. Prairie Creek Park

Prairie Creek Park is another great option for photography sessions, thanks to its compact size and diverse scenic backdrops, which feature waterfalls and charming bridges tucked within a beautiful Richardson neighborhood. This fun location is perfect for engagement sessions and branding portraits that capture natural beauty.

Location: Prairie Creek Drive, Richardson, Texas
Best time to shoot: Weekdays are ideal to avoid crowds, though the park offers year-round shooting opportunities.
Cost: Free public park access for photography sessions.

7. Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Combining science and beauty, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden lets you enjoy walking around and shoot at different spots for your lifestyle, branding, or headshot photos. There's the Japanese Garden, where you can pose among flowers, bamboo, and on bridges over little waterways. You can also head to the Rose Gardens, Backyard Vegetable Garden, and the Pollinator Pathway.

Location: Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas
Best time to shoot: Spring is the best time to take photos in the gardens.

Cost: Commercial photo shoots require management approval and a day rate.

8. Grapevine Botanical Gardens at Heritage Park

The Grapevine Botanical Gardens offer a lush, floral paradise that's perfect for capturing beautiful photos with its kaleidoscope of colors and textures set against beautifully landscaped gardens. This nature haven provides an idyllic backdrop for fun headshot portraits, romantic lifestyle pictures, and elegant editorial sessions.

Location: Ball Street, Grapevine, Texas
Best time to shoot: Early mornings and late afternoons provide the most flattering natural lighting.
Cost: Free admission to the public, with professional photography requiring advance coordination with garden staff.

9. Bishop Arts District

If you're looking for a small-town feel, the Bishop Arts District is a hidden gem for lifestyle, headshot, and product photo shoots. The Bishop Arts District is a quaint shopping and entertainment district filled with colorful street art, brick buildings, boutiques, and art galleries.

Location: North Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: Take advantage of the lights at nightlife, preferably during weekdays, to avoid crowds.
Cost: Most establishments may require permission for professional photography.

Bishop Arts District lifestyle photography

10. Lakeside Park

Lakeside Park is a well-known photography location, celebrated for its natural beauty and elegant features. The park offers a stunning backdrop for fun photos, featuring serene water features, charming bridges, and whimsical teddy bear statues, making it a favorite spot for various types of photo shoots, including lifestyle, fashion, headshots, and album covers.

Location: Lakeside Drive, Highland Park, Texas
Best time to shoot: The park is accessible year-round, and mornings are typically less busy.
Cost: Free for non-commercial or casual shoots. Parking is available in a nearby parking garage or on the street.

11. Highland Park Village

Highland Park Village is an open-air historic shopping center featuring boutique and designer shops, with pristine architecture and delicate landscaping, making it an ideal spot for sophisticated lifestyle photography. This location is great for fashion shoots, luxury brand campaigns, and upscale music video productions.

Location: Highland Park Village, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: Golden hour creates remarkable lighting with the perfect glow reflecting between trees.
Cost: Check with individual retailers for commercial photography permissions.

12. Klyde Warren Park

From countless outdoor seating areas, arches, and parks, you won't run out of spots for taking photos at Klyde Warren Park. Klyde Warren Park is a fun urban green space for families, with food trucks and a playground adding movement and colors for a great photo session.

Location: Woodall Rogers Freeway, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: The park gets crowded during the weekends, so it's best to shoot early in the morning or late afternoon during weekdays.
Cost: The public park is free for visitors.

13. Dallas Farmers Market

Dallas Farmers Market offers a thriving setting with fresh produce vendors, artisanal goods, and unique culinary experiences. These features create dynamic backdrops for lifestyle and commercial photography. This bustling location provides an authentic Dallas photoshoot experience with colorful market stalls, brick architecture, and urban energy.

Location: South Harwood St., Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: Early mornings during weekdays offer less crowded conditions and softer lighting, while weekends provide more live market activity and a fun atmosphere for dynamic photos.
Cost: Free access to public market areas for casual photography, with day and hourly rates for commercial shoots requiring permits.

14. Reunion Tower Observation Deck

Just a 13-minute drive from Highland Park, Reunion Tower Observation Deck offers breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views from 470 feet above Dallas. This location is ideal for lifestyle shoots, fashion photography, and corporate headshots that showcase the skyline backdrop, capturing the metropolitan essence.

Location: Reunion Boulevard, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: Day or night sessions are available year-round, with golden hour and blue hour offering spectacular lighting against the cityscape.
Cost: Admission required for observation deck access, plus photography session rates for professional shoots.

15. White Rock Lake

Visuals help people improve information retention by 65%. You can accomplish that by shooting lifestyle, branding, product, or commercial photos in the vast, picturesque area of White Rock Lake. Aside from the wetland and lush greenery with Texas wildflowers, you can choose different shooting sites such as a hiking trail, a birdwatching area, and a picnic area.

Location: Lawther Drive, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: You can visit the lake throughout the year, although summertime is an excellent opportunity to bask under the sun.
Cost: While there's no cost to stay, check if there's a scheduled special event, as this may cause the location to ask for a fee.

16. Dallas Museum of Art

The Dallas Museum of Art provides a captivating backdrop with its sleek architecture and spacious galleries. As one of the top places to take pictures in Dallas indoors, the architectural marvels offer diverse settings for both personal and professional shoots. You can include this spot for a multi-location shoot, especially if you also want to take pictures at the nearby Dallas Farmers Market and Pacific Plaza.

Location: North Harwood St, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: Weekdays are generally less crowded. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Cost: General admission for visitors and personal photography is free, although commercial photo shoots require a permit.

17. Pacific Plaza

Pacific Plaza is a beautiful park, offering a perfect blend of modern architecture and lush nature for headshot sessions and lifestyle photos. This 3.7-acre public park is a top photography location due to its unique features, including a stunning modern pavilion, meandering stone walls, and bustling food trucks that add pops of color to any shot. Parking is available in surrounding lots or garages for a fee.

Location: North Hardwood St, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: Early mornings or late afternoons offer the best natural light and fewer crowds.
Cost: Free for non-commercial or casual photography.

18. Lake Ray Hubbard

Spanning 22,000 acres is the recreational area of Lake Ray Hubbard in North Texas. You'll find various great nature spots surrounding the lake, including parks, beaches, and trails. One of my treasured spots is Chandler's Landing Marina, a sandy beach area with docks that would give your photos an exotic vibe.

Location: Spans across the Dallas, Rockwall, Kaufman, and Collin counties in Texas
Best time to shoot: Set up 2 hours before sunset to include the sunset's magnificent hues in your shots.
Cost: Entrance is free, but you need to pay for boat rentals or other recreational equipment.

Lifestyle photography at Lake Ray Hubbard in North Texas.

19. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is an iconic photography location, making it an excellent spot for evocative photos. The area offers a significant historical backdrop, with the urban streetscape of the museum's striking architecture providing a dramatic visual backdrop for editorial, fashion, and music video shoots. What’s more, the location is easily accessible, located right near the Old Red Museum.

Location: Elm St, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: Early mornings or late afternoons are ideal for good light and to avoid heavy tourist crowds.
Cost: Photo shoots in the public area of Dealey Plaza are free, although commercial shoots may require a city permit. A paid parking garage is conveniently located nearby.

20. Dallas Downtown Historic District

The Dallas Downtown Historic District is a fantastic location for photography, featuring a dynamic urban backdrop that captures the iconic Dallas skyline and magnificent historic buildings. The combination of colors, textures, and ambiance makes it the perfect setting for fashion, commercial, lifestyle, and album cover shoots, which are among my signature photography services.

Location: Broader Downtown Dallas area
Best time to shoot: Weekdays, especially early mornings or late afternoons during the golden hour.
Cost: May need fees for securing permits for commercial shoots.

21. Fort Worth Camera + The Print Refinery

When you need an indoor location for your photo shoots, the Fort Worth Camera + The Print Refinery can be your go-to place. An eye-catching, pierced concrete wall resembling a camera's aperture welcomes you to the studio. The building's gray and white colors and distinctive geometric patterns make a suitable backdrop for industrial-inspired photography.

Location: Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas
Best time to shoot: The Fort Worth Camera operates in standard business hours, although you need to secure a slot for the studio rental.
Cost: While the entrance is free, you must pay specific amounts depending on the service you need.

22. Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a gorgeous destination for photo shoots due to its diverse natural landscapes. These include colorful flower displays, stunning water features, and lush lawns. Just a 20-minute drive from Highland Park, this beautiful location provides a variety of backdrops that evoke a serene, natural scene.

Location: Garland Road, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: Early mornings are best for avoiding crowds and taking advantage of natural light.
Cost: Entrance fees vary for adults, children, and professional shoots.

23. Pioneer Plaza

Pioneer Plaza features bronze sculptures depicting a historic cattle drive with longhorn steers and mounted cowboys. This large public park is located in the Convention Center District of Downtown Dallas. It offers a fun and dramatic backdrop perfect for lifestyle photography, fashion shoots, and commercial portraits that capture the authentic Texas spirit.

Location: Young Street, Dallas, Texas
Best time to shoot: Early morning or late afternoon for optimal lighting with the Dallas Cattle Drive Sculptures, avoiding harsh midday shadows on the bronze artwork.
Cost: Free access to this public park for photography, though permits may be required for large commercial productions.

24. Stone Creek Park

Stone Creek Park is a serene and beautifully landscaped location featuring a picturesque running creek that creates the perfect natural backdrop. The open spaces offer fun photo opportunities, featuring walking trails and a peaceful atmosphere, making it ideal for family pictures, engagement sessions, and album cover photography. It’s easily accessible with nearby parking garage options.

Location: Fuqua Drive, Flower Mound, Texas
Best time to shoot: Early morning and golden hour provide the most flattering natural light for creek-side portraits, while the fun, tranquil setting works well year-round.
Cost: Free access to the park grounds for casual photo sessions, with professional photography rates varying.

Things to Consider When Finding Good Places to Take Pictures in Dallas

Selecting the right location is key to a successful Dallas photo shoot, as it impacts the mood and aesthetic. Here are some final tips on choosing a location to achieve a fun and stress-free photo session with beautiful results.

Consider the purpose: The shoot type guides your choice. A park like White Rock Lake is relaxed, while Downtown Dallas is urban.
Check the time of day: Natural light changes throughout the day. Shooting at sunset at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve and most of the city’s parks gives your pictures that gorgeous golden glow.
Look for diverse backdrops: A great location offers multiple settings. For instance, the Dallas Farmers Market provides various backdrops, from stalls to city views.
Scout the area for logistics: Check for restrooms, changing areas, and easy access. Some locations have permits or fees.
Plan for parking: Finding a spot can be tough. Look for places with metered parking garages to save time.
Explore nearby regions: Don't limit yourself to Dallas, Texas. The Grapevine-Flower Mound-Fort Worth area also has stunning locations for taking photos.

Conclusion

Finding the best places to take pictures in Dallas, TX, gives you a variety of stunning shots, whether it's in a lush park, a towering city building, or a unique, sophisticated backdrop. With my expertise in selecting premier Dallas locations, your next project will showcase both stunning scenery and professional artistry.

24 Best Places in Dallas to Take Pictures